Latest Fishing Reports: High Flyer 2
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11/06/2014
Fishing Report by mark crame
11 Jun 2014 by mark crame
I’d spoken to Jon yesterday to see where he’d been getting the mackerel and updated him after our failure inshore, a short while later he called back to see if I fancied giving him a hand. He’s starting his evening trips again, £45 summer bassing trips on the banks off Yarmouth which were quite popular last year and produced some decent fish. He had a party on tonight and wanted to load up with fresh mackerel and Sandeel and an extra couple of rods would be handy. Well it suited me as I was indecisive about what to do otherwise and with my shifts starting that night an early start and a lunchtime finish would suit perfectly because I couldn't make the evening.
05:15 and my alarm goes off…I’d woken up three times already, being excited! Coffee, a scotch egg and into the car for the short drive to Gorleston. Jon had the gate open and we loaded up, heading straight out to catch the last of the tide. His pet herring gull was fed first.
Both dropping down a twenty-hook commercial trace Jon was straight in with the first mackerel I’ve seen this year. Me? None. He had a couple more straight after and then they disappeared. We tried again with another drift but nothing.
We moved out to deeper, clearer water and dropped down another time. Nothing. Winding up I hit three near the top and Jon followed suit and then they were gone again; Saltwater Species 19 for me this year, 11 to go to hit target!
Further out, try again in 90ft…Jon again but not me, Same rigs, both working them the same, same weights…we had a second rod out each in mid water and nothing on those either. We were seeing marks going through that may have been mackies, may have been herring but nothing was feeding and it was coming up to slack. Conditions were spot on…we tried jigging over a couple of wrecks but still nothing. I stuck out a tope rod with a mackerel flapper on a 6/0…
Another drift and Jon had another mackerel and then the ratchet started to scream on the tope rod…I picked up the rod and could feel something nodding. I tightened up and still line was being peeled out. I didn’t overstretch the drag but was running down towards the backing, Jon came to grab the mackerel rod out of the way and then it went loose; my 50lb braid had parted. It was an area of rough ground and I think the 120z lead snagged in something as the braid is in good condition and I wasn’t giving it any stick as yet. I was gutted. Not so much at losing a good fish as knowing it would have a hook and some line in it for a couple of days.. At least it was only a 6/0 with a small barb and the lead was free-running so it would only be hook and a small bit of line until that was bitten through.
I tied up another trace as we carried on and while Jon found another string of mackerel I failed on them and got another run on the tope rod (my 10-20lb Nano rods with the LD15 lever drags which would be great sport). Again I felt a good banging on the end and the line was peeling off…and again the line scraped something and parted. Not at all pleased. Right, nothing else for it. That rod went away and I grabbed Jeff’s old sharking set-up – a whopping great Penn Senator with about a hundred miles of 50lb mono! I could land a submarine on that!!!
We moved away from the rough ground too; there may have been something good down there but it wasn’t worth risking the snags. We crossed a trough on the drift and headed into shallower water over the banks, down to 11ft in places, and Jon, using a shrimp rig, started to pick up some launce including the largest one I’ve ever seen…he managed to gather sufficient bait without my help :)
Me? Nothing. I just managed those three mackerel, totally outgunned again! And no, no more runs on the flapper. The tide started to run and things went quiet; we’d not loaded the boat but the bait was sorted for the evening trip – which I’ve heard went well with bass and smoothies – and as Jon steamed back to port I did the wash down and wound the traces onto their holders again (all skippers appreciate the help and it does make the ride pass quicker!) leaving everything ready for a session I’d spend the whole of my shift being envious of! Another brilliant day out on the Flyer, can't wait until next time! Glad I don’t have a proper job… -
02/06/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
2 Jun 2014 by jon old
Tonight the start of our EVENING trips, wind and tide perfect for bass so armed with fresh rag and lug headed out of Lowestoft to a little mark used before. Tide was racing through to start but thats what the bass like, wasnt long before the first bass came aboard. Lovely little fighters the bass good rod bending action to be had plus the bonus of a fantastic meal at the end. Returned a few small bass ,as well as just on the limit might as well let them grow nice to see a bit of conservation. Few doggies came aboard as the tide eased along with small whiting and flatties. Best fish of the night fell to Rhichard just a shade over 5lb, most of the others average around the 3 and half mark. Ended up keeping 12 bass for the table, was great 3 hours so decided to head in early. Big thanks to Paul, Chalky and Richard shows what you can achieve in a few hours with a bit of experience, appreciate the trip men,
If your interested in a night time trip we normally leave about 6pm return around 11pm , booking is essential as we work around the slack water, costs £45 per person all in, great thing is you can go to work next day and you havent got to watch Eastenders! Leave it with you, all the best. Jon. (High Flyer) -
01/06/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
1 Jun 2014 by jon old
Lovely calm weather today forcast of no wind so headed out to 10 mile bank in search of few bass in these strong tides. Started off with a few feathers as reports of Mackerel off Cromer yesterday tried few banks that always produce for me but waste of time but was worth a go. Had a couple of moves , but water made things impossible. Ended up coming in off Horsey/ Winterton to a mark i use in the summer . First fish nice bass of 46cm, followed by countless flatties of all sizes! Few keepers among them as pictured here with our two young anglers Troy and kyle, few small whiting again along with the doggies not so many today thank god! Few small smoothies aboard all still small waiting for the biggies still, big thanks to Dave and Sandy first time on the Flyer as same for Kyle,Mick,Aurther and Bob, with regulars Will,Troy and Dave Mingay much appreciated men. Ended the day up North beach with some more doggies,small whiting and codling but after 15 mins the weed killed us and we headed home. Thanks for helping washing down lads not often i get a hand its very much appreciated. Thanks for the day will see you all soon. Cheers. Jon. (High Flyer)
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31/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
31 May 2014 by jon old
Very strong tides today so decided to keep inshore in the shallower water, not far off the Yarmouth front in a few holes we found last year. The doggies made a showing most of the day not in huge numbers more of a reasonably steady trickle understandable with the tides strength. Only the one skate today picture here with Shannon nice one just over 7 pounds, did expect a few more made the mistake of moving to another area by carring out the wishes of other anglers on board who fancied a move. Wont happen again skippers know best.! Unfortunately our move cost us dearly and so lost our golden hour down to slack. Ended the day with couple of smoothies ,small whiting and codling and more doggies. Not the greatest of days but with the srong tides and moving about think we were lucky for what we got. Well done to Shannon best performer by far on the day, also to John first time on the Flyer, and the other lads from Mericks party. Big thanks for help with washing down Shannon much appreciated.
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18/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
18 May 2014 by jon old
Last day of the week Sunday should of been in church but fishing more important! With the end of the strong tides thought it was worth a stab on the 6 mile bank for bass in the rough water. Lovely calm seas still could see the water gushing over the bank perfect bass conditions. We sat and moved 3 times in about 2 hours not a bite! Not even a whiting or doggie completely a big fat zero! Cant understand it fish from there recently but i suppose thats fishing. With that moved back to our trusty skate mark from yesterday and with fingers crossed set the anchor. Wasnt long and soon had few fish come aboard. Still tiny whiting about, nice few flatties, also smally smoothies and doggies making a show. Ended up with few skate pictured here, turned the day around for us in the end. Big thanks to mauris for organising lads his end and also Mick and Tom on a break first timers on the Flyer. Enjoyed the day, weather was great for once, look forward to seeing you all at some point. Many thanks,
Jon. (High Flyer) -
17/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
17 May 2014 by jon old
Flat calm seas today cant believe the weather , makes a change! Pleasure to be out . Strong tides still so headed to bass bank in search off those fantastic fighters, anchored up to a place fished many times with great success apart from today! Stuck it out for a while but after nothing but those doggies again went to deeper water on further bank as tide eased. I knew skate would be here prepared with fresh herrings , hermits and unwashed squid made lovely cocktails up resulting with about a dozen skate pictured here are the keepers. We also had the pesky whiting still about ,few small smoothounds all returned along with countless dogs to make the day interesting. Big thanks to Piotr for organising his crew from Spalding appreciate you guys making the journey, looking forward to the summer for a mackerel bashing as discussed. Until then, all the best,. Jon. (High Flyer)
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16/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
16 May 2014 by jon old
Today headed out with with strong tides up the Holm to dodge a bit of current. Flat calm seas for once and a bit of sun couldnt believe it! Started off with only a few doggies for our efforts so decided to head inshore a bit to a mark off lowestoft end i hadnt been for a while. Nice little result really as wind picked up a bit glad we had made a move inside. we caught whiting which were bit of a pain, more doggies , nice few flatties to keep along with some nice roker pictured here, the ones we kept. Thanks to first timers on the Flyer,Nathan and Gemma, also Owen and Lee, along with regulars Dave,Collin and Andy, was a enjoyable day, great sunshine and a few fish! Look forward to seeing you all again at some point. All the best. Jon. (High Flyer)
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11/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
11 May 2014 by jon old
The weather forecast giving SW 16-18 gusting 25-30 with heavy rain showers was not too promising but workable for inshore fishing. The mark I wanted to fish for skate was just two miles out into the channel but with the end of the flood tide still roughing up the water a change to closer inshore in the lee was made and we were soon into small codling dogfish and a bonus 3lb cod. The tide started to make on the ebb and with that the sea flattened off, so I up anchored and made the short hop to my preferred mark. Straight into a small Smoothound gave everyone confidence but it was not to be and after two hours i decided to go back to our original mark. Weed became a bit of a problem, we persevered but it was a little slow so a change to a favoured Dab mark brought more Dogfish Dabs and Whiting; a bonus male Skate of around 5-6 lbs brought a disappointing day to an end; there is always next time.
Dave
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04/05/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
4 May 2014 by jon old
Forcast today was no wind plan was to head out to one of the banks but due to the tide i decided to fish inshore to start best idea i had! The wind got up to our surprise but with tide was fine but we knew after lunch was going to be different story. Plenty of different baits aboard we started well with the doggies showing up straight away all sizes most of the day really. Nice few flatties on the menu too from the start and then our first skate came in nearing the end of the flood so bigger baits stuffing herring into the squid making up various crab cocktails seem to pay off. The dreaded whiting still about being a pain along with tiny codling kept being a nuisance throughout also some very small smoothounds came over the side too nice to see. When the tide turned conditions gradually became uncomfortable so decided to head home about 4ish. Picture of our keepers back in port as too lumpy out at sea for pictures, was a most enjoyable day great to see a few skate, good banter all round,thanks to Chris and Dave for washing down much appreciated, also Terry and Collin and first timers Rob and John hope to see you all soon. Cheers me, Jon. (High Flyer)
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30/04/2014
Fishing Report by jon old
30 Apr 2014 by jon old
Was a very calm day today with no wind for once, calmest i seen it this year so far. Decided due to the strong tides to try drifting on the 6 mile bank after few attempts nothing felt like being tempted by our varied baits so another tactic was needed. Headed up the northeren end of the middle cross to a alley way gulley i found productive many a times which resulted in Paul pictured here with a nice bass, few dogs and flatties. Moved few times around to follow the tide ended up off the wind turbines which produced absolutley nothing very surprised can only blame the strength of the tides. Came home down the Roads and called in at a little hole i know which finished the day off lovely with first of the smoothounds appearing only small but nice to catch, more doggies along with pesky whiting and a nice four and half pound cod again to Paul to finish the day off. Thanks to Paul, Jez, Keith and Derek a most enjoyable day thought we all done well despite the strong tides was a just great to have a flat calm day for once! Cheers men. Jon.
