Finally! Managed To Get Some Fishing Done!

[hotshot]

After a spell of illness earlier this year (hospitalised after a chest infection) and Saturday's aborted attempt (due to dead battery) I finally managed to put to sea today! My son and I set off from Christchurch and went out to the ledge, arriving about 10.30ish and dropping anchor a little (sensible!) way from a couple of charter boats. This was our first real outing in Alun J's "old" boat (bought by me last September) - now named Bobalong and proudly flying the club pennant with the boat name also; nice job by Trevor (Wedger's) missus! I'm pleased to say that we did manage to cach something (although the boat must be missing your expedition & catch rate Alun!).

 

Within ten minutes of anchoring I caught a Wrasse of just over a pound in weight and about half an hour later my son caught one of over two pounds (just to upstage me!) Then it all went quiet except for a tiny pout that my son pulled in just before we packed up and headed back shortly after 2pm.

 

Not a spectactular outing by club standards, I know (and I must confess we were hoping for some of the bream I've been reading about) - but still we went home happy that our first ever boatfishing outing wasn't a "blank", and big hopes for the future as we gain experience and (hopefully!) find some decent fishing marks.

Edited April 12, 2007 by hotshot

[Maverick Martin]

David

 

Well done on a successful first outing. You will obviously get better results as your experience grows and I am sure you will pick up some inshore marks from the guys that fish xchurch end

 

Martin

[Gnasher]

well done matey, a few nice fish too. Maybe try small squid strips next time and go for the bream, there lots about by the sound of it. PM me if you need any marks/ numbers for christchurch.

Dan

[Sinbad]

David

Sounds like you had a good day out on the ledge. It takes some time until you understand the best spots to try, because it is so varied in underwater features, rock, sand, stone, weed, kelp etc.

 

Sometimes you will find the species and the fishing give the location away - if you are on mainly the sandy parts then its dogfish, alternatively the wrasse tend to be not far from the pure rocky and weedy outcrops and perhaps you will get snagged up alot and lose gear, and your leads will feel like

they hit something hard as you bounce the lead along the bottom. The bass and bream, can show up anywhere, but try to find a slope on the fishfinder, or some feature - not too jagged to fish from. If you start by going west until the depth drops off to 15-18m you will be on the sand to the west of the ledge, you can then drop back east and anchor on the sand at the edge of the rocks or pick up a pot bouy, this technique helps when its flooding.

Its easier to make the fish come to you than try to winkle them out from a rocky mark (hence the wrasse doent venture far from a rocky spot in my experience), so put your rods out and either groundbait or lay down a good bait trail with multiple rods. Sometimes you get fish from the off, othertimes you have to wait an hour for the bites to come. As soon as mackerel are about - use these for the bream. Squid is good too, but you cant beat a worm at this time of year, and the wrasse will go for these as well.

 

Anyway, good luck and keep plugging away - you'll get there in the end!

 

Hope this helps

 

Paul F

[Leicester Fisheagle]

Hi Dave, Nice to see that you managed to get out for a session and that you are feeling a lot better. Fisheagle is raring to go and awaits you and your son in Weymouth. Unfortunately a few cooling system problems ( now resolved ) prevented me from going out for the Weymouth towaway Easter Weekend and then Ann had to come back to Leicester for work. I was gutted given the fine weather slot. Back down at the start and end of May. Hope to see some fine catches being posted caught on Hotshot. See you in May with luck. Allan.