Latest Fishing Reports: Galloper
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05/2015
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
May 2015 by Scott Belbin
April started well with good numbers of codling which were well on the feed before their migration. The numbers of thorn-backs increased as the month moved on making for some busy days. Some days we spent split the day in two and spent half targeting codling and half targeting the rays. As the month went on codling numbers declined and we are now seeing one or two mixed in but most have gone. T
he rays are here in great numbers though with good numbers on average even in the estuary so we can get out and have quality fish, in comfort in most conditions. There have been plenty of double figure fish mixed in and lots of males should you wish to keep any for the pot. Our best trip so far is 76 rays to 13lbs with 8 hire rods aboard. Luckily the lads had a bit of experience although I was still kept busy.
There are one or two bass showing now with some decent ones amongst them. Les king had the first of the year a couple of weeks ago at a respectable 7.3lbs. the first smooth-hound of the year came aboard the boat last weekend and we should be seeing several more of them as the month goes on. For now we will be continuing to concentrate on the rays as there’s still some great sport to be had. if we get a chance we’ll have a go for bass and as usual there’s always the chance of them mixed in with the rays.
I keep my website up to date with weekly reports and available dates and there’s loads more on there too. for more information please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528 -
03/2015
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Mar 2015 by Scott Belbin
I’m sure you don’t need reminding but march has been a windy month on the whole for us. Thankfully we have been blessed with some great sheltered fishing. The river has been fishing really well at times with some of the best fishing I’ve ever seen in there in march. We’ve save several days in there with good numbers of codling, plenty of whiting and even the odd thornback ray. Our best trip in the river was 50 codling for the day along with plenty of other odds and sods. In fact that particular day was fine enough to get much further down but the lads chose to stop in the river which was the right choice on the day. further down has been producing even higher numbers at times with fish of 2-4lbs average its great sport on light tackle. We should see these fish and perhaps one or two larger fish for a while yet but the numbers will start to peter out over the coming weeks. Thankfully the rays are starting to show in numbers now which is a sure sign that spring is on its way. The other day on another windy trip we managed to find a few rays to keep us busy. The action was good throughout the day and there were several fish around double figures with the biggest falling to Arthur at 12lbs. we totalled 47 for the day along with lots of whiting and a couple of codling. The rays should be around in good numbers from now until sometime in June. Looking ahead spring is on its way and we should see a fair variety over the next month. We should start with a mix of rays and codling before seeing a few bass mixed in as the month goes on and maybe even the odd smooth-hound too. for more information, weekly reports and availability please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528
pictured is Saunders with a tagged roker we had the other day. we have had 4 or 5 over the years with various tags. the details were passed on to cefas and she was returned alive -
03/2015
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Mar 2015 by Scott Belbin
February was another busy month aboard the ‘Galloper’. Unfortunately we have lost a couple of trips the last week or so which is unusual for us. Thankfully the weather in the early part of the month more than made up for it with some cracking days giving us a glimpse of early spring. the effect of the cold weather from last month has been lower numbers of thornbacks than we have seen at this time over the last few years. Although the slight rise in temperature has already got them moving again and I’m sure they will be back on track in the next few weeks. With the better weather we were able to push a little further than usual at this time of year and found a nice stamp of fish on our general trips. The average numbers were 20-40 codling a trip with several in the 3-4lbs range. There were a few whiting and the odd ray thrown in to make up the numbers. We did manage one offshore trip in search of some better cod. The cold weather had even had an effect here which resulted in far fewer dogfish than is normally the case. This was by no means a bad thing meaning our baits were left alone until something decent found them. We didn’t set the world on fire but found some nice fish. Arthur had the biggest ray of around 12lbs and Wayne had the biggest cod at 9.15lbs. to be honest the had the lions share of the days catch between them. As I mentioned the dogfish were thin on the ground with a dozen of them thrown in. I half expected to see a spurdog but we didn’t get any to the boat that day. Hopefully they will show on our next venture off there.
Over the coming weeks we should see the numbers of roker pick up as the temperature rises and these will undoubtedly be joined by the dogfish. The codling should be on the feed too before they move off next month. On our last trip they seemed to be feeding harder, with far more fish deep hooked. I update my site very regularly so for more information, available dates and reports please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528 -
02/2015
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Feb 2015 by Scott Belbin
After a belting start to January things proceeded to slow a little as we got into the month. The cause of this a mixture of the cold weather and sprats distracting the cod from out baits. We were hampered by weather occasionally but on the whole it was a good January. When we have got out there has still been some good fishing to be had. even though bites may be a little slower and finicky as the fish are already stuffed with sprat we have seen some reasonable numbers. Several days have seen 20-35 codling coming out along with a few roker too. the last few years January and February have produced some decent roker and whiting. This year has proved to be much the same with some decent fish coming out. Our biggest whiting was just shy of 2lbs for luke on his first trip. One of our regulars Barry Woods had a stonking roker of 18.12lbs which is a new PB for him and the ‘Galloper’. The big fish was a female so as with all females was returned after a few pictures. Barry had a good day with another roker and quite a few codling too. the sprats should move on anytime now which should help our catches of cod. The good thing is the fish pile on the weight while theyre eating them so when they go the stamp should be lovely. If and when things start to warm up we should see a few more roker getting about and it would be nice to see a few more fish like Barry’s grace the deck.
There’s loads more info on my site along with weekly reports and available dates. I have a few spaces in February and several into march, I keep my calendar as up to date as possible. So for more info please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528 -
01/2015
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Jan 2015 by Scott Belbin
The new year is well underway already and Christmas almost seems a distant memory. We were lucky enough to get out several times over the Christmas period and with some great results too. we took advantage of the blackwater estuaries shelter on several occasions and the river is still producing well with numbers of codling coming out along with whiting and some nice roker too. we managed an offshore trip too with the odd nice fish knocking about. The dogfish were a pain at times as is often the case but there were one or two better fish about as well. Les king did the best by far starting with a nice cod of 14.15lbs followed by a couple of smaller ones soon after. This is a good fish compared to the general stamp in our area this year and a decent fish by anybody’s standards I’m sure. I wouldn’t expect one this size every time but its nice to know they’re out there. Inshore the fishing has been great with general numbers around 30-50 a day. This is mostly codling in the 16-18 inch bracket with a few smaller and the odd bigger one. Some days have fished very well indeed when everything goes right. One trip last week was with just 4 lads fishing 6 rods and we totalled around 80 codling, a few whiting and 4 roker for the day. The stamp was great with just one or two under 16 inches and the majority 3lbs or more! One lucky angler had getting on for 50 himself. Thankfully the lads are fishing in a really responsible manour keeping the odd one or two for the table and letting most go. We had another trip with even better numbers coming out although there were a few smaller ones mixed in too that day. The numbers crept up steadily and before we knew it we were staying a little later to try and make the hundred. Unfortunately the tide died along with the fishing but we had 97 for the day and my best numbers for a few years now. These fish may not be monsters but they truly are great fun on light up tide gear. I wouldn’t expect these numbers every trip although its hard not to get spoiled when its fishing that well. i don’t know how long these fish will hang around for. If we are lucky then they could be here until April but who knows and when they go we should see the roker move in anyway.
I have updated my available dates for this year along with all of my offshore trips. If you are after specific tides such as offshore trips may require I would advise you book well in advance as booking are on a ‘first come first served’ basis. I update my website and facebook pages regularly with reports and pictures. For updates, available dates and more information please vist my website www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528 -
12/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Dec 2014 by Scott Belbin
I’m pleased to say that the fishing is still going strong for us as we approach Christmas aboard the ‘Galloper’. The river is still fishing well despite a few sprats and herrings showing. I hope that the stamp of fish and the overall quantity should mean they don’t put the fish off too much. The sheltered waters here can still produce some good sport and a nice feed when the weathers not playing ball. Of course when we can we get a bit further out and numbers here are still good with 40-60 codling a trip common place along with a few roker. The stamp is picking up too as these fish soon put weight on with the abundance of food on hand. If the conditions are right then we can push even further afield and try our luck for a decent cod or if we’re really lucky we can get stuck into some prime dogfish! So over the coming weeks there are several options open to us with spaces on most types of trips over Christmas and into January. Please see the website for available dates, more information and regular reports at www.essexseafishing.co.uk or 07956411528
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11/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Nov 2014 by Scott Belbin
November 2014
Its been a while since my last report on CBUK but its been a busy few months aboard the ‘Galloper’. Autumn has been kind to us with loads of codling about to provide us with great sport and all on our door step. The river blackwater has often fished as well or better than marks further afield with loads of codling and whiting coming out along with thornback rays and other bits and bobs. The numbers of codling have been the best I’ve ever seen in there which can only be a good thing. With the fishing being so good in the shelter of the estuary we have lost very few days to bad weather. That’s a bonus to our customers saving them from having to re-organise several anglers to another date that suits them. Its not many ports that can provide catches of 30-60 codling a trip in conditions that force many poor souls to cancel.
We haven’t spent all of our time in the river though and when we get further afield there are still numbers of rays showing. This isn’t uncommon nowadays and is helped by the mild weather. I will also add that I think the mild weather doesn’t have a negative effect on the cod fishing. This seasons numbers prove that to my mind with a mild autumn and great numbers of fish about.
Even further offshore has been a bit of a dogfest so far but our last trip was a little more promising and all credit to those who keep putting the effort in as that’s the best way to get results. I have a few spaces on various trips before the new year and plenty available in 2015 for more information, available dates or regular reports please visit my website. www.essexseafishing.co.uk -
10/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Oct 2014 by Scott Belbin
Im sure you don’t need me to tell you that autumn is here now even if summer does keep showing its face on the odd day.we can have some great autumnal fishing around essex for a variety of fish with cod and thornback rays our main target. The fishing this year looks promising with good numbers of early codling showing at the moment. To be honest in some places they didn’t seem to go away all summer and we have just watched them grow. Inshore most fish are 8-18 inches long with the average fish around 15-16 inches. These are a bit small to keep right now but another few weeks and we should have some great sport. Although its not too bad right now with good numbers about. On a short evening trip in the estuary we had a dozen last week. Not bad less than 3 hours fishing. Further off the bigger fish have just started to show in numbers and this set of tides is likely to push more of them up. The thornback rays have been in good numbers through September and into October. Most fish are 4-8lbs at the moment and the stamp of these is likely to go up in the coming weeks. Some trips have seen over 30 rays amongst the odd dogfish or two.
There are still a few bass and smooth-hounds kicking about as the left overs of our summer. These fish can pop up as late as December as a nice addition to the catch. Over the coming weeks we will be targeting some mixed bags of cod and rays both inshore and further afield. This time of year can be one of the best for a decent cod and things look good so far. Pictured is john with one of the best so far at 8.12lbs. i wouldn’t expect one every cast but they are definitely out there and to a much greater size too. i update my website very regularly with dates and reports. so for more information, available dates and reports please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or follow us on facebook on the essexseafishing page. or call on 07956411528 -
07/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
Jul 2014 by Scott Belbin
Thought I’d best do a report for june/july as ive been so busy I missed last months report for CBUK. As I mentioned its been busy with good weather for the most part and plenty of fish about. June saw us targeting tope, smooth-hounds, bass and thorn-backs .
As is often the case this time of year, there was a lot of variety about and a few less common species coming aboard. We managed to get most trips out with very few cancellations. although the weather has stopped us getting right off on some occasions we have still been able to find some good sheltered fishing.
The tope fishing seemed busier this year than it has the last couple with good numbers of smaller fish about. There weren’t loads of big fish caught here but one or two came out on other boats.
The smooth-hounds have been steady in numbers and the odd double has been mixed in here and there with a few more showing the past couple of weeks.
the bass fishing has been ok, don’t expect loads on every general trip but were seeing the odd good fish here and there along with a few smaller ones.
We have done a few bass trips over the last few weeks with mixed results, some lovely fish have come out. Pictured is Glenn who has done several bass trips over the years. He had a lovely brace of fish in two consecutive casts, the first went 7.8lbs and the next went 8.13lbs! don’t expect this every trip but as this proves it can and does happen.
There are still numbers or thornbacks in places, many are small fish which we generally find this time of year but some are a good size and the males make good eating.
We had a bass trip booked last week, unfortunately there had been a storm over night which hadn’t completely cleared by the morning. So we stopped inshore for a couple of hours to let it clear before we headed off. We started well with a few hounds and rays to start the day. Martin hooked a screamer of a hound that fought like a fish twice its weight. It was still a decent hound at just over 10lbs. we had a nice stamp of rays too for the time of year before heading off to catch the flood tide. The first mark started with the odd fish coming through from most parts of the boat. As the tide got going Barry and Lindsey hit a shoal which were taking their baits as fast as I could cast them back out! Another 10 minutes and it was over with just the odd fish coming through again. We made a quick dash to another mark for the rest of the day and this time it was martins turn. He had a bite a cast for most of the rest of the day here. It has to be said that most of his catch were small codling but he started with a few nice bass. He had a couple of bass around the 4lbs mark at the same time with one on each rod. We had a few more rays, some dogfish and a couple of dabs here too. We finished the day off with 21 bass, 8 smooth-hounds, 11 rays, loads of codling, a few dogfish, a couple of dabs and a pouting too. Not too bad following a breezy start to the day.
Over the coming weeks we’ll be doing a few more bass trips but on the general trips we should see the odd bass mixed in too. The smooth-hounds should still be showing and we hope to find some decent girls amongst them. For the bass I’d try worm and the hounds I’d use crab but as ever squid will pick most things up.
For more information, regular reports and available dates please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or follow us on face book under essex-sea-fishing. -
05/2014
Fishing Report by Scott Belbin
May 2014 by Scott Belbin
May was another busy month aboard the 'galloper'. We were lucky enough to get most of our trips in with some very good weather at times. May has marked the transition from spring to summer with a few late winter species showing earlier in the month and summer species arriving in the form of mackerel and tope. We had some more big numbers of thorn-backs at the start of the month with some of our customers choosing to target them over the bass which also showed in decent numbers. We had several days with 35-50 coming out on several trips. Thankfully there have still been a few rays in the estuary which have saved the odd day when it has been windy.
The last couple of weeks have seen the biggest change and although the odd cod has still been showing it seems summer is here with good numbers of hounds spread throughout most area's. Most of these have been the 3-7lbs fish which are great sport on light gear although 'big guy' did manage a double figure one on a trip with us the other day. The main numbers of the bass have slowed down on the ground fishing. However there's a few coming out on most trips and there will still be good numbers to be had over the coming weeks either on lures or offshore. The most promising signs of summer have been the big number of mackerel which are no doubt helped by the warmer weather and more settled conditions than last summer.
Sundays trip saw a surprise for one of our regulars john. As usual we were having several last casts and were rewarded with a nice early tope of 13lbs. This is no monster but what was surprising was john managed to get her in on a 35lb trace having hooked her in the scissors. The tope can often turn up this early and with the warm spring we've had I thought there might be one or two about. Its typical that we had two rods out with fresh mackerel yesterday and didn’t have a sniff. The trip was fairly typical of late other than that with a nice mixed bag coming out. We had 14 or so rays, 20 odd hounds loads of dogfish a bass a dab and a tope.
The thorn-backs will hang around over the next few weeks and slowly move further out as the summer goes by. If we're lucky we should see the first run of bigger hounds in the next week or two. Im hoping that seeing the first couple if smaller tope is a good sign for the season ahead. Were due a good year and those mackerel will make great fresh bait. As I mentioned bass will show on many trips with worm helping to target them. If conditions are right then we'll have a go with feathers or red gills and I have a few trips in search of them offshore coming up.
With regards to baits Squid will pick most fish up, worm is best for targeting bass and crab for smooth-hounds. If targeting tope then fresh mackerel is great and can pick up the odd decent bass too. for more information, available dates and a weekly fishing update visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk
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