Latest Fishing Reports: Devon
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10/2017
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Plymouth, Devon)
Oct 2017 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
Here is the first ever Bluefin Tuna caught from Plymouth on rod and line. Back in July while we were fishing for Sharks we caught a 300lb+ Blue Fin Tuna, the fight lasted just on two hours. What happened during that time I could write a book about, it was truly a dream come true for all five of us onboard that day. The bite was just insane no warning, the reel drag went from 0 to 100 mph in a split second. On the first run it stripped over 350 yards of braid off the reel in seconds, then it went deep down and stayed close to them sea bed. It made three more long runs and at one point I had to chase it in the boat just to keep up. After the first hour with only a butt pad on Barry’s arms give up and he passed the rod to me, as I got the Tuna closer to the boat it started to try and go under the boat making big pin wheels. There was a chance we could lose it so I passed the rod to Tony while I got back in control of the boat.
As we started to win the fight the Tuna kept hanging under the boat about 50ft down so I asked Bernie take control of the boat, bearing in mind he had never took control of Size Matters before he did a cracking job. I was now the wire man as none of the lads onboard had ever wired a big fish before so I had to be on that wire if we had any chance of catching this Tuna. Four or five times I had the wire in my hand and each time with a kick of its tail it shot off and hung under the boat. Finally we got him boat side I got Barry to hold the wire while I put a gaff in the bridge of its lower jaw then I got a second gaff and carefully placed it next to the first gaff. Gaffing a tuna in this part of its jaw results in no blood loss, the welfare of the Tuna was paramount. It took three of us to slide it through the stern door, as soon as it was on the deck we put the deck wash hose in its mouth to keep it oxygenated and kept pouring buckets of water over it to ensure it’s survival. We removed the wire trace and circle hook from its jaw, took some photos and measurements then released it. As the Tuna slipped back into the sea it give two kicks of its tail and was away. The five of us onboard where screaming with joy it was like we had won the World Cup, we all decided to stop fishing and go the pub to celebrate.
Even weeks after, the lads where calling me to say that was one of the best experiences of their lives catching the first ever Blue Fin Tuna from Plymouth and the team work that took place from all five onboard that day.
The Tuna measurements where length 79 inch x 54 inch girth, I have checked all different Tuna length to weight calculations and most are different. The Tuna was easy 300lb+, I have been lucky enough to catch them in Canada to 850lb and I have seen them to 950lb.
(PLEASE NOTE I DO NOT OFFER BLUE FIN TUNA FISHING CHARTERS AND THIS TUNA WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THE BAN WAS PUT IN PLACE BY THE GOVERNMENT).
If you are lucky enough to hook a Tuna while fishing for Sharks onboard Size Matters, we will not bring the fish onboard and it will be released at the side of the boat.
The only reason we are making this public now, is because we are at the end of our summer season at Plymouth and I did want this catch to affect my charters in the middle of a very busy season. Truth of the matter is I have seen Tuna feeding near the surface most days from July to October last year and again this year. I hope one day we will be able to target Bluefin Tuna in the UK on a very strict catch and realise system just like they have in Canada and Ireland. If this was to happen it would be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds to the UK charter fleet. The sad thing about this is commercial fishing boats from EU countries that have quota for Bluefin Tuna can come to the UK and catch thousands of tonnes, while our own commercial boats are not allowed to catch them because they have no quota. What a joke but that’s the UK government all over, look after everyone apart from it’s own people.
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com
07999628511
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09/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Sep 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
With a break in the weather we headed out tintype mid channel wrecks.
Good constant fishing all day with plenty of pollock and some lovely prime double figure fish coming in.
Some nice cod, bass, coalfish, tub gurnards, pout and scad made up the rest of the day's catch.
It's good to see wrecking improving and nice to see some big fish once again.
Pictured is Rob with his 9lb bass.
Officially Torbay festival 2017 top charter boat once again.
2018 diary is up and things are filling fast so please get in contact if you want to book up. Book early to avoid disappointment.
www.spot-on-charters.co.uk 07878 668662
Brixhams premier charter boat. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
09/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Sep 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
Well September saw tha annual Torbay fishing festival and its official that 'Spot On' has one the top charter boat award.
Some great fish landed on board included:
The biggest Ling, biggest blonde Ray, biggest spotted Ray, biggest small eyed Ray, biggest pollock, biggest cod.
Some great prizes won by the anglers and myself, a big thank you to all who braved the rough weather conditions when we were able to get out and supporting myself and Spot On.
The first sightings of Blue fin tuna graced us while mid channel also which was good to see.
2018 diary is filling exceptionaly fast with new and old customers so once again thanks guys.
Spot On is brixhams premier charter boat and brixhams only catamaran.
Pictured is. Bill Cassar with the biggest blonde he's ever landed, a cracking fish of 26lb 3oz View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
08/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Aug 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
Well August has certainly been an up and down month with both the weather and fishing.
But as the month draws to an end the months notable tally's are as follows:
Blue sharks to 113lb,
Conger to 83lb,
John Dory to 4lb 4oz,
Plaice to 3lb,
Tope to 35lb,
Pollock to 14lb,
Cod to 26lb,
Ling to 28lb 8oz,
Black bream to 5lb.
A lot more different species has been landed which include: Turbot, brill, bull Huss, whiting, red gurnard, tub gurnard, grey gurnard, mackerel, launce, blonde ray, small eyed ray, spotted ray, garfish, pouting, dogfish, coalfish.
So although August has been tough it has also produced some truly stunning specimen fish. September is the Torbay festival which is always good fun and I'm looking forward to it already.
Pictured this month is Cyril Williams with his first attempt at shark fishing and landing this fine fish of 113lb, he also landed a cracking eel of 66lb along with other firsts for him which included tope, well done Cyril.
Big thanks again to Sidewinder lures and Top Rigs for there great products which help land these great catches. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
03/08/2017
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
on Optimist (Brixham, Devon)
3 Aug 2017 by Nigel Lihou
Report on-board Optimist
Nigel Skipper of Optimist has now been accredited by the SSACN as a bonafide tagger of Elasmobranchs, (Sharks and Rays). We will therefore start to offer Sharking trips for a maximum of 4 persons and depending on Chum availability (the mackerel have been pretty scarce this year). If you fancy a day of Shark fishing on a catch, photo, Tag and release basis then please call for details. Nigel as far as he is aware is the only Tagger based in Brixham. We look forward to some Awesome fishing and being part of a national Elasmobranch research program. We will as part of the program continue to target Ray and Bull Huss and Hounds on our usual trips to the Banks and reefs.
The wrecks at the moment are inconsistent sometimes producing some good Pollack along with the inevitable Pouting, there have been some good days and some bad days during July as we never know whether the wreck has been netted the night before, but as always we try our best to put groups on the fish, the Pollack seem to be taking on the drop and care has to be taken not to get snagged up in the wreck as a few of regulars have found out.
The banks are fishing much better and we have seen some lovely plaice, Ray, Turbot and Brill even Bass although mainly undersize bass all on the drift which seems to work better than at anchor. On particularly bad weather / wind days we have targeted an inshore reef tucked in behind a headland at anchor we have seen some good Bull Huss along with Thornback Ray and Conger . With the summer the way it has been we are doing our best not to have to cancel but with winds of force 5 and 6 it is not that comfortable.
Spaces still available for August and September call for details View Boats Page
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07/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Jul 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
July has proved to be somewhat a difficult month at times for wrecking with mainly small pollock and some nice ling up to 26lb to keep the lads entertained.
Cod are very few and far between with a few fish being seen every now and again up to 8lb
Skerries has been fishing well for plaice finally with good numbers of fish coming to the boat.
Highlight so far was our first Sharking trip of the year which attracted 12 blues to be boated with 3 others lost.
Biggest fish was 105lb with 3 sharks on at once it was safe to say a good hectic day at times.
A recent wrecking trip saw porbeagles taking pollock on every other drift so always worth a go to target these I think soon.
Plenty of black bream over guernsey for Spot On also but turbot and brill have again proved very difficult at times.
Plenty of bass also on the wrecks around Lyme bay.
Hopefully mackerel will eventually turn up for us so we can give conger a go in the next month or so.
Pictured is the 3 sharks all booked and boated at the same time.
Brixhams only charter boat to catch and land these sharks and brixhams only catamaran taking you where others can only dream of!!
2018 diary open and 130 days already booked so be quick!! View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
06/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Jun 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
Well its safe to say since my last report the fishing has been very up and down with some days pulling my hair out to find a couple boxes of white fish and other days the fish just hectic.
we still await the arrival of cod in decent numbers and are catching them regularly now on most trips.
Some great weather over Guernsey on our last couple of trips with again fishing for flatties illusive but we did manage some fine double figured turbot and brill to 6lb 12oz, my bacon saved by the great black bream fishing over guernsey at present with fish up to 4lb.
My last trip on the skerries was disappointing with only small plaice to show for our efforts and a few rays, certainly not the numbers we should be having for this time of year, but as a 9hour trip for just £350 for the boat its just nice to wet a line on the banks I suppose.
Hopefully things will pick up soon and I look forward to the first shark fishing trips this year and maybe a tuna or 2! who knows!
More Guernsey trips planned also and bookings filling for 2018 fast so hurry if you want a date!
Many thanks to Top rigs for there great bream rigs doing the business and looking forward to trying out the new conger rigs they have made me.
Also Sidewinder for there continued support and amazing, tough, durable lures that consistently bring results.
Top colours so far this year: skerries sand eels and Jet pink.
Spot On is Brixham's only catamaran with speed, comfort and results!!
www.spot-on-charters.co.uk
07878668662 View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
05/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
May 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
April and May have turned out to be a great months weather wise and has enabled 'Spot On' to get in some great fishing on the mid channel wrecks which have produced some great catches in the shape of Pollock, Ling, cod, coalfish, whiting, pouting, bass, conger eels and tub gurnards.
The skerries bank has been very slow in producing plaice but when anchored in the correct spots it has produced some great ray fishing with Blonde Ray's being the most productive, other Ray's have included spotted and small eyed Ray's.
The first trip to Guernsey in the middle of May saw a 4 day trip consisting of plenty of cod and pollock on the crossing along with some good action on the banks, topped off with some large black bream fishing.
Species landed on this trip was: cod, pollock, Ling, coalfish, pouting, ballan wrasse, turbot, brill, blonde ray, dogfish, tub gurnard, red gurnard, mackerel, Sandeel, black bream.
Top lures have been sidewinder black and pink taking plenty of fish. 1 cod came to an old sidewinder that a guy has had in his box for years! Just goes to show these lures last the test of time!
Top rigs bream and conger/Ling traces have worked very well and have been used in great success.
Thanks again for my sponsors.
Taking bookings for 2018!!! Get in quick!
Premier charter boat Spot On.
www.spot-on-charters.co.uk
Pictured are a couple of the blonde Ray's caught at the same time while fishing the skerries bank. All Ray's were returned unharmed after photos. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
View Full Charter AvailabilityMon 09/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Tue 10/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Wed 11/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Thu 12/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details Fri 13/06/2025 5 Spaces £550.00pp 5 day Alderney trip. Brill / Turbot.View details -
02/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Feb 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
February has yet again been another lost month due to the constant strong winds hitting the south west.
With a break in the weather for a 4 day period we hit the mid channel wrecks in search of big Pollock, with every wreck we hit it was netted so on we moved again, yet again another net, boats coming up from Mevagissy to net Devon's wrecks and then local boats from Plymouth also netting makes life very difficult at time, only consolation was seeing a French trawler tow next to a wreck and then watch the dahn boys of the wreck nets disappear behind him.
We were not disheartened and soon Spot On was on the money once again with loads of Pollock hitting the deck with double figure fish every drift.
Some absolutely cracking fishing was had by all over the 4 days and as you can see from the recent pictures it was your truly who had a go when just 4 anglers on the boat and caught and I caught a whopper Pollock of
21lb 2oz.
Just 4 trips in February for 'Spot On' from Brixham in Devon. Lets hope March gives better weather.
Brixhams Summer Plaice competition is filling and spaces are limited so if you would like more details on this please get in touch.
Thanks to Mark from Top Rigs who came down for some fun and had a his fair share of fish, we will be trying his ling traces out very soon.
Also sidewinder Lures for tempting all the great fish we have caught to the net.
Spot On still has plenty of individual spaces available for day trips as well as Guernsey trips and Cornwall trips.
For more information please call or txt 07878668662
www.spot-on-charters.co.uk
Pictured is Steve with his fantastic nearly 20lber just 1oz short. better luck next time mate. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
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01/2017
Fishing Report by Ross Parham
on Spot On! (Brixham, Devon)
Jan 2017 by Ross Parham
Report on-board Spot On!
January has been a tough one with only a few days at sea fishing the mid channel wrecks in search of BIG winter Pollock. (Easterly winds forcing most days cancelled).
The trips have been very successful with some great prime hard fighting fish being taken and in good numbers too with early finishes to get the 3+ hours of filleting done!
The photos from just the few trips completed in 2017 are showing real promise for another great year on board Spot On.
Bonus fish have included a few bass, lonesome Cod and some large tub gurnards along with a lobster.
The smaller tides will now see us focus slack water on the big Ling which should be around and with the fantastic sport on the Pollock still going strong, with many double figured fish I hope this continues through February and March until we await the arrival of the Cod.
New for 2017 is a 3 boat Brixham Summer Plaice Competition with some great cash prizes and trophies up for grabs. to be held on June 5th & 6th. Please get in touch if interested.
2017 Calendar is now fully up to date and filling fast, so if there is something that suits yourself please get in touch.
Channel Islands trips and Cornwall deep sea adventure trips also with spaces so why not Join Brixham's Premier charter boat on some great trips with great fishing!
The skerries should now be producing BIG blonde rays with the occasional early Plaice so well worth a try if you want to try something different.
Thanks to Boat Sponsor's Top Rigs and Sidewinder Lures for once again given me there support for anther year.
Pictured is a Lobster caught on a Rhubarb & Custard Sidewinder which was carefully returned after photo.
No trips complete in February 2017 to date yet. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Spot On!
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