Latest Fishing Reports: South West Wales
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07/10/2016
Fishing Report by Allan Godfrey
on Blue Shark (St. Davids, Pembrokeshire)
7 Oct 2016 by Allan Godfrey
Report on-board Blue Shark
October 7th 2016
Had a great trip with Padrig and his crew. He is eager to help every level of angler and is very knowledgable on sea faring ways. We caught mackerel for bait and then went on to catch lots of Pollock with the occasional bonus of a few sea bass. Always moving to put the fisherman on the fish. Highly recommended. Can not wait for our next trip.
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09/2016
Fishing Report by Stephen hart
on Four Brothers (Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire)
Sep 2016 by Stephen hart
Report on-board Four Brothers
All the 5 hr and 8 hr trips this summer have had good results up to 11 different species on some trips and an extended season on the tope which was welcome.It was nice to have a return of the turbot to our inshore waters which resulted in some quality catches and we are now looking forward to a good bit of winter fishing ending in November and returning in March for remedial work to the boat.
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12/09/2016
Fishing Report by stuart cross
on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
12 Sep 2016 by stuart cross
Report on-board Celtic Wildcat
Me and my family have just returned from our annual shark fishing trip aboard Celtic Wildcat skippered by Nick O’Sullivan. Luckily for us we got all three days in with different conditions every day. Day one started with a mirror calm sea, not ideal but very pleasant. Our team consisted of me, my wife, mini me [aka Andrew] my mum and dad. Mum and dad are 76 and 74 but when there are sharks about more like 16 and 14!!. We were joined by Greg all three days who lives locally and helps Nick regularly. He is a cracking chap and a very knowledgeable fisherman. I picked up plenty of mackerel from Andy’s Baits in Portsmouth on Sunday morning which were packed in nice and tight in a large polystyrene box this was taped down and covered up ready for the Monday morning. These baits were still frozen Wednesday evening - amazing!. The secret being take out enough for the day 'ONCE' then fill the void so no warm air can lift the temperature and re-seal. If you look after your bait your bait will look after you!. No time wasted chasing the elusive baits and more time having your arms pulled off, lovely!
The sharks were high in the water as predicted warming themselves up in the morning sun. A little lethargic early on but as our magic potion drifted further off in the tide they came on the feed.
With our baits set up to 60ft most of the sharks came to the rods close in around 30ft, a few rug rats mixed in with nice fish to 70lb, then mini me lifted into a great big lump that made his 9\0 sing and put a lovely grin on his face. Fifteen minutes later and 110lb blue was on the deck-excellent a ton up fish the first day to my 13 year old son!.
We had four rods out and my wife was on guard with the butt pad on. I see her reach for the close rod as the bottle float is semi pulled under, away it goes, a quick tighten of the clutch and she lifts in to a very good fish. She runs hard down deep and close to the boat, I know its a big fish so i give my wife gentle encouragement 'that’s a bloody big fish don't cock it up' .I then get the female stare so retire for a mars bar and a drink. Three good strong runs and my wife is holding her own 'your doing great carry on' i say the stare changes to a loving smile and I'm saved from certain death. The fish hangs under the boat out of sight- true characteristics of a big blue. My wife piles the pressure on and lets the bend in the rod slowly lift the fish. A couple of short runs and we can see colour- now we can see a bloody big fish! Nicks got the wire, she’s neatly hooked in the corner with the circle hook- ropes on and she’s on deck - wow - measured weight of 172lb. I can't believe it what a great fish! Family photo and she’s away. I'm very proud of my wife's efforts and skill. Many people would have lost that fish but she kept calm and landed the fish of a lifetime and I got a cuddle!!. A great family photo and we are all buzzing. We catch a total of 18 blues the first day.
Day two and we have a fresh breeze, the sharks are deeper today not one seen on the surface. We set our baits accordingly and indeed the deeper far out baits take most of the fish. 17 blues today up to 90lb with a good few in the 60lb-90lb bracket. These fish fight hard and we all have our fair share. Now my dads not slow if a reel starts screaming so to combat this mini me held the rod on the bow and cornered Bri in so he couldn’t get to any rods (a cunning plan that kept my dad under control since he was suffering a severe case of ‘shark fever’).
Suddenly Andrews reel started screaming at an alarming rate. The sound of a Penn 9/0 in full song is music to any fisherman’s ears. This was no blue, the spool nearly empty, he puts the clutch to max and the fish slows, turns and races towards the boat going very deep. Trying to keep up with a fish with an empty spool is impossible but mini me is cranking as fast as he can. 15 seconds and the fish is back on. He loosens the clutch slightly and now the fish is deep taking line rapidly. Disaster! The rod springs straight and the fish is gone.
On inspection the 80lb main line is cut through clean. We all stand in silence looking out beyond the floats. The Megladon is gone ! We are gutted. It must have picked up the line with all the slack. I praise Andrew for his efforts as he did very well but it was not to be. What it was we will let you decide but it was VERY fast and big lifting Andrew off of his seat!
We catch a few more blues and then its home time with the monster on all of our minds.
Day three the forecast was lively on the way out but improving all day. We left mum behind due to the bumpy ride out .At 74 there is no point being bashed around. My dad was going even if we had to row there!.
A young lad called Nathan and his dad joined us today. He had not caught a shark before so we soon changed that!
A few rug rats to start with then I saw my deep rod bend more than it should before straightening. I hovered over it, everyone else said I was seeing things but the float slowly moved left on the surface and then gently bobbed. I called Nathan and as he grabbed the rod the ratchet sang. In gear, lift the rod shark on! This fish took line at range straight away, always a good sign. Now for someone that has only landed a 3lb trout before landing a 109lb shark is a fair effort. It put up a great fight and could easily have been lost under the boat but Nathan was having none of that, a great fish for his first one although it did cost his dad a beef and mustard sandwich! I missed out on my 100lb fish this year but it was worth it to let the lad have his. A couple of quiet spells followed by ‘shark soup’ as Nick would say.
We landed about 19 again with me getting a fighting fit 90lb fish a cracking day. Now I am not saying my dads keen but we have all reeled in and started to tidy up, Nick is warming the engines and my dad still has a bait in ‘come on we are going home ‘we all shout so instead of reeling in he walks his bait from the bow to stern, bang shark on!- only a small one but he said Ah Ha- that makes it five each day for me!!.
To some it all up a cracking three days, thanks to Andy for his excellent bait, RokMax for some quality terminal gear Greg for his tireless help and great company and to Nick for making it so good again. When you put good ingredients in your pie it tastes bloody good!
Shark fishing is on the up with more fish are turning up year by year.When the horrible practice of finning is eventually stopped worldwide it will be a lot better. Please look after your fish, circle hooks set with a reasonable amount of drag is the way forward 90% of our fish were hooked in the corner of the mouth with the odd greedy small one taking it further back. With the barbs crimped down they will do no harm and be lost very soon.
To look after our sport we must be sport fisherman and treat all our catches with respect.
Stuart Cross. View Boats Page
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02/08/2016
Fishing Report by Stuart Denman
on Ebony May (Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire)
2 Aug 2016 by Stuart Denman
Report on-board Ebony May
July 2016.
Once again, a good month for tope. Still large numbers being caught. 24th of July, a party from Swansea - John Criddle, landed 21 tope, averaging 35 pound in 2 and a half hours. Also bass are starting to show on local marks. The same party landed a number of bass, largest up to 5 pounds. Mackerel seems to have arrived in quantity, and no doubt the bass are following. Taking bookings for bass trips, with some places still available for spring tides in August, September, October. See gallery for pictures. View Boats Page
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06/2016
Fishing Report by Stuart Denman
on Ebony May (Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire)
Jun 2016 by Stuart Denman
Report on-board Ebony May
Tope fishing season is now in full swing. The Ebony May has been landing large numbers of tope averaging between 35 and 45 lbs, for the past 4 weeks (One up to 55 lbs). See picture gallery. Looking forward to the bass fishing in July. Still some places available for Tope fishing, last week of July.
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06/2016
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
Jun 2016 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
We were honoured to be one of the boats used for the prestigious RAF v Police boat angling final.
I must say the guys from both teams were an absolute pleasure to have on board and certainly fished well .
The practice day showed up the usual expected species, various Wrasse, Pollock, Cod, launce, dogfish and a few more . We had bonus fish such as a cracking Blonde Ray as well.
On the match day the wind was kind to us and the first session drifting on the reefs was in calm water which made it easy. Very soon a stream of Ballan Wrasse, Cuckoos, Pollock, Cod, Coalfish and more was coming onto the boat, great fishing.
For the second 2 hour session we anchored over a sandy area. Initially we caught a couple of dogfish but the fishing seemed slower than we had expected. On the practice day we had caught Dabs and Dogs prolifically.
Soon if became apparent as to what had changed as a Spurdog was bought to the surface, then another, then another ! These voracious predators had moved the normal species out.
The lads quickly responded and changed rigs from 3 hook scratchers to single and double flowing traces with beefier hooks and line. Soon it was pandemonium on deck as we landed and returned 88 Spurdogs in the allotted 2 hour session. Well done lads, you were awesome !
For the third session we anchored over rocky ground, to be honest it was a bit of an anticlimax after what had just happened but the lads still fished intently and put a few more species that we hadn't already recorded onto the score sheet.
A very pleasurable and memorable day, for all the right reasons,
Thank you.
Keep it tight,
Dave.
www.havenboatcharters.com
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15/06/2016
Fishing Report by Andy Cleeve
on Lady Gail II (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
15 Jun 2016 by Andy Cleeve
Report on-board Lady Gail II
Great two days fishing with Fen on Lady Gail, 15-16 June, 16 species, stunning 2 hour session on Spurdogs all 12-18 lbs 74 fish landed, great craic and plenty of tea and
Coffee. View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Lady Gail II
View Full Charter AvailabilitySat 11/05/2024 4 Spaces 8 Hours £60.00pp Inshore mixed fishing 8hrs @ £60pp - 4 spacesView details Sun 19/05/2024 5 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore reefing Hats & Barrels 5 spaces @ £75ppView details Fri 24/05/2024 10 Spaces 2 Hours £25.00pp Available for 2 hr trips from 9am and 3.30pmView details Sat 25/05/2024 5 Spaces 4 Hours £40.00pp Half day reefing from noon,5 spaces @ £40pp 2 hour trips available from 10am and 4pmView details Wed 29/05/2024 5 Spaces 6 Hours £50.00pp 6 hour reefing trip from 0830 - 5 spaces @ £50pp. 4 hour reefing trip from 1430 - 8 spaces @ £40pp or whole boat @ £350. Ballan Wrasse / Cod / Pollock.View details Sat 01/06/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore Hats & Barrels reefing 3 spacesView details Sun 02/06/2024 1 Space 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore Hats & Barrels reefing 1 spaceView details Sat 08/06/2024 7 Spaces 8 Hours £60.00pp Inshore bass and reef 7 spaces @ £60pp Bass / Pollock.View details Wed 19/06/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Hats & Barrels offshore reefing 3 spaces @ £75ppView details Wed 17/07/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Hats & Barrels offshore reefing 3 spaces @ £75ppView details -
05/06/2016
Fishing Report by adam west
on Lady Gail II (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
5 Jun 2016 by adam west
Report on-board Lady Gail II
Have a nice day out with fen yesterday 5th june 2016
Flat seas and sunny
Only the one shark to mid 40s View Boats Page
UPCOMING INDIVIDUAL SPACES ONBOARD Lady Gail II
View Full Charter AvailabilitySat 11/05/2024 4 Spaces 8 Hours £60.00pp Inshore mixed fishing 8hrs @ £60pp - 4 spacesView details Sun 19/05/2024 5 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore reefing Hats & Barrels 5 spaces @ £75ppView details Fri 24/05/2024 10 Spaces 2 Hours £25.00pp Available for 2 hr trips from 9am and 3.30pmView details Sat 25/05/2024 5 Spaces 4 Hours £40.00pp Half day reefing from noon,5 spaces @ £40pp 2 hour trips available from 10am and 4pmView details Wed 29/05/2024 5 Spaces 6 Hours £50.00pp 6 hour reefing trip from 0830 - 5 spaces @ £50pp. 4 hour reefing trip from 1430 - 8 spaces @ £40pp or whole boat @ £350. Ballan Wrasse / Cod / Pollock.View details Sat 01/06/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore Hats & Barrels reefing 3 spacesView details Sun 02/06/2024 1 Space 10 Hours £75.00pp Offshore Hats & Barrels reefing 1 spaceView details Sat 08/06/2024 7 Spaces 8 Hours £60.00pp Inshore bass and reef 7 spaces @ £60pp Bass / Pollock.View details Wed 19/06/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Hats & Barrels offshore reefing 3 spaces @ £75ppView details Wed 17/07/2024 3 Spaces 10 Hours £75.00pp Hats & Barrels offshore reefing 3 spaces @ £75ppView details -
18/08/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin Glover
on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
18 Aug 2015 by Kevin Glover
Report on-board Celtic Wildcat
First of all my apologies to skipper Nick. I should have written this long ago. Secondly a huge vote of thanks to Nick from all the anglers aboard ...we left your boat stunned and extremely happy.
Allow me to explain....In august 2014 myself and 4 other anglers had booked 2 days shark fishing aboard Celtic Wildcat, atrip that had been eagerly awaited. Nick duly took us out and we had what was for us all a trip if a lifetime. We boated 27 blue sharks over two days with everyone except one ( who shall remain nameless) catching at least one over 100lbs. Some even managed two over the magic ton with the largest weighing over 140lbs ( the exact weight being absent from my memory). It was a really good trip with plenty of banter, and with Nick providing copious cups of tea and coffee what more could you ask?.....except another trip. So with another trip booked we were all set for some more of the action the following year in August 2015. This time with 4 anglers on board, all eager with anticipation for the fishing ahead. So it was that we set out on the briny, with the sun shining and few white fluffy clouds overhead, with more than a little anticipation coursing through us all.
Even when the rubby dubby employed and the first baits put out little did any of us reallise what a day we were in for.
Almost immediately a bait was picked up and from that moment on the sharks just kept coming....one after another...all the time Nick wrangling them aboard and unhooking them, measuring where necessary and returning the fish.
At the end of the day we had boated an incredible 32 blue sharks in 1 day. We were stunned and extremely happy. Unfortunately our second day was cancelled due to a change in the weather.
I worked this out at more than 1 fish every 15 minutes of fishing time....incredible....and all due to Nick's exceptional ability to find the fish.
One of our more churlish anglers commented that we did not get as much coffee as last year....I told him to make his own!
Naturally we booked again for 2016.....August cannot come soon enough.
Kev Glover View Boats Page
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05/2016
Fishing Report by David Hancock
on Excel 2 (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)
May 2016 by David Hancock
Report on-board Excel 2
As our colonial brothers say, the bite is hot !
Some great eating pollock caught by Phinney's gang from the little old US of A,
Nice 'n' easy to catch and tasty treats for tea , awesome fishing .
The inshore reef fishing is epic , yee ha !
On the smaller tides we've been after the various inshore sharks.
Tenby & District Angling Club ably assisted by James L and Cai found 5 species of sharks,
including a nice 21 lb Tope for club Officer Nev and a cracking 32/35 lb Tope for James L.
Plenty of Bull Huss around the double figure mark coming to the boat.
Fresh or frozen Mackeral seems to be the preferred bait.
Club President Mike found a cracking specimen Red Gurnard, showing that class always shines through !
Come on down,
Dave.
07774 294 959.
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