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04/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
on Galloper (Brightlingsea, Essex)
Apr 2014 by Scott Belbin
Report on-board Galloper
April has been a busy month for the 'GALLOPER' we have had lots of trips and thankfully not missed any of them with the weather playing ball and some decent fishing in the river when it wasn't.
There have been good numbers of thorn-backs about with a few early smooth-hounds and bass showing along with the odd late cod. Many places close inshore have got large numbers of under sized codling about. At times its hard to get through them and the whiting which are feeding up on the crabs, shrimps and anything else they can get down their greedy little mouths.
We have had several trips with large numbers of thorn-backs on board but the best of which was with a group of regular lads aboard. 5 of the lads come out once or twice a month and were joined by Ed on his first sea fishing trip. There was a bit of breeze first thing but we got to our chosen mark comfortably. We spent the first hour and a bit there with just a couple of whiting and one ray for our efforts. We decided on a move and headed a little closer to shore for the end of the flood. The breeze was a bit more of a pain here making the boat sheer around on the anchor a bit as the tide eased off but we managed to winkle a few more rays out including a tagged one for Ed. We took down the fishes details and reported them to CEFAS who had tagged and released the fish else where for research. This was all done at sea thanks to the wonders of mobile phones with internet and the fish was reported before we had the next one aboard. We had a few baby codling and whiting as the tide died. The ebb got under way and we picked up a few more fish now and then over the first part of the tide. The wind got up quite a bit by now but thankfully it was still comfortable enough. The last couple of the tide were suddenly very busy though with large numbers of fish coming aboard often two or three at a time and sometimes as many as five thorn-backs on at once. As the tide eased we had to head home in time for my evening trip but still managed 64 rays for the day which is a good number considering we had a slow start.
We have had a few other days with good numbers too and even the slower days have seen a few fish aboard. We’ve had a couple of days in the river with some decent numbers coming out of here when we wouldn’t have got out otherwise. Our biggest ray this year came from the river and although it was hard to weigh in what was quite a sea it went over 16lbs. Most trips see the odd double come out though.
We managed to get offshore a couple of times and found the odd spurdog and cod among other things including fair amounts of dogfish which can be testing. Our next trip offshore is planned for the 5th of may when we hope to target some bass. I still have some spaces then and on a couple of other dates in may should you wish to join us.
The thorn-backs should still be about in good numbers over the coming weeks. Hopefully we will start to see a few more bass mixed in along with one or two more smooth-hounds too. Squid will pick most fish up but herring can be good for the thorn-backs further offshore and worm is best for targeting bass. for more information, available dates and a weekly fishing update visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or phone 07956411528
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