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  • 18/08/2011 Fishing Report by Luke Rees on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    18 Aug 2011 by Luke Rees

    Report on-board Celtic Wildcat

    Anticipation built in the week leading up this trip, whilst someone from the club couldn't make it I saw it as an ideal opportunity to try my hand at sharking and get the fish of a lifetime.

    Numerous phone calls between Greg (Co-ordinator for the day) and I had me kitted out with gear that would be suitable for the day. Big rod, big reel and lots of line to rip off. Greg had also recommended to me a company called Rok-Max for all the end bits for sharking. So I had all the gear, and no idea we set off from Neyland Marina at 7 am on board the spacious Celtic Wildcat with Nick O'Sullivan.

    Nick had already prepared a rubby dubby, essential for shark fishing I learnt. Rigged in such a way that the bag of oozing minced mackerel and fishy oils dispersed an oily slick away from the boat to attract the predators.

    Our first stop was the Smalls Lighthouse. Here we would fill a box up with Mackerel for the days bait supply, and for any more rubby if we needed it. Conditions were good as we arrived at the smalls, a very quick and smooth journey in the fast catamaran she is saw us making good time. We were going in to the wind, not that you would really tell. The sky was cloudy, and there was talk on board among The Danglers of rain and wet weather gear. Nick branded us jonnas, as you would expect with the anticipation of the rain and so the days banter began.

    12 minutes at The Smalls, 12 minutes is all we were filling a box, yes filling a very large box full of Mackerel. They were jumping in the boat, and I'm told by the old sea dog Greg Laycock that it was a record. So Mackerel feathers were unclipped and big traces went on, and I mean big.

    Greg showed me how to rig a shark trace, and a little while after departing the pretty lighthouse we were at The Celtic Deeps. Rubby bags in, floats over the side with huge Mackerel baits and we were set. The traces for most consisted of a 15ft wire rubbing trace and a 3ft wire biting trace with a semi barb less hook ranging from 9/0-14/0 across the boat.

    We had set up in the middle of a mass of wildlife. Before long there were sharks breaking the water with their fins. Dolphins, masses of them passed us jumping gleefully time and time again. And then there was the whales, huge massive Fin Whales spouting water up all over the place and coming pretty close to the boat too. So close in fact Nick thought it a good idea to put 1 of the engines on make the whales aware of our presence.

    In terms of fishing, I had a good and bad day. I was getting help from all angles with the guys and I really appreciated it. But I lost a few bits of gear, I am in debt of one float, one biting trace and a rubbing leader to Greg. Sorry. But it was all worth it in the end.

    The first shark of the day, went to Clive Jones. And to every ones surprise it was a Porbeagle and not a Blue.

    Nick really showed he knew what he was doing, wrestling with the Sharks to get them safely on board. Well done Clive a fish measured to 93lb. This was the first of a brace of sharks for Clive today, as he later (after failing to find any Garfish) caught a good size Blue.

    Action was very hectic, and you were a bit reluctant to leaving your rod in case it was your turn so my pictures are limited.

    Paul Canning had a good Porbie too..

    The day had become glorious, the sun was now beaming down and sharks were ripping lines here there and everywhere. Dangler Steve had the best haul of the day with 4 Blues and 1 Porbie. He must have been knackered.

    Mike Steer had done battle with a shark, a bloody good one we guessed too. He fought it for close to 40 minutes and looked like he was gaining on it.. until ping. Gone. A humble man he said "That's fishing". A much better man than me I would have needed my mouth washed out.

    I had a good run, and did battle with a shark of my own for a couple of minutes before a tangle prevented me from gaining line and all of my gear was lost.

    It was now late in the day, Jason had the boats biggest under his belt for the day with a 124lb Porbie. There were two sharks currently being played by Ian Pratt and Greg. Then, with only my bait in the water as some were packing down.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! It dropped it, so Steve advised me to leave it a few seconds. I then picked it up and bang fish on. It took me two laps around the boat, climbing here and there. Jason kindly secured a butt pad around me which made it a bit easier... not much. And it wasn't long before skipper Nick pulled my first ever shark in. A Blue measuring to 70lb. Fantastic and what an experience.

    It was time to set off on the long journey back to Neyland all 43 Miles of it. In total we had boated 21 sharks, 10 Blues and 11 Porbies. It was a day for records with PB's here and there, first Porbies, quickest box of bait and boating more Porbies than Blues.

    A huge thank you to both Nick and Greg (Skipper and Co-ordinator/My mentor for the day). Both worked hard to ensure that all Danglers had a fantastic day on the water. So much so I have booked again, better get some more gear in.

    Thanks
    Luke

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