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  • 01/2017 Fishing Report by Scott Belbin on Galloper (Brightlingsea, Essex)

    Jan 2017 by Scott Belbin

    Report on-board Galloper

    Since my last report we have had some lovely days afloat. On all the trips we have done over the past month we have been lucky enough to be out on unseasonably flat calm days. However for one reason or another we have ended up fishing almost entirely within the confines of the blackwater estuary. Depending on the tide on any given day we have been splitting most days between targeting dabs or targeting thorn-back rays. Although they may not be the most exiting fish the dabs have done us proud and helped fill the void left by this seasons lack of cod in our area. there was a fair mix of sizes from postage stamps to some stonking door mats the biggest of which went 335mm long (sorry I didn’t bother weighing it). The thorn-backs have also varied in size but there were a few better ones mixed in with the biggest going 10.2lbs and our best day 12 along with lots of whiting and dabs. Earlier in December we had a fair surprise as Dave Harris (who is a regular aboard the ‘Galloper’) pulled a haddock over the side. I think he miss-took it for a slinky codling at first and I must admit I had to do a double take to make sure it wasn’t some kind of disfigured whiting. I have fished here all of my life having grown up on charter boats and have never seen one caught here before. I had heard of them coming out in the 70’s and early 80’s aboard my dads charter boats but this was a first aboard one of my boats and made a change from whiting!
    Over the last few days things have been sounding a little more promising for those who have ventured beyond the estuary with a few more thorn-backs getting about so hopefully by the time I’m out again and the dabs move out we should have something sizable to target. The last few years have produced some of the biggest thorn-backs through out January and February locally so fingers crossed we can get amongst them. As for the mythical creature known as the thames estuary cod I’m not going to hold my breathe but I will say that there is a lot more chance of catching one if you wet a line than there is by sitting on the sofa.
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