Latest Fishing Reports: Seawatch1

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  • 06/2017 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Jun 2017 by LESTER BAKER

    June continued to see huge catches of Thornback ray in the Thames estuary area,I have fished this area commercially since 1980 and never seen such large amounts on the grounds.I can only assume that the lack of quota allocation for the few commercial fishing boats left in the area has had a very positive effect on the population, obviously most of the ones we catch are returned alive with just a handful kept for the table.

    June has seen the number of summer species increase daily with Smoothhounds,Bass,a few Tub Gurnard and the first of the mackerel starting to show up,it has been great to target something other than Ray's and offer our anglers a change, still a few Ray's here and there some days but tailing off for this springs spawning but will return a bit further offshore in a few weeks time in smaller numbers as we seem to catch them throughout the year now.

    Seawatch has as I hoped a few years ago become a very busy charter boat and June has seen Seawatch take on Mark Davey as a a second skipper to cover the days I am unable to fit in myself (old and tired ) Mark has been a keen angler all his life and run a charter boat before.Mark also spent several years as skipper of the local fisheries patrol boat and knowledge he gained from grab sampling the grounds has brought a new dimension to my experience and given answers to some of the theories I have formed over the years.I have posted a few photos from Marks last couple of trips some ,nice mixed fishing.Mark is a really friendly guy and happy to help and we will both endeavour to give you the best day out that we can.
    Remember only a couple of days to go and you can actually take a bass for dinner ( Should make a few anglers happy!

    All the best and mind how you go,Lester


  • 03/2017 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Mar 2017 by LESTER BAKER

    After a long hard winters fishing the last few weeks have seen some good catches of early Thornbacks and prospects look good for some bumper days on these rod bending fish over the next couple of months along with the arrival of other summer species

  • 05/2016 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    May 2016 by LESTER BAKER

    Although already well documented by other boats in our area at last there is something to report that does not include the plague of Thornback rays we have had in the Thames estuary for the last eight weeks.Joking apart the ray fishing has been spectacular again this spring with 50 fish normal and a hundred plus not that unusual, best baits have been squid and herring with the herring having the edge on most days.As most of you know the spring cod run was a non event in our area this year so the rays provided some very welcome sport for our anglers.
    The last week or two has seen the weather warming up and the summer species have started to feature more in the daily catches with some excellent Bass and Hounds,no monsters yet on Seawatch but several bass to low doubles on worm and peeler baits and some medium hounds up to 12lbs on hermit crabs and squid, one of the Bradwell boats reporting some larger hounds slightly further offshore so they are on the way..
    There have also been some reports in the last few days of some early Mackerel which everyone enjoys catching and will hopefully help with bait for the Tope trips we have booked next month.
    All in all a great time to be fishing in the Thames estuary with some great mixed fishing on offer.
    Good fishing and all the best,Lester

  • 10/04/2016 Fishing Report by NIGEL ANDREWS

    10 Apr 2016 by NIGEL ANDREWS

    THIS WAS MY FIRST TRIP OUT ON SEAWATCH 1, AND IT WAS THE BEST DAYS FISHING ID HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME. I HAD MY PB THORNBACK RAY WEIGHING IN AT 12LB. AFTER THE WEIGHING AND PHOTOS WERE OVER SHE WAS SAFELY RETURNED BACK TO THE WATER. THE SKIPPER LESTER BAKER, HE WAS LIKE YOUR BEST FRIEND ALWAYS THERE WHEN YOU NEEDED HIM, IF HE SAW YOUR ROD BENDING WHILST REELING IN HE WAS THERE WITH THE NET AND WHEN THE FISH WAS ON BOARD HE WOULD HAVE THE HOOK REMOVED BEFORE YOU COULD PUT YOUR ROD DOWN. TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY LESTER APPEARED ON DECK WITH A LARGE PLATE OF BUTTERED ROLLS, SAUSAGES, AND A BOTTLE OF KETCHUP, WHO COULD ASK FOR A BETTER SKIPPER. IVE ALREADY BOOKED MY NEXT TRIP ON SEAWATCH 1 AND I CANT WAIT. THANK YOU LESTER FOR A GREAT DAYS FISHING, REGARDS NIGEL.

  • 01/2016 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Jan 2016 by LESTER BAKER

    The new year has started and finally the weather has allowed us to put in a few trips.The cod fishing has been a bit slow with only a handful of fish caught on most days but we have been lucky enough to enjoy some good sport with good numbers of Thornback Rays,the best on Seawatch so far at 19lbs 2ozs for regular Tony Holt.
    The last few days have seen the temperatures drop to more normal levels for this time of year and it will be interesting to see how this affects the catches.
    Weekend dates are booking fast so don't leave it too late or you may be disappointed,
    All the best Lester.

  • 12/2015 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Dec 2015 by LESTER BAKER

    Not much to report this month,like most boats we have been kept in port a lot with the constant storms.On the odd days we have been out the fishing has been a bit slower on the cod front with vast shoals of herring keeping the fish preoccupied,but we have found a few along with several thornback Rays and numerous whiting and dogfish,hopefully the weather will settle down soon and allow us to look offshore for some better fishing.
    I would like to wish all my customers and others using this site a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year,all the best Lester

  • 11/2015 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Nov 2015 by LESTER BAKER

    October finished as it started and saw some nice catches of cod to seven pounds and Thornbacks to double figures,although most of my customers more interested in the codling.
    The 1st and 2nd of November were flat calm with dense fog (the sort of weather we used to enjoy at this time of year) and then it was back to normal with some unsettled weather and severe winds courtesy of the jet stream and our Caribbean friends Abigail and Kate.It seems a long while since we went fishing,but the couple of trips we managed last week saw the fishing still the same with some nice codling being caught averaging 20 fish per trip along with the normal Ray's,dogfish and hordes of whiting.
    Hopefully the weather will settle down and allow us to put a few trips together soon and start to clear the backlog of cancelled trips,2016 weekends looking busy already so don't leave your bookings to late or you may be disappointed.
    All the best Lester

  • 10/2015 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Oct 2015 by LESTER BAKER

    It's no great secret that the codling started early this year in the Thames estuary and catches are increasing every trip now with some very nice fish in the 3 to 6 lb bracket along with the odd bigger fish.Here on Seawatch we have been getting our fair share of them,our last trip on Sunday saw just three anglers who had hired the whole boat for themselves share a catch of 30 plump codling and 9 rays to 7lb along with lots of whiting and the obligatory dogfish.
    Only a couple of weekend dates available before Christmas and starting to take bookings for 2016 so book sooner rather than later or else you could miss out on what looks like the best cod season on this coast for quite a few years.
    All the best Lester

  • 08/2015 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    Aug 2015 by LESTER BAKER

    It's been a busy summer on Seawatch in the Thames estuary and I didn't realise how long ago I wrote my last report so here is a quick update.June continued to give us some good bass and thornback catches and some great days on the Smoothhounds which turned up in great numbers and as usual became the main species in our summer fishing.Although we tried several times for mackerel they failed to show in any numbers in our area and like most boats we gave up looking for them,from reports I have seen they appear to be in short supply all round the coast this year.
    After a couple of quieter weeks in late July and early August fishing has improved again with some really big hounds showing again and the return of some better size rays on the grounds,the last week has also seen some good bass being caught with the best on Seawatch at 9.8ozs to Mike McHale
    Most boats have been catching the odd cod throughout the summer and I'm sure next month will see a sharp increase in the numbers ,which can only add to the mixed bags of fish we are enjoying at the moment

  • 22/05/2015 Fishing Report by LESTER BAKER

    22 May 2015 by LESTER BAKER

    Six weeks since my last report and I'm pleased to say the fishing in our area has been fantastic with the codling still with us in numbers until the end of April and so many Thornbacks I have lost count of how many on some days,with the better days producing in excess of seventy rays.Still a few codling being taken in all areas over the last few weeks, but no numbers any more ( All good things have to come to an end eventually)
    Today weather was fine so we had a look offshore and ignored the rays,found some codling to six pounds,a few small hounds and best of all approx 30 bass,most of them in the 2 to 3lb bracket but one nice fish of 9lb 8oz,a nice Red Gurnard and of course a few rays(they are everywhere) All in all a great days sport and a good time to be fishing in the Thames Estuary.

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