Latest Fishing Reports: Sea Urchin IIl
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15/11/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
15 Nov 2021 by Andy Savage
The fish really took some tracking down today! But as they say….effort equals reward.
We had a mixed group of lads on today, with varying degrees of experience. Just like in previous days, we chose to run out to some of the distant wrecks at 24 miles, which haven’t been visited for a while.
We had a stiff SW breeze behind us, which made fishing conditions early on a bit tricky with the ebb tide. The drift speed was not ideal and it was the more experienced anglers who managed to hold bottom and pick up a fish or two. As the day progressed, the wind finally began to fall away and some good sized Codling were caught.
Ian Kellock was top rod today and picked away steadily with Codling up to 9lb 4oz. Squid, was the number one bait, but some fish came to mackerel, cart and black lug. We also had a couple of fish to 7lb on the shads.
It was far from prolific fishing in challenging conditions, but everyone had something to take home and the average size was good today. Thanks for a great day out boys, see you next time. -
14/11/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
14 Nov 2021 by Andy Savage
After a couple of days off for bad weather, we were back out on the wrecks again today. We chose to fish some wrecks out at 20 miles where the water is nice and clear.
The day started off slowly on the ebb tide, with only an odd Codling coming up in amongst loads of Pouting and Whiting. On the second wreck we found a few more fish, but the size of the Codling and Haddock was not what we wanted.
Once the flood tide got away, we finally landed on a good few fish on the fourth wreck of the day. Keith Mcance took a lovely 8lb 8oz Codling, which was backed up by a few around 5lb. Everyone got in on the action, and had a few to take home.
Squid on bait traces or Hokkai’s baited with squid or mackerel took nearly all the fish today. It was good to end the day on a high and it turned out to be a really enjoyable day out. Thanks a lot boys. -
11/11/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
11 Nov 2021 by Andy Savage
A lovely day out today, with a great bunch of lads. Kevin Totterdell and six of his mates from Manchester booked the boat. We had a mix of experiences, from boat fishing virgins, to lads who have done a fair bit.
With a smaller tide, we would be able to spend the whole day on the wrecks, which is just what the lads fancied. They all chose to use the Sea Urchin tackle, which is more than man enough for the task.
We started the day off on a wreck at 12 miles, which usually produces a few fish. Today however, it was very quiet, with only one small Codling coming up. It was time well spent, as the lads got to grips with using the gear and feeling their way through the wrecks. A move to another nearby wreck saw a string of pots right on the drift line, so we moved out to another wreck at 17 miles.
Things then kicked into place nicely, as first drift saw everyone into a fish! We stuck at it for the remainder of the day, with 2-3 fish most drifts. Ling dominated today with a couple of fish into double figures, but most in the 5-7lb bracket. We did pick up some Codling, but nothing massive. A 4lb 8oz fish took the Cod sweepstake on the boat. Almost all the fish fell for a whole squid on the muppet pennels.
Hopefully we’ll get a few more days before the big tides come back. -
10/11/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
10 Nov 2021 by Andy Savage
With a settled day showing on the weather forecast, Mr Tran and four of his mates from Birmingham had booked the boat for the day. It was their first time out fishing from Whitby and needless to say, they were keen to get cracking.
We chose to have a run off to a group of wrecks at 20 miles. It took a while for the lads to get used to fishing in 70m of water (they usually fish in less than half that depth). They chose to use the strong bait traces provided on board, which are tied on 100lb mono, consisting of a pennel arrangement topped with a muppet.
Squid was the order of the day on the bait front and the fish seemed to come in bursts. The run into slack water on the flood tide produced Codling up to 6lb 8oz, which was good to see. We only managed one solitary Ling on slack; although Pete Rose (former Sea Urchin Skipper) hooked a very powerful fish which he couldn’t keep out of the wreck. We picked a few more fish off as the ebb tide got away before heading back for home.
The banter flowed all day and everyone got themselves some fish to take home, which is what it’s all about. See you next time lads. -
02/11/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
2 Nov 2021 by Andy Savage
It’s certainly been a while since we’ve been able to do a catch report. The weather has kept us in the harbour for most of the last six weeks, resulting in lots of cancelled trips. We did manage to get a run out yesterday which was great after the long lay off. We had a good bunch of lads on, who were great company.
With no mackerel left to find, we started the day off on a wreck at 9 miles. Fishing with either bait traces consisting of a muppet and pennel arrangement, or Hokkai’s baited with squid saw a couple of fish each drift. Mainly small Codling around the 2lb mark. Ken Wood pinched a better one around 5lb, as did Steve Cooper.
Alan Knaggs had a go with a red and black jellyworm and pinched a Pollock well up off the bottom. Ian Kellock took the biggest fish of the day (#standard), a Ling of around 6lb.
Once the flood tide got away we moved onto rough ground for the remainder of the day and found odd pockets of fish. It was far from easy fishing and good angling was definitely rewarded.
Everyone got something to take home for tea, which is always the aim on the trickier days. Hopefully we’ll get a few more breaks in the weather to get back out there again. -
16/10/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
16 Oct 2021 by Andy Savage
Plenty of laughs and fish aboard Sea Urchin yesterday. We had a brilliant group of lads on and the banter was flowing freely, all day. We opted to have a run off to a couple of wrecks a bit further out in what we hoped would be clearer water.
First stop was a wreck 12 miles out, where we had a couple of drifts for some Mackerel (we caught two of them), but a load of Coalie’s and a couple of Pollock ambushed the feathers anyway, so everyone got off the mark quickly. A switch over to bait traces or Hokkai’s saw the lads start to pick off a few strap Ling and Codling mainly in the 3-5lb range. Gary Townend managed to find one around the 8lb mark, which fell to Hokkai’s baited with squid and king prawn.
As we started to lose the Ebb tide, the wind speed increased and things slowed down, so we had a move out to a wreck at 20 miles. Gary was straight at it again, taking a couple of fish a drift on the Hokkai’s.
Just as the flood tide started to get away, a flurry of decent Codling came aboard, with Ian Kellock taking the biggest fish of the day around the 9lb mark.
We continued to pick away for the remainder of the day and everyone had a good few fillets to take home. Thanks everyone for a really enjoyable day out. -
13/10/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
13 Oct 2021 by Andy Savage
Unfortunately we’ve been getting some rubbish weather recently. In the last three weeks, despite being fully booked every day, we’ve only managed to get out for three trips. I hate cancelling, but I’m not prepared to take anglers out just for the sake of it, to take their money. We managed a run out today with a brilliant bunch of lads, but I must apologise for the lack of pictures (it’s been so long, I forgot what to do!!), as in the end, we had a fair few fish to take home.
We started off looking for a few Mackerel, but it looks like that particular boat has now sailed, as we managed the sum total of 1 single Mackerel. A quick stop on a wreck which was marking fish on the sounder was absolutely heaving with Coalie’s so we had a bit of fun with them for half an hour, before moving on for a bit of Cod and Ling action (we hoped).
Next stop was a group of wrecks 12 miles to the south, with the flood tide pushing us down nicely. It was a bit of a struggle, with a couple of strap Ling and a handful of Codling making an appearance. After speaking with one of the other skippers fishing inside us, who was having similar results, we decided to push out a bit further to a wreck at 17 miles.
Thankfully, as the tide slackened and the Ebb got away, things came together nicely, with 3-5 fish a drift. We had nothing exceptional, with most fish were in the 3-4lb category. But it was nice to get the string pulled again and know that there are still a few fish on the wrecks. Thanks for a great day out boys….very entertaining and enjoyable. -
25/09/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
25 Sep 2021 by Andy Savage
We’ve had some rubbish tides and weather recently, so Saturday was our only day out last week. We had a great group of anglers on board, so a run off to a couple of wrecks around 20 miles out was in order.
The first wreck we visited has a reputation for throwing up quality, not quantity; so arriving 30 minutes before slack water, we optimistically hoped a bigger fish would poke its head out of the wreck. After 90 minutes torturing it, with around twenty Ling and Cod to show for our efforts (and alot of lost gear) we moved on.
The next wreck was much more cooperative, with 3-5 fish a drift. It turned into a bit of a species hunt as we landed Ling, Cod, Pollock, Coalie’s, Whiting and Pouting. With Cod to 8lb 8oz and Ling to 9lb it was a nice steady day.
Top rod of the day went to Jan Hill, who had bites almost every single drift (if she didn’t catch the wreck!!); including a double up of Cod and Coalie’s. Black Hokkai’s baited with fresh Mackerel did the most bites for Jan, although the muppet bait traces still took their fair share.
It was a fantastic day out, but the weather window was short lived, as the next few days look terrible again. Hopefully the weather geezers have got it wrong…..it wouldn’t be the first time, would it!! -
20/09/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
20 Sep 2021 by Andy Savage
The big tides weren’t a complete write off…..but the fishing wasn’t a push over.
A group of mixed angling abilities on board saw us tackling a big tide, with no help whatsoever from the weather. Wind against tide in the morning saw things get a bit chewy, but everyone still got stuck in. Once they could keep the lead tapping, we started to pick off a few fish.
With the 5 mile ground only producing four strap Ling on baited Hokkai’s; a move out to 9 miles proved to be much more productive. We lost a bit of speed in the drift and started taking a picking off the rough ground.
Mainly Ling in the 3-4lb category kept everyone entertained, but once the tide slackened a bit, we moved onto a wreck, which heralded better results. Some nice Codling and two double figure Ling were very welcome.
Not blowing our own trumpet (ok I am), the two lads who had never boat fished before picked up the two doubles on our muppet bait traces. Steve and Wal picked everything up we taught them and had a great day overall. They filled a fish box between them which was brilliant.
After cancelling his last five trips for bad weather; catch of the day came to Neil from the “Ship Inn” in Whitby, when he landed a cracking double, with a decent Ling and Cod.
Well done everyone. Great day out. -
18/09/2021
Fishing Report by Andy Savage
18 Sep 2021 by Andy Savage
The bigger tides have returned again, but there is a silver lining to every cloud…
The first of the 5m tides started yesterday, so we decided to split the day between drifting the rough ground when the tide moved fast and then jumping on a few wrecks at slack water.
The rough ground hasn’t fished particularly well of late, but we got a reasonable picking of mainly Ling yesterday, which was encouraging. The Ebb tide fished better than the flood, and everyone went with either bait traces or Hokkai’s.
Pick of the fish were a 12lb 8oz Ling for James Lister and Stephanie helped herself to a 10lb 8oz Ling.
Everyone picked off a few fish to take home, which is always the aspiration on Sea Urchin.
