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SPECIES CAUGHT IN 2009:
Pollack, Ling, Pouting, Cod, Mackerel, Scad, Red Gurnard, Bream, Conger, Dogfish, Brill, Bass, Turbot, Garfish, Sand Eel (15 No.) Personal Best: Brill - 4 lbs, |
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Saturday 31 January - Tiger Lily - Cancelled
Saturday 7 February - Offshore Rebel - Cancelled
Saturday 28 February - Tiger Lily Club trip out of Weymouth with 8 anglers. Left Weymouth by 8.00 am with a light 10 mph wind in our face, but nothing to worry about. We sailed due south from Portland for two and a half hours to a wreck 36 miles in the middle of the Channel and we were lucky to watch a group of Dolphins performing across our bow. We arrived at 10.40 am and started the drift with the last two hours of the flood tide. It was very slow going, and eventually the first Pollack (6 lbs) was landed but things were very slow with only one Pollack per drift. At slack water we moved about a mile west to another wreck and things really came to life with warm sunshine and six Pollack on the first drift. This wreck was a mass of wreckage in numerous pieces and the inevitable snags increased as the tide picked up and the fish catches dropped away. Chris decided to move back to the original wreck where things improved slightly with a few decent Pollack landed. We packed up at 3.30 pm for the long sail back, but in all it wasn’t a bad day’s fishing considering the recent catches on other boats, in all we had 32 Pollack to 10 lbs. My tally being 5 with best at 10 lbs.
Saturday 7 March - Offshore Rebel - Dropped Out
Saturday 14 March - Tiger Lily - Cancelled
Saturday 22 March - Tiger Lily Last minute trip set by myself out of Weymouth with 7 anglers, should have been 9 but 2 failed to show and guess who had to fork out an extra £110 for their spaces! Left Weymouth at 8.00 am with a light 10 mph wind from the south, clear blue skies and warm sunshine. We sailed due south from Portland for two hours to a wreck 25 miles out in the Channel across and arrived at 10.00 am and started the drift with the last two hours of the flood tide. Things got off to a good start and eventually the first Pollack (6 lbs) was landed, but things were very slow (similar to my last trip out) with only one Pollack per drift. At slack water we anchored up, baited up with squid and tried for a Ling or two, but to no avail. As the tide picked up the Pollock re-appeared and over twenty were landed in a short time. Chris was determined to catch a Ling and we moved northwest to another wreck, an old barge which was carrying blocks of stone. The idea here was to drift over the wreck, but keep just above it to prevent snagging and once clear drop down behind it and free spool out the line until we were 50 metres past the wreckage, then lock off and bingo! I was into a nice 14 lb Ling. We did a few more similar drifts and I managed to pluck a nice 16 lb one from off the top of the wreckage, which only one other angler managed, the others being snagged up. Chris decided to pack up at 3.30 pm for the long sail back and in all we had 32 Pollack to 11 lbs. My tally being 4 Pollock, best at 6 lbs and 2 Ling, best at 16 lbs. We arrived back at 5.15 pm. It was an enjoyable days fishing, but in my case very expensive!
Saturday 11 April - Offshore Rebel This was a Group Trip out of Weymouth with 10 Anglers on board. We left Weymouth at 8.00 am with a light wind from the southwest, high thin cloud, but cool breeze. We sailed due south from Portland for two hours to a wreck 25 miles out in the Channel and arrived at 10.00 am and started the drift with the last two hours of the flood tide. We got off to a good start and eventually the first Pollack (6 lbs) was landed by yours truly closely followed by several others on the first drift, but things were looking up with larger Pollack to 15 lbs coming aboard by our novice anglers! As the tide dropped away so did the Pollock so Paul decided to move to another wreck five miles nearer Weymouth, but the catch rate did not improve much when the tide picked up. We did a few more drifts, but the catch rate was very dire. Paul decided to pack up at 3.45 pm for the long sail back and in all we had 39 Pollack to 17 lbs. My tally being 8 Pollock, best at 11 lbs. We arrived back at 5.45 pm. It was an enjoyable days fishing with everyone catching at least 2 Pollack.
Saturday 16 May - Offshore Rebel - Cancelled
Saturday 27 June - Lady Godiva Annual trip for novices out of Weymouth aboard Lady Godiva skippered by Dave Gibson. This was the second attempt at sea angling by three of the five anglers aboard and as the weather was sunny and the sea calm it was decided to go wrecking offshore and try for Cod and Pollack, about two hour’s sailing time. When we arrived the sea was calm with a light southwest breeze. Within minutes the first Cod was landed by Trevor and weighed in at 6 lbs 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 Cod, so we moved to another wreck 8 miles further east. It was a lovely warm sunny day and the shirts were soon removed. We continued to catch decent sized Cod, but Allan and his friend kept snagging the bottom and losing the gear so it was decided to let them share a rod - one holding the rod, the other winding the reel - a sight to see. The best Cod was 10 lbs and a solitary small Pollack. We packed up at 3.00 pm and was back in port at 4.30 pm with 24 Cod and 2 Pollack which we shared between us. My tally was 5 Cod and a Pollack.
Saturday 11 July - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth with 10 anglers aboard. As the weather forecast had predicted winds increasing we still decided the night before to go. On the day only three boats went out with us all heading for the same wreck. There was a keen southwest wind as we headed out pushing against the tide. The weather was overcast with light drizzle, but this cleared as we started fishing. The other two boats were first on the wreck and had landed 5 Cod with their two drifts. We had three drifts before the first Cod was landed to Neil, but try as we may we could not increase our tally. We moved east to another wreck at lunchtime, as the tide dropped away, but still we were struggling. We tried all different lures and colours, but to no avail. Eventually the fish started … and ended with another 6 being landed. There were plenty of Pouting about and five of the anglers decided to try for Mackerel which proved plentiful. Graham baited up for the chance of a Ling, but all he got were Pouting, Dogfish and a Red Gurnard. We reluctantly packed up at 4.00 pm and headed back. Three of us ‘blanked on the day’ - 7 Cod between us - terrible!
Saturday 8 August - Offshore Rebel Group Trip out of Weymouth with 7 Anglers on board (Mick Sands dropped out night before). We left Weymouth at 7.45 am with a light wind from the southwest and clear blue sky. This trip was Inshore for Bass and Bream and we started off by catching ‘live’ Joey Mackerel for bait beneath the cliffs at west Portland. We soon had enough and we headed to the west side of the Race to start the drift for Bass with the last two hours of the flood tide. We got off to a good start and eventually the first Bass was brought on board at about 5 lbs. There were not very many about, but by lunchtime we had landed about 10 and with the tide now gone it was decided to move to the Shambles Bank and try for Bream. At first it was hard going with the slack tide, but eventually as the tide picked up so did the Bream with about 8 to 3 lbs in half an hour. We were fortunate enough to be given a supply of live Sand-eels from one of the Commercial Boats and we went back to the Race to try again for Bass. This didn’t prove very productive and with the wind against the tide conditions were not very comfortable so we moved to a reef named ‘The Two Lights Reef’ at the western end of the Shambles Bank. Three more Bass were landed and a Cod (6 lbs). It was a very hard day, but we eventually finished on 16 Bass, 10 Bream, 1 Cod 2 Red Gurnards and numerous Pouting. My tally was 3 Bream, 1 Red Gurnard but no Bass.
Tuesday 11 August - Offshore Rebel Individual’s trip out of Weymouth with 9 anglers aboard (Derek Hoff dropped out for health reasons). We left Weymouth at 7.45 am with flat calm seas and clear blue skies. The trip was for Conger and Bream and after stopping southwest of Portland for mackerel as bait we headed southwest for a wreck about 15 miles out. We arrived at 10.00 am and after Paul had dropped the anchor we set about tempting the Conger out of the wreck with fresh mackerel flappers. However Paul had anchored too close to the wreck and several of us were ‘snapped out’. Paul reset the anchor and we settled back in the now hot sunshine and stripped to the waist, and it wasn’t long before the first rod bent and we had a ‘fish on’. This was a nice 15 lb Ling to Derek’s grandson Ben and soon the other rods were bending with a mixture of Ling, Pouting and small Conger being landed. As the tide eased the Conger started to appear and several were hooked to 50 lbs. When the tide eased completely some tried for Bream with reasonable success, best at 3.5 lbs, but on the turn of the tide the Conger were not about and Paul decided to move to another wreck 5 miles nearer Weymouth and we were rewarded with some 40 - 50 lbs Conger and the inevitable Pouting. In all it was a good day weather-wise and the total count was 16 Conger to 50 lbs and 12 Bream to 3.5 lbs. My tally was 2 Congers, best at 50 lbs.
Monday 24 August - Friday 28 August - Tiger Lily See Summer Trips - Weymouth 2009
Sunday 6 September - Offshore Rebel Group Trip out of Weymouth with 9 Anglers on board (2 visitors asked if there were spaces). We left Weymouth at 8.00 am with a light wind from the southwest and overcast sky. This trip was Inshore for Bass, Bream and Turbot. As the skipper already had a supply of live sand eels we headed to the west side of the Race to start the drift for Bass with the last three hours of the flood tide. We got off to a good start and the first Bass was brought on board at about 5 lbs by one of the ‘visitors’. With each drift everyone was beginning to land a Bass and by lunchtime, when the tide had dropped away we had landed about 17, and with the tide now gone it was decided to move to the Shambles Bank and try for Bream. We stopped off on route to catch some Mackerel for bait, but we were soon set up at anchor for the Bream. Yours truly landed the first Bream and I was soon followed by our ‘visitor’ who seemed to have the knack. The others struggled, but eventually we had landed 12 Bream. We then moved onto the Shambles for Turbot and with Mackerel strips and Sand-eel flappers we set our drift and on the second drift our ‘visitor’ landed a nice 5 lb Turbot and on the next drift another at 4 lbs - talk about beginners luck. By this time the other anglers were getting desponded, but eventually Clive landed a nice 3.5 pounder. As we finished last drift and we were reeling in I could feel my line heavy, but thought nothing of it as Clive had wrapped around my line, but on freeing the lines I realised that I had a fish on and to everyone’s surprise it was a nice 4 lb Turbot. It was a very enjoyable day and we eventually finished on 17 Bass, 12 Bream, 4 Turbot, 2 Red Gurnards and numerous Pouting. My tally was3 Bass, 3 Bream and 1 Turbot.
Sunday 11 October - Offshore Rebel Group Trip out of Weymouth with 9 Anglers hopefully targeting Bass, Bream and possibly Blonde Rays. We left Weymouth at 8.00 am with a stiff breeze from the southwest and overcast sky. As the skipper only had a small supply of live sand eels we headed to the Shambles Bank to try and increase the stock and also catch some Mackerel for live bait After about an hour struggling to catch bait we headed to the east side of the Race to start the drift for Bass with the last three hours of the ebb tide. We tried several drifts within the Race, but to no avail and after about one and a half hours we moved to the north side of the Race where other boats were catching a few Bass. We persevered for another hour and then moved back out, but still were not in luck so eventually at slack water we moved off to the Shambles Bank and anchored up for a try at Bream. By this time the wind was picking up and making the sea quite choppy, but we kept trying and eventually I landed the first Bream at less than 1.5 lbs. The others were catching a mixture of Dogfish and small Bream, but it was hard going. I had a nice Red Gurnard and I eventually finished with 3 small Bream. Where have all the fish gone!
Monday 12 October - Offshore Rebel Individual’s trip out of Weymouth specially for Blonde Rays with 9 anglers aboard. We left Weymouth at 7.45 am with clear blue skies, flat calm sea and a light breeze. We stopped at Portland Bill on route to the Kidney Bank to try and catch Mackerel for bait. Again as yesterday it was hard going, but eventually we had enough Mackerel and anchored up on the Kidney Bank. With a cocktail of Mackerel flapper and Squid attached to our 75 lb trace and 2 lbs of lead we sat back and watched and waited for the tell-tale knocking of the rod tip. The minutes passed the hours passed and still no interest. We moved further north and reset the anchor and again waited and after about an hour the first rod ‘knocked’ and hey presto a nice 14 lbs Blonde Ray to one of the other anglers, which was followed 45 minutes later with a 6 lbs Small-eyed Ray. We struggled on until 2.00 pm, but with no more Rays. The skipper suggested that we move to an area east of the Shambles Bank called ’Turbot Towers’ which was a good Blonde Ray mark. Again we reset the anchor and soon the rods were knocking, but not with Rays only Dogfish. After about an hour half the anglers discarded the Ray traces and set about trying for Bream, but again this proved difficult with only small ones being tempted, but numerous Pouting as the tide strengthened. We eventually gave up at 5 pm and headed back, everyone disheartened with the poor fishing, but still had to pay for the trip at £51.00 a head. I did however catch a Garfish.
Saturday 7 November - Offshore Rebel Group trip out of Weymouth with 7 anglers (Roger dropped out at last minute). Trip was planned for Bass then some Turbot and hopefully Squid. We were the only charter boat to venture out as the skipper reckoned that there would be a ‘weather window’ during the day before the next wind and rain moved in. We left at 8.00 am with a stiff north westerly blowing which surprised the skipper as a westerly was forecasted. This meant that we were pushing into a large swell from the ebb tide and when we reached the edge of the Race there was a good 10 foot swell running from the west. Once we had manoeuvred into position we started our drift eastwards with the boat pitching about and making fishing very difficult. We persevered at this for a couple of hours, moving to different areas of the Race and fished until slack water, but all to no avail - there were no Bass AGAIN! We then moved to the Shambles at 1.00 pm with an increasing southwest wind as forecasted and drizzle in the wind, but we set up for a try at Turbot and it wasn’t long before I was into a fish - a nice Brill at about 4 lbs. The other anglers soon got going, but all that was coming aboard were Dogfish (Clive finished on 7), but eventually Eric landed a nice 7 lb Brill shortly followed by two 2 lb Turbots to Clive and a 2lb one to Graham, but sadly that was all. We packed up at 3.30 pm and headed back to Weymouth and tried a few drifts for Squid just outside the harbour, but this also was poor with only two small ones being landed. Yet another bad and expensive trip.
Saturday 12 December - Offshore Rebel The skipper informed us on Saturday 7 November that he was off to Thailand on 9 December. We asked ‘what about our trip in December’ to which he replied ‘ I don’t have you down for a trip in December’. This infuriated the anglers who were booked on this trip and after consultation with everyone involved we decided to cancel this trip.
This has probably been the worst year’s fishing since I started from Weymouth and I can only hope that it improves next year and we get value for money!
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