Alderney
Angling.com
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2nd April Breakwater has seen Couches Bream, Garfish, Pollack and Wrasse in the last 24 hours. Has also seen Mullet but nobody can catch them! Not even angling stalwart Alan Eastwood!! I managed a trip in the afternoon aboard Flying Fish yesterday with some friends from Portsmouth. High expectations turned in to a blank session. Chris Tett on Peace and Plenty is the first visiting charter boat this season, lets see how he does down there today, watch this space. 5th April Shore sessions producing Pollack to 3lb, Bass to 3lb, Garfish, Sole and Wrasse. Breakwater best bet if you can get on due to the weather where most Garfish and Pollack are coming from. Chance of most species from here with good specimens regularly landed. Bass are coming from beaches and rocky headlands to lures and plugs. Mullet for Martin Huddart to over 5lb, plenty of them here but having just spawned are proving hard to catch. Boats are seeing increasing numbers of Turbot with Peace and Plenty from Weymouth and Smuggler IV seeing fish in to double figures hit the decks. On there way over, along with Wave Chieftain, they had good sport with Pollack to 18lb and Ling to 26lb. My latest trips have included a real 'mal de mer' session on the South Banks where I managed to keep going but to no avail for decent fish, just 2 Pollack. Yesterday afternoon on the same mark I managed 1 Bass and a Pollack. Both sessions did yield plenty of Launce for bait though. 11th April Shore sport still a bit quiet. A few Pollack, a few Wrasse and a few garfish really, nothing to get over excited about. I did manage some fish myself which included my best garfish, 1lb 7.5oz. It's in the boats that it is really hotting up. On the offshore banks Turbot numbers are pretty good. One visiting charter boat managed a 15lb Turbot, Brill of 7lb 12oz and Bass 9lb 12oz. They were the best fish of an extremely windy visit here. Aboard private boat Bluefin of Fermain Jon Short and buddy had 13 Turbot, best one went 14lb 2oz, plus their best Brill 10lb 9oz which was a personal best for Jon, as well as some Bass and Pollack. 13th April Offshore Rebel IV and Valkyrie in port at the moment. They're finding Turbot, Brill and Bass. Valkyrie, skippered by Glen Cairns, is a new 40' catamaran with a 20' beam, what an absolute beast it is. Plenty of deck space even for 12 anglers, loads of traveling room in the heated cabin where the state of the art electronics are. Plasma telly and all that. Take a look at www.deepsea.co.uk for the pics, go to charter boats and click on V where it will come up, believe me it is worth a look. I had a trip yesterday afternoon, a bit bumpy over the banks but I managed two Turbot, best over 6lb. A couple of dogfish as well. 16th April Turbot fishing continues in the same vein with 20 to 25 fish per boat. Odd Brill and Bass come out on some drifts too. One set of banks produced Bass, Pollack and a couple of plump Cod for the crew of Valkyrie on their last day. From the shore there are Garfish, Pollack and Wrasse to go for and for the roving angler there are a few Bass. Night sessions will produce Eels, Huss and Rays. 18th April Much the same all round. We had Pollack to spinners from the Breakwater on Saturday. Sunday saw me venture a short distance from harbour, a couple of drifts on the sandbanks produced nothing so opted to anchor for a change. Only had one Pollack. There were longlines around me and on seeing four pulled in with the total catch 2 fish that was a signal to me to pull anchor, head in and watch the footie. Smuggler IV managed five Turbot further offshore whilst our local boat Alderney Felix managed three plus Pollack in what can only be described as pretty unkind conditions. 22nd April Boats are producing Turbot, Brill and some Bass. Turbot numbers per boat are anything between 4 to 5 fish running up to 20 to 22 fish, with the best catch this week 34. Not as good as last year but the best Turbot fishing you'll find in the UK. Size wise, not so many doubles as a couple of weeks ago but more smaller fish than last year it would appear. The Brill are a good size but need a bit more time to build in numbers. More bass have been reported this week than previous weeks. From the shore...............still very slow, just the usual bits. I managed to get afloat Wednesday. Didn't go far but did get on board two Turbot, best went 6lb 4oz, half a dozen Pollack, 20 odd mackerel which was a good early sign plus lots of Launce which have been frozen down for bait. It could have well been the last time I use my boat as hopefully tomorrow I will purchase a slightly larger craft which will open up new territory for me. Wrecking will start to happen and also have a go at some of the offshore reef marks, as well as I hope some sharking. Also the extra size and power will enable me to take extra persons rather than going on my own which will make the trips safer and more enjoyable. That means I have an Orkney Strikeliner for sale. Equipped with 25hp Mariner, auxillary, trailer, chart plotter (with chart), and all the usual bits. If you're interested just drop an email or give me a ring on 01481 824884. It can be shipped back to the UK via Portland, or we could steam it across to any one of the Channel Islands, or maybe someone might want to purchase it to keep here. It may well work out to be a cheap way of having your own boat out here for when you visit, just a thought. 26th April The weekend saw the first mackerel caught from the shore. Both sides of the island produced fish which seems to be early and really good news for what potentially could follow. Pollack, Gars and the normal bits have come out, just waiting now for a decent number of Bass to show. Also the weekend did actually see the purchase of a new boat. A Raider 18 with 90hp on the back is proudly sat bobbing on the mooring. We steamed it up the 40 odd miles from Jersey which went absolutely trouble free. Just a few bits to change around on it to get it perfect and we're away. That means I have an Orkney Strikeliner for sale now if there is any takers just give me a call on 01481 824884. 2nd May First trip out in the new boat yesterday. I wanted to go wrecking but May water has slowed the sport down so did what I didn't want to do and went for flatfish. Turned out a great day, 3 Turbot, a Brill and a Bass were the better part of my catch but also had a dozen Pollack, a Gurnard, a Doggie as well as some Mackerel. Chris Tett skipper of Peace and Plenty found 19 Turbot as well to 11lb and other boats on the same bank were using their landing nets fairly regularly. I was well satisfied with the new craft. Very stable for an 18' boat, plenty of speed combined with economy and as I fished alone had a rake of space too. From the shore better reports of Garfish, Pollack and Bass being taken. Dog Rock produced Pollack to 4lb whilst Houmet Herbe produced a couple of Bass on plugs to 3lb 8oz for Steve Lumb of Jersey. 5th May Reasonable numbers of Turbot from the offshore sandbanks with a sprinkling of specimen sized Brill. Odd Bass showing as well and will increase in numbers. On the wrecks it has slowed up due to 'May water' which should clear in a couple of weeks. Inshore marks producing plenty of Pollack, some Bass and occasional flat as well. Tope should be showing in good numbers very shortly. Breakwater producing a fair number of Garfish and Pollack with the odd Mackerel making their way to the barbeque, nice to see them turn up on time! Mackerel have also shown at Raz and the Frying Pan. My latest trip produced good numbers of Pollack to 6lb 8oz and one Bass. Good fun on plugging gear which was fished in a fair depth of water. 9th May Steady fishing for Turbot over the banks with Alderney Felix finding fish to 17lb. Some Bass about but the season has yet to really kick off, good though to see enough mackerel around which makes the bait situation a bit easier. Other catches include Brill, which has seen more fish than usual with good specimens taken, decent amounts of Pollack, some Gurnard and Dogfish reported. From the shore sport is slow to improve but it is improving with float fishing and spinning the preferred methods. Catches of Pollack, wrasse, Mackerel, Garfish and Bass reported. We had a bumpy day in the boat yesterday. We concentrated for Bass but our efforts weren't rewarded with just the one to show for our efforts which went back. we did manage 2 Turbot, half a dozen Pollack, Mackerel and plenty of Launce. It was also the first time I had a bit of weather with the new boat and she coped admirably. Two friends on board were impressed that an 18 foot boat could offer so much. 16th May Recent bout of atrocious weather has put paid to a lot of the fishing however there is a bit too report. From the shore there has been better reports of the Bas fishing to plugs. More fish reported as well as more sightings which is good news....let the season kick off at last!! Best fish so far is 4lb 8oz. There are other bits around like Garfish, Mackerel, Wrasse and Pollack. Out in the boats there are still reasonable reports of Turbot, Brill and with Bass on the increase the sport over he next few weeks should be interesting. The boats will also pay some attention to the Tope that are around too, always the chance of hooking up with a shark if you're lucky (or unlucky!). Pollack and Ling reported from the wrecks and rough ground offshore with a few Cod on the cards. 19th May Afternoon off yesterday and an improving forecast so off I went in to Hurd Deeps on a wreck for some quick and easy fishing. Twenty minutes traveling saw over a lump of metal in 340 feet of water and with the tide just underway in went the lure. I had some good fun with Pollack to 15lb, 12 in all and only 2 under 10lb. Searched around the wreck for some Ling but only found a Tope, about 30lb, mooching around. Good little session which was thoroughly enjoyable. Also saw some sort of Whale breach the surface, not sure what it was but it has been suggested to me as a Pilot Whale. 26th May It a week since an update and it is a week that has seen a vast improvement in the quality of the fishing. Bass have featured quite highly amongst catches. Fish in the 3lb to 4lb 8oz range have been falling fairly consistently to plugs, some fish on spinners. Most rock marks and the Breakwater producing Pollack to 4lb, plenty of Wrasse, Garfish and some Mackerel. One local angler squeezed in a 40 minute session of spinning and caught 4 good mackerel and one 2lb Bass which shows what can be achieved when it all goes with you. Out in the boats some good Bass fishing there too. Good numbers aboard One for His Knob and Tiger Lily as well as some flats, whilst Peace and Plenty managed a good day amongst the Turbot. Lots of Tope aboard Offshore Rebel, fish to 45lb. The wrecks have seen plenty of Pollack with a sprinkling of Cod and Ling. 27th May This is more like it. It all started earlier last year which when it doesn't happen as quick makes you think its not going to happen at all! Plenty of fish in the boats with good reports of Bass, still a fair number of Brill (best reported over 10lb) and Turbot with the better fish last year coming out in June, excellent Tope fishing with the best fish of this run so far reported of 73lb caught on Sundance. wrecks are doing well too for Pollack, Ling and Cod. From the shore Bass is the main target and in most cases achieved. Fish landed mainly on plugs in the 2lb to 4lb range but bigger ones are always on the cards. One local angler reported seeing a Bass running in the small surf in just a couple of feet of water less than 10 yards from where he was stalking. Shoals of Mullet still about but difficult to catch. Plenty of Pollack and Garfish reported and a few Mackerel. 6th June Its been a while since the last update, sorry about that. Half term saw me have the busiest time so far this year which was much needed. Anyway, the fishing has been ok. From the shore there have been enough Bass around to target with plugs. Not big fish but big enough to give some great sport, best fish reported to me is 4lb but no doubt bigger have been caught and kept quiet. In the main expect fish between 2lb and 3lb 8oz. There are some Mullet around to target for those specialists amongst you. Lots of Pollack to 3lb 8oz, Garfish to 1lb 8oz, Wrasse to 4lb as well as Mackerel which are plentiful in comparison to last year. Out in the boats the main target is the Turbot and Brill and to be fair have been, in the main, fairly obliging. Fish to 20lb have been caught with up to 23 to the top boats. Top Cat, Peace and Plenty, Offshore Rebel , Private Venture, Tiger Lily, One for His Knob, Shogun, Caracara, Alderney Felix, Tango Bravo are all finding fish. Bass to are starting feature well and will continue to do so on Spring tides. Good Tope fishing too can be had during the slack tide period. Fish often caught in the 40lb to 50lb range. The wrecks are fishing really well too. Pollack to 18lb, Ling, Cod are all showing. My trips in my own boat has had mixed results. A wreck trip produced for three of us 30 Pollack to 16lb, a few Ling and Cod, an Eel and a surprise Coalfish which went 7lb. Three subsequent trips yielded very little based on bad luck and wrong target species for the tides. However yesterday we got it right with the Bass. Weather wasn't favourable, wet and breezy with a wind over tide but between 3 of us we did manage to boat 25 or so Bass with the best fish 6lb in a 5 hour session. 13th June Shore sport a little slow. Bass primary target and they are around in fair numbers. Plugs producing best. Conger Eels caught over the week end from the Breakwater, 3 fish came out, a 20lb, 25lb and 30lb. Wrasse to 5lb 6oz on rock marks. Otherwise Garfish seem pretty rare, there is enough Mackerel about which are backed up by the Pollack action which keeps the interest there. The boats have seen some good action. Over the weekend there were Bass in to double figures aboard Shogun from Langstone, they also saw some flattie action. Chris Tetts boat Peace and Plenty landed a 26lb Turbot, this fish was included within a catch of 20 odd fish which also consisted other fish in the 'teen' size. Inshore aboard Sheila Ann produced Turbot to 20lb, Bull Huss to over 10lb, some Congers and one Tope. Good fishing to be had over the wrecks. Pollack to 18lb, a few Cod, one report of a 30lb fish! Ling reported too. My trip yesterday produced 16 Eels to 55lb, Pollack to 15lb, Ling to 13lb plus other bits 'n' pieces. 16th June All fishing the same, just a little story to tell you. Trevor Small, who is the skipper of Sheila Ann from Poole, hooked in to a fine fish whilst anchored on the sandbanks around the island. Having had Turbot to 20lb during the week he knew it was a good fish, it took some 20-25 minutes to play it out on his Fladen Maxximus 12lb rod and using only a 5oz ball lead the fish had the freedom to run where she'd like. Once it came in to view the poor fish was met with the expletives ".....it's only a ****** ray!!" Anyway that said (!) the ray was boated and noting she was pregnant was quickly and carefully photographed and weighed. Now they could see the real size of the fish the expletives were regretted because she was a fine fish......the scales bounced around 38lb 6oz to 39lb 12oz!! There was a video shot too which I watched this morning so I will try to get on to my Gallery page soon, if not some photos. I had a little run out on Tuesday evening. A quick hour on the wreck produced 10 or so Pollack to 14lb and one lucky Cod for me which went 17lb. 29th June AAAAARGH!! It's been a while since the update has been done. Busy in the shop which is good news but even better news is all the toys that have been installed on the boat. Ready and willing to go now! Gallery has been updated too so have a look at that but generally the fishing has been pretty good. The Tope aren't around much but the Bream have showed up early. Good fish with much of it up and around the 4lb mark and enough of it about to give good light sport. Still a few Flats showing with Shogun and Peace and Plenty still finding enough to warrant a days fishing for them. Turbots to around 15lb and Brill to 8lb. Bass can be a bit hit and miss but are now showing well inshore to plugs and various lures. I've seen local boats bring fish in up to 10lb and whilst fishing for these are landing some cracking inshore Pollack, best fish about 12lb. Wrecks are fishing well too for Pollack, Cod and a few Ling. On the shore its very much the same as before with what you can target but quantities of fish have improved slightly. The best action is with the Bass on plugs with more positive sessions than negative. Pollack and Gars have increased in numbers, mackerel are around too and as ever plenty of Wrasse. Mullet to 4lb 12oz have been landed as well. 30th June I'm like a bus, no update for days and then I'm on here two days on a trot! I had a trip out yesterday and did lousy, chasing the right fish on the wrong tides. thought I'd learnt my lesson. Still it gave the boat a run out and made sure everything was operational before Sundays sharking trip (if we get out). Anyway, I'm here to tell you of a Bailiwick of Guernsey Blonde Ray record which was caught yesterday evening (told you I was chasing the wrong fish, I was after silver round things not brown flat ones!). Captor was Paul Williams, a local lad and the fish weighed 36lb 2oz. Caught on a small sandeel using a Redwolf 12/20 with a Redwolf Trolling 300 multiplier. Very nearly a Channel Island record. Photo should go on tomorrow.
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