| |
|
|
An individual’s day on the 2nd was
greeted by flat calm seas and the chance to run out to Holyhead Deep,
for some possible tope and spur action. Here we managed to land a fair
number of tope to 36lb and spurdogs to 16lb, along with numerous huss.
However the NW 2 forecasted turned into a NW 4, which left a rather
lumpy ride back in. On the morning of the 3rd, with
slightly higher winds, I took the decision not to venture to the
deeps, caught out in a NW for the previous day; we couldn’t take the
risk of stronger winds that afternoon.
 |
 |
| |
. |
|
 |
It was a good call, the wind certainly picked up, though we we’re able
to fish in the relative safety and calmer waters around Holyhead Bay.
Fishing wasn’t as prolific; certainly a variety of species but the
guys struggled for anything of note. I say guys, as Gina, the only
lady on the trip showed them all up, quite possibly in fish count but
also with the addition of 2 firsts, a spotted ray and a thornback ray!
On 06th August, the weather was blowing a force 6 southerly
and the rain was, well, very wet!!! We could’ve sheltered quite
happily behind the breakwater in calm water for a variety of species,
however getting soaked wet through. Chatting with the lads we decided
to knock the day on the head, there will always be another time.
With strong winds still forecasted
for the 07th, I had a chat with the crew from St Helens
informing them that the deeps looked a no go, however if they we’re
happy to come down early – we could get to the mussel beds and try for
rays and huss. |
|
|
. |
|
Everyone was happy with this call and our day
was planned. In the morning though, the winds had eased and the
forecast looked promising (another I don’t know what’s happening
forecast from the Met Office). So after a brief chat to see if
anyone had a rush to get home, our day was lengthened from 8hrs to
11 and a half in the end to get the LW slack in the deeps. So
after a variety of species inshore including, wrasse and pollock
on the drift, dogs, gurnards, whiting etc at anchor we ventured
out to the deeps – where tope, spurs and big huss saw a brilliant
end to a good days fishing.
There’s an old saying regarding our sport
being called ‘Fishing and not Catching’. More anglers need to
realise this and not expect the world every time they set sail.
I’ve had the good fortune to fish with the St Helens guys for a
fair few years now, this year in particular they have had 2 pretty
duff trips with me with the weather scuppering our planned days
afloat, then bingo, things seem to go our way.
Oh for 12 months a year of flat calm sunny
days! |
|
|
|
. |
|
The last tide of the early August neaps saw
us set sail once again with only 2 things on our minds …. Wrasse
and Deeps! Well actually 3 things, food as well. When the
RAFA lads come out to play, we eat, eat, eat and also land a few
decent fish as well. During this day, we we’re also joined by
Phill Williams from
Boat Fishing Monthly and
Fishing Film and Facts fame.
|
|
|
Before we had even set sail, I threw the
sausages and bacon one of the lads had brought into the oven,
these would provide breakfast for us an hr later. We started the
day drifting for wrasse and pollack. Eventually making our way
over to another area of rough ground that we knew held quality
wrasse, with the odd pollack and codling. No one was disappointed;
with single and double shots of wrasse over 3lb coming over the
gunwales.
After a few hrs of hectic drifting we had to
move off the mark as the tide had changed and anchored up in
Trearddur Bay for just over an hr, simply to while away some time
before the tide had dropped sufficiently for us to anchor and fish
the deeps with success.
At 250foot depth and a very strong tide, a
minimum of 2lb is required even during the last hr of the tide
(thought we do get an hr at 8oz as well). |
|
|
I’d love to tell you about all the species
we caught here, but we never really fished, most of the time was spent
talking in the sunshine, football, jokes and anticipation of the deeps
and the chilli and curry we had on the menu for later.
Well the deeps didn’t disappoint – plenty of tope and spurs, however
the size had fallen. Whereas most of 2010 has seen spurs over the 10lb
bracket, this time around we we’re plagued by spurdogs around the 5lb
mark. That said, many on the trip caught their first ever, that’s
always a big plus, with a couple lads also catching a tope for the
first time, with Jay catching his first 10lb+ bull huss from a great
depth of water! I won’t though go into detail of someone calling net
for a ray that turned out to be a plastic bag!
The food, well, Martin’s chilli was awesome,
Jon’s curry was fiery and Trish’s fairy cakes where out of this world.
Fishing is good fun, but made all the more enjoyable with some great
food as well. |
|
. |
|
Phill Williams hopped onboard to tie up
some loose ends from earlier this year surrounding spurdogs -
an article for the UK’s only Boat Fishing Magazine -
Boat Fishing Monthly, a
spurdog video and also a podcast for his website
Fishing Film and Facts. The
podcast has recently been upload and can be listened to by
clicking
here. The video s due for
release soon, I’ll add a link when ready. |
Fishing
Film and Facts
Audio Angling
|
|
|
|
|
With bigger tides and some breezy conditions,
the following week saw most of our fishing restricted to Holyhead
Bay. That said, with species including, dogs, dabs, whiting,
codling, pollack, wrasse, red, grey and tub gurnards, smoothhound,
thornbacks, spotties, blondes amongst the catches, a good time
afloat was had by all (well most, lol). |
| |
| |
|
|
|
