Latest Fishing Reports: Size Matters
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12/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2015 by Kevin McKie
With 2015 coming to an end I would like to take this opportunity to thank all customers and friends who have helped make Brigand a success over the last 3 years.
2015 will be well remembered for being the worst year ever for strong winds anyone can remember. Brigand was fully booked for 174 days more than any other year and we only managed to get to sea 109 days.
When we did manage to get out there was some very good fishing to be had, at the start of the year we where catching 30 to 70 codling and cod to 10lb. This was the best cod season on the Mersey for the last 20 years and this continued up till mid May. This was then time for the smoothound we caught more double figure fish than ever before with the best being 14lb 8oz.
By the time the summer kicked in we where catching cod, ling and pollack on the wrecks but not as good as previous years. The tope fishing was much better this year than the last few years, with lots of anglers catching personal bests. The highlight of the year was the two week charter to the Isle of Man, where we caught loads of tope to 70lb 4oz, spurdog to 18lb, cod, ling, pollack, coalfish, bull huss, wrasse, whiting, pouting, gurnard, and many more. We even caught several black mouth dog fish, first time I have ever seen them in real life.
There are some big changes for 2016, In March Brigand will move to Newhaven marina to be used as a pleasure boat with its new owner.
Then from March 18th I will be skippering Size Matters based in Plymouth, those of you who have fished on this boat before will know it's one of the best charter fishing boats in the UK.
On October 20th Size Matters will move to Liverpool for the winter cod fishing season, then each year we will be fishing both ports. Plymouth April to October and Liverpool November to March, we have been taking bookings for 2016 at both ports. If you would like any info on booking a charter please contact me on 07999628511.
Happy New Year and all the best for 2016.
Cheers
Kev -
12/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2015 by Kevin McKie
Cod fishing on the Mersey over the last six days has been hard going at times to say the least. This must be due to the unusual warm temperatures for this time of year and all the rain water we are getting.
We still managed a few nice fish,
Cod to 8lb 8oz, Thornback rays to 8lb, loads of Whiting to 2lb and Dabs. Things can only get better as they say!
Here are a list of available dates onboard Brigand in January.
5th 1 place,
6th 5 places,
18th 6 places,
We would like to wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas.
Cheers
Kev -
12/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2015 by Kevin McKie
During the last set of neap tides the fishing in the Mersey has been hit and miss due to all the rain water we have had. Things are looking much better for the next set of neap tides, with only a few light showers forecast.
From now till the end of February is normally the best chance to catch a big cod from the Mersey. All you need is a big bait, be on the right mark and a bit of luck.
Here is a list of dates available onboard Brigand.
December 18th 1 place.
December 21st 1 place.
December 30th 2 places.
January 5th 1 place.
January 6th 9 places.
January 8th 3 places.
Cheers
Kev
07999628511 -
11/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2015 by Kevin McKie
Out of the last 7 days we have only managed to get out twice because of the strong west and north west winds. The cod are not in big numbers yet but they are a good size. Most in the 5lb to 7lb bracket and catching up to 12 a trip, along with plenty of good whiting to 2lb, odd rays and dabs. There has also been the odd double figure cod caught on the small boats and a few lost too. During December the cod will only get bigger and increase in numbers, here is a list of available dates for December.
1st 5 places available,
2nd 2 places available,
3rd 1 place available,
9th 2 places available,
21st 2 places available,
22nd 5 places available,
31st 4 places available,
Give me a call on 07999628511 if you would like to book any of these dates.
Cheers
Kev -
11/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2015 by Kevin McKie
Over the last set of neap tides the fishing was very unsettled, one day we where on the fish the next we wasn't. I think all the rain we have had is not helping and on some days the dogfish where in plague per portions.
We caught cod to 8lb 4oz,
thornback ray to 11lb 2oz, loads of whiting, dogfish, dab and odd strap conger.
On Saturday we had Layland sea angling club onboard for there annual trip, they totalled 46 thornback rays to 10lb 4oz, 1 cod and loads of whiting and dogfish. This is the most thornback rays I have see caught on Brigand and a club record, well done lads. We have just had a delivery of 1200 packs of monster black lug and 1600 quality peeler crab for this winter cod season, this bait is only available to people onboard Brigand.
Here are the last dates I have available for 2015.
November
Tuesday 17th 3 places available.
Thursday 19th 6 places available.
December
Tuesday 1st whole boat available.
Wednesday 9th 4 places available.
Thursday 17th whole boat available.
Friday 18th 6 places available.
Monday 21st 5 places available.
Tuesday 22nd 6 places available.
Thursday 31st 7 places available.
To book a date call me on 07999628511.
Cheers
Kev -
10/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2015 by Kevin McKie
Very good news Liverpool Marina lock gates are now fixed!!
Managed to get out today, all the lads onboard enjoyed the day.
We totalled 26 thornback ray to 11lb,
9 cod to 7lb 3oz, along with plenty of whiting and dogfish.
November should be a very good month on the Mersey, here are the next available dates onboard Brigand.
November,
Monday 2nd 2 places,
Tuesday 3rd 2 places,
Monday 9th 4 places,
Tuesday 17th 8 places,
Wednesday 18th 7 places,
Thursday 19th 6 places,
Friday 20th 3 places,
Give me a call if you would like to book any of these dates.
Cheers
Kev
07999628511 -
10/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2015 by Kevin McKie
We managed to get out Sunday and Monday fishing was very good plenty of Thornback ray to 11lb 8oz, cod to 7lb, whiting over 1lb, dabs and dogfish. There are some very good signs that this winter is going to be very good, most cod are in the 4lb to 5lb range. This is about 2lb bigger than last year, also catching cod to 7lb in October. Things can only get better as they say, the bad news is Liverpool Marina lock gates are broken so most of the charter boats can not get out or in until they are fixed. I have been told they should be fixed any day now.
Here are the next available dates available onboard Brigand!
November
Monday 2nd 4 places,
Tuesday 3rd 3 places,
Wednesday 4th 9 places,
Thursday 5th 3 places,
Friday 6th 5 places,
Sunday 8th 5 places,
Call me on 07999628511 if you would like to book a trip.
Cheers
Kev -
10/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Oct 2015 by Kevin McKie
The winter cod season is just about to start on the Mersey for Brigand.
You mite remember we totalled 1919 sizeable codling and cod to 10lb 15oz last season over 64 charters. That's nearly 30 cod and codling per charter, I just hope this season is the same if not better. I have been on holiday for the last two weeks but I have been told there is already cod showing up to 6lb, lots of rays to 11lb, odd Smoothhound to 5lb, whiting, dab and flounder.
Due to the success of last season I have no weekend dates available until January 2016. I do have some mid week dates available, if you fancy getting in on the action and fishing onboard Brigand this winter just give me a call.
Available dates 2015.
October 19th and 22nd.
November 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th.
December 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 30th and 31st.
Cheers
Kev
07999628511 -
09/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Sep 2015 by Kevin McKie
Hi everyone, just to let you all know as of March 17th 2016, I will be skippering one of the uk's top charter boats the 45ft Size Matters out of Plymouth. Graham Hannaford the owner has been skippering boats out of Plymouth for over 40 years and is regarded as one of the best skippers in the UK. I have personally fished with Graham as an angler for the last 18 years, catching conger to 86lb, ling to 28lb, cod to 21lb, pollack to 17lb plus many more. He is going to pass down all his knowledge of fishing and skippering to me. This will be a very good challenge for me and anyone who has met me or knows me will know I am a mad keen angler as well as a skipper. We will work the boat together for the spring and summer of 2016, the boat will then move to Liverpool on October 17th 2016 for the winter cod season. Each year from then on I will be operating from Liverpool October to March and from Plymouth April to October.
Operating from Plymouth I will be mostly targeting Cod, Coalfish, Pollack, Ling, Conger and Sharks.
I will also be running 5 day charters to Guernsey for bass, turbot and brill.
If you would like more information on available dates for 2016 please let me know and I will send you a list of available dates.
You can see the boat and the catches at
www.plymouthcharter.co.uk
I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has already booked with us up to now for 2016!
Regards
Kevin Mckie
Brigand Charters
07999628511 -
09/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Sep 2015 by Kevin McKie
Managed to get out Sunday and Monday, the plan both days was to fish for tope for the last time this year.
On Sunday I headed to a tope mark that has produced well for me this year, but the fishing was poor not one tope run and only a few bullhuss to 10lb, dogfish, tub gurnard, mackerel and whiting to show for our efforts.
On Monday I decided to go well off shore to some deep water, where I thought the tope mite be as they migrate for winter.
First drop a small tope 24lb and then the rays moved in lots of them up to 11lb 8oz followed by some nice bullhuss to 12lb. There was plenty of mackerel off shore as well, this is why the fishing was much better than the day before. The summer is coming to an end now, I have one last set of neap tides to fish off shore then I will start to fish the Mersey in October for the winter cod and rays.
Here are my last available dates to fish off shore for this year.
Tuesday September 22nd 5 places
available. Conger/wrecking fishing.
Wednesday September 23rd 1 place available. Wrecking.
Thursday September 24th 2 places available. Conger/wrecking.
Friday September 25th 2 places available. Conger/wrecking.
If you would like to book any of these dates please get in touch.
Cheers
Kev
07999628511
