Latest Fishing Reports: Galloper
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07/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Jul 2020 by Scott Belbin
Its been a while once again on since my last report on CBUK so I thought I would fill you in on this years tope season aboard the ‘Galloper’. its been a good season all together. We managed to get most trips out and we were successful on most of them. Those that we didn’t see any tope on were either struggling for weather and bait or we got carried away bass fishing. we started back in may when despite struggling to catch mackerel Stephen Clarke set a nice bench mark with male a fish of 44lbs. Stephen had the boat on his own that day and I was lucky enough to fish too. I had a small tope around 10lbs and lost two more including one that did a good job at clearing 300yards of braid from my reel on the first run!
The next couple of trips we had better weather and a good supply of bait. The lads had 5 decent fish the first day going from c.15lb, 27lbs, 38lbs, 44lbs and the biggest falling to Ian Hewett at 47lbs and another male. Many of these were personnel bests for the lads which is always nice to see.
The next trip saw two decent fish on the boat, Fred managed a new PB of 41lbs on a carp rod of all things. To be fair both Fred and the carp rod did very well but this isn’t something I would encourage too often. Mark also had a new PB tope of 31lbs that day and consequently booked another trip with some different pals soon after this one.
The next trip came and Mark bought Tom and his Friends along. The weather was spot on and with plenty of bait we headed off for a mixed day. we started off targeting bass and had loads in the first few hours. There were plenty of sizable fish to go around and the time flew by. It was soon gone 11am and we had to drag our selves away from the bass that were being so obliging if we were to have a chance at any tope. We were finally set up and fishing for tope just before midday. I had set my sights quite low and decided I would be happy if we saw a tope. We had a tope run first cast on one of the rods but unfortunately we were broken off. This was a promising sign even though it could have been our only chance. Happily it wasn’t and we went on to bring 8 tope to the boat that afternoon and loose a further 6. It was madness at times to be honest with a few beginners on board. At one point we had 3 decent fish hooked at once, needless to say I had my hands rather full and it was no surprise one or two were lost. The biggest that day fell to Mark at 37lbs so he had beaten his PB from last trip. Many of the fish we had that day were around the 30lb mark and very welcome.
As we came to the end of our main tope season we mixed in more bass fishing with the tope again and once the lads had their quota of bass we went in search of tope. We scratched a few more out to finish the season off with more PB’s for Dave and Chris along with some nice bass. Stephen Clarke has the biggest bass so far this year with a nice fish of 10.7lbs. its quite common for decent bass to be a bycatch while tope fishing as they tend to favour the fish baits we are offering.
Although we may see one or two more tope this year our main season is now over. I will be taking bookings for next years tope fishing soon.
Closer inshore our trips have been productive as ever. Over the last week or two we have seen some good action on the hounds at times. The lads fished hard the other day and kept count of 63 hounds. There were plenty of scrappy fish in the 6-10lb range and the biggest went 13lbs. we had a few sizable bass too. We have been getting a few bass mixed in most inshore trips which are popular for both sport and the table.
Most of my offshore trips will be for bass until into November this year.
Staying with this year I have been through my diary for the next couple of months and consulted my parties regarding current covid rules. Some have chosen to give it a miss for a while which means I have the following availability.
08/08/20- offshore bass (weather permitting) £90pp (worm required can be provided at extra cost) 6am start 4 spaces
09/08/20- offshore bass (weather permitting) £90pp (worm required can be provided at extra cost) 6am start 1 space
16/08/20- general trip 3 spaces @ £80pp max 5 anglers
31/08/20-general trip 1 space @ £80pp max 5 anglers
05/09/20- general trip 3 spaces @ £80pp max 5 anglers
06/09/20- general trip 5 spaces @ £80pp max 5 anglers or boat £400
12/09/20- general trip 3 spaces @ £80pp max 5 anglers
I am still keeping things the same regarding numbers on the boat until I hear anything different. So its max 5 anglers (unless living together in which case 6) I don’t have much availability at the moment although I could have to move groups around due to numbers ect. Please keep an eye on here for spaces.
Please call me for more information on 07956411528
Dad (Stuart) has availability on the ‘Razorbill 3’ please call him on 07850234077 -
05/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
May 2020 by Scott Belbin
Its been nice to get afloat again after a couple of months under ‘house arrest’. It seems many of you are also keen to get afloat and although we cant take everybody we have at least been getting some of you out. So far we have only taken single person bookings and I must say I was very grateful for the support offered by some of our regular customers who were willing to hire the whole boat on their own. I understand this may be outside of many peoples budget so the good news is we are now taking groups of up to 5 for the rest of the month in line with current guidelines. Hopefully by next month we will be able to take more again as there is plenty of room on our catamaran.
The first trip I did post lock down was just my self and my wife to blow the cobwebs away. The weather was glorious and the fishing was even better. We had a great mixed bag of smooth-hounds, bass, dogfish, dab, thorn-back ray and tub gurnard within the first couple of hours. After that we drifted through some bass with lures for a short while. I didn’t get much time to fish as stacey had string after string of decent bass several of which were 3-4lbs in weight. We anchored for the rest of the trip in search of some more big smooth-hounds. We weren’t disappointed as several packs of double figure fish made their way through as the evening progressed. We didn’t have any monsters but several were 13-14lbs. they were also interspersed with yet more bass and a couple more rays before we headed home. On our trips since then we have seen similar fishing and the biggest hound we have had so far is 18.8lbs. hopefully this will be beaten before the summer is over.
To be honest I don’t have room for anybody before July and my diary is all over the place from then on depending upon what guidelines are relaxed so please bear with me.
For regular reports and more information please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or like the essex sea fishing page on facebook. -
05/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
May 2020 by Scott Belbin
while we are still under lockdown I thought I would take this time to report on our offshore trips between January and April (obviously cut short by the lockdown). Even on a big comfy catamaran we need the right weather and tides as well as some willing anglers to get over 30 miles offshore. This restricted our trips to just 4 this year, several were cancelled due to weather. The rest of our bookings were after the lockdown and typically the weather was cracking then! When we did get offshore we had varying amounts of thorn-backs and the obligatory dogfish. our main target species would be spurdogs as it has been for several years. These trips have produced some nice cod and bass in the past as well as a blonde ray a couple of years ago. With this in mind we try to cover all of the basses with our traces. Sure enough the very first cast on the first trip produced a double figure spurdog on each rod for Shane Ashby. The biggest went 15.4lbs and was a new PB for shane. The other went just over 13lbs. these are the stamp of fish we have come to expect around here over the years. unfortunately this brace of fish wasn’t a sign of things to come. We did catch a few more spurs throughout the day and a few hounds too. People often seem surprised when we catch the hounds off here at that time of year. The water was just shy of 10’c off there (3’c warmer than inshore at the same time) and the hounds do seem to run in the packs with the spurs. In fact I have seen hounds in small amounts in every month of the year off here. The next trip we managed 11 spurs but nothing bigger the 13lbs and nothing to beat Shanes first fish. with the lock down stopping us by the end of march we will have to wait until next year to target the spurdogs again and already have a couple of parties booked down for them. In the mean time who knows when we will be allowed out again? hopefully it will be in time to sample some of the fantastic sport we can have for smooth-hounds, bass or tope in the summer. If you wish to book a trip please get in touch or bear us in mind when we’re allowed out again.
For now I am putting various reports on my website and facebook page to keep you occupied.
Stay safe from Essex sea fishing call Scott 07956411528
www.essexseafishing.co.uk -
03/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Mar 2020 by Scott Belbin
Our best few trips were shortly before we had to stop going. We did three trips on the bounce with 72, 93 and 80 thorn-backs between 7 or 8 anglers. As usual most fish were returned alive and we kept just a few males for the table. There were a few decent females mixed in each trip with several low doubles and a nice pair one after the other both going over 16lbs (it was a bit lumpy and hard to get an accurate weight). Often we were the only boat within sight and we could fish in comfort with out having to seek extra shelter.
Regarding any trips in the coming weeks and months. At the moment we are unable to take trips and even myself and stacey are abiding by the rules and only leaving the house for essential goods. Over the coming weeks and months we will take it week by week depending on what rules are tightened or relaxed. If you’re booked in for a trip please bear with me and I will evaluate it nearer the time. If you wish to book for a future trip please feel free to do so. We promise not to spent your deposits on bulk buying loo roll and instead keep them separate in case they need to be returned to you.
If you fancy a trip and wish to know my availability please call 07956411528 and I will update you with our current plans or visit my website and have a look at the availability page at http://www.essexseafishing.co.uk/availability/
Please keep an eye on the essex sea fishing page for more reports old and new over the coming weeks. -
02/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Feb 2020 by Scott Belbin
Despite the seemingly relentless gales February has been fairly kind to us on the blackwater. The blackwater estuary has continued to provide great sport in all but the worst conditions. Luckily where most of the fish have been showing is very well sheltered from the south and west so we can fish in a gale of wind and its no rougher than on the mooring most of the time. The sprats have gone now although plenty of herring remain, but this doesn’t seem to be having an adverse effect on the fishing. Last week Carl and young Billy-roy hired the boat for just the two of them and they had a great days fishing. It was their second trip with me and Billy-roy had remembered so much from his first trip. He was casting on his own and did a great job of reeling in some decent thorn-backs all on his own. The lads had steady fishing all day and managed 31 rays between them as well as a few whiting and a dogfish for good measure. They are already planning their next trip for later in the year. We have had days with more rays on board but this was undoubtably a good day between two people, in February on a windy day.
We have only been able to get further offshore on the occasional day to be honest but this should improve in the coming weeks and we should see a bit more variety in the fish we catch. The rays seem pretty wide spread now so we should be cooking on gas for a while inshore.
I have plenty of spaces coming up including this weekend coming.
For more information, regular reports and available dates please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk follow us on facebook or subscribe to our youtube channel -
01/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Jan 2020 by Scott Belbin
The year has got off to a great start for us here on the blackwater estuary. There may have been lots of sprats around but the thorn-back rays have still been feeding well. The mild weather has undoubtably helped this and they have shown in both size and numbers. The best of the fishing has been well within the shelter of the estuary so we have been able to fish in all but the worst weather. Our best trip in January was 42 rays to 14.8lbs. we saw double figure fish mixed in most trips and plenty of happy anglers. As long as we don’t see any prolonged cold spells the rays should be here for the spring now. Although at times it was mostly rays we caught we did see a few other bits and bobs with the usual whiting dogfish and dabs showing. When conditions allowed we headed further afield and even had a couple of tiny codling, hopefully we will see some of their larger relatives as the sprats move off in the coming weeks. I have several spaces coming up at weekends as well as midweek availability and evening as we get into the summer. For more information, regular reports and availability please visit
www.essexseafishing.co.uk
find us on facebook
or call on 07956411528 -
01/2020
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Jan 2020 by Scott Belbin
We have managed to get a couple of trips out to start the new year off. The weather hasn’t been perfect but we are lucky that the sheltered waters of the blackwater estuary and surrounding areas mean we can got out in most weather if we want. Happily there are still plenty of fish to be caught giving us good reason to head out. The sprats have arrived in the estuary which has distracted many of the bigger whiting although there are still numbers of smaller whiting taking our baits. The last couple of trips have produced a few nice dabs for us with out even targeting them. Dad had a trip booked with a few of his regulars the other day. There were only 3-4 anglers on board and they still managed 79 dabs on a nice leisurely day in the comfort of the estuary. There have been plenty of whiting mixed in to make for a busy day on the right tides.The mild weather has kept the thorn-back rays and dogfish feeding. The fish are a bit lethargic and finicky but we are still seeing a few in the right places. Last weekend we headed out in a load of wind with the Maldon sea anglers on board. We spent the morning catching dabs,pouting and whiting with a 5 bearded rockling making a surprise appearance. We moved for the afternoon to target some rays. The fishing took a while to get going but the lads had 10 thornbacks and lost a couple more as well as catching some more whiting and dogfish. The biggest ray went to martin and just went over double figures. On the way in the lads commented that they were pleased they had made the effort to go out and I was pleased we could find a few fish on a windy day.
I have a few spaces coming up if you wish to get out soon, if the weather stays this mild the rays should move inshore in numbers in the next few weeks. If we get the weather and tides we will be heading further off in search of spurdog and alike which I think will also happen early this year so please book early so you don’t miss out.
For more information, regular reports and availability please visit
Essexseafishing.co.uk
Follow the essexseafishing page on facebook
Or call 07956411528 -
12/2019
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Dec 2019 by Scott Belbin
Despite loosing a few trips to weather in December we have still got afloat here and there. On the last trip there were still hoards of whiting but a few roker mixed in with them. Most trips we have seen 6-12 roker which isn’t great guns but they put a decent bend in the rod and are a welcome break from the whiting. On the right tides the estuary is producing plenty of dabs which can be a bit of fun on a windy day and gets you afloat. on our first trip in december Robert even managed a small bass so you never can tell. I have plenty of spaces over Christmas and into the new year. So please get in touch if you fancy getting out over the Christmas break there is still plenty to be caught and you wont catch them sitting at home!
We will start to head offshore soon in search of the first spurdogs of the season, I wont publish any catches until the end of the season though (around april).
Please keep an eye on my website www.essexseafishing.co.uk or facebook or call me on 07956411528 -
12/2019
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Dec 2019 by Scott Belbin
Thought I would put a report on here to cover the last few weeks. we launched our new boat at the start of November. She’s a blyth catamaran 10 meters long by 5 meters wide. The byth hull is popular throughout the country with both anglers and skippers alike. She is fast stable and spacious, the anglers have given us nothing but positive feed back so far so we are very pleased. We will soon be putting our old boat the evolution up for sale after antifouling her ect so please get in touch if you are interested.
the fishing has been busy but not necessarily with what we would like to see. The thorn-back rays have been hard to find at times but most days we are able to get a few aboard to put a decent bend in the rod. The numbers of dogfish have thinned a bit with the drop in water temperature but we are still seeing a few mixed in. the whiting appear to be in vast numbers. most are 10-12 inches but we have had a few better ones mixed in. with the numbers that are there its no surprise there are better ones just through the law of averages. At times we have fished paternosters for flatties and the whiting are that thick we are hooking them before the bait hits the bottom. often within a minute or two there’s one on every hook. Its almost like mackerel fishing. we had our first dabs the other week and they make a nice change to the whiting. We even had a small codling the other day it went back in so at least we know there’s one out there!
As ever for more information, regular reports and more please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528 -
11/2019
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Nov 2019 by Scott Belbin
Once again I have left it too long between my reports on here. As ever we have been busy and the fishing has been too. since my last report on here we saw good numbers of roker through the early autumn with 48 being our best trip in October. there have been loads of whiting and dogfish around too which have kept us busy. To be honest they can be a pain at times but they keep the rods going and its normally ‘fish a cast’ for them. Inshore the dogs and whiting are interspersed with the odd roker, late smooth-hound and bass or even an elusive codling.
Offshore the fishing has been very good when we had the weather. we pushed off a few times and got amongst the bass each time. There was some great sport to be had in shallow water using 4-8oz leads and light rods is hard to beat. On one trip with fred and the lads the bait fishing was particularly good. The best of the fishing came in 2 hours as the tide came right and with several fish between 6lb and 8.2lbs coming to the boat the lads were so pleased they opted out of the next mark and decided to head home early to catch the football! Another trip saw another group of lads enjoying several hours of bass on lures (feathers proving to be most effective) the fish were so numerous one even engulfed a breakaway lead and got hooked on that! I couldn’t put a number on how many we had but I know a couple of the lads had 30-50 each. Needless to say they only kept 1 each although it would have been nice for them to have been allowed to keep some more. We had the weather to head off again last week but since the ban on bass came back into effect after October 31st I cant get any takers for bass trips.
We have managed our first few trips on the new boat with great feedback from everybody on board. The first fish aboard was unsurprisingly a dogfish but it didn’t take too long before the first whiting and roker joined it. I will report more on the new boat soon.
Most of our trips now will be inshore for whiting, dogfish and roker with the odd codling thrown in if we’re lucky. Hopefully the dabs will start to show soon as they will provide some sport on light tackle close to home. When the weather allows we will try to get offshore and see what’s about. I have spaces into December and january but next years weekend dates are starting to fill up so please get in touch if you wish to book a specific date or type of fishing.
As ever I do weekly reports on my website and facebook page as well as available dates so for more information please visit
www.essexseafishing.co.uk
or call 07956411528
