View Fishing Report

  • 17/09/2010 Fishing Report by Ian Pratt on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    17 Sep 2010 by Ian Pratt

    Report on-board Celtic Wildcat

    My arms have only just recovered enought to post this report....so you know we had a good day.

    12 members of the Danglers club steamed out from Neyland on Celtic Wildcat to fish the Hats and Barrels reefs. A lovely calm early Autumn day in the Haven and a little fresher as we rounded out into the ocean and headed out past Grassholm. The northerly air flow gave us super visibility at this wonderful Pembrokeshire location.

    It was pretty much non-stop codling from the start of the day to the end. They came on every lure and shad from sidewinders to goldfish and fire-tails as well as hokkais. The majority were just in size so went back but we all had a few fillets from the larger specimens to take home.

    The pollack - usually the main predators on these reefs - were fewer in numbers but they did make an appearance. The codling were so prolific, some Danglers were actually heard to complain that it was getting too exhausting - drop then nodding bite; drop then nodding bite; drop then nodding bite......! All day, every drift, drift after drift. The codling which were coming to the boat and immediately going back were specimens that would make for a good day out of Penarth in the winter months....

    Anyway, catch of the day by a very very long mile was young Luke from Dale with a lovely codling which came on large red hokkais.

    Later on, following the diving gannets and other bird action, we tried for mackerel and caught strings of mini joeys. We also had ballan and cuckoo wrasse.

    So a good H&Bs trip all round. A huge thank you to skipper Nick O'Sullivan who worked hard all day to keep us busy and gave us a great day out. As ever a lovely trip on a superb boat with a hugely knowledgeable and helpful skipper.

    View Boats Page