Latest Fishing Reports: Size Matters
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01/2015
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Jan 2015 by Kevin McKie
During January the weather was very unsettled; in total we lost nine charters. This is unheard of in the Mersey because is it so sheltered, but the constant NW and NNW gales kept us in the marina.
When we did get out there was plenty of cod being caught, most days seen 30 to 45 cod in the 3lb to 4lb bracket along with plenty of big whiting, dabs and odd thornback ray to 10lb.
Some boats got in to a few bigger cod to 19lb, but fish of this size are few and far between in the Mersey.
Most of the cod being caught are fresh run fish, this is a good sign and should see the cod staying in the Mersey till mid March. -
12/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Dec 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Cod, Dab, Dogfish, Five-Bearded Rockling, Thornback Ray and Whiting.
December was a very good month; we managed to get a total of fourteen days at sea. Most days we saw catches of 30 to 50 Cod ranging from 2lb to 4lb, and the odd bigger fish to 9lb was common, along with plenty of Whiting and Dabs.
On one of the days we were joined by Dave Lewis from Sea Angler magazine and we had a very good day catching 53 Cod from 2lb to 4lb. This should make a very good article to look out for in the coming months.
New for 2015, we will no longer be running the Fish of the Month competition. Instead we will be doing a loyalty scheme for our regular customers. As we value your business, we would like to give something back. For every 10 individual charter trips you go on you will get your 11th trip for free!! That’s 10% discount.
Notable charters:
01/12/14 – We totalled:
54 Cod (keepers)
1 Thornback Ray
Along with plenty of Whiting, Dabs and Dogfish.
13/12/14 – We totalled:
45 Cod (keepers)
And lots of Whiting.
30/12/15 – We totalled:
53 Cod (keepers)
And lots of Whiting and Dabs.
Fish of the month goes to Bernie Forshaw with his 9lb 1oz Cod! Well done Bernie you win a free charter to use whenever you wish!
We would like to thank all our customers for their support during 2014. Let’s hope 2015 is even better!
Happy new year and all the best! -
11/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Nov 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Cod, Conger Eel, Dab, Dogfish, Thornback Ray and Whiting.
During November the Cod fishing in the Mersey just got better and better as the month went on. Our best day ever in the Mersey was in November with 71 Cod boated from 2lb to 6lb 9oz!!! That’s very good fishing anywhere in the UK!!! We also had some good catches of Thornback Rays to 10lb 12oz. One day in November we caught and released 23 Rays along with plenty of Cod, Whiting, Dab and Dogfish.
The next two months should see the biggest Cod of the season caught.
I only have a few dates available for the rest of the winter season, please get in touch if you would like to get in on the action.
Notable charters
17/11/14 – I had 9 anglers on-board, they totalled:
31 Cod from 2lb to 6lb 8oz,
10 Thornback Ray to 8lb 4oz,
Whiting, Dab and Dogfish.
28/11/14 – I had 9 anglers on-board, they totalled:
71 Cod from 2lb to 6lb 9oz,
Whiting and Dab.
29/11/14 – I had 9 anglers on-board, they totalled:
67 Cod from 2lb to 4lb,
Whiting, Dab and Dogfish.
Fish of the month goes to 13 year old Matthew Swrd, who caught a 10lb 12oz Thornback Ray on his first ever boat trip. Well done Matthew! You win a free individual trip to use whenever you wish. -
11/2014
Fishing Report by marc viercant
Nov 2014 by marc viercant
Top day out with Kev yet again, good banter with the lads fish straight from the off accompanied with plenty of tea and coffee as well as a great bowl off hot food too!
Thanks for a great day out definitely one to recommend, this skipper is not a kipper he doesn't stop working from the off and you're guaranteed a great day out and plenty of fish. -
31/10/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
31 Oct 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught.
Conger Eel, Whiting, Pouting, Cod, Pollack, Ling, Mackerel, Sprat, Thornback Ray, Dogfish, Bullhuss, Dab, Gray Gurnard and Poggie (hook nose).
October was a very good month for Brigand, offshore we where still catching all the summer species. Inshore the cod season had started with a bang, seeing catches of up to 32 sizeable cod per trip, along with thornback rays, whiting, dabs and dogfish.
On one trip in the Mersey in October, we caught a very rare species of fish. Never seen on brigand before it's called a Poggie, also known as a hook nose. It just goes to show you never known what you are going to catch, that's the thing I love about fishing.
Fish of the month goes to Francis Warilow, from Liverpool with his 25lb 8oz Conger Eel, that was returned to fight another day. Well done Francis you win a free individual charter to use when ever you wish.
Notable charters.
On the 16th, we had seven anglers from Taskers angling onboard for there monthly trip. The lads fancied having a go for the cod and rays in the Mersey, they caught.
26 Cod from 2lb to 3lb 3oz,
6 Thornback Ray to 8lb,
Whiting, Dab and Dogfish.
On the 30th, we had a full boat of individual anglers onboard. I told the lads the Mersey was fishing well, for cod and rays. We didn't get many rays, but we did get into the cod. Here is what they caught.
32 Cod to 3lb 10oz,
2 Thornback Ray 9lb 8oz,
Whiting and Dogfish,
Regards
Kevin Mckie
Brigand Charters -
09/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Sep 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Ballan Wrasse, Bullhuss, Cod, Conger Eel, Dab, Dogfish, Gurnard (Gray, Red & Tub), Herring, Ling, Mackerel, Pollack, Poor Cod, Pouting, Scad, Smoothound (Common & Starry), Sprat, Thornback Ray, Tope and Whiting.
After the very poor August we had, September has been a breath of fresh air. The weather could not have been better for the time of year, the water was clear and there was lots of Mackerel, Herring and Sprats around which brought all the other species of fish back to Liverpool Bay - including dolphins, seals and a big sun fish that swam around the boat one day!
Notable Charters
06/09/14 - We had a group of individuals on-board and decided to give the River Mersey a go as we had not fished there for about a month.
The lads enjoyed the day catching 14 Thornback Ray to 8lb 1oz, Whiting to 1lb and Dogfish.
18/09/14 - We had a group of anglers who booked to go wreck fishing. Most of the wrecks were poor, but on the last two wrecks we landed on a few fish to keep the lads happy!
They caught 22 Pollack to 8lb 3oz, Tub Gurnard, Red Gurnard, Gray Gurnard, Pouting and Mackerel.
20/09/14 - We had Southport S.A.C on-board they wanted to go wreck fishing for Pollack. I told them the wrecks where very hit and miss, so we decided to anchor a small wreck on a big patch of rough ground.
They all enjoyed the trip catching plenty of fish and totalled 12 species, Bull Huss to 12lb, Ling, Cod Dogfish, Mackerel, Tub Gurnard, Red Gurnard, Gray Gurnard, Whiting, Pouting, Poor Cod and Dab.
Fish of the month goes to Nigel for catching a 13lb 11oz Bullhuss, Nigel wins a free individual trip to use when he wishes. Well done Nigel! -
20/09/2014
Fishing Report by tony shortall
20 Sep 2014 by tony shortall
yet another great days fishing with kev for the lads from southport sea angling club, the mackeral have been thin on the ground this year but kev put us on them and after bagging up off we went to fish a wreck to total 12 species including bull huss to 14lb all the lads caught fish and had a geat day out not forgetting rounding the trip off with kevs famous chicken curry nice one la, kev even arranged free parking!! looking forward to the winter cod fishing, any anglers wanting to go charter fishing should call kev first..
-
08/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Aug 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Pollack, Cod, Whiting, Mackerel, Pouting, Red, Sapphirine, Gray, and Tub Gurnard, Sprat, Weaver, Launce, Bullhuss, Dogfish, Ballan Wrasse, Scad and Dab.
Not many skippers are honest and I think I am too honest for my own good sometimes. August was one of the worst months I can ever remember in Liverpool Bay. This was due to all the bad weather we have had, we only managed 5 days at sea. When we did get out the water was very murky with only 6ft visibility at best. This made the Mackerel hard to find for bait, and the wreck fishing was very hard with only 15 to 20 sizeable fish per trip.
All we need is a week of nice weather in September and the fishing will be back to it’s best.
Notable Charters
On August 5th, I had a group of nine anglers who wanted to target the wrecks and rough ground.
Fishing was very poor and we done a lot of miles to find just a few fish. Visibility was also very poor, but here is what they caught:
15 Pollack to 7lb 5oz,
3 Cod to 3lb,
Mackerel, Tub Gurnard, Gray Gurnard and Pouting.
On August 8th, I had a group of inexperienced lads onboard. The plan was to go fishing for Rays, Huss and Tope. But the mackerel where very hard to find, so we decided to change the plan and just drift the roughy ground with baited fathers and jelly worms. They caught:
Pollack to 3lb, Codling, Dab, Ballan Wrasse, Red Gurnard, Tub Gurnard, Gray Gurnard, Sapphire Gurnard, Dogfish, Bull Huss, Sandeel, Whiting, Weaver and Mackerel.
Also during August Kevin went on a fishing holiday to Norway with his fishing club Bold S.A.C. He caught a monster 290lb Halibut, that Kevin fought for over 40 minutes on Shimano 30lb class rod and an Accurate 400 reel loaded with 50lb Berkley braid. Not only did he catch the Skjervoy Fishing Camp record Halibut, but it is also thought to be the biggest ever landed by a UK angler.
Fish of the month winner goes to Dez Baskavill for his 14lb 10oz Bullhuss, caught on his first trip on board Brigand. We done Dez you win a free individual trip to use whenever you wish. -
07/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Jul 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Ballan Wrasse, Bull Huss, Cod, Conger Eel, Dab, Dogfish, Flounder, Gurnard (Tub, Red & Gray), Ling, Mackerel, Plaice, Pollack, Poor Cod, Pouting, Scad, Silver Eel, Smoothound (Common & Starry), Thornback Ray, Tope, Weaver, and Whiting.
July has been a very strange month this year with not many big Tope showing but lots of small Tope inshore. The Mackerel have been very hit and miss - one day you can fill the boat but the next they are very scarce.
The inshore fishing for Thornback Rays, Smoothound and Flatfish has been very good, while offshore the Cod have moved on but have now been replaced with some nice Pollack and Ling.
Notable Charters:
08/07/14 - Had a group of individuals onboard who wanted to fish the offshore marks. Here is what they caught:
16 Pollack from 2lb to 7lb 10oz,
15 Cod from 2lb to 8lb 5oz,
Along with Ling, Tub Gurnard, Gray Gurnard, Whiting, Pouting and Mackerel.
10/07/14 - Had 8 lads from Taskers angling onboard for their monthly trip. With the weather being too bad to fish offshore the only option was to fish the river Mersey. And what a day the lads had! They caught:
23 Thornback Rays to 8lb 10oz,
7 Cod around 2lb,
2 Smoothound to 4lb 8oz,
Whiting, Dab and Codling.
Better than having the day cancelled!!!
Fish of the month goes to peter rose with a 9lb 2oz Pollack! Peter wins a free days charter fishing to use on Brigand. Well done Peter!!! -
06/2014
Fishing Report by Kevin McKie
Jun 2014 by Kevin McKie
Species caught: Bass, Bull Huss, Coalfish, Cod, Common Eel, Dab, Dogfish, Flounder, Gurnard(Gray, Red & Tub), Haddock, Hake, Herring, Launce, Ling, Mackerel, Pollack, Poor Cod, Pouting, Scad, Scorpion Fish, Smoothound (Common & Starry), Spurdog, Thornback Ray, Tope, Weaver, Whiting and Wrasse (Ballan & Cuckoo).
June was the best month we have had on Brigand so far! We had some very good catches of Cod, Pollack and Ling on the offshore marks and inshore we had very good catches of Thornback Rays and Smoothound. We also totalled 31 species and did our first weeks charter to the Isle of Man.
Notable Charters:
03/06/14 - We had 9 individual anglers on-board fished a mark 30 plus miles from Liverpool and it was none stop action they caught:
62 Cod for 2lb to 8lb 14oz
9 Pollack from 3lb to 6lb 2oz
1 Ling 3lb 12oz
Along with Mackerel, Pouting, Whiting and Red Gurnard.
04/06/14 - We again had 9 individual anglers on-board I told them what the fishing was like the day before and they all said let's give the same mark a go. I was thinking I hope this day doesn't turn out to be one of those "you should of been here yesterday" days. But we did just as good if not better than the day before! There was lots of fish there and here is what they caught:
64 Cod from 2lb to 10lb 2oz including 7lb 13oz, 8lb 7oz, 9lb 1oz
15 Pollack from 2lb to 8lb 8oz
3 Ling from 3lb to 5lb 8oz,
Along with Tub Gurnard, Red Gurnard, Mackerel, Weaver, Scad, Whiting and Pouting.
21/06/14 - We had 8 lads from Jaguar Halewood book Brigand to fish offshore for Tope, Huss and Rays. Unfortunately, the weather was too bad to do that so I give them the option to fish the Mersey as I had not fished the Mersey for about 3 weeks. The first two hours where slow but as low water approached they where into the fish. They caught 18 Thornback Rays to 6lb 10oz, Flounder, Whiting and Eel.
Fish of the Month goes to Bernie Forshaw with a nice 10lb 2oz summer cod. Well done Bernie! You win a free trip on-board Brigand to use when ever you want.
