Latest Fishing Reports: Optimist
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06/09/2019
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
6 Sep 2019 by Nigel Lihou
August has proved to be a great month for fishing on the wrecks and on the banks. We have had to travel some distance to some wreck marks known to us and have been rewarded with some good Pollack, codling and Bass including the one in the photo caught by Gus from Worcestershire on a 4in sidewinder eel, there are of course the inevitable Pouting (AKA Brixham Cod).
The Skerries is still producing some nice fish with a total of nine species in one day including Plaice, Blonde Ray, Red and Grey Gurnard, Dogfish, Mackerel, Scad, Pollack and Whiting. Testament to the Blondes is Caroline from Norfolk with a 10lb 11oz Blonde Ray, long drifts do produce the fish most taken on a cocktail of Rag worm, Squid and Mackerel.
The reefs are still providing some sport with Bull Huss and Small Conger with a few Pollack into the mix. -
26/08/2019
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
26 Aug 2019 by Nigel Lihou
Brilliant day on the wrecks over 25 mile out of Brixham unfortunately long run out and back but well worth it, some good Pollack even Codling the usual Pouting (AKA Brixham Cod) and a very lovely 7lb 2oz Bass, all taken on sand eel lures. Plenty of Bait fish showing on the sounder, but still some savage takes on the drop. Still spaces available for September.
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05/2019
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
May 2019 by Nigel Lihou
May proved to be a strange month with half day trips to the inshore wrecks out to 12miles producing very little except for the bountiful Pouting (aka Brixham Cod). There are Pollack but not very big, There are big Pollack out there but the distances travelled are in the region of 30 to 40 miles out. (more travelling time less fishing)
The Skerries are as usual producing a variety of fish and have good days and bad days and we have seen some really good Plaice aboard already this year.
Don't forget our competition throughout the months of June, July and August we will be recording the size, weight and dimensions of every Ray caught aboard Optimist, Tagging and Releasing the Rays and the Angler with the biggest will have a whole day trip of their choice during September for them and up to 5 friends and a tackle prize courtesy of Brixham Bait and Tackle. Don't miss out book up for your chance to be in the competition. -
06/2018
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
Jun 2018 by Nigel Lihou
What a month it has been for Optimist here in Brixham. Back in April the Turbo went on the Engine and decisions need to be made; spend more on the Engine or source a replacement. The latter proved to be the way forward and after several abortive chases around the south coast and a wanted ad in FAFB we found a replacement in Jersey. This was taken out of the fishing boat it was in in Guernsey and shipped to Poole. A day out to Poole to collect then 2 weeks hard work to remove the old Engine and fit the New and we were up and running and a little bit more economical.
Back on the fishing and half day trips to the inshore wrecks were producing some nice sized Pouting and a Pollack, with the occasional Whiting. Full days have been spent on the Skerries hunting Plaice and Ray which this year is proving a little harder but when we hit them they are relatively plump specimens.
A pre booked party down for a week's fishing from Lancashire tested our fish finding abilities as the week they were here the wind forecast was Easterlies all week, (Brixham although on the South coast faces East) We managed to get round Start to Lannacombe for a day on the rough ground returning via the Skerries and a couple of days on the Inshore wrecks one day being cancelled due to the swell. The last day was a lumpy ride round to the mouth of the river dart sheltered from the East, and a couple of productive marks one producing Bull Huss up to 9.5lb as pictured with Bob one of the guys from Morecombe.
We continue to put you on the fish with a variety of species available on the Wrecks, Banks, reefs and marks that we have within a reasonable distance from Brixham, the mother port of Fishing.
Contact Nigel, Optimist Charters, 07817136505, www.optimistcharters.co.uk -
12/2017
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
Dec 2017 by Nigel Lihou
2017 has been a good year for Optimist we have put the Anglers on the fish on every trip. The Wrecks have been a bit hit and miss during the year with some good catches of Pollack when we have managed to hit a wreck that has not been commercially netted the day before, Pout as usual have been very prolific, it is just convincing you anglers that a large Pout is if gutted when caught is not a bad fish to eat and they can put up a reasonable fight.
The Skerries bank as always has fished consistently throughout the year with reasonable quantities of Plaice although this year there were very few above the 2lb mark and a lot of undersized returned for another day. The banks still throw up surprises and we have had some good sized Turbot and Brill and Ray as well as the unexpected.
Our biggest problem this year has been fresh Mackerel as they didn't arrive until mid July and then it was a case of not on the usual marks except for one day in August where we sat on the mooring and nearly filled a box, which meant we could freeze some down for future use.
Also during the year we have become a recognised Elasmobranch tagger recording data for the SSACN, practising a catch and release program with Sharks, Rays, Huss and Hounds, this has so far proved very successful and we hope to build on this in 2018.
Optimist tries to live up to its name and with bookings for 2018 already starting to fill up we look forward to welcoming you aboard just call Nigel on 07817136505 -
03/08/2017
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
3 Aug 2017 by Nigel Lihou
Nigel Skipper of Optimist has now been accredited by the SSACN as a bonafide tagger of Elasmobranchs, (Sharks and Rays). We will therefore start to offer Sharking trips for a maximum of 4 persons and depending on Chum availability (the mackerel have been pretty scarce this year). If you fancy a day of Shark fishing on a catch, photo, Tag and release basis then please call for details. Nigel as far as he is aware is the only Tagger based in Brixham. We look forward to some Awesome fishing and being part of a national Elasmobranch research program. We will as part of the program continue to target Ray and Bull Huss and Hounds on our usual trips to the Banks and reefs.
The wrecks at the moment are inconsistent sometimes producing some good Pollack along with the inevitable Pouting, there have been some good days and some bad days during July as we never know whether the wreck has been netted the night before, but as always we try our best to put groups on the fish, the Pollack seem to be taking on the drop and care has to be taken not to get snagged up in the wreck as a few of regulars have found out.
The banks are fishing much better and we have seen some lovely plaice, Ray, Turbot and Brill even Bass although mainly undersize bass all on the drift which seems to work better than at anchor. On particularly bad weather / wind days we have targeted an inshore reef tucked in behind a headland at anchor we have seen some good Bull Huss along with Thornback Ray and Conger . With the summer the way it has been we are doing our best not to have to cancel but with winds of force 5 and 6 it is not that comfortable.
Spaces still available for August and September call for details -
09/02/2017
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
9 Feb 2017 by Nigel Lihou
Although Optimist has been out of the water for two weeks it doesn’t stop me getting out with friends for a bit of fishing in between the job list to be done. The Skerries are still producing well with good sizes of Ray, Blonde, Small eyed, Spotted and Thornback with smooth hound the odd Plaice and some good size Whiting there are still a good variety of fish about.
On the wrecks we have been seeing a fair amount of Pollack nothing of vast size but in the 3lb to 6lb range which is nice for those who would like one for the table.
Bookings are trickling in for 2017 so if you have a particular date in mind check the tides and give us a call we will do our best to put you on the fish.
For those of you more interested in watching our wildlife than catching fish we are now running regular bird and wildlife watching trips on Sunday mornings with a local accredited guide, but these do book up fast so best to give us a call, Optimist is still available for charter in the afternoon and for full days Monday to Saturday.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard in 2017. -
08/10/2016
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
8 Oct 2016 by Nigel Lihou
First of all an apology as I haven't let you know what Optimist has been up to for the last few months but things have been a bit hectic.
Fish has been steady on the Skerries with a good species count on most trips, the Plaice are still around and getting plumper with the usual appearance of a Ray or two aboard on most trips mainly Blondes although we have had spotted, small eyed and thornback aboard (not all at once). The Gurnards appear with good regularity and mackerel seem more prolific on the banks than where they normally are around the headlands we have only seen one Garfish so far this year and quite a small one at that. Turbot and Brill have both been boated over the last couple of months with the biggest about 5lb and on the last trip out we managed a first for Optimist with a small starry smooth hound also on the same trip it was great to bring a Bass aboard a rare occurrence this year although we nearly lost it as it spat the hook in the net.
We continue to monitor the wreck situation which has been dire all year with very few decent fish, mainly pouting and small Pollack, but the sounder has been showing large balls of bait fish very close to the wrecks not good if you are trying to attract a fish with a plastic lure.
We will continue to be afloat for the majority of the winter and hope that the weather is a little kinder than last winter
Don't for get to give us a call if you fancy some good fishing -
04/07/2016
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
4 Jul 2016 by Nigel Lihou
Fish over the last month: - The Skerries are still producing some good fish along with the Plaice and Ray's we are seeing Turbot and Brill and even the Gurnards have started to appear. Out on the wrecks things are a bit hit and miss at the moment with Pollock still around but smaller in size and quantity we have also seen Ling and pout although no Bass yet but due to the regulations we have not as yet been targeting them. Inshore things are much as they have been for most of the year with mackerel still scarce and very tide dependant. We still have plenty availability for the rest of the year with some good fishing out Brixham
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28/05/2016
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
28 May 2016 by Nigel Lihou
Some really good fishing at the moment, the inshore wrecks are producing some lovely Pollack around the 5lb mark and the last trip produced 4 or 5 on every drift in near perfect conditions (wish it was like that every day) see the photos.
The skerries are fishing well too with Plaice, Brill and Turbot among the species being caught along with some very nice Rays
Why not join us for a day out and some good fishing aboard Optimist
