Latest Fishing Reports: Reel Deal
Back to Main Charter Page-
20/04/2017
Fishing Report by Shaun Collins-Lindsay
20 Apr 2017 by Shaun Collins-Lindsay
On the 20 April Clive and myself set off from Hampshire heading for North Devon to go fishing for Porbeagle sharks the closest realitive to the Great White. The day was perfect slightly over cast with light winds and a light tide. We arrived at Ilfracombe and met up with Dan our skipper on Reel Deal. We set off on our journey heading south towards Lundy Island, once we were past the Island Dan Checked the drift while the tackle was being set up. 6 rods were put over the side all set at different depths, the chum buckets were put out and the slick flattens the water nicely with all the dead baits sitting perfectly in the slick, it now was a waiting game. Whilst we were waiting for the either a screaming reel or waiting to see our floats start bobbing we started fishing for Pollock and Mackerel. A couple off Pollock were caught, Dan said that we were about to approach the reef were he would expect to catch a Shark. He wasn't wrong Dan noticed the middle float disappear, it was on and the battle started. This was a big Porbeagle she made lots of big runs but as we had a small team on board we all shared the pain. The way this shark was fighting Dan knew we were into a really big Porbeagle Shark, this fish would turn out to be the biggest fish that I have ever landed topping my black Marlin from Kenya. So after an hour and half of being beaten up by this powerful shark, she had tired and I was given the honours to bring her up to the boat. After a couple of desperate runs she came up to the boat, when she surfaced everyone was flabbergasted at the size of her, this Porbeagle was full of pup and massive in the range of 450lbs - 500lbs. Dan was going to tag her but as she had put up such a spirited fight we all agreed to release her straight away with out putting any more stress on her. She swam away from the boat perfectly back to the depths. So straight back into the fishing hoping to catch another monster it wasn't long until one broke the surface swimming around our floats , again everyone waiting in anticipation for those reels to start screaming but nothing happened, the hours past and we were just about to head for home when one of the reels started screaming the fight was on, this fish was using the boat to its advantage giving me a merry dance around the boat but after 15 Mins this shark managed to shake the hook. This was a fantastic day on board Reel Deal with a great skipper Dan Hawkins who put us on the Shark and what a Shark it was. Porbeagle 450lbs - 500lbs
-
21/10/2014
Fishing Report by rich dean
21 Oct 2014 by rich dean
another fantastic day aboard reel deal again !
had plenty of action after a slow start in minehead bay but found the fish on a feeding frenzy about
1 mile offshore on some mixed ground.from the moment the anchor dug in until we had to leave fish of all species were coming aboard to all anglers.blonde ray,thornback ray,plenty of hounds up to 12lb,a bonus bass of about 4lb to neal and a lovely fighting conger of just under 26lb caught on light tackle to me.there was quite a lot of conger about as well as the ever present dogfish but this was great fun and we all had a good time aboard with plenty of hot drinks and the usual banter....
cant wait to book again ! very helpful and experienced skipper who can supply rod and reel as well as fish baits for a minimal amount. -
11/10/2014
Fishing Report by rich dean
11 Oct 2014 by rich dean
hi all
once again had a fantastic time aboard reel deal.
i caught 12 species over the two trips.my best day being saturday as i caught blonde,thornback,small eyed and spotted ray,as well as tope hounds dogs pout conger and plenty of other fish.dan got us on the fish very quickly and kept the tea and coffee going all day.looking forward to the next trip. -
02/10/2014
Fishing Report by rich dean
2 Oct 2014 by rich dean
me and my good friend nial fished a spur of the moment overnighter aboard reel deal with skipper dan .
the weather looked spot on for a trip down to sillary bay in search of tope. we left the marina at 11 oclock thursday night and the sea was flat calm with a forecast of 6 mph winds.it turned out to be completely wrong.by the time we got to foreland point the calm weather had deteriorated somewhat and we was being blown around by wind averaging 20-30 mph !the mark we wanted to get to was totally unfishable as a result of a small tide and the wind constantly swinging the boat around.we tucked in close to sillary bay and immediately started catching huss, dogs,codling and pout.the conditions made it impossible to present a bait confidentlydue to the gusting wind and swinging boat. so dan decided on a move further up channel to try to get the boat to sit better.we caught steadily until first light when we agreed a few drifts using jellys on the foreland ledge might throw up a bass or two,.fish were showing on the sounder but just wouldnt bite.we then moved further up channel to another reef for a couple of drifts but these too were fishless so we agreed that a steam back towards porlock in the hope of hounds , huss and rays was a good call.unfortunately on the flood the sea had a large swell rising and we headed further up channel in the hope the wind was calm enough to get to the 3 mile bank to catch some blonde ray.bloody weather just wasnt on our side this trip and the swell was even bigger further offshore so we tried a few marks around dunster and kilve.we caught more conger and thornback and small tope but no cod.dan really tried his hardest to find some cod but apart from the few keepers we had at slilary the day was to end on a sunny but somewhat windy day.
we caught some quality fish again and dan kept the coffee and the banter going all night and day.a thoroughly enjoyable night fishing trip with great company.
until next time,which wont be too far away.....
tight lines all.
if you are looking for a skipper with a vast knowledge of the channel and who works hard for his clients then give dan a call and book a trip.
rich -
26/09/2014
Fishing Report by rich dean
26 Sep 2014 by rich dean
another great day out on reel deal with skipper dan and my good pal nial fisher.started out by heading straight to the 3 mile bank where we had success in our search for blonde ray last trip out.within ten minutes of anchoring I had a lovely pull down and hit into a rather angry conger of about 15lb. a further ten minutes wait and a blonde ray was taking line off my reel...we stayed there for an hour and caught 5 blondes ..4 over 10lb.
we next steamed off to find some clean water in search of tope but couldn't find any.we fished close in near to the waterfall in search of trigger fish until the tide eased enough to get to an oil tanker wreck off foreland.immediately we found conger... I lost an eel of 40lb ish at the net but caught a few more eels and doggies.nial had a couple of large bull huss also.we ended the day off the golf links in search of an early cod but only caught doggies tope and a bonus thornback ray for me.
another fantastic day afloat.the fishing was hard but we caught some quality sized fish.....as usual dan pulled out all the stops to give us a great day again. -
14/09/2014
Fishing Report by rich dean
14 Sep 2014 by rich dean
Had a fantastic day aboard real deal on sunday with my good mate nial fisher and dan hawkins a top class skipper ! Started of on six mile bank looking for blonde rays...ten minutes after anchoring i had one at 8.5 lb quickly followed by another to Niall Fisher..i missed another shortly after but we went side on in the tide due to slack water and an easterly wind so dan decided on a move to a wreck off minehead.an hr later saw us anchored uptide of the wreck and after catching whiting n pout for bait in search of huss and conger the rods were tapping within minutes of hitting the sea bed....6 hrs of constant action.huss to 14lb.. hounds to 10lb..conger to 29lb..codling..whiting thornbacks ..blondes..dogs ...gurnard..common and starry hounds..
We ended up with 12 species at the end of the day.will definately be using this skipper again ! If you like your boat fishing you would go far wrong to not try him out.hes not shy in traveling to distant marks in search of quality fishing.if you want a charter with a skipper who is as passionate about fishing then just call dan.
— with Niall Fisher and Dan Hawkins Reeldeal Charters
