ALDERNEY* BRIGHTON* BRISTOL CHANNEL* CHESIL* DARTMOUTH* EAST SUSSEX* HAMPSHIRE* HUMBER TO THAMES* KENT* NORTH EAST* NORTH THAMES ESTUARY* PLYMOUTH BOAT* POOLE* SCOTLAND* WALES* WEST SUSSEX* WEST WIGHT* WEYMOUTH*
ALDERNEY REPORT by Mark Harding
Well it has been a far better season so far for the illustrious Turbot. Numbers have continued to show on the various banks around Alderney and not just the famous Schole and Casquets. They have been turning up on the smaller banks too which has been excellent news, however there has now been a slow down in numbers which is how it goes. They've been around for a bit now and justified some of the anglers who did come this year after such a poor show last season. The best Turbot in this reporting period came on board Clem Carters boat Wild Frontier caught by Daniel Rimmer, it went a magnificent 27lb 8oz! Now though we await an improvement in Brill numbers on the banks which normally happen around now and then we have a return of better numbers of Turbot towards September but they are always there throughout the Summer but not in the same quantities. Having said that I had one of the best days on my boat one foggy July with 26 flapping their way to the net, so you can never tell, which is probably the best way with fishing. It is time now though to turn our attentions to the other species which are about and for my mind provide better sport if not better eating. Top of the list for sport is Tope. There has been plenty around of late with good sessions, which are short due to the nature of the tides here, seeing around 30 fish. Live Mackerel presented on 12/20 class rods provides exhilarating fun, in the main the Tope run between 20lb to 45lb but some specimens around 50lb plus are often caught. Bass are very slow to show which I believe is reciprocated throughout the English Channel at the western end. Why we do not know, we have got plenty of bait in the way of sandeel, launce and mackerel. It is likely to be just another cycle of life that we need to accept hopefully. Black Bream are just starting to arrive with a smattering of fish to 4lb 8oz. We catch these on the drift so we can fish light but on the smaller tides boats do throw the pick in. When anchored expect to catch a whole array of species on the same ground. Conger and Huss will snaffle even the tiniest of baits but fishing small and light means the Gurnards, Codling, Couches Bream, Triggers, Cuckoo and Ballan Wrasse and more can be caught. You never know but you may well fluke that Turbot you couldn't catch the day before, it happens often!
The harbour has fished well this last week before reporting. Several boats where the lads have slept aboard have seen Bass to double figures, an early rise essential but what do you do first? Bait up or set the frying pan up to get that bacon crisped off!! Boats report up to five in a short session, (Bass that is not bacon butties), and the average is up round the 5/6lb. Big fish which fall to fresh mackerel baits or live eel. Not a bad start to the day before you set off to sea. One angler aboard Patient Pursuit even managed a 5lb plus Mullet (of which there have been hordes of) on a side of mackerel nailed to a penelled 5/0 rig.
Wrecking has been spot on too, plenty of Pollack to17lb reported and a good head of Cod. I only managed one trip myself this month but the 6 Cod we had were all doubles bar one and three were around 20lb. There is Ling and Conger about too.
Shore sport has been close to abysmal. However, as of this week there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Plenty of Mackerel around which has been good. Pollack showing in better numbers as are Garfish. There are masses of Wrasse around too if you want them. Bass have shown on the plugs as well but everything else is a bit slow. I wish someone had the nerve to put a bit of time in with the Mullet I mentioned earlier. There has been a lot of fish around for the time of year and some huge fish in the shoals too.
Festival entrance forms will be going out soon. If you're not on our list get in touch by phone on 01481 8248884 or email me mark@alderneyangling.com and we'll get you on our mailing list. It is 17th to 25th October and is a fantastic week to be part of. Last year we did though have the Festivals worst year so we will be looking for a marked improvement this time around. Plenty of cash and prizes to be won, the format is based around Specimens it is as level a playing field as it gets.
In the meantime thank you to all those that take the time and trouble to visit our island, tough times but good to see good numbers of you which is very welcome and the guesthouses and drinking houses appreciate the extra business the anglers bring. Let's hope most of you get rewarded with some good fishing.
Till next month tight lines, to keep up to date with the fishing got to www.alderneyangling.com and head in to the latest reports section.
BRIGHTON MARINA BREAKWATERS by Dave Grinham
Some excellent Catches over the last month and it seems to be getting better as we go to press. Bass have been taking live prawns on the shallow pegs on both breakwaters. The sea has changed and the bigger bass are now taking mackerel heads with the biggest being 9 lb 8 oz caught by one of our local fisherman Vic Fischer. Some 7 and 8 pounder also been taking from both breakwaters in the past month. The mackerel and garfish are taken on high mid day tides on both arm. Plenty of Black Bream been also take up to 3 lb. The larger smoothhounds have been showing on the night tides, biggest so far about 9 lb. The dover soles have now have made an appearance at night. All in all thing are looking up.
BRIGHTON MARINA BOATMAN'S ASSOCIATION By Alan Young
Good weather, good fishing and summer is here (quite often !) Long periods of calm, warm weather have enabled the boats to get out on a regular basis and make up some of the ground lost last year. Wreck fishing has been excellent. The Cod have taken up their summer residences on the deeper wrecks and are present in good numbers, mainly in two distinct year group sizes. Pollack are still present in good numbers and some of the smaller fish have moved right in onto the inshore wrecks and are being caught both drifting and at anchor. Conger are well into their active, heavy feeding, summer mode and some good fish are being boated and returned.
On the ground the May-rot algal bloom is beginning to thin down and good clear water is much closer inshore which is bringing the mackerel back inshore as well. Small to medium size bream are present in good numbers almost everywhere, there has been a good run of Smoothhounds and small Tope but as yet no reports of any Thornbacks being landed.
Make the most of the fantastic conditions and great fishing during the next few months and book your trips up soon, as spare dates are going fast. Safe fishing.
Ramsgate Boat fishing report by Bob Marshall
Plenty of species available inshore now with Smoothhounds, Bass & Thornbacks along with quality Whiting all available. The offshore wreck fishing remains good with plenty of Cod to double figures along with Pollack and Bass. The fishing in the Thames estuary remains top class with quality Thornbacks along with Smoothhounds to 15lb. Hermit crab or live shrimp top bait for the hounds, not easy to buy but drop a baited net at slack water and get free bait that will catch all the species in the area. This year, as last year, the anglers on Duke IV have returned all Smoothhounds alive to help in a small way the recovery of this fine species! The dreaded may weed has now gone, this should improve the Mackerel fishing that is often difficult here due to the coloured water.
The quality Whiting we are catching at the moment are unusual at this time of year, we usually see them late summer, we are also catching them offshore on the Mackerel feathers. Large shoals of school Bass heading up the estuary, here one minute gone the next. Overall the fishing is good but you may have to try a few marks before you find the fish and try the same spot tomorrow and they have gone.
Check out our website www.fishingramsgate.com for a trip out on Duke IV.
WEST SUSSEX REPORT By Mike Perfect
Golden grey mullet have been showing from Shoreham and Lancing beaches, mostly being taken on maddies. Some reasonable bass, bream, flounders and sole have also been caught. A few smuts have shown here and from the harbour arms and Worthing Pier. Southwick beaches have been targeted at low tide when a surf has been running for bass to lug where a number have been caught up to 9lb or so, together with some good sized silver eels.The beaches at Goring, East Preston and Climping have been full of weed for some time but when fishable have produced some smuts, doggies and a few stingers. Best mark for stingers has been Felpham. Further west Pagham and Selsey west beach have been packed with anglers looking for smuts but the weed has been very bad, in spite of this those who have hit it right have had some good fun with quite a lot of double figure specimens.
LITTLEHAMPTON REPORT by Neil French
What a month, fine weather and great fishing, only decision is what to target on any given day. On big tides we have tended to fish inshore on the reefs and its edges, the Bream fishing for which this port is famous is now in full swing, there are plenty of fish in the 3lb range now eager to feed after their rigours of spawning. A fine fish of 4lbs 10 oz was reported captured by Dutchman Lionel on his first drop aboard Sally Ann. Mackerel baits also finding specimen Bass, whilst Undulate Rays in double figures are featuring daily in the catch reports. Small tides have been good for targeting Smoothhounds west of the port on squid and crab whilst mackerel baits on wire traces down past Selsea have accounted for heavyweight Tope between 40/50lbs.
That just leaves the medium tides to account for, clear water and settled conditions have pushed us offshore to the deep water wrecks which are now stacked with both Cod and Pollack competing for food. The Cod in particular are in prime condition and have averaged between 8 to 15 lbs, Dave Roberts had two fish in one drop for a total of 45lbs! 18lbs on the flyer whilst a 27 lb'er was happy to grab the orange leadhead on bottom hook, this has got to be the angling feat of the month and I doubt he will ever repeat it in this lifetime.
I can’t finish without mentioning the 12 lb Small eyed Ray new boat record for Jason Rollinson, the best of several Rays landed this month on the banks. The only disappointment seems to be the lack of Plaice on our mussel beds so far this year, several exploratory trips by all the skippers have resulted in many species feeding on the mussel, but no plaice in any numbers. Let’s hope it’s not another effect of too much commercial exploitation.
www.spiritofarun.co.uk neil@bandelectronics.co.uk Tel 01243 582299, Mob. 07831 848561, Fax 01243 585294
WEST WIGHT REPORT by Arthur Savage
Fishing the West Wight is full on at the moment, with all species putting in a show. Bream can be found from Christchurch Ledge to the Shingles and further south at the spoil ground. These fish are not big, but vary in size from 1lb to 2.5lb, with a lot of females amongst them.
The banks through Christchurch Bay are also producing some fish, Small Eyed and Thornback Rays, with the occasional Plaice to make up the bag. Much the same to the East, at Brook Banks, Blond Ray and Small Eyed Ray, plus the occasional Bass; reports of Turbot and Brill from this area have also proved positive with local private boats returning with some prime fish up into double figures. They are also returning the smaller fish to the water, which is very good practice and a positive move for the future.
Tope fishing at St. Catherine's, on the neaps, has given the anglers some real sport, with fish up to 50lbs being boated, tagged and returned to the water. This area is also producing Conger, Scad, Bream, Bass and the occasional Ray. Offshore wrecking is still producing some very good Pollack and Cod with Eels, Ling, Bream and Tope at slack tide.
DARTMOUTH REPORT By Mike Concannon
"SAMUEL IRVIN 3" GREATER WEEVER
Sunday 24th May - Ian Noble, who charters his big white and blue Blyth 33 catamaran "Samuel Irvin 3" out of Dartmouth sent a piccie to my mobile 'phone of a fish which one of his anglers caught today. I confirmed that it was around 10 inches long. It is a "Greater Weever", one of the very few venomous fish found in our coastal waters. The spines on the Dorsal fins of this pretty specimen, can inject a venom into the unlucky captor if handled carelessly, which can be very painful, it is said, comparable to a sting from a venomous snake such as an Adder. Handle with care. Fortunately Ian, an excellent Skipper, recognised this fish for what it was.
NEIL BURNELL BIG GILTHEAD BREAM FROM SHORE
Wednesday 27th May - My good pal Neil Burnell Emailed several days ago with a photo of a big Gilthead Bream he had caught from a South Hams shore mark. He asked me to delay publishing the piccie, as he wanted to see if he could catch another bigger specimen, before the area was overrun by other anglers. Nice fish Neil. You know I always respect other's marks and never divulge such details. If I did, no one would tell me anything. Here's what Neil said: Been gathering info and looking around the South Hams area over the last couple of months, trying to suss out places to fish for Gilts. I started fishing for them about a month ago and had a couple blanks until I found them! I've probably had a good 15 to 20 Gilts but nothing spectacular until I hooked this one, jeez did it go!!! It weighed-in at 5 lbs 5 ozs 2 dr. I had a target this year of 3 lbs, so as you can well imagine I was buzzing after I caught that one! Someone will probably better it, but to me that doesn't matter, just to get a fish like that, after specifically targeting them, will live long in the memory. Neil also asked me to mention his new Torbay Sea Angling Forum. You will find it on the Internet at http://fishingtorbay.forumotion.com
There's another tale connected to Gilthead Bream. Dave Fortune, a member of Brixham SAC, recently broke and bettered the existing Brixham club record 11 times in one day, only to be overtaken by Neil's superb fish. Never mind Dave, you held the club record, no matter how briefly. Well done.
And there's more. 16 lb 4 oz Gilthead Bream - Sunday 31st May - Colin Davies, the respected and popular freelance angling writer and photographer, Emailed. Here's what Colin said: In view that anglers have recently been targeting the Salcombe Estuary's Gilthead Bream, they will probably be interested in this. I have been informed by a very reliable source, that a commercial netsman, while targeting Mullet in the Estuary, a few days ago, had a catch of Gilthead Bream. One of the fish was described as, "Huge, with teeth like a Sheep's". It weighed-in, I believe at a fish merchant's, at a whopping 16 lbs 4 ozs. It shows what's there in the Estuary, or should I say, what was in the Estuary.
"GEMINI" PLAICE ON THE "SKERRIES" AND AN EMERGENCY
Dave Harrison, who charters his big bright orange Blyth 33 catamaran "Gemini" out of Dartmouth, experienced a rather fraught day on Saturday 23rd May, with an agreeable group of anglers from Wales. They caught plenty of Plaice on the "Skerries" despite events which threatened to disrupt their day. Dave dealt with all eventualities as they arose to ensure the lads made the most of their day "Fishing Dartmouth". That's what a good Skipper does. Here's what Dave said: I was still in bed this morning at 6am, when the phone rang. It was my group of anglers on route from Wales. One of the cars had been in an accident. Its bonnet catch had given way and back flipped into the windscreen. Thankfully no one was hurt. The other guys turned back to pick them up leaving Les waiting for the tow truck.
We managed to fish until 1 pm when one of the guys decided to pass out on board, due to high blood pressure. We contacted Dartmouth Hospital and arranged to meet with paramedics to get him checked out. We spent roughly an hour alongside the Quay in Dartmouth until he got the all clear. He remained on shore, with one of the other anglers and we returned to fish just outside the river on an inshore wreck. We managed 17 Plaice up to 1pm. Quite an eventful day but "thank you" to everyone involved.
CUCKOO IN THE NEST
Kevin Rouse's Cuckoo Wrasse - Tuesday 26th May - Kevin Rouse Emailed. Here's what Kevin said: What fantastic weather we had this Bank Holiday weekend, for a change! Thought you'd like to see the vivid colours of the male Cuckoo Wrasse, which I caught today on my good friend, Lee Pearson's boat, "Emily Jane". We decided to hit the rough ground off Exmouth to see if any Bream were about yet, but unfortunately they didn't show. Hope to try again on the next Spring tides.
HUGE BALLAN WRASSE
Torbay & Babbacombe ASA - Big Ballan Wrasse Wins Competition - Email received Monday 8th June from Nigel Foord, fish recorder for Torbay and Babbacombe ASA. Here's what Nigel said: I am pleased to update you all with the Torbay & Babbacombe ASA club's results from the weekends "Rover" competition. Senior Overall Winner :- Mark Loewy 7 lbs 3 oz Ballan Wrasse caught from boat over rough ground out of Torquay. The second place went to Gary Messenger, with a LSD which weighed-in at 2 lbs 10 ozs, also caught from boat, out of Dartmouth.
Junior Winner was Archie Foord, with a Ballan Wrasse which weighed-in at 4 lbs 1 oz, also caught from boat (see news page). The Junior runner-up was William Messenger, with his LSD 2 lbs 1 oz also caught from boat.
Mark Vaughan Huge Ballan Wrasse caught from Shore on Brixham Breakwater - Thursday 4th June - My good pal Phil Hyde, who writes the ever popular angling pages in the Herald Express Newspaper, kindly sent me a photo of one of the biggest Ballan Wrasse to be caught from shore in our area. Mike Bailey, Hon. Sec. of Brixham SAC, had already called me to tell me of this exceptional fish, caught during the regular informal "Open" Wednesday evening shore angling competition, which is hosted every week by Brixham SAC on the Breakwater. All-comers are most welcome to participate.
Phil said in his Email: 6 lb 11 oz 4 dr male Ballan Wrasse, caught during the Brixham SAC Wednesday evening Open competition on Brixham Breakwater. This 141% specimen Ballan Wrasse was caught by Dave Vaughan, who is normally a coarse angler, from Brixham. He used a carp rod with float tackle to capture this magnificent specimen. It won.
SPECIMEN SMALL EYED RAYS CAUGHT FROM SHORE
Andy Copping, Brixham SAC New Shore Caught Club Record for Small Eyed Ray - Wednesday 3rd June - My good pal, Dave Fortune, who is Press Officer for my home club, Brixham SAC, Emailed, with a tale of yet another excellent shore caught fish from a local South Hams mark. Here's what Dave said: Another Brixham SA Club record fell this week. Andy Copping visited a South Hams shore mark, where he caught a huge Small Eyed Ray of 13 lbs 10ozs 14 dr.
Ashley Cockram Huge Small Eyed Ray Caught from Shore - Saturday 6th June - My good pal and fellow Brixham SAC member, Ashley Cockram, Emailed. Here's what Ashley said: I went out and tried to catch one of the Small Eyed Rays down near Start Point. After a few hours of fishing and several Dog Fish later, I had a nice run and look what popped up. I caught a 12 lbs 6 ozs 4 dr, Small Eyed Ray from Shore.
SMALL BOAT BIG FISH
Saturday 6th June - My good pal Mick Rice popped in to visit Patsy and I, with some photos of fish caught from his own private small boat off Dartmouth, during a recent visit from Buxton in Derbyshire. Mick spends much of his time visiting Paignton to enjoy our local sea angling; he's almost a local. Mick told me: Paul Skinner from Derbyshire caught a beautifully coloured female Cuckoo Wrasse, while his pal Paul Marriott, also from Derbyshire caught a Ballan Wrasse, fishing from Mick Rice's private small boat "Stalouca" off Dartmouth. Paul Marriott also caught a beautiful Male Cuckoo Wrasse. Mick Rice caught a good sized Bull Huss 11 lbs 11 ozs from a rough ground mark, again while aboard his private boat. Les Marriott (Grandad) caught a Bull Huss 8 lbs 4 ozs, while his Grandson Ben Marriott, age 9 years, showed him how it should be done with his own Huss, which weighed 9 lbs 4 ozs, even if his Dad, Paul Marriott, did have to help him to hold it for the photo.
"ANNE CLARE" CHANNEL ISLANDS CHARTER
Kevin Tate, who charters his big bright yellow hulled Blyth 33 catamaran "Anne Clare" out of Torquay, sent some details and photos of a very successful charter trip to fish the waters surrounding Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, for 4 days during the first week of June. The party of anglers included, amongst others, Paul Vaggers who is Hon. Sec. of Torbay Sea Angling Festival and Tony Berry who is the Hon. Treasurer, together with several others who enjoy their angling aboard "Anne Clare". Kevin asked me to include his personal thanks to Paul and all of the lads, for making the trip one of the most enjoyable he has done. Kevin added that the barbecue they enjoyed, around the pool at the Hotel where they stayed on the Island was amazing, together with the bonhomie and general "craick" as the Irish call it. Here's what Kevin said: Here are a few details and photos from our last Guernsey sea angling adventure.
Tony Berry from Paignton SAC caught a cracking Cod from a deep water wreck on route to the Island. An orange Twin tail soft lure did the trick. Brian, from Torquay, caught a very good Pollack, which was taken on a wreck in the mid-Channel while fishing for Cod. Not a lot of Pollack are caught while targeting Cod, but when you get one on your line, it's often a good specimen. A White "Shad" lure was his chosen attractor. John, caught a personal best Cod, taken while drifting a very small piece of wreckage on the edge of the Hurds Deep, again using an orange coloured "Twin Tail" lure. Paul Vaggers, who is also a member of Paignton SAC, caught several good Cod, on orange coloured "Shad" lures. Paul went on to catch Turbot and Black Bream in the Islands.
Brian, from Torquay, caught a brace of Brill on Launce (Giant Sandeel) baits while drifting over sand banks. The better of the two is a new personal best for Brian, who was very happy. Robin Kellow, from Torquay, enjoyed good sport amongst the Black Bream, catching a fine brace on Scallop Frills, the muscle which attaches the Scallop to its shell, which is the top Bream bait. Robin also caught an excellent Turbot on a fillet of day old Mackerel over a sand bank.
"ANGLO DAWN III" SALCOMBE LING & COD
I know that with a new baby and lots of excellent angling to enjoy that Salcombe charter Skipper, Chris Roberts has been kept pretty busy over the last few weeks. We regularly chat on the 'phone to keep in touch with what is happening, but a picture tells a thousand words. Chris's Wife, Mary Emailed last Wednesday and said, "Chris asked me to forward these photos, as his feet don't seem to be touching the ground at the moment, let alone getting near a computer. Chris said: We were fishing the "Skerries" banks aboard my Salcombe charter boat "Anglo Dawn III" on Sunday 31st May. Greg Johnson caught this fine Plaice which weighed 2½ lbs.
Back on Thursday 28th May, we enjoyed an excellent day when we caught some fine Cod and Ling, further off-shore. Kevin Gravener caught his Ling, around 15 lbs on a Mackerel "Flapper" bait. Owen Weston caught his Ling 23 lbs on a Mackerel "Flapper" natural bait, while his Brother used a similar bait to catch his own Ling which weighed 16 lbs. Owen's Brother changed tactics to use a "Sidewinder" soft lure and caught an excellent Cod in prime condition, which weighed 13 lbs.
SHINTA NILAWATTI SPECIMEN MACKEREL FROM SHORE & HARVEY BEVAN-JONES THIN LIPPED MULLET
Shinta Nilawatti, another enthusiastic lady member of Brixham SAC Emailed, to tell of more excellent shore caught fish by herself and her Son, Harvey Bevan-Jones, a Junior Brixham SAC member. Here's what Shinta said: Finally, I caught a decent fish this year. My Son Harvey, Jason Upham and I went early Tuesday morning 2nd June and tried to have a go for Thin-lip Mullet. Jason and Harvey had a few and soon Harvey caught one which weighed 1 lb 13 ozs, which is the biggest one he has caught, so he is very happy. Soon after, we had to take him back home to get ready for school!
Then Jason and I went across to Torquay, to try for Garfish. None were caught, or even seen. We caught good numbers of Mackerel. I was lucky to get the biggest Mackerel I have ever caught from Shore. I've been waiting for 2 years to catch a specimen Mackerel. It weighed 1 lb 12 ozs 8 dr, and I am still "Over the moon." That is my first specimen fish this year and it is June already.
BRIXHAM SAC MEMBER'S COMPETITION RESULTS
My good pal Dave Fortune sent this report: Brixham SAC held a member's competition for best specimen fish, over Saturday night and Sunday. It was won with a Spotted Ray from the "Skerries" of 6 lbs 4 ozs, by Owen Thomas. 2nd was Matt Brooks who managed to find a spot on the very busy Scabbacombe to Kingswear coastline, as the comp clashed with the 1st heat of the Plymouth shore league. Matt managed a shore-caught Huss of 11 lbs 8 ozs. 3rd place was Owen, again, with a "Skerries" Blonde Ray of 21 lbs 7 ozs 4 dr. MC Commented: Fish recognition. Take a look at the Blonde Ray photo. The spots on the topside of the fish on the "Blondie" go almost right to the edges. Now look at the "Spotted" Ray photo. There is a distinct border which is clear of spots around the body on the top side of a "Spotted" Ray. Confusing, but very straightforward, once you have sussed out this easy distinguishing feature.
GOOD FISH CAUGHT FROM BOAT & SHORE
Once again I've been defeated by available space, without me hinting at or referring to any "Politix". I have been inundated by the many fishy tales and photos I have received this month. I have included photos of some of the more interesting or unusual specimens I have been sent. I apologise in advance if I have omitted you. But, you know you have been published on my "Fishing Dartmouth" website.
Read Mike Concannon's full Dartmouth report with photos in this month's SAN
Full SAN competition details here
HAMPSHIRE COASTAL REPORT By Allan Watson
Smoothhounds and weed (not wacky) are what beach anglers are targeting at the moment, with plenty of both being landed from Hayling, Southsea, Gilkicker, Browndown and Hillhead and if you can put up with the weed then the chance of a double figure smoothhound is on the cards. The potential new British record smoothhound has been landed from Hayling, an amazing fish weighed at 28lbs 10ozs and I think that you'll have to go some to beat this weight this year but as long as we all follow the catch and release code then who knows how big they'll get. Plenty of small bream during the day are being landed on worm/squid and there are a few 2lb'ers on baby squid and at night from what has happened in past years, there is the chance of a decent tope if you're prepared to sit and wait with big baits. Mackerel are shoaling up in calm weather and they like a bit of tide so Chichester, Langstone and Portsmouth harbour entrances are a good bet as well as Gilkicker, the Millennium pier and Warsash should see a few landed. Take a cool box and ice packs to keep them in as soon as you catch them and they are great eating and also a good bait to freeze down but they must be chilled as soon as they're caught if you want them at their best. Mullet are now shoaling in all the harbours and as a fighting fish they are one of the hardest fighting fish you will ever latch onto but you need to tackle them with a little guile, keep the beach kit in the shed and have a go with a 10 or 12 foot float rod with 4 or 6lb line and you'll soon find out why carp are the favourite coarse anglers fish, they fight like hell and don't know when to give up.
Gosport and District AC Beach Championships
Round 6 of the Gosport Angling Clubs Championships saw the members travel to Chesil beach and they found plenty of dogfish ravenous for their baits and Rick Jones managed to land 11 for a weight of 6.95kgs winning the match and gaining 105 points towards the championship title. Runner up was Colin Morris who landed 6 dogfish for 3.5skgs and 56 points and Dave Ellis in third spot landed 4 dogs, including the heaviest fish of the match, weighing 2.4kgs and 49 points.
Round 7 of the championship race was a rover match where anglers head to their favourite spots and Andy Pellat won this round with a spotted ray, 3 dogfish and 7 pout for a total weight of 4.48kgs and he also won the heaviest fish pool with the ray that tipped the scales at 1.95kgs. Runner up was Dave Ellis with a mullet and 8 eels for 3.69kgs and Sue Edwards was top lady and third overall with 2 dogfish and 6 pout and a weight of 1.82kgs.
Chippie Arthur Sabunas (pictured above) and his workmates have regular trips out aboard the Portsmouth charter boat Jo Dan and he was rewarded this time with this 50lb tope which not only gave him a right tussle landing it but it went on to destroy skipper Phil Hunts scales as they attempted to weigh it before photographing. They crew had a great day with big smoothhounds, tope to 50lbs along with a couple of bass and a few strings of mackerel that went home for supper. Anyone thinking of booking a charter trip with one of the boats that leave daily from Portsmouth and Langstone should get afloat now and as long as they listen and follow the skippers advice they could have the best days fishing they’ve ever had.
PLYMOUTH BOAT REPORT By Geordie
Getting close now to the workboat show at Southampton, and apart from running trips we have been putting a lot of time into preparing C-Cheeta for the show. Deep sea wrecking is hard work at the moment, and although some good fish are being caught they are very elusive. Most of the Pollack being caught are only weighing in at around 12-14 lbs.
King Reef Cod grounds isn’t faring much better, the Cod just haven’t turned up yet, which is strange as normally by this time anglers are having some fine fishing there, even the Pollack don’t seem to have arrived. On my last two trips there we had only two Cod, one of 18 lbs and the other of around 15 lbs. What was noticeable was the absence of any feed on the reef, I doubt if the Cod will turn up until it does.
All in all one is having better fishing on the reefs at the moment, with plenty of Conger, Ling, and small Pollack to keep you occupied on The Eddystone rocks.
C-Cheeta had a party from Southend on a Conger trip and caught Conger to 65 lbs and Ling to 24 lbs. What was remarkable was that they were using 20lb uptiders to great effect, and had some great sport playing the fish on light tackle. Hands Deeps is the in place for reef Pollack using thin strips of Mackerel or sand eel. A private boat has been getting into some fine Cod on the drop off area, with fish to 15 lbs being caught. Herring are shoaling close by, which could account for this.
Now that we are having some fine weather I am sure the fishing will improve. I just can’t understand what is going on at the moment. We have had Cod inshore all through the winter, when normally they would have gone by October and not returned inshore until late May. The winter Pollack turned up two months late, and were still being caught with roe in them as late as April and now the King Reef Cod are late getting onto the ground. Maybe nature is telling us that we have got our seasons wrong, judging by the weather we have had it may be right. Shaun Brett who has been skippering Size Matters for some years now has taken employment with Sutton Harbour but I think he will still take her out on days off. Who knows we may see Graham her owner taking to the wheel again.
Geordie Dickson can be contacted on 01752201572 or e-mail c-cheeta@blueyonder.co.uk
EAST SUSSEX REPORT by Kevin Morgan
ANDERIDA
On Friday 24th May The Anderida club held a beach match with 33 anglers fishing in Pevensey Bay. The winner with 2lb 7oz was Phil Metcalf, a close second with 2lb 6 ¾ oz was Fred Brown, third Peter Fountain with 2lb 4 ½ oz (including a nice eel) and fourth Paul King with 2lb 3oz. Paul also landed the biggest fish with a bass of 1lb 8 ½ oz and the heaviest flatfish was a dab of 4oz, shared between Phil Metcalf and Gerald Sargeant. The points also counted towards the final round of the spring cup, with the overall winner, Phil Metcalf amassing 79 points, with Colin Isaacs runner up with 76 points.
On Thursday 4th June 24 anglers fished The Anderida club match and again fishing proved difficult with only 6 anglers weighing in. The winner with 4 fish, 3eels and a sole for 2lb 8 ½ oz, was Gerald Sargeant. Second with a smoothhound (the heaviest round) of 2lb ¾ oz was Paul King, third Dennis Puttick with an eel for 1lb ¾ oz and fourth Fred Brown with a flounder (the heaviest flat) for 13oz.
THE TERMINUS
On Saturday The Terminus held a beach match in Pevensey, with the winner Dennis Puttick landing 2 eels and pout for 3lb 14 ½ oz, Dennis fished at Whitehorses. Mark Underhill was second with 2lb 14oz and third Peter Fountain with 2lb 3oz.
On Saturday 6th June The Terminus held a beach match in Pevensey Bay, with the winner Peter Fountain fishing at Whitehorses with lugworm. Peter caught sole of 1lb 4oz and a bass of 3lb 2oz to win with 4lb 6oz. Second was Gary Windeat with an eel and pout for 2lb and third Steve Jenkins with 1lb 8oz.
THE NOMADS
On Tuesday 26th May 28 anglers fished the first round of The Nomads Bass and species cup. Fishing was slow with the winner Keith Erridge landing a bass and eel for 40 points and a weight of 3lb 3oz 6dr, second was Steve Domsalla also with a bass and eel for 40 points and a weight of 2lb 7oz, with Michael Powell finishing third, again with a bass and eel for 40 points and a weight of 1lb 15oz. The heaviest round was a bass of 3lb 14oz for Simon Watkins with Dean Riley landing the heaviest flatfish with a dab of 3oz 6dr.
On Monday 1st June The Nomads fished their second Bass and Species Cup, with 27 anglers fishing in calm conditions. The fishing proved hard with the winner Ian Hopper landing one bass for 25 points and a weight of 1lb 4oz 4dr. Second with a smoothhound for 20 points was Rod Parris and third was Keith Erridge with an eel for 15 points. The heaviest fish was a smoothhound of 4lb 2oz for Rod Parris, with 20 anglers failing to land a sizable fish.
PBAC
Also on the 1st of June The P.B.A.C. held a beach match in Pevensey Bay with Gerald Sargeant catching two eels and a bass for 2lb 8 ½ oz. Second was Dave Basterfield with an eel and a bass for 1lb 15 ¼ oz and third was lady angler Jan Welfare with a bass of 1lb 5 ¼ oz.
WORKING MENS CLUB
Recently The Working mens club held a beach competition in Pevensey Bay, fished at the end of the bungalows along coast road. The winner with 4lb 6oz of pout was Steve Oliver, second was Melvin Moulding with 4lb and third Leigh Herbert with 3lb 4oz. Leigh also landed the biggest fish, an eel of 1lb 3oz.
ANGLERS DEN SPECIES HUNT
Anglers Den specimen hunt began on Sunday 31st May and finished on Sunday 7th June. With seven categories, biggest bass, silver eel, pout, sole, plaice/dab, smoothhound/dogfish and best any other, 32 anglers spent plenty of time targeting these species. The winner of the bass was an excellent 7lb 1oz fish caught by Tom Jarrett at Alice's pipe late on Thursday night. The best eel was a 1lb 7oz specimen caught by Keith Mitchell; Keith also won the best smoothhound with a 6lb 5oz fish. Ian Hopper also picked up two categories with a dab of 4oz and a garfish of 9oz for the best any other. Arran Aghili won the best pout with a14 ½ oz fish and Peter Fountain won the biggest sole with 1lb 4oz caught on Saturday 6th June. One of the unluckiest anglers must have been Joe Plumstead, his sole was beaten on the final night and he managed two smoothhounds over 6lb (as well as several others) without quite beating Keith's. The wooden spoon winner was the unfortunate Barry Pugh; Barry managed to go the opposite direction to where the fish were caught on at least 3 to 4 occasions, stating that the previous night the fishing was rubbish! Only to find out it was great the other end!
GENERAL
Keith Erridge organised a catch and release match on the river Ouse on Sunday 17th May, with 14 anglers braving unfavourable wet and windy conditions. The winner with four small bass and two flounders for 105cm was junior angler Macaulay King, second with 6 bass for 97cm was Dean Riley and third with 72cm (including the biggest fish a 37cm mullet) Kevin Morgan. The Pairs winners with a combined total of 156cm were Dean Riley and Keith Erridge.
On Saturday 25th May Anthony Collins and his father fished on their own boat Kestrel Warrior out of Eastbourne Marina on an offshore wreck. Using a sidewinder on light tackle Anthony hooked into an amazing Pollack. The fish was estimated at well over twenty pound as it went 18 ½ lb gutted! An exceptional fish for this region. Danny Masters and crew made the most of the recent good weather with two days self-drive boat hire from Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne. Over the two days, fishing on Harwell Charters' Arvor 230, Danny and crew caught bass to 5lb, cod to 10lb, pollack, wrasse (including a 4lb specimen), garfish, pouting and mackerel. All were caught no more than 5 miles from the marina.
On Wednesday 27th May Syd Dann held an over fifties beach competition in Pevensey Bay, unfortunately in heavy rain with a strong force 6 south westerly wind. The winner with 3 fish, two pout and an eel was Mike Perfect with 1lb 3oz, second was Peter Fountain with a 13 ½ oz flounder and third David Lloyd with a 9 ½ oz pout. At the same time as this match Jamie May fished with lugworm and a size 2 hook in Normans Bay and landed a nice 5lb 3oz bass! Will Street and Jamie Morgan enjoyed a good days sport on light tackle in their own boat Atlantic Star out of Eastbourne Marina recently, both catching plenty of smoothhounds up to 9lb.
Will Street with 6lb smoothhound
BOAT REPORT FOR NORTH THAMES ESTUARY AND PORTS OF BRIGHTLINGSEA, WEST MERSEA & BRADWELL by Lee Bolingbroke
Most charter boats are moving offshore now with the inshore marks still holding plenty of skate and small bass but not much else. Tope fishing is now high on our priority of fishing now with the best fish so far caught in our area from the charter boat Sophie Lea from Brightlingsea, Essex with a fish of just shy of fifty pounds caught by Joe Chaterton from Evesham chairman of Fleece Angling club this fish was closely followed by Anthony Candy also from Evesham on the same trip with a Tope of forty seven pounds.
Another nice fish caught on the Sophie Lea the next day was a fish of forty six pounds caught by Phil Rayment from Tiptree Essex Phil, a regular and experienced angler, has fished many charter boats in the area but this was his best fish off the Essex coast. All the Tope were caught on fresh mackerel which is in abundance in our area in the Thames estuary again this year with some very large fish being caught, you can not beat them for fresh bait and a great treat on the barbecue.
Smoothhounds showing up in ever increasing numbers with fish too sixteen pounds these early fish are quite happy to take squid baits and we erg our anglers to use squid rather than hermit crabs as you are unlikely to catch other species by just using crab were as squid will take just about every species.
Bass fishing has picked up a bit now with most trips picking up one or two fish, our biggest so far has been an eleven pound fish caught by Paul Wimetein from Tiptree. Plenty of small tope being caught many of them are this years fish so I think that it has been an early breeding season and a very successful one.
The bigger hounds will soon start to make an appearance with the very large breeding females coming in to the flats to drop there pups these fish as many know are ferocious fighting fish but must be treated with care when caught and released as soon as possible know size 12 boots holding them down on the deck, we want these fish to return to give us great sport in years to come. And be careful every year we warn our anglers of the possibility of loosing rods to this fish but still every year we get several statistics with a lost rod to a smoothhound slack of the clutch and keep rods low in the rod rests. Small school bass are now showing up in the rivers and estuaries as are sting rays a light rod is ideal for a bit of sport with the bass but remember sting rays like worm baits too.
THE HUMBER TO THE THAMES by Ray Power
Well summer is here, bad news by the time you read this the nights will be already getting longer. For this time of the year those small tasty wriggly flatfish start to show from the more popular marks, hopefully the Thames will be some what better than last year. I have heard over the last week or so some starting to show from the south side of the river at Gravesend. In fact one good angler fished a couple of weeks ago and had ten eels, several flounders, small bass and lost a much bigger fish. By this time next month we should get a better idea of the sole season this year.
Boat fishing from the Thames has been patchy at times with the wind playing a major part, always it seems far windier than forecast. Good roker catches with a few better bass mixed in, smoothhounds making themselves known as well now. In the last week a few reports of the bass starting to shoal and feed on surface fish, so alert anglers can have some hectic fishing. Mackerel shoals have also suffered with the windier and dirty water, some settled weather should tighten the shoals up. Which means the fish will take fresh mackerel as the number one bait, however top quality fresh frozen has been working well. Canvey shore marks are producing some small bass at all the main marks with rag, squid and crab or cocktails of taking fish. Night tides have been better using flapper rigs.
Suffolk marks have been fishing well for bass mainly small but some better fish to 4 to 5lb, a few soles with the best mark Southwold Pier, doggies from all marks. Night time tides seem to be producing more fish, rag, squid and crab are the top baits. A tip I was given is to head for the mouths of any of the rivers where there is plenty of current and dirty water. The river Stour is giving boat anglers with light tackle some fun bass fishing, just drifting down with the tide using rag or crab baits.
I read a report of some charter boats out from Grimsby, venturing right out into deeper water and having some fishing. Ling to 22lb, cod to 9lb, loads of mackerel and whiting, enough to make some happy knackered anglers at the end of the day. The Lincs coast the smoothhounds have appeared, anglers need to use crab baits though with some very big shore fish being landed, some fish up to 20lb. Chapel Point is the main mark, however a word of warning. It seems that several cars have been hit and many items have gone missing, as the best time has been the night time, idea pickings for the plebes that target the pleasure angler.
To finish of this report, a couple of rumours from the grapevine. First the more truthful one, that a smoothhound of 24lb was landed from a Norfolk beach. The second one nobody that I have heard of has got to the bottom of yet. That is reports of a 24lb bass landed from the same county, well enough have been netted so one day it will happen. Whether this is it or not, only time will tell. When you consider the size of fish landed by the trawlers of certain fish, it can’t be long until some headline fish are caught. For example bass of over 20lb are regularly caught off the coast of the Channel Islands and nets round the south east. Sting rays of well over 100lb of the Thames estuary are just two to mention.
WEYMOUTH REPORT By Paul Whittall
Offshore fishing on the wrecks during June has so far been excellent with good cod catches, pollack to 18lb with live mackerel sorting out the best specimens, plenty of ling on certain wrecks and lively congering during anchoring sessions. Mackerel are in good supply to boost the catches whilst at anchor.
The cod are taking virtually any artificial lures with Tempest, Storm and Sidewinder lures extremely effective. There's no particular favourite colour as everything is working. Hopper rigs fished on short traces are very successful, especially with twin tails, but then again so are lures fished on long traces using the retrieve method.
Inshore fishing is producing bream, a few early season bass, congers, huss and the usual run of bottom feeders expected from the many rough ground marks the Weymouth area has to offer. The first attempt at blonde rays on the Kidney Bank has been reasonable with a few rays to 21lb using pennel rigged squid/mackerel cocktails.
The highlight of the inshore fishing is that there has been plenty of cod which are taking hopper rigs fished on the drift from a wide variety of marks around Portland.
The Channel Island trips are much more productive this year for turbot and brill plus the hottest action imaginable for the tope....over 100 in one session in early June. All returned of course! For a multitude of reasons there are not so many boats making it over to Alderney this year but if you are booked to go, look forward to some varied and productive fishing. Bass are noticeably absent so far but hopefully they will arrive next month on the spring tides.
July will surely see an increase in the bream around Portland and bass in the Race and on the Shambles Bank. The cod will still be here and congering sessions from both inshore and on the wrecks will feature. We may experience another good run of tope from inshore marks as we have in the past two years.
And now an apology...last month's caption with the 4lb 22oz (yes, that what it said) plaice was incorrect. The plaice was 4lb 2oz and the captor Martyn Gleaden. Martyn, a member of the Blandford SAC in Dorset, was hoping for a moment of fame for his dear old mum. So, mum, apologies for getting the name incorrect...it really was YOUR dear son Martyn who caught that fine plaice as featured last month.
Every month I make the point of thanking our angling customers for coming to Weymouth and supporting the Weymouth charter fleet. This are not empty words. Believe me, the charter skippers really appreciate your support in what are very difficult financial times for many of you. I hope you enjoy some excellent fishing a great day out on your next trips. On behalf of the Weymouth skippers, thank you to all of our valued customers.
BRISTOL CHANNEL REPORT by Dave Roberts, AlyKat
Again, good weather helping out the charter fleet. Some fantastic ray fishing has been enjoyed with specimen fish of all varieties. Yeovil RBLSAC joined me for a day's ray fishing with Steve Ridout landing a 14lb small-eyed. Minutes later his rod was again bending into a good fish, this time it was a blonde of 24lb. Both rays were returned to fight another day! The same trip produced good small eyeds for most anglers with Mike Cousins joining in with a nice blonde. The day after, a party of locals enjoyed similar sport with Tauntons Pete Duckett taking the best blonde of the day at 16lb 8oz. TOR sac continued the ray bonanza with Tony and his brother Colin Whitcombe taking a fine brace of small-eyeds around the double figure mark at the same time. Andy Bickle also accounted for a good small-eyed of 10lb. Dogfish still a pest but who cares when the fishing is so good! To the west, tope are now starting to make an appearance with several fish over 30lb reported. Also smoothhounds to fifteen pounds. The first of the mackerel have now been taken with some reasonable Pollack also from the inshore reefs. Bull huss will now have laid their eggs and will start to move offshore. These fish will be with us for the rest of the summer and can be taken in good numbers from offshore rough patches. www.deepsea.co.uk and bristolchannelangling.co.uk will find the Minehead charter boats ready and willing. I still have a space or two for keen anglers who would like to fish with regular "AlyKat" weekend parties. Give me a ring for details.
Tony and Colin Whitcombe with a pair of small-eyed rays taken aboard Alykat
BRISTOL SHORE REPORT by Jansen Teakle
Full SAN competition details here
What a great month of fishing we have all enjoyed during the past month. Plenty of cod offshore and huge variety inshore. It was just a shame that unseasonable weather on some days prevented boats getting out, especially during May and early June. At the time of writing however, mid June, things seem to have settled down and anglers getting afloat have had some days of flat seas.
For the second year in a row, cod are again prolific offshore and most boats are choosing to target these on the open ground rather than drift the wrecks. For the most part, catches are slightly down on last year although catches of over 100 fish on the boat are still common. It is good to see that many smaller ones are being released and these do seem to survive. On True Blue, we keep our smaller fish fresh in the live bait tanks. Many of the fish recover from their ordeal and swim healthily. We then select the liveliest fish for release.
It is becoming obvious that the cod that we are catching are becoming very wide spread with many new marks being discovered. Some of the marks fish well for several days before catches drop off, only to be fishing well again a few days later. Size class also varies from day to day proving that the cod are not confined to certain areas but move about the channel. As with this time last year, there are many good sized fish to me caught with many doubles being landed. One lucky angler on True Blue landed a 21lb cod and then another of 27lb on the very next drift. Fish of this size however are the exception and are the only 20lb plus fish that we have seen from the open ground.
Inshore fishing at the moment is full of variety and this was once again proven during the tenth Poole Species Hunt, which was held on Friday June 12th. This conservation friendly annual competition attracts top anglers from around the country and once again Poole demonstrated its diverse fishing by returning a catch that included in excess of thirty species. Two teams tied for first place, each catching twenty different species. The winning teams were "Kent Boys Plus One" fishing on True Blue and "Fladen Hookers" fishing on Our Gemma. Top boat was, well, there were fifteen top boats this year. All boats that took part deserve praise. Skippers support this event for well below their normal pay in order to promote Poole. The competition publicises the huge variety of species that can be caught locally and brings anglers back to the area in the future, benefiting all local businesses associated with angling.
On May 25th we held a Shakespeare sponsored Dads, lads and lasses on True Blue in order to raise money for a worthy charity. This years charity was Chernobyl Children's Lifeline, a charity that brings children affected by what happened in Chernobyl to the UK for holidays. To raise money, children fish for species and are sponsored for how many species they catch. This year we had eight youngsters fishing including three girls. Fishing was pretty good but we had to move twice to get away from the bream in order to give other species a chance. How we dreamed of catching what proved to be very illusive dogfish and pout. Top rod on the day was Gabby Evans who unaided landed 33 bream and won her a Shakespeare reel. Best fish went to Nicholas Crow with a fine bream of 3lb. At the time of writing, we are still waiting for some monies to be paid, but it looks like the event will have raised around £800 for charity.
Finally, an unusual catch fell to local angler Gary Hall on a recent evening trip. Gary landed a turbot that was white on both sides with a few black markings top and bottom. One angler commented that the fish must have been living on a discarded chess board. But, whatever the reason for it's strange colouring, it secured the fishes survival. No one wanted to risk eating it so the fish was released.
Steve Porter, Owner/Skipper, Shakespeare sponsored boat "True Blue"
A 3lb Bream for Nicholas Crow taken aboard True Blue - our Shakespeare Junior Boat prize winner this month
CHESIL REPORT by Heggy
For those wondering what happened to last months Chesil report, unfortunately I was other wise engaged, my son was taken quite seriously ill and I spent a great deal of time at the hospital with him, but thankfully he's home again and all being well, on the mend, so its back to business with the Chesil report. Chesil has not been at its best over the last few weeks, patchy is the best way to describe it, Smoothhound turned up as usual but not in the numbers expected at the beginning of the season and only on the bigger tides, although the average size was probably up over previous years, best reported at 13lb, first Gurnards and Bream started to show, their numbers should increase steadily from now on. A run of large garfish saw two local club records broken, Dorchester SAC member Phil Bowering took a fine specimen of 1lb 14oz in their latest club match and then Weymouth AS saw their record go for the second year running, Phil Cheeseman upped his own record by an ounce to 1lb 13oz. Phil also took a number of good size Mullet to 5lb during his Gar trips. Plenty of Dogs and Pout after dark. Mackerel shoals the size of football pitches earlier in the month but they seem to have disappeared for the moment, I expect them back any time now. Expect the first Scad mid July and if we have a prolonged spell of warm weather then the first Triggers are a possibility.
Rock mark over on Portland full of small Wrasse with very few over the 2lb mark occasional one to 4lb, Gars from the Bill during the tide, Rockling .Pout and Pollack after dark, unusual catch from the rocks where a pair of rays in the local monthly team league a small Thornback and a 5lb 10oz spotted from the cliffs at Cheyne over on the East side of the island, Portland harbour holding a reasonable stock of fish Bass, Gilthead Bream and Eels but for how much longer I don't know, commercial pressure seems to be increasing almost daily with no control over it, unlike when the Navy had jurisdiction and fishing was tightly controlled, shame because it is a fantastic area.
Weymouth harbour full of Mullet, both Thin and Thick Lips, another record to go in the last month was my own thin lip which stood at 4lb 2oz, it is now up to 4lb 6oz, taken by one of our up and coming young anglers, James Lane. A few Bass at first light and the first Eels have started to show, I wonder if any one will get to the 5lb mark this year as 4lb fish are becoming more common, I love fishing for them as they give a really good account of themselves on light gear, sandeel or peeler crab are the two main baits.
WFSA, Environmental Officer
The Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers (WFSA) has managed to gain the expertise and knowledge of Mr Roger Cook. He has taken on the role of Environmental Officer and his job is to take stock of what the W.A.G. (Welsh Assembly Government) is doing about the implementation of two marine fishery bills that are being proposed...
The "New Fisheries Management and Enforcement Regime in Wales" And the "Wales Fisheries Strategy". He has already had meetings with W.A.G. dealing with these proposed bills.
All the relevant information regarding the initial meetings can be found on the WFSA website, www.wfsa.org.uk he is particularly keen to get information from anglers regarding problems in their respective regions. To get the information to him visit the website and click on Conservation where Rogers email address can be found. I would urge all welsh sea anglers to see what's being done on their behalf by visiting his pages within the website.
Mike Dixon, WFSA Press Officer
SCOTLAND REPORT By Barry Scholes
The South West area is fishing well this month, most estuaries are alive with Flounder fattening up on the rich feeding to be had, along with a few Bass and Eels. Several Tope were caught from the shore in June, with a few of them going over 30lbs. Smooth Hounds are also being caught again this year along with some better sized Bass. The Mull of Galloway is producing good fishing just now, Wrasse, Pollack and Mackerel from the usual rock marks, and there is always a chance of Mullet from these open sea rocks and gullies.
It is expected that the fishing will improve throughout July with Dogfish, Bullhuss and Thornbacks showing to fish baits, while Bass, Flounder and Eels will continue to search for moulting crabs that are available through the warmer months. Bass and flounders are available from many of the beaches right round the South West up into the Clyde estuary. However there are not so many of the small Coalies showing so far this year.
Just a reminder This years Clyde and Western Region Children's Open Match is on the Sunday 6th September. Further details will be available later on, or alternatively call Lindsay Wilson on 07852279636, or email him on lwilsonbuilders@talktalk.net. This match will have over £10,000 worth of prizes donated for the kids again this year. I am sure that it will be another huge success, the 165 pegs will be quickly snapped up. This match is also a Penn Qualifier.
Further north anglers heading for the sea lochs will find many of the usual haunts very busy, try a midweek outing if possible to avoid the crowds. Thornback ray and Spurdog fish will draw many anglers from around the country, please make sure that you tidy up your mess and lift your rubbish before you leave the beach or rock mark. It is an absolute disgrace the state of some of these beauty spots get in during the year.
Every angler has a duty to care for the environment they fish in, so don't leave your old fishing line, bait packets or other debris lying about after you have gone. This just spoils it for other people and may lead to some marks being made out of bounds.
The East Coast marks will start to show Cod and Wrasse from the rock marks while beaches down the length of this coastline will have the usual flat fish including Dabs, Turbot and Flounders, along with a few Bass as well. The Scottish teams will be heading to Wales in July to fish the Home Nations Shore Championship. I would like to wish them the best of luck and hope that all 3 teams can bring Gold medals back to Scotland. They know it will be a difficult and challenging competition, however the guys are really looking forward to getting in amongst the fish.
Congratulations to the Scottish Home Nations Boat Team who lifted team Gold at the recent championships held in Scrabster. This was a close match with the Scots holding on to a first day victory to seal the win. Please get in touch by email scholesb@btinternet.com or call me on the mobile 07769804024.
NORTH EAST by Sam Harris
At last there has been a big improvement along the North East coast for the boat angler. The wrecks have started to produce cod and ling into double figures and there are also a few pollack being taken - best 10 lb. Hoki’s, daylights and jiggers, baited with mackerel strip or squid seem to be working best. Boats are also taking good quantities of mackerel now and this year this species seem to be exceptionally big, with an average of 2 lb to 2 ½ lb fish being taken.
Boats fishing closer inshore are also taking reasonable numbers of cod, plus pouting and also mackerel, while fishing the sand, the boats are taking some good plaice to 2 ½ lb. and a few turbot - but the main species is the flounder, with crab baits and mackerel strip working well. For anglers out of the River Tyne, the North Shields boat “Mistress” skippered by Tony Avis is now taking bookings for summer evening mackerel trips. Bookings can be made at Billy’s Tackle, North Shields on 0191-2596262.
The North East Division (Marine) of the Angling Trust is hosting the very popular Frasers Open Boat Competition on Sunday 5th July. This is a HSF competition and is open to all boats, both private and charter. Entry is £8 per person. The registration is from 7.30 am on the day at the Royal Quays Marina, North Shields with fishing from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. Weigh in is from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm prompt at the Royal Quays. Competitors may only weigh in one fish and take one prize. The competition will be in two sections - one for boats over 20 ft and the other for boats under 20 ft - this includes kayaks. Competitors may fish from any port they wish. The first three HSF in each of the two categories will receive a percentage of the entry monies. Tickets will also be on sale the fortnight before the competition at selected tackle shops. Further details from myself on 0191-5184561 or e-mail samharris01@aol.com.
Shore anglers are now getting mackerel in big numbers from piers along the coast and, as usual, when this species moves in we get the “so called” anglers taking black plastic bags full of these fish home … and after finding no-one wants them, they put them in the bin. I wish someone would teach them about conservation.
Rock edges are still producing odd cod - not big fish - 3 lb to 4 lb is a good one, as most of them taken are 1 lb to 1 ½ lb with crab and rag taking the fish. The beaches north of Newbiggin are producing a few decent plaice and flounders - again to crab and lug. The River Tyne is still producing lots of undersized codling, good flounders up to 2 lb plus, and eels. The River Wear is giving mainly flounders and eels.
On Sunday 12th July the Bob White Shore Competition is being held at Amble. The following weekend the Bob White Open Boat Competition is being held on Saturday 18th July. For details on both these matches, contact Amble Angling Centre on 01665-711200. On Sunday 2nd August the Ian Woods Open Boat Competition is being held. Details for this match are as for the Frasers Open Boat Competition.
Tight Lines
MORE REPORTS & PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE SAN EVERY MONTH
We welcome your letters, emails and photographs. Write to The Editor, Sea Angling News, 27 Lower Bere Wood, Waterlooville, Hampshire PO7 7NQ Tel. 02392 265445
More
Discount Fishing Tackle Offers from
Tacklebargains
|
||
*SEA ANGLING BOOKSHOP *FRESHWATER/COARSE FISHING SECTION
***** FISHING GAMES + PC SOFTWARE *****
Where to Sea Fish in Britain and Ireland (John Bailey's Fishing Guides)
The Sea Angler's step-by-step guide to rigs and baits Great Salmon and Sea Trout Loughs of Ireland
© Sea Angling News