Latest Fishing Reports: Wales

  • 01/2010 Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)

    Jan 2010 by Gethyn Owen

    Report on-board My Way 2

    Winter 2010 has been abysmal for most of the UK. We have been pounded with winds from all dirtections - the only common factor being the strength - the vast majority over 20mph.

    With a small fun match scheduled for Saturday 04th January, our last outing before My Way came out of the water for her winter TLC, the weather gods once again changed the forecast from a nice 10mph, to an un appealing 25mph W. Rendering the match a no go.
    However with no trip planned for the Sunday, organiser Chris Hamblin phoned around the troops and 6 brave souls were happy to try for the Sunday which had easterly winds of 10mph promised. Sadly other plans for the Sunday reduced our numbers from 9 to 6, never the less, we would set sail, un sure of what we would find in the sea following the barrage of Force 10 gales suffered on our coast earlier in the week. Sadly Chris also had to withdraw last minute, yet another victim to this viral bug doing the rounds.

    Setting sail in the morning, whether the fishing was good or bad - it was always going to be a fun affair. Arthur Beechey and Glyn 'Fester' Hughes are often likened to many famous double acts - Hinge & Bracket or the Chuckle Brothers spring alarmingly to mind.

    Glyn set his sights on first place before we had thrown the ropes away. Remembering the match we fished last October, Glyn claimed he was brought to the boat under false pretences. Apparently Arthur had mentioned an evening sail and laugh with the lads to Glyn, who was keen for an evening fish after work. Grabbing a few rigs and whatever bait was lying around, Glyn was lured to the marina only to be met by the other lads gearing up for a full match assault - we heard of nothing but this fact all evening!

    It wasn't to go Glyn's way early on - after catching the dreaded first fish, his catches slumped slightly as young Mike took the lead from Glyn, Alan and Pete with a succession of whiting and the odd dab. To add insult Mike also managed to snare a small codling and sizeable coalie to further frustrate Glyn's ambitions. What of Arthur? Well it took a while before his first fish came aboard My Way this day, but we wont mention the tying of rigs after the anchor was dropped.

    After a couple hrs we headed off to the mussel beds for some more sizeable quarry in the shape of the bull huss. Now then , this didn't quite go to plan! With a HW in the Tide Book for 1245pm, taking into account the local difference and a little more for the tide, we anchored up at 1130am, expecting the last of the flood. Shock horror, the tide was already ebbing. Now normally I would blame the skipper, but saying as I was at the helm this was obviously not the case. The moon, must have had a greater pull on the tide!
    With only a few dogs added to the tally in the half hr of comfortable fishing available to us we then moved inshore onto a patch of mud for more whiting and bits etc

    With sausage butties, pasties & Cadburys chocolate all washed down with plentiful amounts of tea & coffee, it was now an all out assault for lads to land first place in the match. By Now it was a close thing to call between Pete and Glyn, who had both been catching dogs and whiting far more constantly than the others. Mike was struggling from his bow draw to latch into the fish further down tide, whilst Alan was quite happy trying out all the new rigs and feathers it looked like Father Christmas had delivered the previous week. Not to be out done, Arthur picked this move to step his up game. Having finally decided upon the rig that worked he started to make ground on the leading pair with double and triple shots of whiting. A triple shot of dogs, also adding 12 much needed points to his wanting tally.

    The final assault though proved a little too late for Arthur when the results were counted up. Managing to over take Pete, Arthur was still left 14points behind Glyn who had exorcised the demons of the match in October by claiming the first place, well done.

    A hard days fishing, in extremely cold conditions with an unforgiving easterly breeze. Would we do it all again - yes I suppose so. Sometimes it's nice just to get out there and blow them cobwebs away. With the banter and jokes flowing at regular intervals, it makes for a fun time afloat.

    A total of just short of 158 fish were caught between the 5 anglers fishing
    Top 3 slots went as follows:

    1 Glyn Hughes 119 100% £30
    2 Arthur Beechey 105 88.24% £20
    3 Pete Minns 99 83.19% £10


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  • 12/2009 Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)

    Dec 2009 by Gethyn Owen

    Report on-board My Way 2

    2009 - Review of the year

    After returning My Way to the water in mid March following her winter maintenance period, the fishing could have been best described as un eventful. Fish were around, but nothing too electrifying - dogfish, whiting, coalies, etc with the biggest catch being the reliable bull huss. That said, for the middle of March it is consistent fishing and what Holyhead can deliver on days when just getting afloat and blowing winter cobwebs away is all that is required.
    This time of year most anglers out fishing are simply getting back into the swing of things and anticipating the year ahead. Based on the previous years successes or failures our angling goals are decided upon - so many species to catch, or a tope over 50lb, smoothie over 20lb.

    We all have different targets.

    With the winds settling down for the Easter break it was with nervous anticipation that I planned the fishing trips for the weeks ahead. The weather over the Easter period was certainly a god send to many of us involved within the angling industry. Friends with boats, shops and a few in the wholesale trade all reported brisk business, with many grateful for the fairly settled spell of calm seas and sunshine

    During the first few weeks of April we tend to see more fish moving inshore. This can range from more dogs, bigger huss but also some pollack and coalies. 2009 has followed the same trend, but with exceptionally high catches of good sized pollack.

    Not to double figure standards, but the inshore rocks were reliable enough to deliver pollack averaging the 3lb mark. With some anglers often hooking into a brace, or if lucky 3 at a time. When drifting in 25 to 50 foot of water, close inshore, pollack to 6lb give a great account for themselves on light tackle.

    Rig choices varied for many of the anglers with the bigger fish falling to those prepared to work baits or jellies on flying collar rigs.

    Rough ground marks out in the deeps had been generally slow, few huss, spurs and congers, but a boundless amount of doggies infuriating most anglers with the 180ft haul up from the sea bed. With nothing to lose, a change of tact was required and a search for new ground. There is such a vast amount of sea available to us, there is never any harm in trying out new marks. In reading a chart, and having a run over with the echo sounder - gems can often be found.
    A good nose through the charts in early April and a series of 170ft rocks in and around a 240ft bed seemed like a nice holding point for a variety of species. A few miles off my usual haunts it was going to be an interesting mark to try out. Well, the move proved successful, no spurs sadly, but this mark produced more huss than dogfish with most of the specimens topping double figures with many around the 15lb mark, add these catches to 2 dropped tope (early season for us, so not geared for them), this is mark was without doubt going to be re-visited at a later time in 2009.

    All species have a hold on us for different reasons. Tope and smoothies for example, bait out, ratchet on and wait, adrenalin pumping waiting for the ‘click click’ of the ratchet. Pollack over wrecks – wind up nothing, drop down, wind up again whilst waiting for that short pluck of a pollack teasing your lure – then bang your losing line as the fish makes a bid for freedom.
    Wrasse fishing though can offer you all this adrenalin pumping action and more, basically a much greater chance of success. Most anglers who fish aboard My Way know of my passion for drifting inshore rock marks for wrasse and pollack. With 5 main wrasse species in the UK - ballan, cuckoo, corkwing, goldsinny and rock cook all making regular appearances aboard My Way, 2009 was an exceptional year on the drift.

    Unlike the past couple of years, good fortune fell upon us for most of May and June. Both months were far more settled than the previous couple of years. Light winds saw us set sail on many occasions, searching for a variety of species whether it be on the drift or hard at anchor. One of our main targets during this period is smoothhound.

    Again, 2009 was not to disappoint. Where north Wales has long been associated with some very good catches of smoothhound, My Way certainly sets some standards for consistent numbers of quality smoothhound. With us smashing the WFSA record for smoothhound in 2008 with the capture of a 25lb 6oz starry, hopes were set quite high for 2009. sadly though despite a few hundred double figure hounds and many in the 17 to 19lb bracket we failed to reach the 20lb plus target. However based on the theory of a 2year cycle for hounds we're hoping for a great run in 2010.

    Tope is another big draw for anglers to north Wales. Sadly the last 2 years from Holyhead have been hard work on the tope fishing front. Strong winds coinciding with the neap tides that are required for us to have a successful time tope fishing have all but ruined trips in 2007 and 2008. Fortunately that little piece of good fortune mentioned earlier helped out in 2009. this allowed for many more forays into the deeper water in search of the tope with excellent results. Paul took the helm of My Way late June for our first venture after tope and the crew from the Wirral were rewarded with 25 tope and 15 huss in 2 and a half hrs of hectic action.
    Our last venture for tope came in mid October with a crowd of paramedics from Conwy. With such a stressful job, these guys really wanted a day of rest and plenty of fish. Tope, Rays and huss a plenty certainly was what the doctor ordered. The video below was taken by one of the crew. Line screamed from Jasons reel as he hooked into what appeared to be the best tope of the day. Thus the 5 mins turned into 30mins as Jason took time to play his 40lb shark to the side of My Way.

    2009 also saw 2 surprises landed aboard My Way. Were as not exceptionally large fish, both of them were first captures aboard My Way and also the first heard of in the area. Our first new addition to the species tally came whilst drifting an inshore mark in early June. . Weighing no more than 4 or 5 oz, the Topknot was certainly the fish of the year so far, A first for it’s captor Monty Burns, but also a first ever aboard My Way. A few months later Jon Law hooked into the first of many haddock that came into Holyhead bay. not big by any north sea standard, but another first and much appreciated aboard My Way.

    In October we held another Sponsored fishing day to help raise funds to send a very brave girl on a very special holiday, Cath's Community and Ronald McDonald House Charities . As the anglers turned up at Holyhead Marina, it was clear to see that everyone had made that special effort with fancy dress costumes. What the lovely yacht owners thought of the variety of costumes including Ozzy Osborne, Superman, Vicky Pollard, Jason from Friday 13th A couple Indians, Katie Price and my very own Bet Lynch impression descending on their idyllic pontoon setting we’ll never know.

    My Way species list for 2009 - total 44
    bass, black bream, bull huss, coalfish, codling, conger eel, dab, dogfish, dragonet, gobi -rock & black, gurnard - grey, red & tub, haddock, herring, ling, mackerel, pollack, pouting, plaice, poor cod, , ray - thornback , blonde, spotted, cuckoo, rockling 3b, sandeel, sea scorpion ls &ss, smoothhound - common & starry, spurdog, tadpole fish, tope, topknot , tompot blenny, turbot, whiting, wrasse - ballan cuckoo, corkwing goldsinny & rock cook,

    Thank you to everyone who has supported us through 2009.

    Hope you have a fish filled year ahead and we look forward to seeing you in 2010.

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  • 12/2009 Fishing Report by David Hancock on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    Dec 2009 by David Hancock

    Report on-board Excel 2

    Good amounts of cod coming from quite close inshore now, best one last week was 16lb for Dennis, well done.

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  • 27/11/2009 Fishing Report by Steve Andrews on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)

    27 Nov 2009 by Steve Andrews

    Report on-board Supreme

    this set of tides proved to be very productive for the coddling with most of the boats fishing the mersey connecting with them ,there are still a few thornback rays about mixed in with some exellent whiting and dabs

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  • 10/2009 Fishing Report by Gethyn Owen on My Way 2 (Holyhead, Isle of Anglesey)

    Oct 2009 by Gethyn Owen

    Report on-board My Way 2

    October has been a very hard month afloat. High gale force winds have only served to cancel most of our days afloat. That said when we have sailed, the fishing and the banter has been second to none, with some exceptional catches for the time of year.

    A day afloat was just what was ordered for regular My Way lads from the Rafa Club on the Wirral. We had already cancelled this trip last August due to high winds, so fingers and legs were crossed that the weather wouldn’t disappoint and the fish played ball. Fortunately the weather all week was looking good and with a set of neap tides beckoning, a trip out to Holyhead Deep was on the cards.

    Well the fish were informed, and all aboard were treated to a fair number of tope and huss in the deepwater; excellent fishing for the middle of October. Inshore we set about drifting and had wrasse after wrasse – a great end to a good days fishing. Wondering if it was just a good day afloat, I returned a few days a later with a crowd of Paramedics from Conwy area.
    With such a stressful job, these guys really wanted a day of rest and plenty of fish. Once again the sun shone down and the winds stayed away. We started our fishing for the day were we left off with the Rafa guys - on the wrasse.

    Plenty of obliging wrasse came to the gunwales - ballans up to 3lb and a few cuckoos and corkwings to add variety. With our venture to the deeps nearing, the lads soon stowed away the small scratch rigs and broke out the big guns. 150lb mono and 6/0 to 8/0 hooks. It looked like they meant business, bigger fish is what they wanted now.

    It wasn't long before Bryn Thomas called for the net after heaving what looked to be a dead weight from the 200ft murky depths of Holyhead Deep. Fortunately for Bryn, it turned out to be a double figured thornback ray - pictured right. As the day went on Bryn also managed to add huss & tope to his double figure haul. Despite other tope being landed around the boat and spurdog to 14lb, it looked as though the day was to be Bryn's, with the heaviest tope.

    After 3hrs in the deeps, the tide increased in power and we were starting to struggle to hold bottom. As I called for lines up a cry of "I've got a bite" came from Jason on the port side. Ok, 5 more mins I relented.
    Seconds later the line screamed from Jasons reel as he hooked into what appeared to be the best tope of the day. Thus the 5 mins turned into 30mins as Jason took time to play his 40lb shark to the side of My Way.

    On October 17th we held our Fish for Courtney sponsored fishing event. The whole day was an overwhelming success and helped towards a total now nearing £7000 for 3 very good causes http://www.goangling.co.uk/2009/Gallery51/gallery51.htm

    Happy fishing

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  • 09/11/2009 Fishing Report by Steve Andrews on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)

    9 Nov 2009 by Steve Andrews

    Report on-board Supreme

    this set of tides proving to be very good for the fish monday produced 31 thornback rays ,plenty of good size dabs and whiting .

    tuesday started of well with 12 thornback rays and 6 keepable cod to 3lb again plenty of dabs and whiting.Looking good for the next few days will post some pics when i get chance .

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  • 10/2009 Fishing Report by David Hancock on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    Oct 2009 by David Hancock

    Report on-board Excel 2

    Grab a bucket of lug and a box of squid and come and get `em !

    Weekends still available in December, Dates still available between Christmas and New Year.

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  • 11/10/2009 Fishing Report by David Hancock on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    11 Oct 2009 by David Hancock

    Report on-board Excel 2

    Plenty of bass showing along with the cods, get on down with a bucket of Lug !
    Well done to Gary S and his two mates on sunday, kept 7 bass and returned about 15 that were over MLS.
    Dave.

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  • 11/10/2009 Fishing Report by Steve Andrews on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)

    11 Oct 2009 by Steve Andrews

    Report on-board Supreme

    Well what can i say about our Fantastic start on sat to the winter fishing on the river Mersey this year we had 50 thornback rays to 11 lb in a 2 hour spell over low water ,plenty of good sized whiting and a load of dabs and dogs
    sun 27 thornback again plenty of good dabs and whiting and loads of dogs and 1 solitary rockling

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  • 06/10/2009 Fishing Report by Steve Andrews on Supreme (Rhyl, Denbighshire)

    6 Oct 2009 by Steve Andrews

    Report on-board Supreme

    The boat is based in Liverpool Marina for the winter.Species that can be caught are thornback ray ,cod,dabs ,whiting ,strap conger,flounder ,and a few dogfish.If you fancy a trip give me a call
    cheers steve

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