BigMac Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 With you fellas setting out at the weekend, thought I better write a report of this weekend just gone Got back on Monday evening after a 4 day trip to the island crewing aboard Shogun. The crew, 4 lads from wales and 5 guys from midlands were on board by 8.30, a short stop for some fuel and 15 bags of ice to keep their 90 packs!! of ammo blast mackerel frozen for the duration saw us underway by 9. We knew that bait was scarce so the crew had come prepared for any shortage! We stopped 3 times over marking bait but only managed 7 or 8 fresh mackerel and we pushed on to our afternoon mark north of the island to fish for some tope as the tide eased. It was 5 minutes, maybe 10 before the first fish was on and not long before a fish of 25lb was tailed aboard for a quick photo The bites came thick and fast until the tide died but no more fish were landed due to hook pulls, tangles and just about ever other reason for a lost fish you can think of Slack water went dead but as it started to pull again the bite frequency increased we lande a few more fish and then 2lb of lead wouldn't hold bottom and we set sail for Brae harbour. Steve Porter and True Blue joined us in the harbour in the early evening and reported that the flat fishing had been slow and he only had half a dozen fish to show for his 2 days fishing We were on the banks first thing saturday morning with plans to turbot fish till we could get back to the north to try and land some more of those tope. First drift produced 2 turbot of 4lb apiece! Result! 2nd drift produced another this time about 5lb........................It then took a long time to get another. Half an hour before we were due to leave to head towards the tope mark, Ian shouts "Fish on!" Couple of minutes later and a lovely fish of 9lb 8oz is in the net True Blue hasn't had any flats at all and the tope are calling. I set up most of the crew with 8/0 circles on 100lb mono and its not long before a steady stream of tope are being "t" barred off at the side or lifted in for a quick snap. We had lots of double hook ups and at least 2 treble hook ups and as we pulled the pick at 4.30 we all agrred that we had just had a great bit of sport About 20 tope landed between 20lb and the biggest of the afternoon to "Haggis" at 43lb.The tide forced us to leave and we headed back to harbour. True Blue stayed out a little later for a quick go on the banks and landed 5 flatties. Sunday was to be a flatties only day and it was with thick heads that most of us started the day. We started on a different bank today and it was 3 hours before the first turbot of the day was on board, about 6lb. A couple more through the day but the fishing was slow, the crew were having more fun catching launce and the occaisional mackerel on the bait rod!! A move to another bank saw one more fish fall to Peter and what a really nice one 12lb 8oz and beautifully marked An hour and a half in the "washing machine" with only 2 small pollack and no bass showing on the sounder we headed back to harbour at 5.30 Sunday started with a few problems and us only being able to leave harbour (1 welsh crewman short) at 1.00pm. We stopped at a wreck for an hour fishing half way back and the lads boated 30 or so pollack to a biggest of 16lb I would just say....... Dont rely on catching fresh mackerel, not plentiful mid channel at all. We caught more mackerel on the banks while we were flattie fishing than we did mid channel. Seemed to be plenty of launce however Nobody seems to be catching turbot with any regularity, just a couple here and a couple there. I dont think True Blue had any more than us and Mark from Alderney Angling just had 1 bass of 4 or 5lb on friday while flattie fishing. We had a great laugh and I met some really nice people....... the fishing could have been better though!!! Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Nice report Alan Thanks mate it will certainly help to know the situation ref the bait etc and to know how the fishing is at the moment. Any chance of a PM to start us guessing where the tope were located, it will definatly be 100% catch and release if we find some. We will be trying for the Flats but variety is the spice of life they say Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Thanks Al, nice report. The fishing is always the other part of the fun in the islands isnt it - food, friends, secenery and a beer or three make up the rest I think i'll pick up a few packs of macky and eels in that case - to keep the beers cool of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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