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SPECIES CAUGHT IN 2008:
Pollack, Pouting, Bream, Mackerel, Dogfish, Undulate Ray, Cod, Scad, Blonde Ray, Conger, Ling, Garfish, (12 No.) Personal Bests have been:- Conger Eel 55 lbs |
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Saturday 12 January - Offshore Rebel (Club Trip) - Blown Off
Saturday 9 February - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth with 10 anglers aboard Offshore Rebel skippered by Steve West and intent on wreck fishing. Left Weymouth at 8.00 am with the weather set fair, a light southerly breeze and pleasant sunshine. We sailed southwest of Portland for about 2 hrs (20 miles out) and started drifting over a large wreck. We set our gear for Pollack fishing (shads and jelly-worms on 8 - 10 foot traces) and after several drifts with the tide beginning to slacken, we were soon catching some decent sized ‘double figure’ Pollack, the best being at 15 lbs. We moved to several other wrecks during the day, but they didn’t live up to the first one and as the day progressed the catches diminished to the odd one or two mainly due to the dirty water left after the recent storms, but this was compensated by the warm spring sun resulting in everyone throwing off their coats. We eventually packed up at 4.00 pm for the 2 hour sail back and everyone got stuck into cleaning and filleting their fish. In all it was a good day with 20 Pollack and 6 small Pouting and my tally was 3 Pollack to 13 lbs.
Saturday 23 February - Offshore Rebel Club trip out of Weymouth with 9 anglers and Steve West as skipper. Arranged to leave Weymouth by 7.00 am in order to catch the tide and wind together on the trip out. We were all at the quayside by 6.30 am and were on our way by 6.45 am with a light drizzle and a 10 mph wind in our face, but nothing to worry about. We sailed southwest from Portland for two hours to the same wreck 20 miles out that I had fished two weeks earlier (see my previous report). We started the drift with everyone using different shads, but soon became evident that the Pollack ‘preferred’ the orange coloured ones and the first Pollack at 10 lbs was soon landed by Paul Yates and there was no stopping him for the next couple of hours. The other anglers all changed to similar shads and soon they were all landing decent sized Pollack except for yours truly who just didn’t seem to hit it lucky. Eventually I resorted to using an old red Eddystone Eel which had lain in my tackle box for years and with this on the end I couldn’t go wrong with a Pollack on every drift thereafter and amazingly the other angler’s catches drop away. We were joined on the wreck by Channel Chieftain but his anglers were struggling to match our efforts and he decided to move off to another wreck, but again there was not much success. By 1.30 pm we had landed 60 Pollack and the skipper decided to call it a day and save the stocks for another day. We had a pleasant sail back to Weymouth with the wind and tide pushing us along and this made the fish cleaning quite easy on a level fishing platform. The best Pollack landed was 15 lbs to Kevin Padden and I was second with 14.5 lbs, best total was to Paul Yates with 13 Pollack.
Saturday 8 March - Offshore Rebel - Blown Off
Saturday 12 April - Offshore Rebel - Blown Off
Monday 28 April - Tiger Lily - Blown Off
Tuesday 29 April - Tiger Lily - Blown Off
Sunday 18 May - Lady Godiva Special trip for novices out of Weymouth aboard Lady Godiva skippered by Dave Gibson. As this was the first ever attempt at sea angling by four of the seven anglers aboard it was decided to stay inshore and try for Bream east of Weymouth at Warbarrow Bay, about an hour’s sailing time. When we arrived there was a keen north-easterly breeze, but with the shelter of the cliffs it was reasonably calm and we set the anchor. Within minutes the first Bream was landed by Dave and weighed in at 4.5 lbs a real male beauty followed by numerous smaller ones and it wasn’t long before the novices landed their first fish. The look of excitement on their faces said it all. As the tide began to slacken off so did the Bream, so we upped anchor and moved 6 miles further east and re-set the anchor. The sun by now had broken through and the cloud dispersed to give a lovely warm sunny day and several more Bream were landed, best at 3 lbs and a solitary small Pollack. The tide had by now dropped away so I decided to change my gear and try for a Ray and Mike, another novice asked if he could do the same, so I set up both rods with sliding booms, size 6/0 hooks, 10 oz of lead and a Mackerel fillet as bait. We didn’t have to wait long for Mike’s rod to start ‘knocking’ and with his hands shaking with excitement he started to reel in a decent sized fish and to everyone’s surprise he had hooked a Bass which tipped the scales at 7.5 lbs, how is that for a ‘novice’. I soon followed with a ‘screaming’ reel and on the end was an Undulate Ray weighing in at 14.5 lbs, my first Undulate Ray. Just after this as Mike was reeling in, his mackerel fillet was being pursued by a 2 foot long Squid, which is very unusual for this time of year, but he was unable to bring it up to the landing net. This got everyone excited and they all wanted to try for the same. However the skipper suggested that we should move back towards Weymouth to the easterly marker buoy of the Shambles Bank where we would get fresh Mackerel for bait and a better chance of Rays. He was right plenty of Mackerel and a Blonde Ray (12 lbs) to Dave and a Small-eyed Ray to the other Dave (Mike’s mate). The others shared the fun with numerous Dogfish and a Garfish. We packed up at 4.00 pm and was back in port at 5.15 pm with 28 Bream, 3 Rays, 1 Bass, 1 Garfish, 1 Pollack and numerous Dogfish, a perfect introduction to Sea Angling.
Saturday 7 June - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth aboard Offshore Rebel with 10 anglers. We left at 8.00 am with clear blue skies and a gentle northwest breeze to push us along and as there were good reports of Cod around we decided to go offshore to the ‘Rips’ about 25 miles south of Weymouth. We started drifting on the ebb tide at 10.00 am with several other boats from Weymouth and Poole and it wasn’t long before the first Cod was landed using shads and hoppers which set the pattern for the rest of the day. We averaged about six Cod every drift and as the tide fell away the catches also diminished, but as the tide picked up so did the catches and by 3.00 pm we had landed 1 three-bearded Rockling some mackerel and over 80 Cod ranging in size from 4 to 8 lbs which were full of small Starfish. We left for the return trip at 3.15 pm and cleaned and filleted the fish on the way back and stopped for a few drifts for Bass in the ‘Race’ using live Sand-eels, but there were no Bass to be caught. We arrived back in port at 18.15 pm. My tally for the day was 9 Cod, best at 7 lbs.
Saturday 12 July - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth aboard Offshore Rebel with 10 anglers. Left Weymouth as usual at 8.00 am and headed for a wreck 30 miles SSW of Portland. This trip was originally to be a wrecking trip for Conger and Ling, but as there were still catches of Cod around we decided to try for them. The weather was as forecasted with force 3 wind from the northwest and thin cloud cover. After 2.5 hours sailing we arrived at the wreck which was midway between the shipping lanes and with Tiger Lily already in position we started drifting over the wreck and it wasn’t long before the first Cod at about 6 lbs was landed. We continued to land decent sized Cod through the slackening tide, when at slack water the Cod stopped feeding and Pouting was snapping at the lures. Once the tide started running again things picked up with 2 Ling at 12 and 19 lbs being landed and two Pollack best at 13 lbs to myself. The Cod soon began to feed readily and by the time we turned for home at 4.00 pm we had 49 Cod at 4 to 14 lbs, 2 Ling, 2 Pollack and numerous Pouting. Out of the 10 anglers on board 2 failed to catch any Cod.
Saturday 21 July - Alice Rose I was a guest of some friends on this trip out of Weymouth aboard Alice Rose with 6 anglers. Left Weymouth at 8.00 am and headed initially southeast for the reefs about 25 miles out, but halfway out our skipper Steve West decided to head southwest to a wreck as the reefs were not fishing well. The weather was sunny with a light north-westerly breeze when we arrived at the wreck about 25 miles out at 10.15 am, but another Weymouth boat ‘Cobra’ was already drifting the wreck. We set up our gear with storm shads and orange ‘sidewinders’ and we were soon into the Cod. Another Weymouth boat ‘Tiger Lily’ on route to Alderney soon joined us. We were catching an average of 4 Cod per drift, but the other boats were not doing so well so they soon left this mark to try elsewhere. We persevered and by slack water at 1.30 pm we had caught over 35 Cod and numerous large Pollack, but as the tide dropped off we moved eastwards to another wreck and tried drifting for Ling with a Mackerel fillet, but best return was a Dogfish to yours truly. We changed back to Cod fishing and several more Cod were landed before it was time to set off for home at 3.00 pm. We stopped in Weymouth bay to fillet the fish and our return for the day was 52 Cod, best at 14 lbs, 12 Pollack, best at 10 lbs and a Dogfish.
Saturday 2 August - Offshore Rebel - On Holiday
Saturday 23 August - Nab Cat What should have been the Club Conger Competition was cancelled on Friday 22 August at 6.30 pm by the skipper Steve West, not because of weather conditions which were perfect for anchoring, but because he had decided to get out of the charter business and take up another post as skipper on Channel Chieftain in the North Sea from 24 August. The Club members were disgusted with this behaviour and subsequently cancelled the remaining trips aboard Alice Rose. A replacement boat, Nab Cat was found out of Langstone, but the tide conditions were too strong for anchoring over the wrecks and subsequently the trip was more general reef fishing for Bass or Blonde Rays. Two Blonde Rays were caught on the day, with my one being a mere 4.5 lbs. However on immediately dropping down after this one I hooked into a ‘big one’, but to my horror it straightened my hook! In all it was a very disappointing day, with the only bonus being a lovely warm sunny day.
Sunday 7 September - Offshore Rebel - Blown Off
Monday 29 September - Tiger Lily (Report by Chris Caines, Skipper) Each year at Weymouth they hold three one-day events which are sponsored by local tackle importer, Fladen Fishing UK Ltd. The first event is usually held in April and targets Plaice. The second in September is for the Weymouth Grand Slam (Bass, Bream, Turbot or Brill) and finally a Bass event which takes place in November. Only the fish mentioned above count in the competition and it is keenly contested by anglers aboard Tiger Lily and Channel Chieftain, the two sponsored boats in the port. Unfortunately, as with many other fixtures, the Plaice event had to be cancelled this year due to bad weather but happily, the Grand Slam went ahead on 29th September. The lads soon got into the Bass on the last of the flood tide with Neil Wittig from Southampton catching six Bass in very quick time. Four of the boys (including yours truly) just couldn't touch the Bass but the rest of the team were going great guns! When the tide eased, so the Bassing slowed and we went in search of Black Bream. Just recently there have been plenty around and some nice sized fish too. Luckily on the day the Bream played ball and all anglers scored well with many fish being returned to fight another day. Again Neil did well catching nine Bream and was only just beaten by Gordon Richards who had maximum points by catching ten. Gordon had caught Bass as well as had Ben Prosser and Paul Gosling so it was game-on. Flatty fishing is hard at the best of times and the first and second drifts on the Shambles produced nothing at all. On the third drift, Paul Gosling hit into a Turbot which put him in the lead ...remember that anglers need to catch all three species to achieve the Grand Slam and Paul had done just that. There was a silence on the boat for a while because all the lads knew they had to produce a Turbot or Brill otherwise Paul would snatch the £110 kitty and the Super Sensor rod which was up for grabs! Bonus points are awarded for the 'slam' and even though Ben, Neil and Gordon had more fish points in the Bass and Bream category, Paul had done the business by bagging the Turbot. Next drift and bingo...Neil hits into a Turbot and with his previous good form on Bass and Bream, the flatty put him back in the lead. At this stage any one of the guys still had a chance of winning but they needed the flatties to do it. Also Neil's fish points from Bass and Bream were impressive, surely no one could beat him? Ben Prosser from Andover was fishing as a substitute for his Dad, Richard, who could not make it on the day so Ben stood in. I'm sure he is glad he did because on the same drift he pulled in a cracking Brill of around 5lbs which also gave him the Grand Slam and Bonus points that go with it. However, it was not enough to topple Neil who had more Bass and Bream points so the boys went head to head again! Meanwhile, Gordon and indeed all the lads were trying their hardest to get a flatty ...even Welsh international, Byron Jones failed on the flats and he too had caught Bass and Bream Ben lifted into a weighty fish that we were sure was another flatty only to have it come off during the fight ...could it have been a Turbot which would have given him the Super Slam (Bass Bream Turbot and Brill) we will never know. As it happened it didn't matter because on the next drift, Ben did get the Turbot and along with his Brill and Bass and Bream this gave him the 'Weymouth Super Slam' fantastic fishing! Surely this was enough to take the top prize? Paul Gosling from Essex had other ideas...having already achieved the Grand Slam, he baited up with a live sandeel to try to catch a Brill to level things with Ben and would you believe it the Brill came to order and Paul too achieved the Super Slam, however Ben's fish points were greater and therefore he claimed the top prize. This was some of the best fishing the UK has to offer, and it was a privilege to share the day with Tiger Lily’s team of anglers. I guess we may never repeat it but you can bet your life we will try ...well done to you all.
Wednesday 8 October - Offshore Rebel Invited to join group of eight anglers on a 15 hour Conger trip out of Weymouth. We left port at 7.00 am as arranged and set our course for a wreck about twenty miles due south of Portland. The weather was ideal with a clear blue sky, a decreasing force 4 northwest wind and moderate sea conditions. We reached the wreck by 9.00 am and after catching a supply of Mackerel for bait we set about our task and it wasn’t long before the first fish was landed a nice 20 lb Ling. The Ling were plentiful and soon the first Conger was hooked which the skipper estimated at 25 lbs. I was next to catch a Conger at 50lbs, my new specimen best! We carried on as the ebb tide dwindled away as so did the Conger and Ling, but the Pouting soon took over and we kept them for bait. As the flood tide picked up we used 2 lbs of lead, which was adequate with the small tides and soon we were back in business and both Congers and Ling were being pulled up. The best on the day was 75 lbs to Chris Coombes, a 65 lbs to Barry Luxton and a 55 lbs to myself, another specimen best. As the flood tide dropped away at 5.30 pm we lifted the anchor and headed inshore to a wreck adjacent to the ‘deep hole’. By this time it was getting dark, but we were prepared and soon the Congers were being hooked, but not as large as previous. Tangles became a nightmare as we couldn’t see the braid lines, but this didn’t deter us. We eventually packed up at 8.30 pm and headed back to port arriving at 9.40 pm. Our catch for the day was 78 Congers, 24 Ling, 1 Dogfish, 1 Red Gurnard and numerous Pouting and Mackerel.
Saturday 11 October - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth targeting Blonde Rays, Bream, Bull Huss and Congers. Left Weymouth at 8.00 am with clear blue skies and light south westerly wind and headed to southwest side of Portland to stock up with Mackerel. The Mackerel were very scarce so in order to catch the last of the small tide we moved onto the Kidney Bank and dropped anchor. After about one hour the tide was picking up and 2 lbs of lead was needed to hold the bottom, but as only one Blonde Ray at 12 lbs had been caught it was decided to move further offshore to a reef where the tide was less and the chance of Bull Huss and Bream. We were soon into the fish, not the Bull Huss as expected, but Congers. I landed two at 35 and 45 lbs and four other anglers Mick, Heath, Dave P-J and Dave S landed their first ever Congers at between 45 and 50 lbs. Again the tide picked up and we moved inshore adjacent to the ‘Deep Hole’ and set the anchor. I landed my first ever Garfish (on a Conger trace) and persevered for a Bull Huss, but all I managed to hook was a rock weighing over 10 lbs. The other anglers were concentrating on Bream and over 30 were landed, the best at 4 lbs. We packed up at 4.00 pm and enjoyed a calm sail back to Weymouth, in all a good day’s sport fishing.
Saturday 18 October - South Today Club trip out of Lymington aboard South Today competing in the Bass Festival. Unfortunately the skipper informed us that there are no Bass around and the best we can hope for are Cod and Whiting. We left port at 8.00 am with six anglers on board. The conditions were calm sea, south-westerly breeze and clear blue sky. We tried a few drifts off The Needles for Mackerel, but only three were caught in over half an hour. We then headed for a bank off Shearwater on the south side of the Isle of Wight and dropped anchor with the last of the ebb tide running. We set our gear with Pennel Rigs and large squid on 8/0 hooks as bait, 1.5 lbs of lead to hold the bottom and it wasn’t long before the first fish was caught, a nice 7.5 lbs Small-eyed Ray. We all persevered with the slackening tide and to everyone’s amazement an 11.5 lbs Bass was landed by Tony Rainer – his first double figure Bass in over 30 years of fishing. This gave everyone more enthusiasm, but try as we may we were only landed Dogfish. As the tide dropped away completely we were entertained with catching Conger Eels to 20 lbs and again Tony landed the only Pollack at 12 lbs. The rest of the afternoon was a struggle and as the tide picked up so did the wind (against the tide) which made the conditions uncomfortable. We eventually packed up at 3.30 pm and headed back into the stiff wind, stopping on several occasions to pump water from the bilge due to a leaking stern gland on the boat. In all this was a poor trip and to top it all the other boat in the Bass Festival, Sportsman Knight out of Lymington struggled for Bass as well and their top angler won the day on 4 Bass totalling 12 lbs in weight!
Saturday 1 November - Offshore Rebel - Blown Off
Tuesday 18 November - Tiger Lily - Fladen Competition - Withdrew due to work commitments.
The year finished as it began with the last scheduled trip on 1 November being blown off. This was a very poor year for getting out and this was the first year that I had not caught a Bass at all. My Species count was also poor with only 12 being landed.
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