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  • 29/12/2019 Fishing Report by dominic wilson on Dawn Venture (Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway)

    29 Dec 2019 by dominic wilson

    Report on-board Dawn Venture

    So,2019 is drawing to a close and it seemed like a good time to summarise the year....We landed 6 common skate with the best at 201lb and the rest 171-193lb.We landed over 35 tope with the 2 best at 47lb and 45lb respectively.Spurdogs were numerous and some days they were in plague proportions ! the best however went 24lb with many others at 22/23lb and quite a few over the 20lb mark.It doesn't seem unreasonable to get 1 over 25lb in 2020.Bullhuss were quite plentiful with plenty in the 15-18lb range and the best at 19.5lb(which skipper dom landed!) Smoothounds were scarce with only a couple landed with the best at 5lb.The pollack fishing was dire with poor numbers and the best at 5lb right upto the end of the season and when the water cleared out in late October til mid November we averaged over 50 fish a session with the best at 8lb and 9.5lb and again these were caught in the harbour entrance.We caught quite a few wrasse this year with the best ballan pushing 3lb and quite a few cuckoos (male and female) upto 1lb.returns of cod,haddock and whiting were variable and I put this down to the massive increase in spurdog numbers.We caught 35 species this year plus a new one.....pilchard!
    Again this year,we struggled with the windy weather and it tore the bookings book apart! That said,I have invested in a new vessel...."OPTIMIST" which is a 32ft heavy build offshore that is licenced for 10+2 crew and has a 400hp Iveco engine + turbo under the deck combined with a 5 blade propeller giving a cruising speed of 12-14kts and top speed of 18-20kt.It also has 2 bunks onboard,a gas hob with twin burners,a toilet and a live bait well

    As always,bookings are being taken for the following year and 2020 is no exception! I have the tidebooks for next year to assist in tide/day/date selection.
    With the added speed,I am now looking to venture further afield on the longer trips....it would not be unfeasible to fish the deep water marks off the Mull of Galloway and south of it and also venturing off to the coast of Northern Ireland and perhaps 2/3 days away to the Isle of Mann.
    Phone me on 07739231331 for a chat

    The attached photo is of Wullie Shaw and his 24lb spurdog

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