Report, Celtic Wildcat - Sharks

Date - 28/09/08.

My 2nd Danglers shark trip of the year aboard Celtic Wildcat, and another 7am start from Neyland. We were greeted by a pea soup fog, and took us nearly 2 hours to navigate to St Annes head.

The fog finally lifed and we headed out to the Smalls lighthouse. Soon we had feathered enough mackerel for the dubby, and bait, along with a few pollack and launce.

Another hour of steaming and mashing, and we were on the shark grounds and baits were soon in the water. To kill the time before the 1st shark run, a few of us dropped baited feathers the long way down to the sea floor, with immediate results. A whiting of of over a pound, and numerous doggies were soon on board.

Then Ian's (Daihook) ratchet started clicking, signalling the first run of the day.

Ian into his 1st blue

Ian sensibly holding the blunt end of his 102lb blue

Ian's pregnant female of 102lb was soon followed by another pregnant fish for the other Ian (Phillips), which again weighed 102lb! We had another few runs during the day, but only managed to boat one other fish of around 50lb.

Wayne later showed everyone how to catch the garfish, boating 3 in a short space of time.

All too soon it was time to head home.

Species caught on boat - blue shark, mackerel, garfish, pollack, whiting, dogfish, launce.

Report, Delosal

Date - 27/09/08.

Only a quick 2 hour trip to make the most of the weather. Mackerel were a bit thin on the ground, but managed enough for bait, which eventually tempted a 3lb 8oz bass.

Report, Teifi

Date - 25/09/08.

A few brownies from Tanycoed (released), and a big blank from Mackwith after dark!

Report, Local Estuary Mark

Date - 22/09/08.

Managed 9 fat flounder in 2 hours.

Report - Wild Frontier, Weymouth

Date - 18/09/08.

RCSL Sea Boat Fishing Competition 2008 - Weymouth.

I had been drawn on Wild Frontier skippered by Clem Carter, for the above event - a species hunt competition. We set off at 8 am, and bagged up on mackerel for bait, then steamed off to a reef mark that Clem had planned to fish.

Within minutes of dropping the anchor, and starting fishing - pout and poor cod were hitting the surface. These were soon followed by bream to 3lb, and a goldsinny wrasse - which unfortunately did not score as was unclassified and was under 9 inches. Once I had reached my limit of 10 each of poor cod and pout, I changed over to larger hooks, and pulled in a cuckoo wrasse, and a pollack of around 4lb+. Still being plagued by pout and poor cod (which no longer counted) - dropped a few bream and a nice huss on the surface, and without boating these fish - they too didn't count.

As the tide eased Barry Davies (who was an honourary Welshman for today - making up the 3rd member of our team!), hooked a huge fish, that he could do nothing with. After 4 or 5 runs and a near 10 minute fight - the fish bit through his leader. He was completely gutted - and not having seen the fish, made it worse! Minutes later I landed a conger of around 15lb.

The tide turned and pushed the boat off the reef and onto a patch of sand, and I managed to latch on to a doggie. The fishing slowed, and we headed off to Clems 2nd mark - approx 50 yards off Portland - for an assault at the wrasse.

First drop - ballan wrasse. Second drop - ballan wrasse. Soon I had my 10 ballan wrasse limit, and another pollack, along with another goldsinny, some corkwing wrasse, and tompot blennies - all of which were unclassified and under 9 inches! A quick change of tactics and a spot of groundbaiting, resulted in a garfish on the 1st drop.

Another move put us over slightly deeper water, which resulted in a pb undulate ray for me - 15lb 15oz. I also managed to get my huss on this mark and another few doggies for good measure.

Undulate 15lb 15oz

All too quickly the 6 hour competition was over and we steamed back to Weymouth harbour.

Somehow - I ended up winning the overall competition with 289pts, and winning the shield for most qualifying fish with 47.

Report, Slapton Sands

Date - 16/09/08

Fished Slapton for an hour or so, and managed only one mackerel on feathers. Nothing else caught along the beach!

Report, Berry Head, South Devon

Date - 15/09/08

Fished Berry Head for 2 hours with only mackerel for bait. Had plenty of garfish on a float fished strip of mackerel.

Also managed a few wrasse fishing 'down the side'!

Nothing much else caught apart from mackerel.

Report, Various

Date - 03/09/08

With a planned shark trip called off due to the relentless bad weather, Steve & I headed out for some brownie bashing. We ended the day with a fair few (all released) to various flies.

Typical size

Steve's in the picture somewhere. I can only see the fish!

Date - 26/09/08

Fished the Teifi after work, and managed 2 of the smallest sewin I've seen on a mepp. Also managed a few brownies, but no real size.