Latest Fishing Reports: Gwen-Paul-M
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30/09/2013
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
30 Sep 2013 by Carl Davies
A three day trip to Wicklow, Ireland resulted in some superb pollack fishing. Today we caught plenty of fish from 6-10lb with the best two of the day being 14lb and 15lb. The 'craic' in Wicklow was great over the weekend too, with bands on in the pubs and plenty of Guinness to be had!
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01/07/2013
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
1 Jul 2013 by Carl Davies
Two Day Isle of Man Trip
We had a two day Isle of Man trip booked this weekend on Sunday and Monday. It was a tough decision as to whether to put the trip on or not as the forecast gave strong southwest winds on Sunday afternoon. However less wind on Monday would mean a more comfortable day to travel back home to Conwy. So we left for the Island on Sunday morning.
We fished a few wrecks in the shelter of Anglesey but fishing was slow with a few pollack up to 6lb. The wind freshened as forecast so we decided to make a dash over to Port St. Mary and arrive a couple of hours early extending the day on Monday when the weather was forecast to be more favourable. We arrived in Port St.Mary to be greeted by a bustling harbour wall full of people and stalls. The annual queenie festival was being held that weekend. Queenies are basically a small scallop and the lads took advantage of some great food stalls to recharge after the hard trip over the Irish Sea.
The following morning as forecast the wind had altered direction and decreased. We fished some of the reefs and wrecks around the Calf of Man which produced steadyish pollack fishing to about 4lb. Many fish were taken on live launce which we caught on a sandbank just off the Calf.
The wind continued to decrease and allowed us to start our journey home via 4 or 5 wrecks. About 8 miles to the south of the Island we spotted many gannets and shearwaters working. We stopped and had the best mackerel fishing I have seen so far this summer. A couple of the lads had smoking boxes at home so were very pleased to catch some for smoking.
The pollack fishing was steady, with fish up to 7lb. We also had one ling.
The wind continued to decrease for a pleasant passage back to Conwy. We were also treated to a display from a few dolphins as we drew closer to Anglesey.
The weather looks unsettled again for the next couple of days but by the end of the week it finally looks to be settling down for a few days. -
07/06/2013
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
7 Jun 2013 by Carl Davies
CRACKING WEATHER!
Two angling trips, on Saturday and Sunday, again in good weather, but not quite as calm as Friday, saw steadyish pollack fishing on the offshore wrecks. Fish came in to 7 lb and Mally also had the first decent cod of the year at about 4lb. Hopefully they will become more plentiful through the next couple of weeks towards the end of June.
The annual algal bloom is at its height at the moment but we did notice over the weekend that it is starting to die off. The algae multiply so rapidly that the water is stripped of the nutrients the algae feed on so the population crashes and dies off. When this happens the water in the Conwy River has a distinct, strong smell of ozone. So hopefully the water will clear over the next couple of weeks as the bloom dies off, allowing the mackerel to come in, along with many of the other summer species. The algal bloom is an essential part of the marine ecosystem and most fish and shellfish species time their spawnings with the bloom. Their larvae then have food to eat whilst they spend their first few weeks suspended in the plankton.
I still have a space on a two day Isle of Man trip, 30th June - 1st July, £165 including 1 night B and B, if anyone fancies a short angling break. -
02/06/2013
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
2 Jun 2013 by Carl Davies
ALL THE DUCKS LINED UP!!
Its not often they all line up, but they did today. We sailed, with Royal Tottington SAC, from Bury, on a 10 hour offshore wreck trip this morning, encountering calm seas with a light air from the north west. The ebb tide carried us down to the west and we tried a couple of wrecks but the fishing was a little slow with a few small pollack.
We ventured a little further out and our new spot produced 4 nice pollack to 7lb on the first drift. Consistent fishing saw pollack falling to many different artificials, notably 6 inch white sidewinders having the edge. The fishing fell away as the ebb slacked so we moved further out again. The final wreck gave the best fishing of the day, over low water, with 5-6 fish a drift not uncommon. The lads ended up with well over 100 pollack up to 8 lb with the main stamp of fish between 4-6lb.
A long steam home, carrying back the flood, in the sunshine, went by quickly as the lads busied themselves filleting their catch.
Great fishing, weather and a good bit of banter thrown in, a day that will be hard to beat, thanks lads.
Reports from inshore today tell of an early showing of tope with one of 30lb landed on another charter boat from Conwy.
We have still not caught one mackerel yet as water temperatures still struggle to get to 10 degrees but hopefully they will arrive soon.
I have space for one on a two day Isle of Man trip 30th June - 1st July, £165, including Band B, if anyone fancies a short angling break. -
21/04/2013
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
21 Apr 2013 by Carl Davies
At Last.....Good signs offshore.
A weather window today allowed another foray to visit some offshore wrecks. Even in Conwy Bay the signs were there, hinting towards a big change in the water temperature, since a fortnight ago. Temperature inshore had increased from 4.7 to 8.7 degrees! Offshore the difference was less marked, rising from 6.7 to 7.4 degrees. Doesn't seem like much, but enough to put the pollack back on the feed. We had about 40 pollack to 7lb. Not startling fishing but at least the season seems to have finally started. Pollack fell mainly to rhubarb and custard 4-6" sidewinders. We also had a few coalfish to 4 lb.
Another charter boat from Conwy also had plenty of whiting, dabs and dogfish inshore on Saturday.
I have room on Sunday (28th April) on 8 hour inshore fishing trip if anyone is interested. -
24/10/2012
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
24 Oct 2012 by Carl Davies
October 24th
We've had a pretty busy season and I've been a bit slack with the trip reports so here's a summary :). The summer has been challenging weatherwise, to say the least, but with many beginner anglers booking this year we have been able to fish inshore and dodge the weather on many occasions. September, so often a good month for fishing, was disrupted with a few gales, however October has been far more settled with even a couple glassy calm days. Weather has set in now from the north for a few days so its unlikely we will venture out now until next week.
The fishing has been very good at times through the summer and we've seen some species in numbers that we haven't seen for a few years. Notably we saw more thornback rays this year than for a few years. Spurdog were again present in numbers near the Isle of Man in September and over this last weekend we caught a few 20 miles from Conwy. They are definately making a come back in the Irish Sea and are a good fun fish to catch. It was another good summer for mackerel with many large fish amongst them, even in the summer. Normally large mackerel are only seen at the beginning and end of the season but this year we saw them throughout the summer. Inshore ground fishing was good with a variety of the usual species, whiting, dabs, gurnard, dogfish, codling, bull huss, rays and tope. There were some large tope inshore in June/July with the best one around 50lb. The offshore wrecks produced plenty of pollack, cod in May and June, coalfish, ling and conger. Pollack on the inshore wrecks were in short supply but all the other wreck species were around.
We completed 4 two day Isle of Man trips and had to cancel two which was not too bad a hit rate considering the weather we were dealt. The wreck and reef fishing was good on all the trips. The trip proves popular with those that fancy a fishing 'minibreak'.
So is the season over? In November last year we saw some of the best pollack fishing of the year with a few coalfish and codling thrown in. The fishing is a good distance away so we need good weather but I will advertise a couple of 10 hour trips in November, in the area that we did so well last year.
I am presently taking bookings for next year and many weekend dates have already been booked so if you are thinking of booking a weekend day for next year probably an idea not to leave it too long. If anyone hasn't yet used their vouchers there is a trip this Sunday with room, alternatively you could use them next year.
We've seen many bottlenosed dolphins this year. I've also seen a pair of common dolphins on two occasions whilst lobster potting. The second time they were with me for around one and a half hours checking out the pots as they were coming to the surface.
Carl Davies. -
15/06/2012
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
15 Jun 2012 by Carl Davies
We are seeing consistently good fishing on the offshore wrecks for pollack and sometimes cod. Pollack are running in the range of 3lb-9lb and cod 2lb-6lb. Odd coalfish are also being taken.
The spring algal bloom has died off, so the water has cleared and mackerel are now widespread in numbers. We are even seeing launce mixed in with them for those using shrimp rigs which provide a deadly livebait for the pollack.
Pollack have been falling to variety of colours, however on Wednesday, rhubarb and custard 4-6 inch sidewinders took the lion's share of the fish. Ground fishing is producing plenty of bull huss with the odd thornback and tope mixed in.
Grahame made a great dish onboard the other day...a twist on sushi! He mixed chunks of skinned raw cod with coriander, mild chillies, and red onion, with lime juice to part cook the fish. May sound a little odd but it tasted great.
Weather is still proving challenging at times however calm spells inbetween the storms give us chance to venture out.
I have room on various trips which are all listed however if you have another date in mind, please feel free to give me a call or drop an email.
Regards,
Carl. -
30/05/2012
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
30 May 2012 by Carl Davies
May 30th 2012.
At last, more than a week of largely settled weather, with only one hiccup really, last Saturday when an easterly blow curtailed any thoughts of venturing out. We've had a few angling trips and potting days. Mackerel are still very patchy, although we did have a couple of dozen on Sunday. The normal May algal bloom has been at its height the last couple of weeks which affects the fishing adversely, notably inshore. The algal bloom happens every year and is vital for the sustainability of the whole marine ecosystem. Most species time their spawnings with the algal bloom, which provides the lowest link in the marine food chain. So even though fishing can be difficult during the bloom it is of benefit to us for the rest of the year.
There are plenty of small whiting and dabs inshore, with an odd small codling and tub gurnard mixed in. The odd bull huss, ray and plenty of dogfish too.
The water is far clearer and free of algae offshore and a trip to the offshore wrecks today resulted in a great day's fishing with cod, pollack and coalfish. The best cod was about 6lb, pollack 7lb and coalfish 4lb. Fishing very steady on the ebb tide but unfortunately the fish went off the feed on the flood. Its the most cod I have seen for a few years, we must have had 30 or 40. Weather was good too, flat calm all day.
The algae will decline over the next couple of weeks and hopefully the mackerel will turn up in numbers. Once that happens fishing over the whole spectrum should improve. Over the last few years we have had a good run of inshore Tope from about the third week in June onwards, for around three weeks. Hopefully it occurs again this year as the best tope we had last year was 44lb.
We have room on various trips at the moment including an offshore wrecking trip on the 13th June with a similar itinerary to today. They are all listed in the trips update page on my website www.sea-fishing-trips.co.uk -
02/05/2012
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
2 May 2012 by Carl Davies
May 2nd and 3rd 2012.
Two days on the offshore wrecks resulted in a mediocre day on the first and a steady days pollack fishing on the second. The fish averaged 2-4lb with a few fish in the 5-7lb bracket. A mix of lures worked both days from 4 inch sidewinders to firetail jellies. Some pollack were also taken at around slack water by live prawn fished on skinny pink feathers. On the first day the fish were feeding on small sandeels. On the second day further west and in deeper water they had a mixture of prey, sprats, deepwater prawns and even a small lamprey was found in one pollack's mouth. One codling fell to mackerel baited hokkais. One or two mackerel also showing.
Weather is continuing to prove challenging with many days of northerly winds but on the days we are venturing fishing is proving to be ok.
I have room on 10 hour midweek trips on May 15th and May 30th. -
15/04/2012
Fishing Report by Carl Davies
15 Apr 2012 by Carl Davies
A foray to the offshore wrecks today (15th April) resulted in steady pollack fishing for most of the day. Average size was 3-4lb with the occasional one 8-9lb. A few small coalfish were also caught. We saw the first mackerel of the season too, only three though. White 4 inch sidewinders were the best lure on the day and it was easy to see why, as many of the fish were coughing up sprats. Pollack also fell to jelly worms and frozen sandeel.
