alun j. Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Whilst you lot were fighting for position on the Ledge, I was away in Cornwall as a guest on board a Merry Fisher 805........ cruiser luxury plus enough room to fish. My host was a bit of a novice to fishing but keen to learn. After a bit of sightseeing of the Cornish Riviera and Daphne du Maurier country, we headed for the Manacles. New to this area, I was amazed at how much the depth varied, with deep water [ 30 + metres] close inshore.......... and the Manacles really close in. A good job it was calm, there are rocks everywhere, with no obvious pattern / topography......... eyes peeled for 'boiling water'!!......rocky, snaggy peaks and a few reefy edges. Got the hang of a few drifts, watched a few local boats and 'professionals' in tiny open boats.......... most used launce on float tackle........ but didn't see anything caught by them. No launce, only mackeral came up on feathers/hokkais. Tried freelined livebait but kept getting snagged ; so switched to shads. Although I lost a few, I felt more confident and could feel the bottom........ straight away into pollack of various sizes, the best was between 7 and 8 lbs.; then a bonus........ a cod!; not big, but at about 5 lb. made my host dead chuffed as he'd only ever had mackeral previously on his big expensive boat ! As the tide died , so did the fishing............ so we eased away from the rocks and tried to find the Coverack banks where turbot and brill were the target........ ......... more local knowledge required !!!........ all we could find was hard bottom, more rocks and snags ......and no more fish! Sunday; tried to repeat and improve on Sat. A bigger tide was pushing through the Manacles and more boats were out; strange eddies occur between the rocks; one minute you're drifting quickly, then you slow to stop; found the launce here, so put one on for bait ; only got one take [ a cod ?? that came off at the boat......not mine !] Plenty more pollack on hokkais had the other guest hooked on this fishing......... but Mr. Bass wasn't showing up! A look on the chart showed varying depths, like banks, further up the coast, offshore from 'The Bizzies'........so, keen for a turbot we went off exploring! Passed several boats fishing and found interesting looking area........but......... again.......... rocky, snaggy and pollacky. More research required!! A thoroughly enjoyable trip with good weather, excellent company and superb food; I'll be there again if / when another invitation arrives. Alun. PS. I pointed my host in the direction of this site as a source of help and information; we'll soon have another registered member! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Glad you had a good time Alun! Nice boat too, more a cruiser than a fisher, but very comfy for two to three anglers! Go back and get some Bass! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Nice one Alun Its a hell of a place to fish but not for the faint hearted or a novice to try on his own. a good plotter on a big screen would help I think The daytime fishing is good and night congering used to be very good Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted May 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Definitely looked very 'bassy', and a few locals were also there.......... but didn't see any caught. They must be there soon as there were enough launce and mackeral to keep the gannets busy ......... it was amazing watching those 'bombers' plunge into the water , almost alongside, with a huge splosh !! , like someone throwing a brick in ! Their success rate didn't seem high though, unless they swallow underwater but seeing one gobbling down on the surface, I think not. I suppose if they get one or two a day , that would be plenty of food?? Great place for many interests; there were plenty of dive boats too. Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted May 16, 2006 Report Share Posted May 16, 2006 Alun, if it's anything like the ground of Alderney, its not where you fish, its just the exact time of tide you fish, finicky feeders!!! I expect tht you'll need to put a few hours in to grab that exact time. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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