Latest Fishing Reports: Scotland
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01/2018
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Jan 2018 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
The Cod fishing on the Mersey during January has been hard at times, this is due to all the flood water flowing down the river. We have managed to land some nice Cod to 11lb 9oz and with our best day being 13 keepers to 8lb 8oz. The anglers who change there baits every 15 to 20 mins are getting the best results. On one of the trips we hadn’t caught a fish for the first two hours, so to turn the lads in to lean mean Cod fishing machines. I offered to give anyone who catches a Cod over 10lb £100 cash and anyone who caught a 20lb Cod £500 cash. The lads started changing there baits regular and about an hour later Martin Grimshaw landed a Cod of 11lb 9oz it was 29 inches long and as fat as a big girls shoe!! To top it off it was Martin’s 62nd birthday, he caught his PB cod and took £100 off the skipper, well done Martin. It just goes to show if you put a little bit more effort in and anything can happen.
On another trip I told the group of lads who had booked the boat we had wind against tide on the flood SSE 18 to 25 Knots. I told them the boat was going to swing all over the place, they told me they don’t mind and still want to go. Now I have cancelled quite a few trips this winter on this type of forecast even though the lads still wanted to go. On this occasion I went with what the anglers wanted to do, big mistake when the flood tide arrived the boat was swinging from side to side for over 4 hours totally wasting half there trip because they couldn’t fish properly. I am not in this business to rip people off, if you book on my boat and I cancel due to wind against tide in the Mersey this is the reason why!!
Here are the last dates available this winter onboard Size Matters.
January
Tuesday 23rd Mersey 4am sailing 2 available.
Wednesday 24th Mersey 5am sailing 2 places available.
Thursday 25th Mersey 5am sailing 1 place available.
Friday 26th Wrecking 5.30am sailing 2 places available.
February
Monday 5th Wrecking 4am sailing 5 places available.
Tuesday 6th Mersey 5am sailing 3 places available.
Thursday 8th Mersey 5.30am sailing 2 places available.
If you would like to book any of the above dates or like more information please contact me.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com
View Boats Page
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01/2018
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Jan 2018 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
[This report was written when Size Matters was operating from Plymouth]
If you are interested in fishing from Plymouth this summer then this is well worth a read.
Size Matters will be operating out of Sutton Harbour Plymouth from April 14th until October 14th.
Since Kevin bought Size Matters in March 2016 he has showed his anglers the true potential of the fishing on offer in the English Channel from Plymouth.
Catching Blue Fin Tuna 300lb+, Blue Shark to 130lb, Conger Eels to 90lb, Porbeagle Shark to 65lb, Sunfish to 40lb, Ling to 38lb, Cod to 20lb, Blonde Ray to 20lb, Pollack to 18lb, Undulated Ray to 17lb, Turbot to 9lb, Bass to 8lb 8oz, Coalfish to 8lb, John Dory to 6lb 8oz, Small Eyed Ray to 6lb, Tub Gurnard to 5lb 8oz, Brill to 5lb, Whiting to 3lb 8oz, Garfish to 2lb 8oz and Black Bream to 2lb.
We also caught Red Band fish, Top knot, Pouting, Poor Cod, Ballan Wrasse, Cookcoo Wrasse, Pilchard, Sardine, Herring, Mackerel, Scad, Launce, Spurdog, Bull Huss, Tope, Plaice, Dabs and Dogfish.
You just have to read through our reports on our website from Plymouth to see what the fishing has been like from month to month.
New for 2018.
Size Matters is now fully coded and insured for 23 hour charters, we have lots of these charters booked in for 2018. Not just wrecking but also sharking. The plan is to fish wrecks 70 to 100 miles from Plymouth, this will open up most of the western approaches fishing in depths of 300ft to 450ft plus. As for the sharking we will be fishing the same area targeting Blues and porbeagles. Hopefully something a bit special mite turn up fishing this far out like a mako, thresher or something totally unexpected.
Example 23 hour Wrecking trip.
Leave Plymouth at 1am sail for 5 to 6 hours start fishing in daylight for 12 to 14 hours going from wreck to wreck then sail back to Plymouth and arrive at midnight.
Maximum anglers 10.
Example 23 hour Sharking trip.
Leave Plymouth at 1am sail for 5 to 6 hours start fishing in daylight for 12 to 14 hours drifting miles and setting up one hell of a chum slick. Then sail back to Plymouth and arrive at midnight. Maximum anglers 6.
Most people know the English Channel is the best place on the planet for big Conger Eels. In recent years I have only had a hand full of anglers who wanted to target them.
This summer we have lots of anglers booked in for some serious Conger fishing. The weather, tide and a bit of luck have to be on your side for these charters if you want to hook a monster Conger Eel.
Here is a full list of available dates for 2018.
May
Thursday 3rd Wrecking £75 pp 2 places available.
Tuesday 8th 3 day Guernsey Trip £300 pp 2 places available. (Max 8 )
Tuesday 22nd Wrecking/Conger £75 pp 1 place available.
Wednesday 23rd 23 hour Wrecking trip £160 pp 4 places available (max 10).
June
Thursday 28th Wrecking £75 pp 8 places available.
Friday 29th Wrecking £75 pp 3 places available.
July
Sunday 1st 23 hour Sharking Trip £220 pp 4 places available (max 6).
Wednesday 11th Wrecking £75 pp 6 places available.
Thursday 12th Wrecking £75 pp 6 places available.
August
Thursday 2nd Wrecking/Conger £75 pp 6 places available.
Thursday 9th Wrecking/Conger £75 pp 3 places available.
Monday 20th Wrecking/Conger £75 pp 1 place available.
Friday 31st Wrecking £75 pp 8 places available.
September
Monday 10th Wrecking £75 pp 3 places available.
Tuesday 11th Wrecking £75 pp 1 place available.
Friday 21st Wrecking/Conger £75 pp 6 places available.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com
www.mckiesfishingcharters.co.uk View Boats Page
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01/2018
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Jan 2018 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
During the holiday period we only managed to get out twice because of the weather forecast and on some of the days we cancelled the forecast was much better than expected.
When we did get out we caught cod to 7lb, plenty of whiting and Dabs. It’s now the half way point of our winter season on the Mersey and this year especially I have noticed some big changes. We are catching more cod and bigger ones on the tides ranging from 28ft to 30.5ft, I think this is because there has been so much fresh water in the Mersey and the bigger tides are bringing in more salt water which in turn is helping the fish feed more. Also since the completion of L2 container terminal the flow of the Mersey has changed and so have some of the areas we fish especially this winter season. You can fish the Mersey on a 30ft tide from the boat and the run is just like a 27ft tide in certain places.
We also have a few wrecking trips coming up, please remember the weather forecast for the Mersey is not the same as 60 miles out in the Irish Sea. For these wrecking trips to happen at this time of year the forecast has to be very good to travel the distance.
Let’s hope some good big cod have turned up after this set of big spring tides and storms we have had.
Mersey trips cost £45 per person includes all tackle, hot drinks and are 9 to 10 hours.
Wrecking trips cost £80 per person and include all tackle, hot drinks and are 12 hours. Any tackle you lose while wrecking you have to pay for.
Here are the last available dates this winter season onboard Size Matters from Liverpool.
January
Friday 12th Mersey 8.30am sailing 2 places available.
Saturday 13th Mersey 9am sailing 1 places available.
Monday 15th Mersey 10.30 sailing 1 place available.
Tuesday 16th Mersey 11.30am sailing 1 place available.
Wednesday 17th Mersey 12pm sailing 7 places available.
Thursday 18th Mersey 12.30pm sailing 12 places available.
Friday 19th Mersey 1pm sailing 9 places available.
Sunday 21st Mersey 3am sailing 2 places available.
Monday 22nd Mersey 3.30am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 23rd Mersey 4am sailing 7 available.
Wednesday 24th Mersey 5am sailing 6 places available.
February
Monday 5th Mersey 4am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 6th Mersey 5am sailing 8 places available.
Thursday 8th Mersey 5.30am sailing 3 places available
Friday 9th Wrecking 6am sailing 4 places available.
Tuesday 13th Mersey 10.30am sailing 2 places available.
Wednesday 14th Mersey 11am sailing 10 places available.
Thursday 15th Mersey 11.30am sailing 12 places available.
If you would like to book any of the above dates or like more information please contact me.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com View Boats Page
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12/2017
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Dec 2017 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
Over the last three weeks fishing in the Mersey we have been catching up to 15 sizeable Cod to 9lb 8oz, loads of Whiting and Dabs per trip. The fresh snow melt and rain water in the river has knocked the cod fishing off and it hasn’t been as good as last year. We fished the Queens channel on two of the trips to get away from the fresh water and to find where the cod are holding up. Sadly this just resulted in lots of Dogfish, Whiting and Dabs. There was that much fresh water coming down the river the tide was still ebbing 1 hour after low water on a spring tide. With more trips booked to fish the queens channel, I decided to fish the Mersey on the spring tides and this involves keeping just out of the main flow of tide so the anglers baits where fishing effectively. Thank god I made the right decision, in just the last two days we have been catching a good stamp of cod to 8lb 4oz with most 5lb to 6lb. The good thing to see was most of the cod where fresh run fish (very light brown in colour) this mean they are moving in to the river from off shore and all the fresh water has gone. Now this could be the start of our cod season. There was still plenty of whiting and dabs to catch if that’s your sort of thing. We also lost a few better fish not monsters but good fish, over the next eight weeks it is prime time and your best chance of catching a double figure Cod on the Mersey. Sadly we are fully booked until January 16th and I don’t normally do reports if I am fully booked but I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my Anglers/Customers and friends for their support and keeping me in a job that I love doing, in fact it’s not a job it’s a way of life.
Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Here is a full list of available dates in the new year.
January
Tuesday 16th Mersey 11.30am sailing 8 places available.
Wednesday 17th Mersey 12pm sailing 10 places available.
Thursday 18th Mersey 12.30pm sailing 12 places available.
Friday 19th Mersey 1pm sailing 9 places available.
Monday 22nd Mersey 3.30am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 23rd Mersey 4am sailing 7 available.
February
Monday 5th Mersey 4am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 6th Mersey 5am sailing 12 places available.
Thursday 8th Mersey 5.30am sailing 3 places available
Friday 9th Wrecking 6am sailing 8 places available.
Monday 12th Mersey 9.30am sailing 4 places available.
Tuesday 13th Mersey 10.30am sailing 5 places available.
Wednesday 14th Mersey 11am sailing 10 places available.
If you would like to book any of the above dates or like more information please contact me.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com View Boats Page
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12/2017
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Dec 2017 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
During November we only managed to get to the wrecks twice and it was well worth the effort. The lads caught plenty of Pollack to 6lb, we will continue to fish the off shore wrecks throughout the winter. Please note this involves traveling for up to 3.5 hours each way, all Wrecking charters are £80 per person. If the weather is to bad to get to the wrecks then we will be fishing the Mersey.
Our planned charter trips to fish the banks and Queens channel on the spring tides during November where cancelled due to the strong NW winds. We have lots of these trips fully booked for December but there is still available dates for January and February. Cost is £45 per person all tackle is included and hot drinks.
As for the Mersey the the cod are starting to make more of an appearance especially towards the end of the month. An average day seems to a dozen Cod a day to 7lb 14oz with rays to 10lb, any amount of whiting to 1lb 8oz and Dabs. These charters are £45 per person includes all tackle and hot drinks.
Personally I think the seasons are getting later each year and it won’t be long till the Cod arrive in big numbers consistently.
Last winter we had our best day in February 64 Cod, I would settle for that again this winter.
Here is a full list of available dates this winter
December
Saturday 9th Mersey 5am sailing 1 place available.
Saturday 16th Mersey 10.30am sailing 1 place available.
Thursday 21st Mersey 1.30pm sailing 4 places available.
Friday 22nd Mersey 3am sailing 8 places available.
Sunday 24th Mersey 4am sailing 4 places available.
January
Wednesday 17th Banks/Queen’s Channel 12pm sailing 12 places available.
Thursday 18th Banks/Queen’s Channel 12.30pm sailing 12 places available.
Friday 19th Banks/Queen’s Channel 1pm sailing 12 places available.
Monday 22nd Mersey 3.30am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 23rd Mersey 4am sailing 10 places available.
Friday 26th Wrecking 5.30am sailing 9 places available.
February
Monday 5th Banks/Queen’s Channel 4am sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 6th Mersey 4.30am sailing 12 places available.
Thursday 8th Mersey 6am sailing 4 places available.
Friday 9th Wrecking 6am sailing 12 places available.
Monday 12th Mersey 9.30am sailing 7 places available.
Tuesday 13th Mersey 10.30am sailing 6 places available.
Wednesday 14th Mersey 11am sailing 12 places available.
Wednesday 21st Banks/Queen’s Channel 4am sailing 12 places available.
Thursday 22nd Wrecking 5am sailing 12 places available.
Friday 23rd Mersey 5am sailing 12 places available.
Monday 26th Mersey 8.30am sailing 5 places available.
Tuesday 27th Mersey 9.30am sailing 12 places available.
Wednesday 28th Banks/Queen’s Channel 10am sailing 12 places available.
If you would like to book any of the above dates or like more information please contact me.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Liverpool)
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com View Boats Page
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11/2017
Fishing Report by steve stringer
on Lucky Dip II (Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway)
Nov 2017 by steve stringer
Report on-board Lucky Dip II
The weather has made getting the boat out fishing really difficult, but when we do get out the fishing has been of the wall!!! Lots of large Spurs were around until September with several over the 20lb mark and at least three of nearly 25lb ( the current Scottish record is 20lb 6oz ), lots of big tope are still showing as are large numbers of large skate with a very large one lost today(8/11/2017) . Plenty of other fish are still around for the catching so we just need the weather to sort itself out.
We are putting the price up next year from Jan 1st to £45 including free hot roll plus any number of cuppas!! View Boats Page
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11/2017
Fishing Report by dominic wilson
on Dawn Venture (Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway)
Nov 2017 by dominic wilson
Report on-board Dawn Venture
Hi all,well that confirms the end of the season as the boat was lifted out at Girvan yesterday for 5 months in the shed.Looks like a new starboard gearbox required plus oil cooler and (potentially) a new shaft.
I am aiming to be back in the water for the week starting the 5th march 2018.
bookings are now being taken for next year,telephone 07739231331
.
The best of the year were:
common skate...204lb
spurdog....19.5lb
bullhuss.....17.5lb
tope,,,,,35lb
red gurnard ,,,4lb
haddock,,,3lb
cod,,,,4lb
pollack,,,,6.5lb
the mackerel arrived late april and as I write this are still here in the deeper water View Boats Page
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14/05/2023
Fishing Report by Moira Smith
on Spirit of Adventure (Kyle of Lochalsh, Highland)
14 May 2023 by Moira Smith
Report on-board Spirit of Adventure
We also offer combination fishing/wildlife charters and scenic adventures. Just let us know your requirements. We also offer trips throughout the winter.
View Boats Page
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11/2017
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
on Size Matters (Craobh Haven, Argyll & Bute)
Nov 2017 by Kevin McKie
Report on-board Size Matters
The fishing from Liverpool continues to be giving good sport from the long distance wrecks, producing good catches of Pollack to 10lb, lots of small Coalfish to 4lb, odd Codling and plenty of Mackerel. The Mersey still continues to be fishing well for Rays to 10lb 14oz up to 50 per trip, Cod to 7lb 2oz up to 12 per trip and loads of Whiting and Dabs.
All the signs are there for this winter to be just as good if not better than last year.
Here is a full list of available dates for this winter.
November
Thursday 9th Wrecking 4am sailing 8 places available.
Tuesday 14th Mersey 8.30am sailing 1 place available.
Thursday 16th Mersey 10.30am sailing 12 places available.
Friday 17th Banks/Queens Channel 11.30am sailing 12 places available available.
Monday 20th Banks/Queens Channel 1pm sailing 12 places available.
Tuesday 21st Banks/Queens Channel 1.30pm sailing 12 places available.
Wednesday 22nd Mersey 2.30am sailing 12 places available.
December
Friday 8th Wrecking 4am sailing 11 places available.
Thursday 14th Mersey 10am sailing 1 place available.
Monday 18th Banks/Queens Channel 12pm sailing 11 places available.
Tuesday 19th Banks/Queens Channel 12.30pm sailing 12 places available.
Wednesday 20th Banks/Queens Channel 1pm sailing 12 places available.
Thursday 21st Mersey 1.30pm sailing 11 places available.
Friday 22nd Mersey 3am sailing 10 places available.
Sunday 24th Wrecking 4am sailing 12 places available.
January
Tuesday 9th Wrecking 5am sailing 11 places available.
Monday 15th Mersey 11am sailing 1 place available.
Wednesday 24th Mersey 5am sailing 5 places available.
February
Thursday 8th 6am sailing 4 places available.
Tuesday 13th 10.30am sailing 6 places available.
Monday 26th 8.30am sailing 5 places available.
If you would like to book any of the above dates or like more information please contact me.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
07999628511
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com View Boats Page
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28/10/2017
Fishing Report by dominic wilson
on Dawn Venture (Portpatrick, Dumfries & Galloway)
28 Oct 2017 by dominic wilson
Report on-board Dawn Venture
The final trip of the year saw plenty of fish and a variety of species.......huss were hooked and dropped(apart from 1),there were 4 good tope runs (1 landed).we caught: tope,huss,doggies,mackerel,herring,scad,whiting,haddock,coalies,grey gurnard,pouting.
The largest fish of the day was a 32lb tope caught by myself and a 17.5lb bullhuss by a customer.there was also an 8lb tope View Boats Page
