Latest Fishing Reports: Optimist
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16/12/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
16 Dec 2014 by Nigel Lihou
It's December and there is still some good fishing on the days between the Blows, this week we managed a few hours on a couple of Marks within spitting distance of the shore first drifting over them before putting the hook down we had been targeting Codling but were rewarded with some very nice Whiting the majority of which were returned to the depths whist a few were kept for the pot. we also managed a few Rays mainly Thornbacks but a undulate put in an appearance at the surface before line snapped (it was light tackle) and away it went. Dogfish put in a brief appearance but were very small. Good days fishing was had by all and the picture shows the skipper does catch even if only Baby Thornback Ray duly returned after the picture to find its Mummy and Daddy.
Don't forget Optimist is afloat and available throughout the winter season Weather permitting of course and a Merry Christmas and Tight Lines for 2015 to all our Anglers, we look forward to welcoming you aboard in 2015 for some good fishing on some marks that are a little bit different from the usual and produce some unexpected results -
11/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
Nov 2014 by Nigel Lihou
Available for Charter throughout the Winter Weather permitting ring for details
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27/09/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
27 Sep 2014 by Nigel Lihou
Trips over the last few weeks have consisted of mainly half days to the local inshore wrecks where anchoring over the wrecks has proved to be more successful this year than drifting across the wrecks. We have had a variety of species come aboard if you can get through the masses of Pouting there have been Pollack, Silver Whiting, Some large Scad, Bass, and some very large Mackerel. This weekend we had four guys down from Burnley who fancied a run out to the Skerries for some Flatties. Some really good drifts down the seaward edge of the bank produced some good Plaice and large red Gurnards but with two rods out each and one baited up for Ray and Turbot I would have expected to see a couple of these aboard but it was not to be, we still had a good day on the Plaice with one member of the group catching his first ever Flattie. Optimist is staying afloat throughout the winter in the hope that unlike last winter we can get a few days good fishing in, Give us a call to see what's available weather permitting.
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24/08/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
24 Aug 2014 by Nigel Lihou
20th, 23rd and 24th August 2014
A few good trips this week, first off a half day reef fishing, but not a lot there so moved to an inshore wreck where a good amount of fish Pollack, Pouting and Whiting were brought aboard, with everyone having had some good sport. The 23rd found us with Father and 2 sons fishing a wreck about 10 miles out again Plenty of Pouting with Pollack and Whiting mainly on strips of Mackerel, lunchtime found the wind force increasing so a move to an inshore reef was favoured with catches including Bull Huss, Lesser Spotted Dogfish and Conger Eel being boated and returned. The day ended with a drift for Mackerel. The 24th was a half day with a family group introducing the youngsters to fishing. Anchoring over an inshore wreck proved a good move as we had a variety of species and some good fishing with the youngsters catching well, Species included: - Mackerel, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Pouting, Silver Whiting, Red Gurnard, Small Pollack, and Thornback Ray. Everyone had a good time and caught fish returning to Port vowing to return -
08/08/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
8 Aug 2014 by Nigel Lihou
03 August 2014 to 08 August 2014
Well what a week's fishing we have had off to the Skerries at the start of the week with a group from London and some fantastic Rag worm from a new supplier, the days bag included Plenty of Plaice, Gurnard's, Blonde Ray along with Mackerel and a few small Whiting. A happy group returned to London with memories of a good day out.
For the rest of the week we have had a group from Morecombe who we wanted to give a bit of variety to so for day one it was off back to the Skerries for some more Plaice this time up to 4lb with a few other species making up a good days fishing. The following day was called off due to the weather but plans were made for the rest of the week.
Time to target the Wrecks and first off it was the 10 to 20 mile out wrecks that although producing fish were only catching Pollack and Pouting the surprise catch in amongst the day's fishing was a lovely 2lb Red Gurnard. Some good fishing but not what we would be expecting from these wrecks at this time of year.
Next day was planned as a long one out to a large mid channel wreck expecting to find some good sized Cod and Pollack, first drift looked good producing several small Codling and Pollack the wreck showing well beneath us with the electronics showing plenty of fish but the rest of the drifts although producing fish did not bring anything of size to the surface, we still managed a good species count with Pouting and Mackerel and some 2lb to 3lb Whiting. A long way to go for fish and not what should have been there.
The final day and for variety we anchored on a local reef with good sized mackerel fillets as bait we sat and waited for the action, one of the group having purchased a new rod before setting off he wanted to christen it and what a way do it with a large Conger in excess of 25lb, at the same time another member of the group boated a 4and half pound Bull Huss, the action continued with another 6lb conger coming aboard and rounding off the day were a brace of Thornback Rays in excess of 12lb. A really good day we had saved the best till last.
The groups Species count for the week included : - Plaice, Dab, Red Gurnard, Mackerel, Whiting, Herring, Horse Mackerel, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Pouting, Pollack, Codling, Silver Whiting, Tub Gurnard, Conger Eel, Bull Huss, and Thornback Ray. A large amount of these were returned to fight another day but some were taken for the pot during the week our crew kindly filleted and froze the early part of the weeks catch and Friday saw iced up cool boxes loaded for the return to Morecombe with promises of a return in the future. -
17/05/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
17 May 2014 by Nigel Lihou
Sat 17th May a late all day booking from the guys from Chepstow, an early start meant a distance mid channel wreck. First wreck the fish weren't feeding so a move of a couple of miles put us on a wreck that first drop pulled up a 4lb 5oz Pollack on pink sidewinder, and continued to produce with some nice Pollack and Cod up to 8lb on small shads, with pouting and whiting also being caught. This continued through the ebb and slack water to the start of the flood when the fish seemed to go off the feed it was time for a change of wreck but with the spring flood the fish, although showing on the electronics, did not seem to want to take a variety of lures and bait offered to them.
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03/05/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
3 May 2014 by Nigel Lihou
The last few trips have found Plaice, Plaice and more Plaice on the Skerries with the inshore wrecks producing some Pollack of between 3lb to 10lb. We still seem to be lacking in baitfish as mackerel are still fairly few and far between but those caught of a good size. After the winter of storm after storm things are starting to settle down with spring species starting to reappear but fishing is still a bit hit or miss they are either feeding in which case we are catching or they are there but not showing an interest. Plenty more trips planned and as things settle it will get better.
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18/04/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
18 Apr 2014 by Nigel Lihou
The Skerries are producing some really nice Plaice as confirmed by the second trip of the week but the following day a short trip specifically for Mackerel failed to produce any significant fish although the water is now a lot clearer than of late. Friday the 18th and a half day to inshore wrecks proved that the Pollack have returned or at least have started to bite with some nice fish showing the biggest of the day at 7lb 2oz falling to Jamie from Poole. More trips planned in the next week or so phone for details.
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13/04/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
13 Apr 2014 by Nigel Lihou
April 13 2014 what a great day flat seas, sunshine and a fantastic day with the chaps from North Wales on the Skerries Bank. Plaice, Plaice and more Plaice with some taken for the pot and many more caught and released. The Skerries was alive with both boats and fish the plaice being taken on a cocktail of prawn, and rag worm tipped off with a sliver of squid. Everyone agreed it was a good days Plaice bashing and certainly one to put in the diary. The photos show some of spotty catches.
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29/03/2014
Fishing Report by Nigel Lihou
29 Mar 2014 by Nigel Lihou
Well the early part of 2014 has been a bit of a wash and blow out with storm after storm we have taken the opportunity to carry out a mini refit on Optimist (to make things better for you the Angler) and try and get out when the weather permits. The condition of the water around the wrecks and the Skerries Bank is well and truly stirred up and with the fresh water coming down the rivers Exe, Teign, Dart and the Salcombe estuary, this makes the waters extremely brackish and very very cloudy, not good at all for lure fishing. Good news though when we have managed to get out in the last couple of weeks there are a few Pollack returning to the wrecks further offshore as well as the good old Pouting, and plaice on the Skerries. No sign yet of early Cod, or Bass coming on to feed, but as the stormy season subsides and the waters clear we should be in for some very good fishing. Still some dates available for 2014, telephone or email for individual or full boat charters.
