Latest Fishing Reports: Wales
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17/04/2010
Fishing Report by Aaron Smith
on Bad Boyz VI (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
17 Apr 2010 by Aaron Smith
Report on-board Bad Boyz VI
Had a bunch of 7 guys from stoke up for the weekend out fishing and staying in our bunkhouse. We readyed the boat at 8:30 awaiting the arrival to set sail at 9:00, Beautifull day yet again with perfect conditons for which we had been asked for a general days fishing. We started on a few local reefs about 5 miles from port which produced a couple dozen Pollack and Collies around the 2lb mark then headed a few more miles down to try a well known mackeral mark (mackeral rock :D) still early on yet but did manage a couple strings of large mackeral with a few mixed pollack and whitting then time came for anchoring up for slack water so we headed a couple miles further to try a slightly rocky area, within 5 minutes of baits going down fish were on thier way up with plenty of Huss, Dogs, Whiting, dabs and Codling with also the first Tub Gurnard of the year the lads were kept busy right through till after the slack. Once the tide picked up we moved in 2 miles to anchor into a rock to try for some more Huss. After an hour we had plenty more fish with a few Huss and again about a dozen Codlings, We then started to work our way back stopping off on a few reefs which produced more Pollack and Collies with a few 4-5lb ones thrown in. All in all plenty of fish, best of the day was a 12lb 3oz Huss, Fishing is getting better every trip now with all the species moving in, with the mackeral just around the corner.
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13/04/2010
Fishing Report by Aaron Smith
on Bad Boyz VI (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
13 Apr 2010 by Aaron Smith
Report on-board Bad Boyz VI
Had a group of 7 guys across from near liverpool who wanted to try thier luck on some rays and turbot.
We set of at 8:30 with the kettle and biscuits ready whilst we had a 20 mile steam down the coast to some sand banks. The weather was perfect for a day out, on arrival we threw the anchor down and all our baits went down with the kettle on again. Fishing was steady all day with some hectic patches, we moved around a few times to vary the fishing. The day ended with 2 Turbot 3 Rays plenty of Whiting and Dogfish with a dozen or so Dabs and Plaice thrown in on some small baits. All in all not a bad trip to the banks for a first of the year and still early on. Mackeral showing anyday with 1 being caught so far, Pollack and Wrasse have made a show with the odd Tope run at anchor. View Boats Page
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12/04/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
12 Apr 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
Herne Bay AA National Bass Festival 2010,
Dates announced are 23rd, 24th, 25th July.
Come grab a lunker.
We are the undisputed Bass Champions with an as yet unbeaten in the competition fish of 15 LB 6OZ 8DRMS and 1,2,3rd heaviest fish in 2006, 4th 2008, 5th 2009.
Get on down !! View Boats Page
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09/04/2010
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
9 Apr 2010 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
With a nice ridge of high pressure coinciding with neap tides, the fishing off Holyhead has come alive quite nicely. Whilst on the drift, pollack averaging a few lb have been located under the rock ledges of the Island and also near Holyhead’s Famous breakwater, some early ballan and cuckoo wrasse are adding to the drifts.
Inshore anchor has seen an array of smaller species including dogs, whiting, codling and dabs etc. Whilst offshore in Holyhead Deep, far more double figure huss have come over the gunwales than you can count. Every bite appears to produce a decent fish, when not on a huss we have also had spurs and a few nice 20lb+ tope adding to the excitement.
With more settled weather ahead of us, I hope you enjoy you fishing in the weeks ahead.
More photos from last weekend 10/11 April here http://www.goangling.co.uk/2010/Gallery54/gallery54.htm
Gethyn View Boats Page
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31/03/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
31 Mar 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
Thankfully the days we have been able to do the long distance trips we`ve found good amounts of quality cod and some stonking pollock. It`s always a worry this time of year in case we get out there and find the water coloured or the wrecks empty of fish.
The inshore fishing has been odd to say the least, one day great, 10/15 nice plump spring coddies and 6/8 skate thrown in for good measure. The next day almost nothing even struggling to catch doggies, as if someone has hit the OFF switch !
Hopefully it`ll settle into a nice steady rhythm now as the Skate move closer inshore as the temperatures rise and we get the last of the spring run cods, lots to look forward to . . .
Happy fishing,
Dave.
www.kentcharterfishing.com View Boats Page
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16/03/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
16 Mar 2010 by David Hancock
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Tuesday 16th,
At last a calm day to have a run offshore and have some fun with the fishies !
Don`t believe the miseries that recon there`s no fish out there,cos there`s plenty you just got to find them !
40 to 50 cod from 5 to 14 lb !!!
Dave
www.kentcharterfishing.com View Boats Page
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01/03/2010
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
1 Mar 2010 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
With My Way returning to the water the last week in February following her annual 6weeks of Tender Loving Care we had our first trip out today. Weather was great with a flat calm sea and glorious sunshine. It’s always nice to get that first trip after the winter maintenance period under your belt, even better when the weather gods play ball.
All on board where eager to simply get afloat and blow a few cobwebs from the tackle, and with a 33ft tide upon us, it was going to be strictly inshore work. Despite the daunting tide, we set sail with hopes of a few winter / spring species pulling the lines.
Not electrifying fishing as far as records go, however all aboard were kept busy with a steady stream of dogfish and a few huss along with, codling, whiting, dabs from which a few keepers made it into the cool box. With cups of tea, biscuits and the customary sausage buttie, it was a calming and enjoyable day afloat.
I hope you all have a great 2010 and get afloat as often as you can. View Boats Page
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01/2010
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Jan 2010 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
Happy New Year to All,
lets hope the lunkers keep coming . . .
Well Done Martin, nice fish, 19 1/2 lb.
Dave. View Boats Page
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01/2010
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
Jan 2010 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
Winter 2010 has been abysmal for most of the UK. We have been pounded with winds from all dirtections - the only common factor being the strength - the vast majority over 20mph.
With a small fun match scheduled for Saturday 04th January, our last outing before My Way came out of the water for her winter TLC, the weather gods once again changed the forecast from a nice 10mph, to an un appealing 25mph W. Rendering the match a no go.
However with no trip planned for the Sunday, organiser Chris Hamblin phoned around the troops and 6 brave souls were happy to try for the Sunday which had easterly winds of 10mph promised. Sadly other plans for the Sunday reduced our numbers from 9 to 6, never the less, we would set sail, un sure of what we would find in the sea following the barrage of Force 10 gales suffered on our coast earlier in the week. Sadly Chris also had to withdraw last minute, yet another victim to this viral bug doing the rounds.
Setting sail in the morning, whether the fishing was good or bad - it was always going to be a fun affair. Arthur Beechey and Glyn 'Fester' Hughes are often likened to many famous double acts - Hinge & Bracket or the Chuckle Brothers spring alarmingly to mind.
Glyn set his sights on first place before we had thrown the ropes away. Remembering the match we fished last October, Glyn claimed he was brought to the boat under false pretences. Apparently Arthur had mentioned an evening sail and laugh with the lads to Glyn, who was keen for an evening fish after work. Grabbing a few rigs and whatever bait was lying around, Glyn was lured to the marina only to be met by the other lads gearing up for a full match assault - we heard of nothing but this fact all evening!
It wasn't to go Glyn's way early on - after catching the dreaded first fish, his catches slumped slightly as young Mike took the lead from Glyn, Alan and Pete with a succession of whiting and the odd dab. To add insult Mike also managed to snare a small codling and sizeable coalie to further frustrate Glyn's ambitions. What of Arthur? Well it took a while before his first fish came aboard My Way this day, but we wont mention the tying of rigs after the anchor was dropped.
After a couple hrs we headed off to the mussel beds for some more sizeable quarry in the shape of the bull huss. Now then , this didn't quite go to plan! With a HW in the Tide Book for 1245pm, taking into account the local difference and a little more for the tide, we anchored up at 1130am, expecting the last of the flood. Shock horror, the tide was already ebbing. Now normally I would blame the skipper, but saying as I was at the helm this was obviously not the case. The moon, must have had a greater pull on the tide!
With only a few dogs added to the tally in the half hr of comfortable fishing available to us we then moved inshore onto a patch of mud for more whiting and bits etc
With sausage butties, pasties & Cadburys chocolate all washed down with plentiful amounts of tea & coffee, it was now an all out assault for lads to land first place in the match. By Now it was a close thing to call between Pete and Glyn, who had both been catching dogs and whiting far more constantly than the others. Mike was struggling from his bow draw to latch into the fish further down tide, whilst Alan was quite happy trying out all the new rigs and feathers it looked like Father Christmas had delivered the previous week. Not to be out done, Arthur picked this move to step his up game. Having finally decided upon the rig that worked he started to make ground on the leading pair with double and triple shots of whiting. A triple shot of dogs, also adding 12 much needed points to his wanting tally.
The final assault though proved a little too late for Arthur when the results were counted up. Managing to over take Pete, Arthur was still left 14points behind Glyn who had exorcised the demons of the match in October by claiming the first place, well done.
A hard days fishing, in extremely cold conditions with an unforgiving easterly breeze. Would we do it all again - yes I suppose so. Sometimes it's nice just to get out there and blow them cobwebs away. With the banter and jokes flowing at regular intervals, it makes for a fun time afloat.
A total of just short of 158 fish were caught between the 5 anglers fishing
Top 3 slots went as follows:
1 Glyn Hughes 119 100% £30
2 Arthur Beechey 105 88.24% £20
3 Pete Minns 99 83.19% £10
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12/2009
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
Dec 2009 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
2009 - Review of the year
After returning My Way to the water in mid March following her winter maintenance period, the fishing could have been best described as un eventful. Fish were around, but nothing too electrifying - dogfish, whiting, coalies, etc with the biggest catch being the reliable bull huss. That said, for the middle of March it is consistent fishing and what Holyhead can deliver on days when just getting afloat and blowing winter cobwebs away is all that is required.
This time of year most anglers out fishing are simply getting back into the swing of things and anticipating the year ahead. Based on the previous years successes or failures our angling goals are decided upon - so many species to catch, or a tope over 50lb, smoothie over 20lb.
We all have different targets.
With the winds settling down for the Easter break it was with nervous anticipation that I planned the fishing trips for the weeks ahead. The weather over the Easter period was certainly a god send to many of us involved within the angling industry. Friends with boats, shops and a few in the wholesale trade all reported brisk business, with many grateful for the fairly settled spell of calm seas and sunshine
During the first few weeks of April we tend to see more fish moving inshore. This can range from more dogs, bigger huss but also some pollack and coalies. 2009 has followed the same trend, but with exceptionally high catches of good sized pollack.
Not to double figure standards, but the inshore rocks were reliable enough to deliver pollack averaging the 3lb mark. With some anglers often hooking into a brace, or if lucky 3 at a time. When drifting in 25 to 50 foot of water, close inshore, pollack to 6lb give a great account for themselves on light tackle.
Rig choices varied for many of the anglers with the bigger fish falling to those prepared to work baits or jellies on flying collar rigs.
Rough ground marks out in the deeps had been generally slow, few huss, spurs and congers, but a boundless amount of doggies infuriating most anglers with the 180ft haul up from the sea bed. With nothing to lose, a change of tact was required and a search for new ground. There is such a vast amount of sea available to us, there is never any harm in trying out new marks. In reading a chart, and having a run over with the echo sounder - gems can often be found.
A good nose through the charts in early April and a series of 170ft rocks in and around a 240ft bed seemed like a nice holding point for a variety of species. A few miles off my usual haunts it was going to be an interesting mark to try out. Well, the move proved successful, no spurs sadly, but this mark produced more huss than dogfish with most of the specimens topping double figures with many around the 15lb mark, add these catches to 2 dropped tope (early season for us, so not geared for them), this is mark was without doubt going to be re-visited at a later time in 2009.
All species have a hold on us for different reasons. Tope and smoothies for example, bait out, ratchet on and wait, adrenalin pumping waiting for the ‘click click’ of the ratchet. Pollack over wrecks – wind up nothing, drop down, wind up again whilst waiting for that short pluck of a pollack teasing your lure – then bang your losing line as the fish makes a bid for freedom.
Wrasse fishing though can offer you all this adrenalin pumping action and more, basically a much greater chance of success. Most anglers who fish aboard My Way know of my passion for drifting inshore rock marks for wrasse and pollack. With 5 main wrasse species in the UK - ballan, cuckoo, corkwing, goldsinny and rock cook all making regular appearances aboard My Way, 2009 was an exceptional year on the drift.
Unlike the past couple of years, good fortune fell upon us for most of May and June. Both months were far more settled than the previous couple of years. Light winds saw us set sail on many occasions, searching for a variety of species whether it be on the drift or hard at anchor. One of our main targets during this period is smoothhound.
Again, 2009 was not to disappoint. Where north Wales has long been associated with some very good catches of smoothhound, My Way certainly sets some standards for consistent numbers of quality smoothhound. With us smashing the WFSA record for smoothhound in 2008 with the capture of a 25lb 6oz starry, hopes were set quite high for 2009. sadly though despite a few hundred double figure hounds and many in the 17 to 19lb bracket we failed to reach the 20lb plus target. However based on the theory of a 2year cycle for hounds we're hoping for a great run in 2010.
Tope is another big draw for anglers to north Wales. Sadly the last 2 years from Holyhead have been hard work on the tope fishing front. Strong winds coinciding with the neap tides that are required for us to have a successful time tope fishing have all but ruined trips in 2007 and 2008. Fortunately that little piece of good fortune mentioned earlier helped out in 2009. this allowed for many more forays into the deeper water in search of the tope with excellent results. Paul took the helm of My Way late June for our first venture after tope and the crew from the Wirral were rewarded with 25 tope and 15 huss in 2 and a half hrs of hectic action.
Our last venture for tope came in mid October with a crowd of paramedics from Conwy. With such a stressful job, these guys really wanted a day of rest and plenty of fish. Tope, Rays and huss a plenty certainly was what the doctor ordered. The video below was taken by one of the crew. Line screamed from Jasons reel as he hooked into what appeared to be the best tope of the day. Thus the 5 mins turned into 30mins as Jason took time to play his 40lb shark to the side of My Way.
2009 also saw 2 surprises landed aboard My Way. Were as not exceptionally large fish, both of them were first captures aboard My Way and also the first heard of in the area. Our first new addition to the species tally came whilst drifting an inshore mark in early June. . Weighing no more than 4 or 5 oz, the Topknot was certainly the fish of the year so far, A first for it’s captor Monty Burns, but also a first ever aboard My Way. A few months later Jon Law hooked into the first of many haddock that came into Holyhead bay. not big by any north sea standard, but another first and much appreciated aboard My Way.
In October we held another Sponsored fishing day to help raise funds to send a very brave girl on a very special holiday, Cath's Community and Ronald McDonald House Charities . As the anglers turned up at Holyhead Marina, it was clear to see that everyone had made that special effort with fancy dress costumes. What the lovely yacht owners thought of the variety of costumes including Ozzy Osborne, Superman, Vicky Pollard, Jason from Friday 13th A couple Indians, Katie Price and my very own Bet Lynch impression descending on their idyllic pontoon setting we’ll never know.
My Way species list for 2009 - total 44
bass, black bream, bull huss, coalfish, codling, conger eel, dab, dogfish, dragonet, gobi -rock & black, gurnard - grey, red & tub, haddock, herring, ling, mackerel, pollack, pouting, plaice, poor cod, , ray - thornback , blonde, spotted, cuckoo, rockling 3b, sandeel, sea scorpion ls &ss, smoothhound - common & starry, spurdog, tadpole fish, tope, topknot , tompot blenny, turbot, whiting, wrasse - ballan cuckoo, corkwing goldsinny & rock cook,
Thank you to everyone who has supported us through 2009.
Hope you have a fish filled year ahead and we look forward to seeing you in 2010. View Boats Page
