Latest Fishing Reports: My Way 2
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07/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Jul 2014 by Gethyn Owen
After the a great time through June hopes were high of continuing the great run of form into July. Weather gods thought differently and we lost the first few days of July to some strong weather fronts. Towards the end of the first week in July everything started to settle down, for the first couple trips we were restricted to inshore fishing.
Despite wanting desperately to make our way out to Holyhead Deep, the sea state prevented such travels, undeterred anglers still had a great time afloat with a number of different species and what seemed to be an ever present number of smoothhound. Normally numbers start to dwindle with the hounds by the start of July, but this year the smaller sized hounds were around all the way through the month and beyond!
Our first trip to the deeps in /July came at the end of the first week, a mixed bag of individuals in search of some tope and spurdog along with a good few huss. We weren’t disappointed with most on board hooking into a good number of double figure sharks during our few hours offshore.
This settled spell continued for the week of trips afloat to Holyhead Deep. Those who sail with us regular know only too well just how important it is to get the weather conditions perfect. Not often do calm seas coincide with neap tides, a perfect recipe for travel beyond North & South Stack tidal races for some action in Holyhead Deep.
Either side of our anchor in the Deep, we tend to concentrate on inshore drifting with wrasse, pollack, coalies and if we are so extremely lucky mackerel making up the species list. I get a real buzz when drifting inshore.
If using light tackle, even a wrasse or pollack of a couple lb in weight can put up a mammoth fight, testing both angler and gear to the max.
We have some ultra light rods available for use aboard My Way – the small Yuki Ruby rods along with some of the fantastic HTO spinning rods from Tronix, these light yet very capable rods are more than capable of handling hard fighting wrasse and pollack from rocky marks. These rods also been used to land smoothhound well into double figures, with relative ease.
Following the initial few days of woe watching the winds get July underway, My Way sailed regularly barring the odd blip and 24hr weather front. Sadly though things came to an abrupt stop during the third week, when on the way back to the marina after a great day species hunting around Holyhead and Trearddur bay I started to sense something wrong. Not being the fastest boat on the sea, plus being my precious, you notice little things, small changes. And My Way wasn’t performing correctly. Long story short, heat exchanger / exhaust manifold was leaking! Decisions! Patch job or new? Well we went for new.
The unit had been on My Way since she had become part of our company, so the correct course of action really. A grand old cost aside, the worst of it all was that I had to cancel 2 trips. Two trips to Holyhead Deep when the weather was flat, calm and sunny.
In 10 years I've never had to do this and it felt bad! Fortunately the vast majority of the crews that board My Way are great, many of whom have become friends, every one I spoke to appreciated the situation and the need for me to do a 'proper' job! After all our safety at sea is paramount!
Well, everyone except for one person, he had been looking forward to the trip for a whole year and I had ruined everything for him! Not intentional ... cheers for the understanding pal … :p
Once fixed and tested, straight out to the deeps, and back into the action. tope, spurs an big huss.
Fortunately July was full of neap tides and settled weather, and we certainly made the most. With regular outings to the deeper water resulting in successful catches for most anglers, many recording either their first tope or spurdog whilst with us. With Holyhead having quite a tidal range, the Deeps is not always favorable. Tides over 28ft and we struggle to maintain contact with the bottom, not friendliest form of fishing with 3lb of lead and naturally with the bigger tides, the window of opportunity drops. So a 3lb lead for merely an hour is not quite worth it in our day. So when the tides grow, we remain inshore and target an array of species at anchor and on the drift.
Another highly enjoyable month afloat from Holyhead Marina, aboard My Way. We are extremely fortunate to have such varied fishing available to us, and with some great anglers, novice and experienced, perfect for a fun packed day afloat.
Read with photographs at http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-July-report1.htm -
06/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Jun 2014 by Gethyn Owen
Last June was another fantastic month aboard My Way, with only 3 days canceled we sailed all others, including a great amount of evening trips in search of only one thing … smoothhounds. With the time frame for the hounds visiting Holyhead in any great number being fairly small, we tend to hunt these hard fighting small sharks for the vast majority of the month. Only changing tact when weather or specific trips dictates.
For a couple days I was joined by good friends Elton Murphy of Anglers Net, Mike Thrussell jnr. from World Sea Fishing and Jim Midgley, the beauty to the beast from Boat Fishing Monthly! We had only smoothhounds on light tackle in mind. So basically bait up, chuck out and wait, while discussing world current affairs and how we'd make this planet a better place for everyone. Similar to the regular deep and meaningful conversations many of you will have engaged in aboard My Way.
Our first day fell foul to some quite strong winds, knowing we had another day ahead of us and decent weather on the horizon we came in handy and went for a dog walk along the Menai Straits instead. We are fortunate that many of the smoothhounds landed aboard My Way are mid to high teens in weight. However as with most species, there is a cycle to the hounds and this was to be a year of the majority being on the small side.
I've not laughed so much in a long time. Jokes, antics, much of which not to be repeated here, but all interspersed with the landing of smoothhounds and plenty of them too.
For a number of years our boat record has stood at 28 smoothhounds landed. We managed to sneak past this record on our 2nd day afloat by landing 29 between 5 of us. Vast majority of them around 8lb in weight with the best reaching 15lb and on the whole most played on spinning rods or the light Yuki Ruby H or Ruby Mar rods that I often rave about. Really excellent fishing that everyone should enjoy.
The following 3 days I was joined once again by some good friends, this time from across a couple borders. Davy, Linda, Billy and Peter all making the pilgrimage from Scotland for our annual smoothhound hunt.
We caught plenty, laughed far alot and ate..... too much. On the last day of the Scottish invasion we were joined aboard by another old friend, David Proudfoot, head honcho at Planet Sea Fishing, I never told the others David was joining us, seeing their faces as they heard the dulcet tone of my new Tea Boy was great to see.
One day the following week, My Way and Holyhead smoothhounds were to be challenged by a few local rods normally to be found stalking bass along the Anglesey shoreline. Dennis, Dewi and Terry all mad keen bass lure anglers, fancied a change and wanted to challenge the great hounds on their £400 lure rods.
Yup, you read that correctly, four hundred pound lure rods, tackling what could potential be a 20lb plus smoothhound! Sadly we never saw any of the high teens on the lure rods, but they did see plenty of action, as we pushed the new boat record for smoothhounds landed to 33 in a day.
Frustratingly, we could have or maybe should have caught a load more. The bites being so delicate, with some hounds dropping baits and returning to them a staggering 4 or 5 times. I can only pout this down to the vast majority this year being small at 6 to 8 lb in weight. The bigger ones always appearing to take the bait whole with an immediate hook up.
Every year we are privileged to host the RAF Boat Angling Festival at Holyhead, using Boy Evin, My Way and Spindrift from Holyhead, we also utilise Empress and Julieanne from Amlwch port, who come over for the day, full of fish and a few laughs. The festival sees one seasoned angler introduce a novice to both boat and shore angling. This is the 5th time we have hosted this event in the last 6years, a great introduction for people to fishing who get the chance to anchor over rough and broken ground for a a variety of species and also some drifting for pollack and wrasse. The event is run as a competition, with points available for all fish caught that are quickly returned after capture.
Milnrow Sea Angling club are always a welcome sight aboard My Way. A great bunch of guys and gals who enjoy their fishing regardless of the weather conditions. Their date mid June, things were perfect. We started the day with a plentifully amount of hounds, spent slack water on the mussel beds, with dogs, whiting huss and ray, before returning to the smoothhound grounds Star of the day was John, more affectionately known to members of the club as sausage John, a butcher with a mean line in sausages … allegedly.
If memory serves me right, the boat figure for hounds was around 25, with everyone catching at least one. John though taking 9 of them himself including the biggest at 22lb. Superb angling!
Local angler Mike Hughes had a birthday trip to remember in June. A small 4hour trip & I needed to locate some hounds!. Thankfully the hounds came out to play. Plenty being caught around the boat, with the birthday boy landing 8 himself including another 20lber. On light tackle these smoothies really put up a fight to entertain everyone on the boat.
Towards the end of June, we managed to sneak a day in Holyhead Deep, with everyone having caught hounds before or simply wanted the chance of something else, the great weather and neap tide couldn't’t be ignored. It turned out a great move for local rod Mike from Menai Bridge who had a successful day afloat adding, spurdog, huss, tope and conger to his species list.
June was another superb month aboard My Way, the fantastic weather helped us sail almost every day with great crews on each trip and on the whole, some superb fishing.
Read more with some superb photos at http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-June-report.htm -
05/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
May 2014 by Gethyn Owen
The Fladen smoothhound challenge, held aboard My Way has grown in size recently.
From humble beginnings, the inaugural event 3 years ago was held during the last bank holiday in May 2011.
Such is the popularity, the fourth Fladen smoothhound challenge held the last week in May 2014 ran for 5 full days and 4 evening trips; fished by a succession of anglers, all keen to bag a 20lb monster aboard My Way.
There is no doubting that Holyhead is a popular venue for for these hard fighting small sharks, with My Way being up there amongst the elite, having boated countless smoothhounds over the years.
Smoothhounds of which more than 25 weighed over the magical 20lb threshold; all of which were weighed in a purposely designed sling and calibrated electronic scales.
The rules of the Challenge are quite simple, catch the heaviest hound aboard My Way!
Generously supported once again by Fladen UK, the day sail had a a 20lb class Nano rod and Warbird reel up for grabs and GO Angling rig pack for second place.
The evening trips winning a GO Angling rig box including a selection of suitable rigs. In addition to all this the angler landing the heaviest hound over all would win an additional Gift Voucher.
Fortunately this year, the weather gods looked down on everyone aboard My Way and allowed for every trip to go ahead. We weighed numerous smoothhounds from potential competition winners to personal bests for many anglers. All together just over 100 and thats without mentioning the many small hounds in the 5 to 8 lb bracket that were quickly released at the side of My Way.
Monday
Thomas 18lb 8oz
Tuesday
Mark 14lb 13oz
Wednesday
Lee 13lb 40z
Thursday
Kev 15lb 9oz
Friday
Giles 19lb 7oz
Top honours went to Claire Harwood, fishing for the first time afloat with her partner Dave. Claire hooked, played and landed the biggest hound of the whole week; a magnificent specimen that weighed 21lb and 12oz.
What a way to start your boat angling career.
Read more at http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-SmoothieChal-report.htm
The next Smoothhound Challenge is scheduled to run between May 25th and 29th 2015.
Details will be released soon, bookings are being taken already ... don't miss out -
04/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Apr 2014 by Gethyn Owen
Early April and the weather played havoc with our scheduled days afloat. This year we cancelled the vast majority of trips during the first two weeks of April, with our first day afloat not coming until Friday 11th.
This day was planned for Holyhead Deep, following our last day in the Deep during the previous set of neap tides in March, hopes were high for a good number of double figure spurs. We started off at anchor with everyone pulling in regular quantities of dogfish and small whiting or the odd codling.
Once the tide had eased slightly we continued our day on the drift, looking to help a few of the guys to first pollack and coalfish species for their 2014 hunts. Thankfully the fish were obliging and we managed to bag a few around the boat; nothing big, with the vast majority all under 2lb in weight.
We made our way to the deeps and decided to have a little play on one of the wrecks on our way. A little early on the calender for our part of the UK, but always worth a go when you're passing. Sadly, nothing doing, not even one small take this time around. Anchored in the deeps, photos from the last trip out here in everyones mind but the fishing just didn't get going. We managed a few good huss, and also a handful of spurs, but nothing of any great size.
Gareth P managed his first ever spurdog, despite being only a few pound in weight, a first is always a great achievement. Another My Way regular, Tojo, also managed to land a few spurdogs, but again nothing of any real size.
The following couple days we were stuck tight inshore with strong southerly winds taking control of the seas around Holyhead. Anglers still managed to bag plenty of fish including a decent variety with dogs and huss playing a large part of every day. Together with codling, whiting and a splattering of other species.
Each year during the Easter break we run Introduction trips, where children and adult novices alike get to sample boat fishing at a reduced cost. Our first day was met with swell left over from the weekend, along with the remnants of a strong NW breeze. Despite this the youngsters made the most of their introduction to angling trip. Restricted travel, but we still caught plenty of dogfish along with a few huss, codling and a nice ling. Great fun and some brilliant smiles through the day. You can read more on this trip and the following Introduction trips in the June 2014 issue of Boat Fishing Monthly.
With spring tides and breezy weather, we spent the next week fishing in and around Holyhead Bay. All crews managed some good fishing, again hampered by very dirty water, with many dogfish coming over the side of My Way, with some anglers fishing for them in quantity, the dogs appeared in 1's, 2's, and 3's!
Changing tact slightly and adjusting rigs and baits, species aboard My Way included the regulars such as huss, whiting, dabs and codling abut also a good number of small ling, a good few thornies, along with more pollack and coalfish and also a lost spurdog!
During one conversation with Harry, we spoke of the possibilty of seeing a new species aboard My Way during 2014. In recent years we had been fortunate enough to see a few rare species, tadpole fish, topknots and also an angler fish and streaked gurnard. Couple days later, what happens along, a lumpsucker! An amazing looking creature.
As the last week in April drew nearer, the tides started to drop and again we turned our attentions to fishing the deeper water 8miles off the coast of Anglesey. The unpredictability of the month to date can be clearly seen from 2 trips, to the same mark that week.
Our first day provided the guys with some great early season fishing, with a good number of spurdogs into double figures, huss, conger and also the first tope of the year, a well conditioned long male weighing in at 26lb.
Couple days later, we were back out there, same mark, similar tide & weather conditions! Sadly though the fish never read this particular script. We managed to pull in only 1 tope, a few small spurdogs and couple huss. With the exception of a small conger at then end, but thankfully a first for young Rhys, the remainder of the catch was dogfish with the odd whiting!
Back inshore for the last few trips of the month, with a good number of pollack and coalfish once again on the drift with a reliable mixed bag at anchor.
Waters are showing signs of clearing up nicely and with both the air and sea temperatures on the rise, crabs are peeling and many more species are moving into our waters. Our focus will soon be turning to the long awaited return of the smoothhounds, a firm favourite with many of our crews.
More photos at http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-April-report-01.htm -
03/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Mar 2014 by Gethyn Owen
Our 2nd trip of 2014 was again hampered by blustery conditions, with 20mph winds gusting more before decreasing late in the day, our initial journey out to Holyhead Deep was cancelled in favour of the safety of Holyhead Bay and a spot of general fishing and hopefully knocking a few species off peoples lists for early season.
Our first anchor was to catch the end of the ebb tide on the mussel beds, before the tide picked up too much to fish. Fortunately we were straight into fish, well dogfish that is!
Dogfish .... the ever present scourge of many anglers but the blank savers of others. March in Holyhead, you're going to catch a stupidly enormous amount of dogfish along with other species, either way, it can be enjoyed! 1, 2 or 3 at a time, test yourself!
Once the tide picked up, controlling rigs became hard work without excessively large leads, a few tangles started to create unrest amongst the natives .... so we made a move inshore!
The move worked well for us as everyone was again into a good few fish. Mainstay being dogfish with a sprinkling of small codling, whiting and a few huss to 4lb. Wrexham rod Paul Brooks, on his 2nd outing of 2014, cheerd loudly as he swung a 3 bearded rocking aboard My Way. The 3 bearded variety are not as plentiful as the mini species shore or 5 bearded rocking, so the 3 was certainly going to be a superb addition to his 2014 hunt.
The remainder of the day fished in a similar fashion – plenty of smaller species keeping the crew busy .... and sausages, bacon and beans!
We did try on the drift once again for the last 45mins, however we merely hooked into the rocks. Sadly the coloured water seriously hampering the influx of larger whiting, pollack and coalies normally associated with this time of year. With a nice settled spell ahead of us this week, the waters should clear nicely and help bring plenty of fish inshore and more importantly on the feed.
Another good day today, yes agreed fishing was not exceptional, but that's our lot early season, made slightly harder given the weather conditions of late. Thankfully with a great crowd, you can have a fabulous time afloat – with catching and laughing in equal amounts.
Read more at http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-March-report-02
This report was brought to you courtesy of an actual day afloat ... and honesty ... -
03/2014
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Mar 2014 by Gethyn Owen
March 01st, St Davids day saw My Way set sail for the first time in 2014.
Our original first sail was two weeks earlier, however with the weather remaining so bad I took the decision to leave My Way in the yard, safe and sound whilst winds up to 100mph pounded much of the UK. It's fair to say the weather has been atrocious for a very long time now, as eager and excited as I was to get afloat and fishing again I was also nervous at exactly what our day may deliver.
Aboard My Way I was joined by 5 regulars, who have become good friends over the years and also 4 new guys to My Way, all of whom were experienced boat anglers, a nice mix of crew who undoubtedly could pull out a few fish when needed. A reasonable forecast for the most of the day, picking up to a force 6 towards the end and together with a 32ft tide our fishing was restricted to within Holyhead Bay.
First off was a drift in search of a few pollack, coalies and maybe some herring. We had a perfect drift, right alongside our rock mark with the breeze slowing the boat down nicely at the end of the flooding tide. However 40mins of trying and our efforts returned a big fat zero, not even a bite for the efforts of all on board.
The thick brown water wasn’t helping the situation to be honest, but never the less we should have had a few fish or bites even. A change of tactics was required and I decided to moved off to the mussel beds to anchor up, a little early for a 32ft tide, but this was getting critical now!Banter and a few risky jokes wasn't enough, we needed fish.
Upon anchoring, we had a good flow of tide and we all eagerly waited the fish bite. A few false knocks and over exuberant 'strikes' it was 15minutes before the first fish came to the boat. Using his rod and reel with effortless perfection local angler Dave, slowly retrieved his catch whilst everyone else stood in awe at his angling brilliance. After what seemed like an eternity it was with great relief to see Dave lift into My Way the best looking ….... 8oz whiting I'd ever seen before.
Rock N Roll, we're back on the money ….
OK, not that exciting, but as most the guys concluded, it's March, weather's fine and we're out. The fishing remained slow on this mark, a few whiting, mainly pin size and dogfish.
The odd double shot coming over, the first to Cheshire angler Pete Minns, who insisted on a photograph for his scrap book. Brooksy with a little help from his friends soon witnessed a dogfish on his rod.
As the tide started to gather pace and making it uncomfortable to fish anymore, we upped anchor and I decided on a move further inshore and try for a few rays. We ended the last few trips of 2013 with an abundance of rays and despite that being a few months back, late Feb and early March is when we start the new influx of thornies and the odd spotted into the area. Sadly this move didn't work out, dogfish and a solitary dab were all that we saw. We did though enjoy lunch, a big fat breakfast butty is always a good call when afloat. More so on a cold early spring day and naturaslly washed down with plenty of tea or coffee.
So anchor up again, this time to a muddy area around 1 mile outside the harbour. The tide should have slowed down sufficient to allow a fairly reasonable fish for all aboard. This mark soon had everyone who tried pulling out a few fish. The vast majority being dogfish and better whiting. We managed a few more double shots, of dogs and whiting but no triples. The dog or whiting trend was broken on a few occasions with small bull huss and also a nice ling of a few lb. Not a sight you see often when anchored up on a muddy piece of ground.
In all it was a great day afloat, fishing was slow, can be for the time of year.
But the day passed quickly. A few fish, a few laughs with friends all together with food and drink made for an enjoyable return to being afloat.Fingers crossed now that we are over the worst of the weather and the UK angling industry can get back on track.
2013 was a great year aboard My Way however I'm looking forward to better times through 2014.
Looking forward to seeing many of you through the year.
Thanks
Copy and paste the following link into your browser for the report and photographs
http://www.goangling.co.uk/2014-March-report.htm -
09/2013
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Sep 2013 by Gethyn Owen
With the last week of August producing some great fishing in the deeps, it was hoped that things would continue in similar fashion with next set of small tides in early September. Sadly the weather decided to play its part and curtailed our movements offshore. Thankfully the fishing was lively inshore, with a general species hunt being the order for a good few days.
Starting September we were joined once more by the Skegness Pier Angling Club, a great bunch of male and female anglers all eager to test out the varied fishing on offer from our coast. The wind stopped play on the Saturday, leaving a few to brave the elements on Holyhead Breakwater, but thankfully settled down for Sunday and despite blustery conditions we were able to have a good fish both at anchor and whilst drifting.
Despite a valiant effort from the men, it’s fair to say that the ladies came up trumps with a variety of species on the day including plenty of Gurnard at anchor and both Ballan and Cuckoo wrasse on the drift. Sadly the majority of September was littered with wind, all directions and speeds, leaving us grabbing the odd day here and there.
During the second week we did manage to sneak a day in the deeps and most of the anglers were rewarded in pollack to 5lb in weight. Not monsters, but quality fishing none the less and enjoyed by everyone catching.
Towards the last week of the month we started to see some settled weather, and with the addition of neap tides from the Tuesday we had high hopes for some good fishing.
Inshore for the penultimate weekend of the month we were treated to an abundance of fish again with gurnards once again making regular appearances along with the ever present doggies, huss and whiting etc. Drifting the inshore rocks the pollack and wrasse fishing had fish averaging 2 to 3lb regularly coming to the boat; some pollack staying aboard whilst many others returned for another day.
Best of the few days inshore fell to the charm of My Way regular Carl ‘Monty’ Burns whilst fishing a slack water over Holyhead’s mussel beds. As the tide started to run once again, Carl changed tactics to fish a whole whiting he had caught earlier on a large hook and 150lb running ledger.
As the tide strength reached un-fishable, the ratchet from Carl’s reel screamed off and his 12lb class BeastMaster arched over towards the water …. Tope on! This tope ran downtide, using the added momentum of tide to nearly spool Carl’s reel as he delicately tried to apply pressure and slow the tope down; without snapping off!
After what seemed an eternity, Carl managed to turn the shark and started to make some ground back, only for the tope to take turn after turn back down the tide. 40 minutes later, a magnificent looking tope finally broke the surface and into the net of My Way, a bent net that was showing signs of some great fishing in 2013. Quickly weighed in the sling Monty had his biggest tope aboard My Way a very impressive 45lb specimen! A few photographs later she was returned carefully.
This was a fishing frenzy for Carl, with a further 2 days booked aboard My Way and both of them looking to be a full on assault in Holyhead Deep for more tope, huss and hopefully a few pollack.
The 2nd day of Carl’s adventure we were joined by father and son Malcolm and Dave Shepherd form the midlands. Puddle anglers at heart, they wanted to experience the ‘other’ side of fishing and take in some of the quality sport that was being reflected in the My Way galleries. Setting sail to fish the deeps with novice sea anglers can be a little daunting, but I really needn’t have worried. Explaining how the sidewinders needed to work through the water with the drop and retrieve scenario over the wreck, Malcolm and Dave took to this like, erm, ducks to water! On the first drift, Dave hooked straight into a pollack, followed closely by Malcolm, who then went on to catch on all subsequent drifts.
Poor Monty not having such a good time, however a quick change of lure and the next drift he pulled out a pb pollack of just under 9lb that proved also to be the best of the day. During the anchor work everyone managed to bag a tope or two each. Sadly nothing as big as what Carl had the previous day but for our intrepid fresh water duo, 20lb tope form 200ft of water, 10miles out was indeed great fun!
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Sadly increased wind overnight left the following morning lumpy, so a day inshore, however with a mass of angling talent aboard My Way it was always going to be a good laugh catching a variety of species. Tompot Blenny’s are not rare, but neither are they a regular catch, this day however we managed to land 7 on the boat, from a mark not known for throwing up too many mini species!
The follow day with more settled conditions it was back off to the deeps with a first stop on the wreck. Despite my suggestions of heavier leads for the 200ft and 1.4knot drift and also a change of lure (plenty available aboard My Way) the crew decided they knew best. We caught 1 pollack! Thankfully the anchor work made up slightly, but the comment of “Thought the drifting would have been better” really did annoy me!
So moving on swiftly, back out the following day and onto the wreck, we had a fair few pollack again, amazing difference a change of crew can make. Sadly no real size to them, but a good number around the 4lb mark making it home with the anglers for a nice fresh fish supper. At anchor, the deeps didn’t disappoint. Tope and huss coming aboard fairly regular, with 2 guys catching their first ever tope, Jack first off and then Kris, after failing to connect in previous trips afloat managing to catch a couple during the day. Preston Angler Richard Priest showed his skills with a few double figure tope and also 2 great tope, a 20lb and cool 35lb Deeps tope!
One great feeling aboard My Way is when regular anglers become friends and take it upon themselves to bring offerings for everyone on board. You often see shared bait, rigs or lures being handed out to anglers slow on catching, not just club bookings neither, but individual days.
Besides all that there is also the Floating Café tag My Way often receives, and why not! Part of a good day is good food. The last trip I spoke of is perfect example, local rod Dave from Benllech had been busy in the kitchen watching his wife Karen preparing some fantastic homemade shepherds pies for everyone to enjoy. Brooksy had popped into the bakery the previous evening and secured a bag full of cheese covered rolls for the group, whilst Jacks wife Claire had been baking and treated us all to a most delicious Victoria Sponge.
I love my job!
Read more at http://www.goangling.co.uk/Report-2013-September.htm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GOAngling -
08/2013
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Aug 2013 by Gethyn Owen
In our free tackle give away with Tronixpro and World Sea Fishing Cheshire angler Jon Hudd was the August winner of a HTO rod & Daiwa reel combo.
Jon has fished aboard My Way a few times this year and on his trips in July and August always made a quick dash for the new HTO lure rods from Tronixpro, free to use aboard My Way. Offering excellent bite detection and extremely light sport, these rods are a must for all light tackle enthusiasts.
Baiting up with either fresh worm and Isome artificial worms as supplied by World Sea Fishing, Jon was able to tempt an array of fish from mini specie to hard fighting ballans whilst on the drift.
Anglers have taken up the challenge through both July and August and fished using either the HTO 25gram or 50gram rods, coupled together with Daiwa Megaforce fixed spool reels and braid. Wrasse and mini species are the main targets when using such extremely light outfits whilst afloat, even 8oz wrasse bend the rods and offer an exciting adrenalin rush for the captor.
We have another rod & reel combo available in September, you simply need to grab one of the rods and have a fish -
08/2013
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
Aug 2013 by Gethyn Owen
My last report started off as a small tale of woe thanks to the strong winds keeping us inshore instead of making way to Holyhead Deep for large pollack, tope and spurs. Un deterred the lads cracked on with a species hunt and ended up enjoying a fantastic day with tope to 48lb.
This latest report is littered with days off during the middle of August, however we also managed to grab the odd day within Holyhead Bay; drifting and anchoring we were fortunate once again to hook into a good mixed bag of species. The Bolivar rock is a favourite of mine in Holyhead Bay for drifting; however you have to have conditions right! A strong tide and your gear is lost to Davy Jones as quickly as you can re tie and drop down.
When calm you have lardy blokes having their midlife crisis by zooming around on jet skis, the fish soon run for cover in the shallow waters.
But when it’s good, it can be very good with anglers reeling in numerous ballan and cuckoo wrasse with the odd corkwing. Fishing a high flyer we’re often rewarded with sizable pollack. At anchor there has been a good mixed bag of the usual suspects, with a great number of red gurnards showing with deep red colours, a striking looking fish, by far the prettiest of the gurnard family,
Edging towards the end of August and we managed to grab a couple days on the edges of Holyhead Deep. With a LW early morning all anglers had booked on knowing that an early morning sail would be necessary. 6.30am to be precise! Argh, not good, we are fortunate in Holyhead Marina that we have water at all states of tide, so we can plan our day around the wind and tides of the day, offering sensible sailing times of between 8 and 10-am most days; every now and then though, when the weather and tides align, you have to make the most, so 6.30am it was.
The early start one day did allow us to watch the impressive cruise vessel Crystal Serenity as she came to berth in the harbour. We required a 90minute steam to our mark, normally we break down the journey with inshore drifting on our way out, but both days the early start was planned as late as could be allowed and a direct run out chosen instead.
A couple brews and an empty biscuit barrel later we soon arrived at out chosen wreck, before I could step out the cabin, an array of different jellie worms, red gills and sidewinders etc were being lowered over the side of My Way.
First drift and nothing!
Oops, OK I said, I was just setting that one up – I then suggested someone move over to the starboard side of the boat as there was an uneven balance of anglers just asking for tangling trouble – no one moved until Micky said I’ll go! Next drift …. Guess who caught from where!
Threats of violence soon followed, but before action could be taken we were drifting again. The wreck chosen lies in 200ft of water and was only small so if you got it wrong or missed out the first call of down, you’d be better of waiting to save tangling your trace line, lol. Thankfully we were catching each drift, sometimes the one hook up, other times 3 or 4 and sometimes the wreck. Warning of wreck approaching was always given, but as true fisherman, most fished very close were the sounder showed the fish to be feeding...
On their first boat fishing trip, we were joined one day by Jeanne and Jeff from The Fishing Cabin in Widnes, puddle danglers by profession they wanted to see what all the fuss was about in boat angling, after bit of coaching from Harry and a number of lost sidewinders, they were both soon bringing in some decent pollack. Jeanne showing the boys how to do it with a few pollack, the best of the day going just short of 9lb in weight.
Over the two days we managed in the Deep we had Micky & Jon from Cheshire, My Way regular Carl from Colwyn Bay and Mike all the way down from Scotland.
Jon had set a few goals for the trip, PB pollack so anything over 5lb, a first tope and a first cuckoo wrasse, thankfully the fish obliged and Jon managed to bag all three along with many other species during a great time.
Mike, following an absence of a couple years from angling was fishing as though he had never been away, with numerous species through the two days. Similarly Carl and Micky, pollack, tope, huss etc in the Deep and then an alarming amount of species on the drift, from minis such as long spined sea scorpions to an astonishing number of ballan wrasse. Many of which were landed using the HTO lure rods, available for use aboard My Way from Tronixpro.
Great fun with some great anglers, thanks to everyone who helps make this job so enjoyable.
Expect some great fishing aboard My Way this September, read more: -
website: www.goangling.co.uk
facebook: www.facebook.com/GOAngling -
16/08/2013
Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen
16 Aug 2013 by Gethyn Owen
The weather gods tried to steal August 16th from us, however with no Holyhead Deep we decided upon a species hunt from 3 favourite marks around the bay instead. Here is a brief report on how it went ...
A strong SW wind had us battling a lumpy sea towards the North Stack area to start our day on the drift with wrasse and maybe some small pollack our intended targets. On the drift Menai Bridge angler Mark Dolben was proving a worthy opponent for the wrasse family adding numerous ballans, goldsinny and cuckoo wrasse to his impressive tally of fish for the first hour.
A few mackerel came to the boat throughout the day, sadly not in any decent amount, just the odd couple now and then. Arron Miles form Holyhead was also catching a plentiful amount of ballan wrasse before he scaled down his gear after mini species and was duly rewarded by this small rock goby. We also added corkwing, pollack
As the speed of our drift slowed down so did the fishing so it was time to move over to the mussel beds.
We went to a mark around a mile further west than we normally go, making use of the neap tide and fishing a mark deeper than normal. We did though struggle for fish! Were as normally it is one after another, single, double and triple shots of dogs, whiting dabs gurnard etc. along with the odd huss and ray, we were getting only the odd fish now and then with only one triple hook up of dogs.
Something was amiss! The reason would become apparent later, but we did manage to add dab, dogfish, dragonet & small huss.
Holyhead bay in August there is always a good chance of a big tope if you're prepared to sit out with a big bait ignoring all the smaller species. Mark though wanted a tope and was determined to give it his best through our anchor on the mussel beds. Fortunately he was rewarded an hour into the anchor, with a first tope and awesome PB level of 48lb 7oz, Mark also followed this tope up with an other mid 30lber. Arron Miles landed another personal best of 46lb.
We ended the day inshore where we managed to add a few smoothies, poor cod and codling to our species tally.
So from a gloomy start to the day we had a great day inshore species hunting , enjoyed by all onboard.
16 species, not bad for a change of plan ...
