Jersey 2006

[Wanny]

Its interesting to hear what our guernsey neighbours are up to, so I thought I would try to share a bit of info on our Jersey fishing. Hopefully a few other jersey boys will find this and chip in as my stories of missing bass will soon get boring.

Whilst the guernsey guys seem to be nailing bass all the time, by all accounts its been a bit quiet so far over here, more stories of dolphins and seals than stories of fat bass. I've had a few this summer, the best one being 4 1/2lbs in the gutters at La Rocque a couple of weeks ago.

Hopefully I can get in tonight on the rising tide and have a nose around the areas opposite my house, just got to clear it with the wife ! Fingers crossed as its extra special to catch fish within walking distance of home and I've had them there already this year.

[loops]

Hi Wanny, Andy here from the jerseyspearfishing club. So far our season has been slow with very little been caught. I was diving with the club at corbeire on the 11th june where l caught a white beam off the lighthouse. Hopefully this is a UK and Jsy record. Went night diving last friday caught 5 bass, 2@3lb 1@5lb 1@7lb and 1 at 9lb10oz. Not bad for to 2hrs work. Wanny where do you dive? if you fancy a dive partner just e.mail me on www.jerseyspearfishing.com
Kind regards
Andy

[Wanny]

Hi Andy, didn't realise it was you. I came out with you, Chris and Mike last year on Chris' boat - the day it was foggy at Seymour.

good catch, heard about the white bream, hope the record comes through - shame the 9lb10 bass never had the chance for its final meal to nudge it to 10lb!

I mostly dive in the SE corner as thats where I live. So around La Rocque and tried the oyster beds a few times this year.

I'll e-mail you on the contact section on the web-site.

cheers

[loops]

Hi Wanny, just to let you know the club is meeting down sands this saturday for a dive,l think it`s around 9am meet. Then in the evening we are meeting in the tenby @ 1930 for a social get together food beer and more beer. You are more than welcome to join us.
kind regards Andy

[Old Man Dave]

Well done lads. Your own thread is a great idea. Before the DB threads spearfishing was dying a slow death over here. We certainly didn't have any clubs anymore and all our oldies, except me, have retired. However in the last 2 years the internet has rejuvinated the scene and in many ways for the better. We help each other, dive and socialise, plus we order/build gear and generally swop stories of the ones that got away (fishermen's tales).

Hope you find the same.

Dave .

[Wanny]

dave - what an inspiring tale! you've done well, you guys seem to have a good little circle going. makes good reading too.

andy - cheers for that, I'll try and come down on Saturday. never dived out there before, all looks a bit sandy there so I presume the idea is to head to L'Etacq or La Pulente?

[loops]

It`s not all sand. Some people head off towards L`Etacq and some to Rocco tower.In the middle of the bay there are reefs and gullies where you can find bass mullet etc...

[loops]

Hi Dave it`s hard trying to find a balance between competition`s and speicmen diving.Over the last 5years the club has struggled to get new members. We are currently at 10.Our annual jsy open we have around 35 dives in the water. Some from france holland and the uk.
Andy

[Magpie]

As one of the Guernsey newbies I can confidently say that I wouldn't be spearfishing if it wasn't for the thread on here, so you may well get some new members out of it.

I must say though that personally I'd have no interest in spearing competitions, and probably wouldn't join a club either, I do it because I enjoy it not because I want to prove how good I am at it, or beat other people doing it, but to each their own.

Good luck boys, I'll be reading with interest what you crapauds are up to!

[Spaniard]

Although based in the UK, and originally from Spain, I have some very fond memories of Spearfishing in Jersey. My Grandmother still lives in St Helier and she bought me my first 'proper' speargun (an early Sporasub Dessault) from Steve Arthur at Graeme le Maistre (used to spend hours in that shop). I also bought gear at First Tower Watersports and then anywhere which was walking distance from Bath Street, I would fish (Green St beach, Havre des Pas, 3 sisters, La Rocque). I caught one of my first ever bass in the boot weed alongside St Catherines Pier. I look forward to being able to back one of these days and try some other spots around the Island and also relieve the Guernsey boys of one or two of their bass ;-)

[Wanny]

After a quiet dive on Saturday went in for a while on Saturday on the east coast - and found where all the mullet are hiding, dozens of them. but no bass to be found. after all the talk about them being ok to eat I took a 2lber to try, gutted it in the water, sliced it carefully, only the white meat but those things are just too fishy for me. still my mate took the rest of it for conger bait so not wasted!

Andy - now I have seen your comment on the bass I am going to have to try and get in this evening! I can study later!

[Wanny]

Hi Andy - did you get any fish yesterday?

I came home with just the one bass, a 3lber, there were plenty around which was encouraging. Typically I missed all the easy ones and hit probably the hardest one I shot at! Found plenty of fish in the jap weed up the left side of the lagoon but the line on my spear snapped, by the time I had fixed it I had drifted off and couldn't find the same mark again.

Also saw quite a few in the first gutter on the way out including 2 decent sized ones but I was being rubbish and too slow so they are probably still there laughing.

[loops]

Hi Mate, same here saw loads of mullet in the weed, but sadly only 1 bass doing warp speed past me... The only decent thing to happen to me was that l shot my 1st mackerel yipee....I made the mistake going into the lagoon
Saw Neil Haworth he had a small bass and 2 mullet over 5lb...He didn`t see any bass... Looks like the left had all the decent fish...

[loops]

Hi Mate, same here saw loads of mullet in the weed, but sadly only 1 bass doing warp speed past me... The only decent thing to happen to me was that l shot my 1st mackerel yipee....I made the mistake going into the lagoon
Saw Neil Haworth he had a small bass and 2 mullet over 5lb...He didn`t see any bass... Looks like the left had all the decent fish...

[foxfish]

At least you guys are seeing some fish
Mullet can be very strong tasting but some people like that! I occasionally shoot greys but I much prefer Golden Greys, do you guys catch GG's in Jersey?