Pole Star Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 I mentioned this the other day on some else's thread in off topic but got no joy so I thought it might get more response here ? . I have always fancied a go at this but some one suggested it was not legal anymore ? , I have a book with a photo of Prince Charles when he was a lad & he had just got a nice flat with a trident type spear but of course that was some years ago now & the laws may have changed ?. A friend said it would be best on a rising tide with a lamp ? any tips or ideas would be much appreciated ? . I will also up load the photo of a fish spear I dug up in Oxfordshire some years ago ? any info on this will be of great help & I would not mind a go with it if I can ? . ATB Pole Star . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) It's not illegal to use a spear in tidal waters in England and I can't find anything different for the Scottish Isles, so I'd guess you should be OK. Edited August 30, 2013 by -Mongrel- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted August 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 (edited) It's not illegal to use a spear in tidal waters in England and I can't find anything different for the Scottish Isles, so I'd guess you should be OK. Thanks mongrel much appreciated now just hope I don't get arrested ! & have to spend another night Kirkwall nick ! But mind you its a nice nick & the police are very polite & keep you in good hot cups of tea been in far worse B&Bs where I was charged ! Edited August 30, 2013 by Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 Used to do it in Benbecula a lot of years ago and presuming it was/is legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted August 30, 2013 Report Share Posted August 30, 2013 We use to do that either walking round the mud pools in the Medway estuary, or using a RIB over the shallows. I have always heard the practice referred to as "gigging". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlewis Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 When I was a lad many many years ago there was a legend of a person who use to wad though the muddy creeks at low tide using just his hands to get flounders that where in the mud with just a minimum of water over them. The main piece of kit was two wide pieces of board with a strap though them to put on his boots to stop him sinking in to the mud. After he left Lymington I never really heard of anyone doing it openly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 (edited) When I was a lad my Dad took me “Dabbing“ in a place called Battlesbridge. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=history%20of%20battlesbridge%20essex&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBattlesbridge&ei=4IghUsuBDsOqhQeM_YCABg&usg=AFQjCNHbHO3xbLKj9CWNS_EHRfsjr09N2A We would go on an out going tide and walk through the shallow pools very slowly and Dad would scoop up a handful of pebbles/mud and throw it ahead of us and if it landed on a flat fish it would move a bit and settle back on the bottom, then we would move over it and with both hands out flat with thumbs touching slowly get over the fish and then quickly push down on the fish. With his bricklayers hands he was ok but at 10 I lost more than I caught so he took me to the antiques centre and brought a spear! I still have the spear and 3 South African friends have spotted it in the workshop as an original stabbing spear!! This is what we call a Eel shear or pritcher, not for flat fish but from a time when people made their living from what came in to our rivers and dykes... TEH Edited August 31, 2013 by The Essex Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 When I was a youngster, my Dad and I used to go dabbing on a particular stretch of the Dart where a line of stepping stones held back the flatties as the tide fell. We both had tridents, made by the local blacksmith and went when on holiday. It has all changed I suppose and there is a pub a bit too close to the stretch. I remember on one occassion a guy and his son watched us and asked if they could join us - the chap was a UN worker had a very natty stainless steel spike which looked like a whip when collapsed. He did something I couldnt see and the thing turned into a 3-4 feet long metal rod with a sharpened trip - he used that. No doubt these days this would be considered a deadly weapon ! We caught loads of flatties including dabs and some v large plaice. Not far up beyond the bridge I spent many happy evenings watching a local fishing for sea trout he caught regularly in the summer - once saw he had 4 bars of silver on the bank - looked about 1-2 lbs each. Never took many though and that was the most I saw. Happy to give detailed location if someone wants to try the Dart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted August 31, 2013 Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 We used to go flatly bashing at arnside Cumbria and we watched the old boys no shoes and socks with a broom handle and a nail stuck in the end sharpened and a barb cut in the side. They would feel the flatly with their feet in the mud then slide the pole along side their foot and stab it. Fantastic to watch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pole Star Posted August 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2013 Many thanks for the input chaps & all good reading Its one of those things I have always wanted to try but have just never got around to but it looks like things will now change ?. ( so long as I pull my finger out ) I have been longing to put that old spear head I found back into service & for me it will be as much fun & interest as putting my old flintlock shotgun back into use . Thats a nice eel spear Essex Hunter & a Taxidermist mate in Norfolk often come across them & I have been meaning to buy one off him for some time , there is a burn that runs off the loch across the field from me wich I understand has a muddy bottom in places so I would expect it to be a good place to start , interesting times ahead . If I have any joy in the next few weeks I will keep this post up dated ATB Pole Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprackles Posted September 3, 2013 Report Share Posted September 3, 2013 Have not seen it for a while but here in the Creek at Humberston they used to use what looked like a broom except instead of bristles, there was a row of 6" nails. Whole contraption was about 2' wide. Just used to walk slowly pushing it down in front of yourself every few inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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