Latest Fishing Reports: Size Matters
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12/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2016 by Kevin McKie
People say there is a story behind every photograph and this was know exception.
Here is Brian Houghton from Preston with a 15lb 8oz Cod he caught onboard Size Matters fishing in the river Mersey.
He caught the cod in the first hour of the trip during darkness, it was his personal best Cod. The photographs where not the best because of the poor light, so I filled the fish bin with sea water to keep it alive until we had enough daylight to get some better photographs. After we got the photographs we wanted, Brian bleed the fish ready for the table. A short while later I spoke to one of the other skipper's and I said when we go into the marina later can I weigh the Cod on your scales just to verify it, he said yes not problem so we kept the Cod in water to hold its weight. When we got back to the marina 8 hours later and after the Cod was bleed it tipped the other boats scales at 14lb 9oz. I was gutted and even more so was Brian who caught it, I couldn't believe it had lost 15oz and I was sure my scales where not out by that much. Later on when I was cleaning the boat down i emptied the fish bin full of water and at the bottom of the fish bin was a half digested whiting about 8oz, crab's and shrimp's. I got on the phone to Brian and said when you gutted the Cod was there anything in it's stomach, he said no and he thought it was very strange for a Cod like that to have nothing in it's stomach. I then told him it's belly contents was all in the bottom of the fish bin!
Moral of the story, always check the fish bin when weighing a fish or you could ruin someone's Christmas ha ha.
On that note Merry Christmas and all the best for 2017.
Thank you to everyone who has fished with us this year roll on 2017!!
Availability in January.
Tuesday 3rd, 6 places available,
Wednesday 4th, 12 places available,
Thursday 5th, 12 places available,
Wednesday 18th, 12 places available,
Thursday 19th, 9 places available,
Friday 20th, 7 places available,
Monday 23rd, 5 places available,
Wednesday 25th, 11 places available,
Cheers
Kev
07999628511 -
12/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2016 by Kevin McKie
Over the last week the fishing on the Mersey has been up and down.
Our best day was 52 cod to 7lb, but the worst day was only 9 cod to 4lb.
Most day's we caught 25 to 35 cod, along with odd thornback ray and loads of good whiting and dabs.
When you are fishing the Mersey it's so important to use a decent size bait when targeting cod and you must change the bait every 15 to 20 minutes. Because the sent gets washed out of the bait in the fast tide. Even if the bait look's ok after being in the sea for 15 minutes or more it has no sent and must be replaced with fresh bait.
The amount of anglers I get on my boat who think I am just trying to sell them bait is unreal. I am not interested in selling you bait I just want you to catch lot's of fish, at the end of the day that's why you have booked a day's fishing.
Here are the next dates I have available,
Monday December 19th, 7 places sailing at 4.30am.
Tuesday January 3rd, 10 places available sailing at 3.45am.
Wednesday January 4th, 12 places available sailing at 4.30am.
Thursday January 5th, 12 places available sailing at 5am.
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters (Liverpool)
07999628511 -
11/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2016 by Kevin McKie
The last set of neap tides on the Mersey started off very good. Catching up to 43 Cod a trip to 10lb, along with plenty of Whiting and a Dabs. Then we had two days of heavy rain and it thinned the Cod out to 20 to 25 a trip, most in the 2lb to 3lb range. The good news is we have had no rain since then and the fishing is improving day by day. The long range forecast for the next set of neap tides is giving light winds and no rain.
Here is a full list of available dates for December.
Saturday 3rd 3 places available.
Monday 5th 1 place available.
Sunday 11th 3 places available.
Monday 19th 10 places available.
Thursday 22nd 7 places available.
Friday 23rd 6 places available.
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters (Liverpool)
07999628511. -
11/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2016 by Kevin McKie
[This report was written when Size Matters was operating from Plymouth]
After a very successful summer in Plymouth, the diary is filling fast for summer 2017 onboard Size Matters.
As always we will be targeting big Sharks, Conger, Ling, Cod, Pollack and many more. Here are a full list of individual and small group dates available.
April
3rd Wrecking.
13th Wrecking.
May
12th Wrecking.
20th Wrecking.
25th Reefing.
26th Wrecking.
June
12th to 15th four day Guernsey Trip.
16th Wrecking.
23rd Wrecking.
July
7th Wrecking.
10th Wrecking.
24th Wrecking.
25th Wrecking.
August
4th Wrecking.
11th Wrecking.
18th Sharking.
21st Wrecking for Conger.
September
4th Wrecking.
12th Sharking.
13th Wrecking for Conger.
14th Wrecking for Conger.
15th Sharking.
16th Wrecking for Conger.
17th Wrecking for Conger.
18th Sharking.
October
6th Wrecking.
13th Wrecking.
These dates will fill up soon so if you are interested in any of these dates please send me a message or call me on 07999628511. We can also help arrange accommodation if you need it.
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters. -
11/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2016 by Kevin McKie
The last four day's on the Mersey have been very good, catching Thornback ray to 13lb 3oz, Conger to 13lb, Cod to 8lb 10oz, Whiting, Dogfish and Dabs.
Our best day on the Cod was 37 keepers, the best day on the Ray's was 26.
Size Matters is starting to get a reputation on the Mersey for just how much deck space she has. One group of regular angler's have started bringing foldaway arm chairs with them and there is still bag's of room to walk about even with 12 anglers onboard. There is nothing worse than being packed on to a charter boat like sardines and trying to enjoy your day with not much room to move about. If you want an enjoyable day fishing on the Mersey in complete comfort then give me a call on 07999628511.
As you can tell we are getting lot's of bookings, here is a list of available dates.
Monday November 21st 5 places.
Thursday November 24th 2 places.
Monday December 5th 11 places.
Tuesday December 6th 5 places.
Wednesday December 7th 9 places.
Thursday December 8th 2 places.
Monday December 19th 9 places.
Thursday December 22nd 7 places.
Friday December 23rd 12 places.
Here is a list of available weekends before Size Matters goes back to Plymouth for the summer season.
Saturday December 24th 5 places.
Sunday February 5th 3 places.
Saturday February 18th 12 places.
Sunday February 19th 12 places.
Hope to see you onboard soon!!
Cheers
Kev
07999628511 -
10/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2016 by Kevin McKie
Our first week back on the Mersey with the new boat Size Matters went very well.
All the anglers are very impressed with the size of the boat and the amount of deck space there is even with 12 anglers onboard there is plenty of room to walk about and fish in comfort.
On one of the day's we managed to land 56 Thornback ray's to 12lb, the most we have had in the passed was 46!
We have also been catching good numbers of Cod to 9lb 7oz, Whiting, Dabs and Dogfish.
There has been a few double figure cod caught on other boat's this is a great sign so early in the winter season and it look's like it's going to be a very good winter season on the Mersey.
On the weekend I managed to take family and friends out with there kids for a few hours over the top of the tide.
The weather conditions where perfect to do this, the kid's loved it catching Thornback ray, Whiting and Dogfish.
It's good to see kids getting into fishing and not being stuck in the house on there iPads playing games all day.
If you fancy a day out on the Mersey with us please get in touch.
Here are a list of dates available for November.
Friday 4th 9 places,
Saturday 5th 1 place,
Tuesday 8th 12 places,
Wednesday 9th 4 places,
Thursday 10th 9 places,
Monday 21st 8 places,
Friday 25th 8 places,
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters Liverpool
07999628511. -
10/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2016 by Kevin McKie
Size Matters is now in Liverpool Marina ready for the winter season.
We have just received 1500 packs of black lug, 750 peeler crab and 144 x 1lb boxes of calamari squid. This bait is only available to purchase for anyone fishing with us this winter season. The cost of a 10 hour charter is £45 this includes all top of the range Okuma tackle, hot drink's and over 30 years experience fishing the Mersey.
Here are a list of available dates for October.
Saturday 22nd 2 places,
Monday 24th 1 place,
Tuesday 25th 12 places,
Wednesday 26th 5 places,
Thursday 27th 4 places,
Friday 28th 12 places,
If you would like to book any dates please get in touch.
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters (Liverpool)
07999628511. -
10/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2016 by Kevin McKie
[This report was written when Size Matters was operating from Plymouth]
The 2016 summer season has come to an end in Plymouth for Size Matters and what a season it has been.
We caught some cracking fish and helped anglers catch lot's of new PB's.
Blue shark to 130lb, Conger to 84lb,
Ling to 34lb, Sun fish to 30lb, Pollack to 18lb,
Cod to 17lb 8oz, Turbot to 9lb, Brill to 5lb,
John Dory to 4lb 8oz the list goes on and on.
I would like to thank all the other skipper's and tackle shop's for making my first season in Plymouth very welcoming and
thank you to all the new friend's I have made in Plymouth.
Most of all I would like to say a big thank you to all the people who have fished with me and their continuing support, if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be able to do the job that I love.
2017 date's for Plymouth summer season are filling fast, check out our website www.mckiesfishingcharters.co.uk or
cbuk/sizemattersplymouth all the calendar's are up to date.
Now it's time for some winter Cod fishing on the Mersey with Size Matters...
Watch this space!!!
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Liverpool) -
10/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2016 by Kevin McKie
[This report was written when Size Matters was operating from Plymouth]
They say seeing is believing and that sure was the case during the last week. On one of the day's i had a group of lad's onboard from Bristol, the plan was to catch as much fresh bait as possible then steam out about 50 miles to anchor a wreck for big conger and ling.
It took 10 lad's over two hours to catch half a box of mackerel and then we where on our way. As soon as we arrived at the wreck I set the boat up and sent the anchor down to the sea bed.
Nothing happened for the first 30 minutes then as usual all hell broke lose, the lad's where all into conger and ling. There was one lad called Kush who had never fished with me before and he was using a uptide rod with a multiplier, but we where fishing in over 280ft of water using 1lb of lead. Not the best set up for this type of fishing, he then hooked his first conger and started to reel in with the reel under the rod, talk about hard work. But he landed a conger about 40lb, next drop he hooked a very good fish, he was struggling but after 20 minutes he landed the best conger of the day and it tipped the scale's at 82lb. On the same trip one angler caught a 34lb ling and then snapped his 30lb class rod on a good fish and his line snapped at the same time. As for other fishing the shark fishing has come to an end with just the odd blue being reported. The pollack and cod fishing is very patchy, this could be down to the fact there is not much bait fish about.
We have still managed Conger to 82lb, Ling to 34lb and Pollack to 12lb. On one of the day's when we where bait fishing and one of the lad's caught a red band fish, I have never seen one before but what a cracking looking fish a first for me.
Cheers
Kev
Size Matters Plymouth
07999628511. -
09/2016
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Sep 2016 by Kevin McKie
[This report was written when Size Matters was operating from Plymouth]
As the summer end's the weather is starting to get more un settled, this can be one of the best time's of the year for sea fishing from both boat and shore.
Over the last week we have managed good numbers of Conger to 58lb, Pollack to 14lb 8oz and Ling to 15lb on the deep water wreck's. The shark fishing still continue's to be on top form with bigger fish showing in number's, the best we have caught this week was 110lb blue shark.
Size Matters will move to Liverpool on October 17th so here is a list of the last few remaining dates available in Plymouth until April 2017.
Sunday 2nd 2 places available,
Friday 7th 4 places available,
Thursday 13th whole boat available,
Friday 14th whole boat available,
Sunday 16th 4 places available.
Over the last month we have been taking booking's for 2017 Plymouth season April 1st to October 16th, we are already 60% fully booked so if you would like to fish with us next year you need to book soon.
Cheers
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters Plymouth
07999628511.
