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  • 05/2012 Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)

    May 2012 by Gethyn Owen

    Report on-board My Way 2

    With the first few weeks of May turning out to be a major disappointment owing to consistently high winds, we were feeling fed up having cancelled far more trips than we had actually sailed. The only highlight was our first smoothhound of the year, topping the scales at over 20lb in weight; we certainly wanted to catch more!

    As the 3rd week of May approached, so did a far better forecast, north Wales was finally going to receive some settled weather, allowing us to set sail more often. Sunday 20th May was an individuals day aboard My Way and included 3 members of the Wirral based Rafa Sea Angling club, whose current club record for smoothhound was set at just over 22lb last year by Graham, who was after even bigger in 2012.

    Sadly this wasn’t to be Graham’s day, but fellow cub members Nige and Ian both acquired new PB’s with hounds of 17 and 18lb respectively. Check out a video of Ians 18lb hound here More hounds including a pb 16lb’er for Terry made for a great day afloat.

    A few trips recently were made up with individual anglers, all regulars and all looking for some great sport from big Holyhead smoothhounds. Wirral angler Kev Pye was on a mission to bag a smoothie, a specie that had so far eluded him on his fishing exploits. The angling gods were looking down on Kev and not only did he land a smoothie but also managed his fist ever ray, only small but a tick for rays, spotted in particular.

    The same week we were joined aboard My Way by members of the north Wales Environmental Agency. More used to the rivers and waterways of north Wales the guys wanted a crack at the big smoothies regularly caught aboard My Way. It was though proving to be a quiet day with only a couple small ones falling to the bait of organiser Joel that was until young Matt, making up the numbers on his dads work trip started fighting what looked to be a very good hound. After a 20 minute struggle that saw the smoothhound make many dives away from the boat a big smoothie was safely in the net. A few photographs and a weigh in the sling and Matt had landed a 22lb 12oz beauty.

    One of the many football adversaries that I have made over the years is Curly a true blue Manchester City fan, loves to mention the ascendancy ‘Citeh’ have found themselves enjoying in recent years. The fact it is all down to charitable donations from an oil rich sheik and not true footballing genius as when LFC conquered home and European football is apparently irrelevant … ! Never the less, we helped Curly bag his first smoothhound with a hard fighting hound on light sensor tackle weighing 12lb 8oz. Not to be out done, Dave also a Manc, but quieter, landed a 12lb 6oz first!


    Sticking on a footballing theme, Colin Hughes, a hardened Evertonian was determined to catch a double figure hound. Having already blanked on the hounds a couple days earlier, this was to be the day when the bitter and twisted blue nose (really he is, even Ketchup is banned in the Hughes house) landed a quality 16lb smoothhound ……. and kissed me on my cheek to say thank you … would everyone please note that this is not a requirement when catching anything!

    The same day we had 3 generations of the Keegan family fishing aboard My Way and all wanting PB hounds … we succeeded with Mr Keegan snr also catching the most smoothhounds :)

    Some of the days have been a struggle with the hounds. One day can see many double figure small sharks come aboard My way and the next only 1 or 2. That's fishing as they say .... when afloat there is always that chance!. More photos please check out Gallery 90 and also watch the video Windy Smoothhounds.

    Our June day sails are currently full, if spaces become available they will be listed online as soon as possible, so please keep checking back. We do also offer anglers the opportunity for various typos of fishing during our popular evening trips. Sailing from 5.30 pm we return to port usually for 10pm. Please call or email if interested.

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