GO Angling charters

	GO Angling Charter Services SMOOTHOUND	Holyhead Marina Anglesey
	Tel: 01248 716315 \| Mobile: 07971 924046	gethyn@goangling.co.uk

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RIGS
	Anglesey, and especially Holyhead & Trearddur Bay is famed for its regular catches of quality smoothound. There are two types of smoothies - common & starry. The larger of the 2, the starry smoothound can reach over 20lbs from these shores.

They start to appear off both Holyhead & Trearddur around the middle of May. Leaving the later in late July with only the odd fish being caught. In Holyhead however they return in mid August and fee till mid September.

To fish for smoothies I recommend a simple running ledger. Rig body tied from 60lb nylon to hook sizes in the 2/0 - 4/0 bracket. Rigs must be fished hard on the sea bed where the smoothies are scavenging for their prey - crab! Many people like to peel and gill the crab, I find this can often attract small codling to the bait and tend to fish the crab unshelled with no reduction in hook ups.

Example 1

click photo for further information

BAITS

Peeler crab & hermit crab, fresh or frozen, squid and ragworm cocktail

METHOD

Uptide, downtide or across the tide. All methods work well depending on the mark and ground being fished. Essential again is to ensure that your baits are fished hard on the sea bed. This is where the smoothies will be looking for their crab dinner. Peeler crab is a favourite for smoothies all over the UK, but my favourite in Holyhead is large soft back crab - ones that are just our of the peeling stage and getting their new shells ready;' fished whole, 1 or 2 at a time on a large single hook or smaller hook pennel rig.


	Further reading
	Holyhead Hounds - May 2008 - here
	7 of the best smoothies during 2008 - here
	Smoothhound rig information - here

GO Angling Charters, Dalmuir, Chapel Street, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5HW