Explore the North Cornwall Coast and see Newquay like you’ve never seen it – from the sea..
Cruise the Hidden coves and secret beaches and meet the wildlife up close and in their natural environment.
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Respect to the Risso’s Dolphins
Wow wow wow Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing has been enjoying spectacular sightings of the rare Risso’s Dolphins in Newquay Bay for nearly a week.
Lucky passengers saw 6 animals including 2 calves feed around our wildlife watching boat Atlantic Diver as we waited for a dive , engines switched off so we didn’t disturb them . It was a breath takingly beautiful moment to see these 4m plus giants feed and breach out of the water right in front of Tolcarne beach
Cetaceans often feed in the bay and are vulnerable to disturbance as we have a great deal of watersports and watercraft activity during peak season.
We hope that all will respect the animals that come to feed here so that generations to come enjoy them as we have done today .
Further sightings of these spectacular cetaceans can be shared up to Cornwall Wildlife Trust online at Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
So that the population health and behaviour can be observed .
The Marine Conservation Society Ocean Ambassador Deborah Meadon and Peter Richardson Head of Ocean Recovery also experienced the Risso’s as they cruised offshore through Newquay’s Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) .
Peter heads the MCS MCZ campaign and urged us to support the Preposed 41 new MCZs , 8 of which are suggested to be sites around Cornwall.
Please support their campaign and sign up to help set up protection for the feeding grounds for these spectacular animals. In Newquay and The Gannel it is the seabed that is protected and potting, netting and line fishing continue to do well as healthy seabed mean healthy habitats for marine life to thrive and therefore benefits the marine mammals as well as the fishers.
https://www.mcsuk.org/campaigns/new-41-marine-conservation-zones
We are Master WiSe accredited ( wildlife Safe) and advise all on the water or cliffs to follow the excellent advise re wildlife watching
It’s helpful to record any disturbance to the Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code Group who look for areas to improve education about our Cornish Marine Wildlife and ultimately aim to protect it .
The “feel good factor” continues for our passengers throughout our unusually warm summer as we see Sunfish , Dolphins , Seals and seabirds on becalmed seas and blue skies .
This week was the Cornwall Seal Group and Research Trust Seal Census days so hopefully our colleagues around the coast are enjoying some great sightings too. #LoveNewquay
Black Bream
Had a great time Sat 30th April aboard the Bounty, started with Mackerel, Dogfish , Red Gurnard & then the Cod arrived along with a 7lb pollack and this stunning 4lb 2oz Black Bream.
Thanks to all for a lovely time.
3000 Lobster Hatchery Larvae Released
Gorgeous Pregnant Female Grey Seal hauled out on rocks during sea safari today during which we released another 3000 Lobster Larvae from the Padstow Lobster Hatchery.
This seal was keeping rear flippers out of the sea to keep warm.
The Lobsters are packed into seperate cells to prevent them damaging each other.
Then scooped up and sent down a Lobster Log Flume to the rocky sea bed. These were about 8-12 weeks old. All of the hard work of the fishermen donating berried lobbies and the staff at the Lobster Hatchery combined with these releases help with the sustainability of the Potting industry here in Cornwall. Its a great addition as a special Newquay Sea Safari…Passengers then wen t on to enjoy the Grey Seals hauled out…we also saw Barrel Jellyfish and Sunfish all in the same day.
SHARK!! Tope Suprise
This Amazing SHARK …was caught whilst on a fishing trip off Newquay on board "Atlantic Explorer" today. Skipper Derek Applewhite said it was about 5 feet long and weighed approximately 35lbs. The anglers were only a short distance offshore when the chance catch happened as they were trying to catch any bottom fish species such as pollack and cod. They were using mackerel as bait.
A total of 8 Tope ranging in sizes between 12 to 35lbs came in in a very short period.
All were handled carefully ,released from the hook and returned to the sea as quickly as possible.
All details were sent to the Shark Trust .
Especially interesting as Annabelle has just been made a Shark Trust Trustee.
Atlantic Diver also had a great day with a chance sighting ,for divers on board ,of these Celtic Bottlenose Dolphins in Newquay Bay whilst on commute to the wreck.
link to dolphin video
BBC and Barrel Jellyfish
Well what a week…there has been a massive Jellyfish Hype with Barrel jellies being the main star of the show..the BBC, Sunday Times, Childrens' BBC and Skye T.V…all filming off "Atlantic Diver" in Newquay Bay this week…phew ..no pressure to find them then!!
The huge Bell is approximately 1m in diameter and its 8 arms have cauliflower appearance with oral offices at the ends. its reputed to NOT sting but I can tell you that it definitely gives an agitation to the skin a little less than a nettle sting….easily soothed with scraping area in one direction then applying vinegar.
John Maguire BBC Presenter , Peter Richardson from the Marine Conservation Society and Ross James..camerman all donned wetsuits and invetsigated the Jellyfish up-close-and -personal. It aired on prime time BBC Morning Breakfast Time several times during the morning
Newquay Sea Safari to St Agnes
We had an immensly enjoyable Sea Safari for the St Agnes Marine Conservation Group this week. The sun was shining all the way to St Agnes and all manner of Breeding Sea Birds were out including this Bridled Guillemot. Its the first time I've seen one this far West. It was sitting on the ocean in a small raft of Guilies just waiting to be spotted. Our sighting has been sent off to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust as we are a Master Wise acredited boat operator.
Beautiful Juvenile Gannet was resting after feeding.
All proceeds being donated back to the Conservation Group by us so that they can continue their good works of Marine Education to the general public.
The sun began to set as we cruised back into Newquay Harbour and enabled us to catch this beautiful image of Ben our son and Jessica our daughter rod and line fishing for mackerel, in the bay…..Epic!! day with freshly caught silver darlings for late supper
Fishing for Litter
Ben Lowe recovered meters and meters of trawl net from the sea in the past few days. imagine what damage this debri can do to our wildlife …thanks Ben and all of the Newquay Fishermen and Potters who give their time to clearing the litter out of the ocean.
Newquay Boat Trips
Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing Boat Trips are going out every day now (weather permitting) . Crew and passengers of both "Atlantic Diver" and "Atlantic Explorer" have been enjoying the incredibly beautiful sunshine which has been bathing the Newquay coastline in glorious sunshine. Newquay really has been living up to her title of "Coast of Dreams"
The Mackerel is in the Bay now ,with Ben and I catching a whole box in less than an hour to smoke at home in our fish smoker. I also made an amazingly tasty mackerel pate.
Mackerel is a great alternative to tuna and eating it is ,not only healthy for you but takes the pressure off the tuna stocks. Ben my son who is an apprentice rod and line caught fisherman and potter was naming the larger catch as Tuna as they were sooo BIG. For those that dont have a smoker you can make a simple mackerel pate by
- baking about six mackerel fillets with salt , pepper and a sqeeze of lemon juice for about ten minutes in oven gas mark 6
- fork cooked fish into a bowl
- add 2 large teaspoons of horseradish sauce and a small tub of creme fraich
- mix with another squeeze of lemon juice
- serve in a pretty dip bowl with plenty of crusty bread slices, some peashoots, a wedge of lemon and ENJOY..hmmm the taste of a Newquay Summer.
For other recipe ideas try…http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/popular-ingredients/fish-and-seafood/mackerel
drop us a line and let us know how your mackerel recipes went
More fantastic news ..Dr Who our Semi Resident Grey Seal is back
Took these stunning pics as we worked our way along the North Cornwall Coastline .
Trunk
I just thought I would share with you this beautiful picture of trunk from today. She is a semi resident seal that reguarly comes into Newquay Harbour. This was taken at the stern of our boat "Atlantic Diver" while we waited to get moorings after a beautiful calm Sea Safari with some fabulous passengers.
We watched Phillip and Kevin ..local fishermen, hauling their catch of Newquay Spider Crabs, Newquay Brown Crab and Newquay Lobster. This is a very sustainable catch…an industry we support as there is very little bycatch. Its important to champion sustainable local fisheries by buying local Newquay Shellfish.
There were seals in a the sea foraging near a local haul out site and a mixture of Guillemots and Razorbills on ledges.
See how tricky it is to spot these seals when they are against the rocks..she is just off to the left of these rocks watching us on Atlantic Diver watching her.
