Report - Benjoma

Date - 18/12/08

Jumped on Benjoma again today with a few lads from work. Conditions again were against us, with the wind blowing a steady force 6 westerly. Luckily Penarth is sheltered somewhat from the Westerlies, and the trip was on, and we locked out at 8am.

We steamed the short distance to our 1st mark, and our went the uptide rods loaded with lug, rag and squid cocktails. After 10 minutes or so, my rod tip bounced a couple of times, and the gripper released from it's position, I wound down into the fish, but it was not on!

With the tide flooding, the mark became too lumpy for a few of the guys on the trip - so we moved to a more sheltered mark. We managed a couple of whiting here, but soon became too choppy to stay there! A codling of around 3lb came up as the anchor was being pulled!

The next mark was again slow, with only a few whiting to show, until the novice downtiding on the stern pulled in a codling of around 2.5lb. This was followed by another quiet spell, so the skipper decide on one last move. Again as we were in the process of pulling the anchor - I pulled in a codling of around 1.5lb, which was returned to grow bigger.

The final mark was not that far off shore! We had moved there hoping that the codling in that area would not be feeding on the sprats. With only an hour or so of the trip to go - we had finally found the cod. Around 5 or so good cod bites were missed in no time, but we managed to pull in another 3 fish, with a 3lb'er to myself. On gutting it - it was stuffed full of tiny crab.

Report - Silver Spray - Needles

Date - 11/12/08

My 3rd and final day down South. the forecasters had for once got the weather right, and today was the ideal winter fishing day.

Again we steamed over to the Needles, only to be greeted by another 15 or so boats. We slung the hook over, and as it was Tuesday - it was bites right away! These were predominantly channels, (to 3.5 - 4lb), along with big pout, and dogs. The chap fishing in the middle of th estern then had a cracking bite and wound up a nice cod of 7lb or so, minutes later I had a cracking take on a single squid, I let off some line, tightened and felt the nodding of a cod.

Again, about 8lb or so. Another 3 cod followed, all around the same stamp. The big channels kept on coming throughout the ebb, and over the slack. All too soon we had used up the last of the bait (20+lb of squid!!!!!), so it was time to head back to Poole.

A lovely 3 days away, super company, a few beers, fantastic weather, and some good fishing to boot - doesn't really get any better.

Report - Silver Spray

Date - 10/12/08

A corporate group joined us today - 11 hire rods on a works xmas bash. With a later than usual start, we didn't have time to steam to the Needles, so Andy anchored us over his big cod mark.

Unfortunately the cod didn't play ball, but by 2pm every one of the party caught their 1st ever fish, consisting of whiting, dogs, pout, and a smoothie.

Report - Silver Spray - Needles

Date - 09/12/08

The first day of a 3 day planned session with Andy. We were met by a stiff Northerly breeze, but the Needles on the IOW would provide protection for us.

Within minutes of dropping the anchor - the rods were nodding, and pout, whiting, and dogs were soon on board. Then as the tide started to slacken off, I had a much better bite, and wound into a lovely 8lb cod.

We picked up another slightly smaller cod (same stamp though) before low water, then it went quiet. Once the tide started to flood, the fish came back on the feed, with jumbo whiting being the mainstay along with the ever present pout.

Another cod of around 6lb took a shine to a single squid, and that drew the day to a close nicely. No lunkers but plenty of action.

Report - Delosal, Burry Port

Date - 06/12/08

I woke to a glorious windless day, a quick look at the tide table and a dash down Burry Port to hop on my Warrior 165.

Within minutes of anchoring up and dropping a flapper rig - the rod tips were bouncing. The result were some nice whiting up to 1lb 8oz.

Dozens more whiting and a few good dabs later - it was time to head for home.


Date - 07/12/08.

Another belting day, so I decided to use up some more of the manky bait from the freezer. I took with me only some old squid and frozen blacks that had been in and out of the freezer a few times.

Within mintutes of anchoring up, the rods started bouncing, and whiting were soon coming aboard, along with a suprise pout.....

The 1st ever pout on my boat - Having had the boat since Feb '05!!!

The whiting came thick and fast, and within 3 hours, I had boated over 100 whiting. most of which were released, but I did keep a few for the pot, along with a few dabs.

Final haul of 'keepers'.

A very successful couple of hours, using up some of the old bait from the freezer and replacing it with good quality fish.

Report - Benjoma

Date - 04/12/08

An early rise to a wet and windy Kidwelly, it was bad enough for me to text Ian to see if the trip was still on. Trip on was the response, so off we set. We locked out at 8am from Penarth, and travelled the short distance to our 1st mark (after having to abort the initially planned 1st mark, due to sea conditions!!!!!).


Fishing was slow at the 1st mark, with only a few whiting to show for our efforts. After the tide began to ebb, the wind eased a little and allowed us to move a little further off shore. Not long into fishing at this mark, Jason wound into a nice little codling, which he released to grow bigger.

Ian was up next....

Then, while re-baiting one rod there was a bite on my other rod........

The result - a 3lb+ codling

Jason managed one more codling, and that was that. Weird that we had not encountered any eels or dogs!

All in all a decent day afloat - with suprisingly favaourable sea conditions, given the weather!

Thanks to Ian for organising (and for taking picture - that I've pinched!!).

Report - Ogmore Deeps

Date 02/12/08

Story of the night - dogs, dogs, & dogs!