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  • 06/2012 Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)

    Jun 2012 by Gethyn Owen

    Report on-board My Way 2

    Over recent weeks My Way has sailed with great regularity. I wouldn’t say that the weather has been the best, far from it to be honest. But we have been able to work around most of what the wind gods have being throwing at us and taken each day as it comes.

    This scenario helped out by some great crews aboard My Way, for example where our intended marks have been off to Holyhead Deep and the wind has blown, we have simply loaded up with a selection of rigs and baits including quality fresh peeler crab and enjoyed a species hunt inshore along with some great small shark action inshore.

    Fortunately we have seen some very good double figure smoothhounds aboard My Way once again in 2012; sadly only 2 have topped the magical 20lb mark this year. But with many anglers reaching personal bests averaging 15lb and a few with 18 and 19lb fish it has again been a successful period for us. If our observations over recent years are followed, next year could be a return to bumper hounds for us.

    As June has progressed the fishing has continued to improve, with good numbers of species being caught on most days. At anchor we have hooked into the usual dogfish, whiting, dabs and small codling along with a good amount of blonde spotted and thornback rays, in fairness though the vast majority of the rays small in size, nice to see never the less and returned to grow bigger in time.

    Drifting around the shallow reefs close inshore sees an almost daily increase in quantity of fish being taken, there is still a very good amount of pollack in the 1 to 3 lb mark, the odd bigger specimen and also occasional codling and rogue coalfish falling to a variety of baits and lures. Hard fighting wrasse are growing in numbers and size as we are able to drift more on our favoured marks. Ballan and cuckoo wrasse are giving the light tackle enthusiast some exciting sport and these species will only get bigger as summer progresses.
    Sadly strong winds have been a constant over the recent months, more so on neap tides, the very tides that we need for a good day afloat in Holyhead Deep. When we have been able to get out there, the fishing has been exceptional. Spurdogs have been in great numbers on the vast majority of trips, they have also been averaging double figures with some specimens topping the scales at over 16lb. Big huss have also been ever present over the slack water, and getting to the baits when the smaller spurs have allowed.

    What has been missing in numbers for Holyhead and My Way is the tope. We’ve not seen any yet, although guess we’ve lost a couple based on hook ups and runs, speaking to Gareth on Spindrift he’s also waiting the great arrival, however having landed a couple himself. By now we have normally had a number of small pack tope mixed in with the spurdogs? This is the general situation from as early as April with the bigger tope moving in around June time, but so far none, strange really as our usual marks are producing well for double figure sharks, sadly though with the exception of tope. I’d like to blame the sporadic appearance of mackerel, but anyone knowing Holyhead will be aware that the only thing that is consistent about our mackerel fishing is the inconsistency, so no real indicator. Hopefully this situation will improve now as we head into July and we can add the thrill of hard fighting tope to the great species list so far for 2012.

    A surprise species landed recently was a streaked gurnard. These are quite rare around the UK; I’d never seen one before during my personal fishing travels. Scratching around on a species hunt, Rob Field called a gurnard to upset his fishing companion Lloyd. A quick look indicated a tub or very pale red. However on closer inspection the blue on the tips of the pectoral fins of a tub was missing and the colour was certainly not red, even the shape of the head looked slightly different.
    I did have my suspicions then and took a few photographs before the gurnard was released to the sea. Home that evening I emailed the photo to a good friend who for me is second to none on fish identification, a hobby that has turned into a passion over years. The reply came back ‘tis easy- a streaked’; superb and well done Rob.

    Please check the galleries on our website (www.goangling.co.uk) for up to date photos and reports of exactly what is being caught out from Holyhead and particular aboard My Way..

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