Latest Fishing Reports: United Kingdom
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05/2011
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
May 2011 by Gethyn Owen
Report on-board My Way 2
The My Way Smoothhound Challenge
A long time ago, we set the date of our inaugural smoothhound challenge for Bank Holiday May 30th 2011. This was based on the time of year when My Way specialises in landing some of the biggest hounds caught from Holyhead.
Fear though filled the air for weeks leading to the date, with high winds blasting our shores since early May, the chance of the match actually getting fished was slim to say the least. In the previous 4 weeks we had cancelled 14 trips and only fished on 5 occasions. The latter 3 trips were to target the smoothhound, a report from which hs already been posted.
The day of the competition loomed, the 30mph winds of the previous morning had all but dispersed and 9 mad keen anglers arrived at the pontoon with beaming smiles all round. The challenge was to simply catch the heaviest Smoothie of the day, do so and your reward would be a Fladen Sensor Tip rod and 444 sized reel. These light multi tip blanks offer superb bite detection and sport to any angler, they are one of our favourite rods for taming big hounds. It was possible though, that we were in for a hard day afloat. Many factors were edging against our day today – the high winds of late, the early peel of the crab and also the size of our hounds!
The smoothhounds off our shores do not run in the big packs normally associated with sharks of this type. Whereas smaller hounds, say below 8lb can often be caught one after another; as they increase in size they appear to become more solitary when feeding. Our best day afloat after smoothies had seen in the region of 26 hounds caught, but with all bar a couple over 12lb, this was gratefully accepted.
Despite all this, those opting to fish our smoothhound challenge were well aware of the potential Holyhead offers for smoothhound anglers. For a few weeks of the year, this really is where the action is!
As we set sail and made way to our fishing grounds I started to rue my last report and uploading it to the world! Our previous few trips in between the high winds had seen My Way and it’s anglers in a peaceful paradise catching some excellent hounds with only the odd yacht passing by. The last two occasions though, another boat was nearing on us with each anchor drop – by this third day of the current spell of settled weather it was out before us and was slam bang on top of the mark we tend to fish in this area. Now I do accept that no –one owns any particular spot, but funny how your exact marks attract so much attention at times!
The previous day had only seen 5 small hounds come to the boat despite some very experienced smoothie anglers aboard. So fortunately we had already decided on a slight move to hopefully encourage a better catch. Moving only 1/4 mile, with the tides as they were for the match we had more depth and also slightly more flow compared to the Sunday.
15 fresh peelers were supplied as part of the entry fee to our fun challenge, but some of the anglers had also come prepared with a selection of peelers, softies, crinklies, velvet peelers and hardbacks. It was going to be an interesting time for the next 6hrs.Pegged on the stern, Shaun Hughes was first off the mark. Inside an hour of the anchor going down Shaun was soon fighting his very first Smoothie. Weighing quickly in our purpose made shark sling, Shaun’s hound came in just shy of double figures at 9lb 12oz. Maybe it was something in the name, spelt differently though, next up was Sion landing a nice hound, this time into doubles at 11lb 15oz.
Having had his hands on the rod & reel prize so early in the match, Shaun was keen to regain his position as top dog. This perseverance saw Shaun land the 3rd hound of the day and this time raise the bar significantly higher to a great 17lb 2oz. As the day went on smoothies came to the boat at a steady pace, we never had a double hook up or pack frenzy, most of the hounds came individually, Gareth P secured a new PB and also first double figure smoothhound with a nice 15lb 8oz specimen.
Watching his brother catch 2 smoothhound and take a commanding lead with his 17lb shark had Gareth Hughes a little green with envy. Despite other hounds coming to the boat, none matched the size of Shaun’s catch and this was starting to eat at Gareth who decided to do something about it. Around lunch time Gareth Hughes hooked into what looked to be a good size Smoothie. After struggling to control the hound for 20 mins, Gareth finally broke the surface – it looked big ….. it looked close!
I weighed the hound a couple times to be sure of the reading, brotherly love never came into this as both eagerly awaited the decision. Mark Cain adjudicated on the weight having accepted that his hounds of around 6 and 10lb would not equal Gareth’s combined! This hound went 18lb 4oz, photo above, a smoothie first, a stonker of a PB, but more importantly a hound that took first position. The family smiles moved from Shaun to Gareth.
Sadly no other hound was to come near Gareth’s 18lb starry. As I called time to days fishing, a few anglers had sadly blanked on the smoothies, with a couple having only the odd dog or small codling to show. Congratulations though still went to Gareth who posed with his new rod and reel and vowed to defend his win in 2012, when the My Way Smoothhound Challenge returns for its second year, Bank Holiday Monday 28th May
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30/05/2011
Fishing Report by Aaron Smith
on Bad Boyz VI (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)
30 May 2011 by Aaron Smith
Report on-board Bad Boyz VI
May has seen most trips cancelled due to the bad winds of up to 65knots but this last week we have been alble to venture out to try our luck with the mayhounds as we call them and to be rewarded with almost 20 in a few days with only a couple of hours here and there targeting them, with the biggest fallin just off the 20lb mark and most being 6-12lb ( if you could stop the codling getting to your bait first).
Anchoring in the slighty deeper water has produced over 70 huss in 4 days up to 14lb 5oz along with the usual Dogs, Dabs, Whiteing and Gurnards.
The reef fishing around the famous South Stacks is producing endless amounts of Pollack, Codling, Wrasse and a few Mackeral but mainly 1-2lb with just a few fish 2-5lb.
Weather is picking up again for tomorrow which delays the Smothound another day :(
Get your rods out summer is almost here so come down and have a chance to catch a welsh record Smoothy. View Boats Page
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31/05/2011
Fishing Report by Bob Marshall
on Duke IV (Ramsgate, Kent)
31 May 2011 by Bob Marshall
Report on-board Duke IV
Despite the weather playing games with us the fishing at Ramsgate is hotting up with plenty of Thornback Ray, Smoothounds, Mackerel and the Bass are starting to shoal.
Attilla and his crew from Dagenham had a fine days fishing yesterday leaving Duke IV with bags of fish. It was mainly a Skate, Whiting and Mackerel day with one Skate topping 14lb 12oz!
Plenty of space this Thursday for individuals looking for a fish meal! View Boats Page
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31/05/2011
Fishing Report by Steve Andrews
on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)
31 May 2011 by Steve Andrews
Report on-board Supreme
Well what can I say May has been very windy this year keeping the Supreme tied up on her mooring more than I care to think about .
When we have got out the fishing has been good but we have hardly been able to string two days together.
The end of May has produced the first tope of the year to be landed from Rhyl which was on the Supreme a 27lber to jags from the bucaneer sac from Liverpool .
I am praying that we now get some settled weather from June onwards View Boats Page
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22/04/2011
Fishing Report by Mark Burman
on Chinook 3 (Bradwell Marina, Essex)
22 Apr 2011 by Mark Burman
Report on-board Chinook 3
After 15 years absent from sea fishing, I was worried that I wouldn't remember what to do. I didn't need to worry as the Skipper (Phil) supported me in every way. I didn't need to ask him to help he was at my side when I needed advice on how, where and when to catch the fish. We had a great day's fishing, caught every fish that Phil had mentioned. Phil is an excellent tutor, enjoys his work very much and I would recommend him to novices and experienced fishermen alike. I can't wait to go again.
Mark Burman
Stevenage View Boats Page
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24/05/2011
Fishing Report by Colin Penny
on Flamer IV (Weymouth, Dorset)
24 May 2011 by Colin Penny
Report on-board Flamer IV
MAY 2011 - Some of my popular Angling Breaks have taken place during May with groups doing a few days fishing aboard Flamer IV.The latest club to take advantage of such a trip have been Swansea Breakaways Sea Angling Club.Their trip was based on flatty fishing but also did a session at anchor on a reef and a few drifts on an inshore wreck.Frank Wilson stole the show with the flatty's by catching a bril,turbot and a plaice.The other members also chipped in with a few flatty's of their own.The anchor session on a reef produced some good size bull huss with the biggest of 12Ib being caught by Steve Roper who is pictured with his bully catch.
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29/05/2011
Fishing Report by paul sykes
on Trojan Warrior (Whitby, North Yorkshire)
29 May 2011 by paul sykes
Report on-board Trojan Warrior
THIIS WEATHER IS A PAIN! WE HAVE PLENTY OF GOOD COD ON THE GROUNDS, BUT JUST CANT GET TWO FINE DAYS TOGETHER. ITS GOING TO BE AN EXCELLANT COD SUMMER IF THE WEATHER WILL FINALY BECOME SEASONAL.
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28/05/2011
Fishing Report by Rich Morgan
on Chloe Paige (Lowestoft, Suffolk)
28 May 2011 by Rich Morgan
Report on-board Chloe Paige
Another day of inclement weather! (See the second video that I have uploaded on my videos page). A VERY Strong South Westerly breeze blowing (35MPH) against the tide made it impossible to go wrecking today but the excellent crew that was aboard today opted to save the day after travelling 136 miles to come out today and we went uptiding instead. A great day was had with many laughs and great humor, along with the fishing too. Smoothounds, Bass and Skate again. What a great bunch of lads to be out with, they made the day! Thanks!
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22/05/2011
Fishing Report by Rich Morgan
on Chloe Paige (Lowestoft, Suffolk)
22 May 2011 by Rich Morgan
Report on-board Chloe Paige
What a day for weather! A strong South Westerly blowing but we still managed to get out and we persevered. Some cracking big Whiting caught and also some nice Bass and Smoothounds. All fell to either Squid or Ragworm. We also had one Skate as well which was unusual on the mark that we fished.
Thanks to all who came along and made it possible. View Boats Page
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23/05/2011
Fishing Report by Rich Morgan
on Chloe Paige (Lowestoft, Suffolk)
23 May 2011 by Rich Morgan
Report on-board Chloe Paige
Today saw the new prop put on. A shiny new prop that greatly enhances the boats potential now! After sea trials with it we noticed a 50% improvement in the speed of the boat and a 30% reduction in fuel consumption which makes a big difference to our trips now as we can go further distances a lot quicker and save a lot more fuel. Thanks to all who made it possible.
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