Latest Fishing Reports: Wales
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09/2010
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
Sep 2010 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
Sadly September was a very hard month weather wise, following the reasonably settled spring and summer months of 2010, early indications for autumn were gloomy with low pressures appearing to dominate the pressure charts.
September did however start off on a high, with very settled high pressure and sunshine bearing down on us for the first few days. Drifting offered plenty of ballan and cuckoo wrasse, with weights up to 5lb and 1lb 8oz respectively. I even managed to snare myself a decent wrasse during 1 trip out and break a long standing 4lb pb with a fish of 4lb 10oz.
The first week of September saw us fishing with the Armed Forces. Teams of 9 anglers from the Army, Navy and RAF fished a hard battle against one another in the prestigious Inter Services Boat Angling Championships, a full report is available on our website.
Inshore and the fishing was fairly hectic once again with a good variety of fish coming aboard My Way. Along with some good spotted rays, we had a few thornies and a few good blondes.
Other species included the world famous Welsh Tiger Shark, yep honest, it was reported so in the papers a few years ago - we normally call them dogfish though :-). Plenty of red & grey gurnards around along with a few nice tubs. The Tub Gurnard is not a fish we catch in abundance, but 2010 has seen a fair few around the 2lb mark. Further catches inshore included pollack, huss, whiting, codling, smoothies, dabs, plaice, strap congers and a few others.
We managed a few trips into Holyhead Deep, however after 5 excellent months gone by with huss, tope and spurs in abundance, the trips of September returned very few hard fighting sharks. Plenty of huss, however only a handful of tope and a few small spurs were really all that put bends in the rods.
Above one of the many red gurnards that we've landed this year. This was Mike's first ever red, so a great catch for him that was photographed a fair few times :).
With the weather playing it's part in scuppering a fair number of days afloat during September, I have slowly been building up our Fish Identification pages. They have been under construction for a fair while now and really still have a little way to go. The pages are not designed as a complete species reference tool, more a photographic identification of the many species caught aboard My Way.
There is however a small amount of text to assist with id and also some facts about the specie -http://www.goangling.co.uk/fish_ID.htm
Here ends our brief September report, hopefully a better October will help forget a few of the woes that September brought. Currently though, a F6 to 7 NE has put paid to todays outing, though with some high pressure looking to move in early next week I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Enjoy your fishing where ever you go .... http://www.goangling.co.uk/availability.htm
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02/10/2010
Fishing Report by Gwyn Andrews
on Goldilocks (Rhyl, Denbighshire)
2 Oct 2010 by Gwyn Andrews
Report on-board Goldilocks
Fished the Mersey today.25 rays numerous whiting, dabs and dogfish.Never really tried for codling but the odd ones been taken on other boats.I would be expecting a few on the next set of tides.pics to follow
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09/2010
Fishing Report by Steve Andrews
on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)
Sep 2010 by Steve Andrews
Report on-board Supreme
First trip of the winter out of Liverpool Marina today 29/09/10 had some mersey newbies on never fished in the tide before managed 15 thornback rays between them some cracking whiting and dabs ,and the enevitable dogs one of the other boats that was out had a couple of coddling as well as thornbacks ,lets hope it continues will add a couple of photos later cheers steve
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25/09/2010
Fishing Report by Ian Pratt
on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
25 Sep 2010 by Ian Pratt
Report on-board Celtic Wildcat
You have to be keen to go shark fishing. Well that's what I told myself anyway when the alarm went at 0350 and I drove down to Neyland for an 0700 departure.
Anyway, a great group of 8 lads onboard for the last Danglers shark trip of the 2010 season - last chance saloon for this year.
I was really looking forward to the day - I've already had a PB 130lb shark this year so was pretty relaxed - one under the belt; just have fun.. A few of the lads were virgins though and so the pressure was really on them to boat the big blue of a lifetime....
It's stunning motoring down the Haven on an Autumn morning. Nothing better. Good company, a day at sea, and a glorious Pembrokeshire sunrise. We rounded St Ann's and the swell picked up a little but nothing too horrendous. The northerly airflow made the air crystal clear and you could see for miles and miles.....right up to Grassholm and beyond
We stopped off at the Barrels to load up with mackerel. It took a little longer than usual as there was plent of small stuff. We also pulled in a few codling and pollack. Anyway, boxed up with chum, we motored way offshore to the shark grounds 28 miles from nowhere. The water was inky black and clear and soon the slick was oozing its oily summons to the ocean predators.
We didn't have to wait long - not even a boiling kettle length. First up we saw the shark dorsals patrolling around the boat right on the surface, taking in the heady mix of yummy, chummy mackerel. Then, the first shark headed toward one of the outside floats and made a dive. Moments later, the ratchet screamed off with the first run of the day.
After a good account of itself, Jason boated the first blue - so we knew it was going to be a good day. Well done fella.
We then had quite few really good runs which were lost - either through a dropped bait or through a combination of equipment failure and poor technique! The sharks also happily ploughed through everyone's lines as they made off with their free lunch causing a couple of small tangles and lost end tackle.
In between the runs, we watched the dolphins and gannets and some of the lads entertained themselves with the garfish - I think we had a round 20 all of a good size. These also proved by far the best bait for the blues as well as for tea!
The old shark-meister himself, Cpt. Pennar Pointer then demonstrated how it should be done. A text book handling of the run and playing the fish to oscar performance standard.
Now shark virgin Paul is normally the calmest and most placid man on the boat. However, having lost two very good fish earlier in the day, he was having to count to 10 quite often. Sharking does that to a man. Finally, he had a third run and this time, the fish stayed on.
Paul took his time and let the fish tire out, playing the clutch like a pro. This was a young male blue and boy did he go like a train - or maybe a lift: up and down; up and down; up and down
Well done Paul. A virgin no more. Congratulations
Huw Nash and Clive share another blue - in all I think we boated 5 and lost at least as many.
SkipperNick gave us a superb day out. Sharking on Celtic Wildcat is excellent fun with plenty of deck to space out - and to safely land and unhook the fish and take a quick photo. Thanks Nick for looking after us on the sharkers this year and we look forward to the ones we've already booked with you for next year. Great value for a 12 hour trip so far offshore and always bang on the fish.
Finally got home around 2130 and more than ready for a quick beer! What a day. Happy but tired.
Ian View Boats Page
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23/09/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
23 Sep 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
Autumn Treats,
Big bass showing in amongst a few early codling and the usual doggies, whiting and pouting.
2 nice ones so far today for Brian No2 from Bexleyheath. Both to lug baits meant for codling.
Dave. View Boats Page
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18/09/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
18 Sep 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
The Bromley Boys cam on their annual beano yesterday.
Heads were hanging low after a late night in the hotel bar, not the brightest of ideas before fishing but heyho we are here to have fun !
As the tides were fairly small and the wind fresh we stayed inshore, hopeing for some more codling.
Expectations were high and large lug baits were sent seawards for the coddies to sniff out.
Sure enough the coddies found them, no large fish all in the 2 to 4lb range but a great day close to home.
Get on down with a bucket of lug. Remember that with 4 or more on a weekday we'll go !
Dave View Boats Page
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17/09/2010
Fishing Report by Ian Pratt
on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
17 Sep 2010 by Ian Pratt
Report on-board Celtic Wildcat
My arms have only just recovered enought to post this report....so you know we had a good day.
12 members of the Danglers club steamed out from Neyland on Celtic Wildcat to fish the Hats and Barrels reefs. A lovely calm early Autumn day in the Haven and a little fresher as we rounded out into the ocean and headed out past Grassholm. The northerly air flow gave us super visibility at this wonderful Pembrokeshire location.
It was pretty much non-stop codling from the start of the day to the end. They came on every lure and shad from sidewinders to goldfish and fire-tails as well as hokkais. The majority were just in size so went back but we all had a few fillets from the larger specimens to take home.
The pollack - usually the main predators on these reefs - were fewer in numbers but they did make an appearance. The codling were so prolific, some Danglers were actually heard to complain that it was getting too exhausting - drop then nodding bite; drop then nodding bite; drop then nodding bite......! All day, every drift, drift after drift. The codling which were coming to the boat and immediately going back were specimens that would make for a good day out of Penarth in the winter months....
Anyway, catch of the day by a very very long mile was young Luke from Dale with a lovely codling which came on large red hokkais.
Later on, following the diving gannets and other bird action, we tried for mackerel and caught strings of mini joeys. We also had ballan and cuckoo wrasse.
So a good H&Bs trip all round. A huge thank you to skipper Nick O'Sullivan who worked hard all day to keep us busy and gave us a great day out. As ever a lovely trip on a superb boat with a hugely knowledgeable and helpful skipper. View Boats Page
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09/2010
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
Sep 2010 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
Inter-Servics Boat Angling Championships
During the last few days of August and start of September, we helped organise and took part in the Inter-Services Boat Angling Championships. This event sees angling teams from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force fish against each other for the coveted Inter-Service Boat Angling Champions position.
With individual and team honours at stake, let alone bragging rights between our armed forces this was going to be a hotly contested event.
The first couple days were handed over to practice and qualification days for all the teams. With all services having extra anglers to that required for the Championships, the rods were having to finely tune rigs and fish hard to make the grade for the 2 day event at the end of the week.
Sadly the fishing wasn’t up to scratch at all. Battered by gale force North Westerly winds over the previous weekend, the water in Holyhead Bay was extremely dark in colour and the fish extremely noticeable … by their absence. That said it was in a way slightly better time to help gauge the abilities and adaptability of the anglers on show.
I guess most people can catch fish when they’re leaping onto the hooks 3 at a time with very little effort required, with these sort of conditions the anglers would have to work at their rigs, bait presentation and over all tactics to squeeze out the opposing teams.
Fortunately the weather was dry and sunny all week, and with the forecast towards the end of the week for calm still waters it was decided to take all 3 boats booked in the e vent to Treaddur Bay. Sheltered from a NW gale, the seas of Treaddur Bay would be clean and the fish in a more playful manner. Similar to most events that I help organise the 6hrs competition fishing was split into 3 differing styles:-
1) Drifting over rough ground 2) Shallow broken ground anchor 3) Deep rough ground anchor
Thus over these differing marks, species should vary, along with fishing styles.
The event over the 2 days was hotly contested with some excellent anglers from all 3 teams vying for boat wins all the way through. A variety of species caught included dogs, whiting, gurnard, huss, rays, wrasse, codling, pollack, various mini species a few black bream and many others.
On working out the final scores over the 2 days, it was clear that the RAF had succeeded in retaining the Inter Services Crown, with a steady and very professional performance over the 2 days.
Further to this, the RAF anglers had also claimed the top 3 positions within the individual championships. Welsh International Boat angler Mark Owen taking first place from England Squad member Andy Deavin. 3rd place went to Daz Rose ... not a bad achievement for a fella who hadn’t made the practice days and had the journey from hell getting to the event from far north of Scotland
Ooh, and My Way managed top boat / skipper :) View Boats Page
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16/09/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
16 Sep 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
First couple of inshore codling on the boat.
Wayhay, winter`s here !!!
nice to see in amongst the bass , whiting, dogs and pouts. hopefully the weather gods will be kind to us this winter season and we`ll be able to get out for some cracking sport close to home .
Dave. View Boats Page
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01/09/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
1 Sep 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
Tuesday and Wednesday this week we went a fair way south from our normal grounds for a little adventure.
The trips certainly paid off as we had great fishing with a good variety of fish hitting the decks of Excel 2. On both days when the tide was running at it's hardest we drifted for bass with good results. Great to have anglers setting new PB's . The fishing was really exciting as the bass hit the baits hard as we drifted through the White water of a tide rip on the edge of a bank.
As the tide slackened we did drifts further along the series of banks picking up plaice and gurnards to dragged lugworm baits. On both days we anchored for a while as the tide was gentle to try for a blonde ray or two, sadly we didn't see any on these trips , just a few of them pesky dogfish !
When the tide started to run hard again it was time to feather up a few mackeral to take home nice and fresh in the cool box, then off home after a great days fishing.
Dave. View Boats Page
