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  • 22/07/2011 Fishing Report by Luke Rees on Celtic Wildcat (Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire)

    22 Jul 2011 by Luke Rees

    Report on-board Celtic Wildcat

    A full boat of 12 eager Danglers boarded Nick O'Sullivans Celtic Wildcat for an 8am departure from Neyland. Today we were reefing, out to catch some Cod and Pollack, plus whatever else came along. With the weather forecast to drop through the day and a NW wind the journey down the Haven was pleasant. The Wildcat made mince meat of the journey down the Haven and before we knew it the engine was off and quite literally every colour of lure hokkai and worm was dropped over the side, it must have looked like Christmas down there....

    Any way fishing was good to start, I personally hooked into a couple of Codling and Pollack that where just shy of the keeping mark but it was nice to feel the rod bouncing. First into a nice fish was Mike Middleton, who, on most trips seems to bag a nice Wrasse. This trip was of course to be no exception and he boated this beauty of 4lb. It was that exited to see him it was foaming at the mouth!!!

    What a scrap it put up on his white/red hokkais lures.

    The first part of our day continued to fish well, a few Cod and Pollack has come aboard of a keep able size, none worth taking the camera out for... mustn't forget the shed loads of Mackerel that plagued users of lures and hokkais small enough for the rabid mackerel. The first Pollack worthy of a snap was the biggest of the day. At a boats weight 4lb 10oz for Andy caught on the ever impressive and reliable Rhubarb and Custard Sidewinder.

    Now by this point our trip co-ordinator for the day was slyly baging up on nice Codling, using Silver Blue Dreams that only seemed to be picking up Pollack for me. He posed with this brace of fish that were a beautiful plate size. Nice one Wayne.

    John Codd pulled up surprise number one (of three...each more amusing than the last) for the day. A Ling, weighing 4lb. My what teeth you have.

    All was quiet then for a while, when the fish where hard to find ( I shan't bore you with that pish pash) . But the weather settled that little bit more and the tide turned and BOOM, fish back on.

    Keith was persistent after a slow start but connected with the fish using a pink Sidewinder and bagging the biggest Cod of the day at 5lb 8oz. He also took some other good Cod on this lure and bagged up well on the Cod for the day. His advise that the fish were feeding well up in the water saw me switch to a shad and flying collar rig that I worked a good way of the bottom and bagged a 2 Codling and a Pollack. Keith also landed a very pretty male Cuckoo Wrasse.

    Joe had a nice double shot of Pollack...

    Ian then caught surprise number two of the day. A velvet swimmer crab on a Sidewinder. EH?

    Now, a wee tale between the fish for you. Joe Barnikel went and caught himself the bottom. Being snagged he wanted to get rid of it so decided to go and make for his fish hittin' stick to wrap the line around and snap it off. In the mean time his rod had other ideas and ....SPLASH. "Who's rod was that"...uh-oh. Joe's rod and reel had been pulled in by the boats drift and the snag. How gutting ey....but oh no wait. John Codd went and reeled in surprise number three of the day, and possibly the catch of the day... Joe's rod and reel! It was incredible, how lucky can you get!!!! Joe's luck didn't stop there though... no no. Keep reading..

    The next nice fish of the day was a nice Cod.... I mean Wrasse! Ian who was dying for a nice Cod fell victim to disguise as his Wrasse nodded and thumped the whole way up. He was not amused, but on the plus side a lovely 4lb 8oz Ballan Wrasse...

    Yours truly had my biggest Pollack of the day at a nudge over 4lb caught on Berkley Mounted Sandeel... mid water.

    As in true fashion the best is always saved for last, and as I said that Joe's luck had yet to run out he went and caught him self this stunning Ling and the biggest fish of the day at 6lb 10oz. What a cracker.

    Sadly after that we headed for home, thanks to Nick for the extra 15 minutes out there. Joe wouldn't have had his Ling without it. The lighter colour Sidewinder (4inch) where the order of the day and the Hats later in the day definitely out fished the Barrels earlier in the day.

    The drop in wind made for a quick and smooth journey home, and time to reflect on a great day out. Gorgeous conditions on a great boat and the fish where biting. Things are looking good out there for later in the year. Today we had Coley, Codling, Pollack, Mackerel, Cuckoo Wrasse, Ballan Wrasse, Pouting, Launce and Ling.

    Thanks to Nick for a great day out.
    Cheers, Luke@westwalesfishing.

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