Andy135 Posted July 30 Share Posted July 30 Down in Cornwall for the week and we headed to Lantivet to take my son snorkelling. As we reached the headland we were greeted with a stunning vista. Heading down to the beach itself we were looking forward to getting into the crystal clear water. After an hours' snorkelling together Tom headed back in for lunch. We'd seen some amazing ballan wrasse amongst the kelp. Both cocks and hens, proper fish the size of piglets, plus plenty of sandeels, spider crabs and a sneaky brown crab in a rocky hole that we couldn't quite tease out into the bag. I stayed out and loitered over a submerged reef for a while, having a suspicion that bass would also frequent the same spots as wrasse. Of course I'd taken my speargun out with me. As if someone had flicked a switch I found myself surrounded by schoolie bass, with a huge mullet cruising below them. I took a shot but missed, the spear bouncing off the rocks below. Cursing my luck I reloaded the speargun and floated motionless above the reef again. Didn't take long for another shoal to come by, again with a mullet in tow. Another shot and success! A golden grey in the bag. He tasted great on the barbecue with lime, salt and pepper - very much like mackerel. Saintly Fish, GPSguru, jonnyswamp and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Nice, we never kept any mullet caught near the rivers or dockyards in Portsmouth, Devonport and Portland 💩 🤮 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 9 hours ago, Malc said: Nice, we never kept any mullet caught near the rivers or dockyards in Portsmouth, Devonport and Portland 💩 🤮 I can understand that. Luckily this one tasted good 👍 Malc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 Had another swim early this morning. Missed a couple of good mullet and a decent bass but at least I spotted this chap mooching about in the kelp. He's due a hot bath tonight. Malc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 2 hours ago, Andy135 said: Had another swim early this morning. Missed a couple of good mullet and a decent bass but at least I spotted this chap mooching about in the kelp. He's due a hot bath tonight. Is he worth the effort? Will he produce much in the way of eating ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 5 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: Is he worth the effort? Will he produce much in the way of eating ? I'll tell you when I've finished his legs and done his body... 😮💨 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 48 minutes ago, Andy135 said: I'll tell you when I've finished his legs and done his body... 😮💨 Very much worth all the hard work, as the meat is beautifully soft and sweet, my favourite crab meat TBH Not much in the body, 90% is in the legs and claws Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 1 hour ago, GPSguru said: Very much worth all the hard work, as the meat is beautifully soft and sweet, my favourite crab meat TBH Not much in the body, 90% is in the legs and claws Maybe, but with this one reckon I got at least 30% of the total meat from the body - much more than I was expecting. And it tasted amazing 🤤 GPSguru 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 (edited) 1 hour ago, Andy135 said: Maybe, but with this one reckon I got at least 30% of the total meat from the body - much more than I was expecting. And it tasted amazing 🤤 Yes, it really is the best tasting crab, but not popular here in the uk as compared to browns, spiders are hard work to process. The frogs and the Portuguese love them. A meal we used to have regular in the Vendee was langoustine with a spider salad (french dressed). Edited August 2 by GPSguru Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 1 Author Share Posted August 1 Agree. Mrs135 has asked for another one before we head home at the weekend. Oh, ok then 🤣 daio web and GPSguru 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 Actually, you are not far off the money, as mid August is spider bonanza time. Look for a big male, they had much bigger claws and more meat. Andy135 and daio web 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daio web Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 nice one bud looks great 👍 Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 7 hours ago, GPSguru said: Yes, it really is the best tasting crab, but not popular here in the uk as compared to browns, spiders are hard work to process. The frogs and the Portuguese love them. A meal we used to have regular in the Vendee was langoustine with a spider salad (french dressed). I'm in the Vendee now, bloody hot out here GPSguru and Andy135 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 3 hours ago, Dicky said: I'm in the Vendee now, bloody hot out here Excellent, what part ? , le Sables, or st Gilles ? maybe in little Venice ( the canals near Rochelle). we go there a lot because the vendee is renowned for its temperate micro climate, snd it can get very hot there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 We’re inland from La Rochelle in a little village by Fontenay le Comte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPSguru Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 1 hour ago, Dicky said: We’re inland from La Rochelle in a little village by Fontenay le Comte Yes, I know that area well. You are very close to the Marais Pontevin, locally known as little Venice. I have fished the Niortaise, and there are some exceptional river carp in there, mostly fully scaled commons with a good number of 50lb plus fish. A nice long lazy day is hiring a boat and making your way slowly along the tranquil tree canopied canals, stopping at canal side restaurants for lunch etc. We didn't go this year due to other 'stuff' getting in the way. Dicky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoop Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 On 7/30/2024 at 10:15 PM, Andy135 said: Down in Cornwall for the week and we headed to Lantivet to take my son snorkelling. As we reached the headland we were greeted with a stunning vista. Heading down to the beach itself we were looking forward to getting into the crystal clear water. After an hours' snorkelling together Tom headed back in for lunch. We'd seen some amazing ballan wrasse amongst the kelp. Both cocks and hens, proper fish the size of piglets, plus plenty of sandeels, spider crabs and a sneaky brown crab in a rocky hole that we couldn't quite tease out into the bag. I stayed out and loitered over a submerged reef for a while, having a suspicion that bass would also frequent the same spots as wrasse. Of course I'd taken my speargun out with me. As if someone had flicked a switch I found myself surrounded by schoolie bass, with a huge mullet cruising below them. I took a shot but missed, the spear bouncing off the rocks below. Cursing my luck I reloaded the speargun and floated motionless above the reef again. Didn't take long for another shoal to come by, again with a mullet in tow. Another shot and success! A golden grey in the bag. He tasted great on the barbecue with lime, salt and pepper - very much like mackerel. This is not cheating.... at all!!? 😅 A guy this way (that knows what he's doing) has had a couple of GG's to the same shallow diving lure! Jammy ... I'm down that way in a week, fully intend on taking lure gear.. any marks worth a go for Bass? Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted August 9 Author Share Posted August 9 1 hour ago, Hoop said: This is not cheating.... at all!!? 😅 A guy this way (that knows what he's doing) has had a couple of GG's to the same shallow diving lure! Jammy ... I'm down that way in a week, fully intend on taking lure gear.. any marks worth a go for Bass? You back on WhatsApp yet? If not I'll send you a PM 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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