Alderney
Angling.com
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28th September Not before time I managed to get my boat in the water on Friday. We started the weekend in typical style as I trying to make up for the lost summer of fishing with three trips. First one really was just to give the boat a run and go through the motions so opted to stay close and try for a Ray. We did manage one but it was only small, had a smattering of Bream and some Dogs too. The following day was more like what I enjoy doing. A few hours drifting the banks for a flatty or two and then chuck the pick in on some rough ground to hook something that's going to test your gear. A good day whereby we had 16 species including Congers to 40lb, Tope to 30lb, Huss, Turbot, Brill, Bass, Gurnards and one or two nice Pollack. Then this morning we sneaked out at dawn for some plugging. Fishing was steady with 7 fish to boot but I dropped the best one as the hook pulled, it would have been the best of the lot and possibly a double. I'm back and it feels great! 25th September Pictures below are Steve Ace's 9lb plus Bass and Tonto's 23lb Turbot from yesterday.
24th September Just a quick update. Fie didn't do so good yesterday, on the boat there were only 4 flats and 4 Bass but she did manage the best Bass, just shy of 5lb. Fishing was generally down yet one of the local boats Catch 22 managed 8 flats to 12lb and 5 Bass in just four hours fishing between the two of them. Today though Colin has the boys on form on Smuggler, they have had a few flatties which included one cracking Turbot of 23lb. That is now 3 that Colin has had over 20lb odd this season alone. Pictured below is Brian Barnes showing his boy how it is done again with a fine Turbot of 12lb 8oz.
23rd September Its all good here. Plenty of Black Bream and Mullet showing, nothing huge though. Worms baits finding Sole to 3lb 1oz, Red Mullet, Couches Bream and more Bass. Tope to 43lb have been caught, Small Eyeds, Trigger Fish (more than normal), Codling too, plenty of species around. Boat fishing has produced some good flatty fishing with Turbot to 13lb, one or two boats getting up and around the 20 mark. Bass fishing is improving all the time with some reasonable catches, fish in to double figures reported. Inshore plugging producing as well. Plenty of Tope with a few the right side of 40lb. Huss and Eels on the same ground, all good fun. Working alone today, Fieona has gone fishing with anglers staying with us on Smuggler, summint not right there! I've got my priorities wrong somehow. 18th September Back again after a spell away at tradeshows, all good fun this tackle business, only trouble with it there isn't enough time to go fishing! Wish I could as there is plenty about. Bass are falling to plugs almost with ease and if they're not doing that they are picking up worms baits. Some nice fish to up to 7lb and talking to a local lad today he has managed up to 4 in one session. Wrasse, Pollack are coming in a by products. A cracking Red Mullet caught last night of 1lb 8oz. Sole have been reported too. Couches Bream showing at last and also some Gilthead Bream. It's all going on. I bet this time tomorrow I'll be telling you about the Tope too, tides are ideal and we have some good anglers over so wait and see! Boat sport, well we have been the windiest place in the UK by some way in the last three weeks. Strong to gale force NE winds frequent but boats still managed to get amongst the fish. All sorts, Tope to 40 odd lb, Bas to 11lb, Turbots and plenty of them for this time of year to double figures plus Bream and all the other bits you get to see by anchoring. On my Mail order pages, just arrived I have back in stock Daiwa All Tiders, 7HT Mags and Saltist Level Winds 30....all have been out of stock for a bit but are back in now. 9th September Price adjustment on the new Pulleys from Breakaway. Our price £2.25 each of 5 packets for £9.99. Also we now have Power Pro Braid in 300 yards in stock, £23.99 per spool. Plus VAT if you live in UK, £28.60 including delivery and VAT. 1st of the squid showed last night from the Breakwater. Plenty of Turbot caught today in the boats, best fish 15lb. Plenty of Bass too. Just as its looking good the weather is about to turn sour for us!! 8th September Just arrived!! Kiddy Sidewinders Bloodhead Eels and Bloodhead Joeys. VAT FREE! Find them through my Plugs and Lures page in the Mail Order section of my site. Just arrived!! Breakaway Imps in pkts 0f 5 and 10 (have had them for ages but only just listed them!) and the new Proper Pulley rigs. Find them in the Terminal Page on my Mail Order section. 7th September A new Guernsey Boat record fell yesterday, no not a Turbot, no not a Bass but an elusive Marbled Electric Ray. Although the shore record stands at 12lb 5oz (caught in Alderney too :-) ) the boat record has stood vacant since records began. Caught from the Swinge it was captured on a Storm Wildeye Mackerel which at the time all seemed very strange but on reading up on the species probably this is quite a natural way to catch them, given that they prey on small fish swimming near the bottom. They capture them by stunning them with the electrical charge that they generate. Local lad Marcus Odoli, whom has caught lots of good fish this year, was the successful angler. Little did he realise when winding it in that he was in for a 'shock' quite literally, once the fish was netted he tried to hold it to identify it and that was enough! Identification process complete as Marcus took the full charge of the fish.........it was an Electric Ray, enough said! Kept alive to be returned (big credit) Marcus got the fish weighed, witnessed and properly identified before releasing it just a couple of hours later, and there the record stands at 6lb 13oz 12dr.
Fishing improving all the time with Bream and Mullet both showing on the float. Bassing on the plugs is proving a hit too. Bottom species starting to show include Sole and Red Mullet with the odd Gurnard. Last night some stories came in this morning regards Platte Saline where it would appear there may well have been a pack of Tope in the bay but none were landed. Huss and Eels at night. Boat sport is hard to guage due to the awful weather but in close there have been Bream, Bass, Gurnards, Huss, Eels all showing. Bass down the Race starting to build in numbers. Local lad in his own boat managed 8 Bass on the plugs yesterday, the best fish was a 6lb'er falling to his better half. The Alderney Festival is fast approaching (ignore the Festival page on the site, never flippin updated it!) with just 6 weeks to go. If you've not decided and haven't booked any accommodation I know of some ample self catering accommodation whereby the lads have spare rooms in a big town house. There is ample storage for fishing gear, drying, bait storage etc. Get in touch with me on 01481 824884 or email mark@alderneyangling.com if interested. 24th August There's a bit more Bass about and a few more Turbot and Brill which is good. Plenty of Tope to 45lb located yesterday which provided tremendous fishing. Pictured below is Brian Barnes whom managed this 13lb Turbot and 4 Bass in a few hours fishing.
Shore sport, most of the action on lures or float tackle with bass, Mackerel, Pollack and gars all dominant. Black Bream slowly increasing in numbers. Just arrived and not on Mail Order pages is a bargain, Shakespeare Mach 2 Rear Drag Reels 040 at just £17.99 whether you live in Channel Islands or UK. RRP £38. Limited stock!! 19th August I think the pictures below will tell a better story than what my words ever could! Highlight of the moment is all happening aboard Smuggler of Alderney. Just when you thought it was all over for the flatty fishing hey presto the 'local lad Dukesy' manages to nail a dozen fish. To be fair not on his own though as Peace and Plenty done the same too so there is a bit about on the banks. Bass not abundant still but there are far better numbers of fish but it is the reef fishing that is providing the most fun and Colin and myself have had a ball doing 3 hour trips for the newbies and kids. It is great fun teaching them and showing them the tricks of the trade cos they listen thus the results have been fantastic. One session sticks in my mind from lasts week whereby the young rods had 10 species which included three double figure fish, a Huss and two Eels, one Eel went 44lb! All this on feathers and/or baited feathers!!
9th August It has been immense fun this week with Alderneys annual carnival taking place thus little time to update the site. Alderney Week sees all sorts of fun from the Man Powered Flight, Sandcastle building, Gala nights, Raft races etc etc. However there has still been time for fishing. The sessions I have done this week have been mainly from the Breakwater where we have found plenty of Gars, Pollack and Mackerel. A Wrassing session produced fish to just short of 5lb and a short Mullet session we managed to find three fish to 4lb. All good fun. Elsewhere plugging sessions have produced Bass to 5lb with one of the best trips a couple of anglers reported 4 Pollack, 4 Wrasse and 4 Bass all falling to a plug, phenomenal fun! Boat fishing is at last accelerating in to action. Not before time Bass are showing in far better numbers with catches up to 20 fish and the best reported fish just over 10lb. Turbot and Brill have re-appeared after a small absence, more Brill should show on this second run. Best Brill this week went 8lb. Plenty of Black Bream with fish to 5lb now showing, lots of Bull Huss sharing the same ground with the occasional Eel. Expect plenty more action now as it feels like Alderney is about to slip in to gear. Our local boat Smuggler of Alderney has a fare bit of free time so if you fancy planning a trip over just give us a call. Below are pictures from a Junior trip over three hours that we did aboard Colin Dukes' Smuggler. The lads had a rake of Bream to 3lb, Mackerel, Pollack plus these bonus fish. The Huss were close to double figures and while Luke was reeling the Eel in we let him struggle and raided his rucksack of his remaining sweets!!
1st August Fishing from the Breakwater is now exceptional fun on light gear. Had a great session first thing this morning with Pollack to 3lb, chunky Mackerel and plenty of big Gars. Yesterday had a 3 hour trip aboard Dukes' boat Smuggler with 9 children, what a laugh! They had a wallop of Pollack, Mackerel and Black Bream plus a bonus of two Huss close to double figures with the smallest lad on the boat catching an 18lb Eel. Luke pleaded for us to help as he got tired with the writhing in the tide but we were to busy raiding his rucksack of sweets! What a scream we had for those three hours. Anyway that's not why I'm here, got these special offers below, phone or email to order on 01481 824884 or mark@alderneyangling.com: LIMITED OFFER ON ABU AMBASSADEUR 7000 and SUVERAN BOAT RODS. Abu Ambassadeur 7000i £63.75 (£73.31) Combo with a Suveran Boat 12/20 £156.25 (£179.69) Abu Ambassadeur 7000i C3 £68.50 (£78.79) Combo with a Suveran Boat 12/20 £161.00 (£185.15) UK will be plus VAT @ 15% in green brackets, still excellent value!!
29th July Another week goes by but the fishing has really improved around the shoreline. Plenty of Pollack to 5lb and a rake of Mackerel. Even some Garfish have turned up and crackers they are too with several fish over a 1lb. Bass are falling to plugs and lures and now things are really looking up. On one of my sessions with the kids we managed to even spot a Sunfish in the harbour. The lads that were staying with us last week done well, hopefully I will have some photos to publish, after my last mention of them they added Bass and some Mullet to what they were catching. Boat fishing hasn't had the same spurt on but there is increasing numbers of Bass for some boats. Certainly there are plenty of Black Bream showing with our local boat Smugger tucking up and finding fish to 5lb! Colin is also finding one or two flats which are showing on the banks and also finding plenty of Pollack on the wrecks close by as the pictures below demonstrate. There's also one Pollack caught on a fly at 70 metres deep!
22nd July Due to popular demand we have just taken delivery of some Power Pro Braid. Currently we have 150 yard spools with the 300 yard spools to follow. Our price is £14.99 for the 150 yd spool and will be £23.99 (plus VAT if you live in UK) for the 300 yd spools when they arrive. £1 postage for the first spool, 50p thereafter. Take a look on the Braid/Line page in our Mail Order section. Fishing again today with the holiday makers, two cracking bunch of people, far more fish about than there has been but the highlight of today was a 5lb 6oz Ballan Wrasse. Hopefully a picture will be up later. Weather played havoc with the boats, find out tomorrow how they got on. 21st July Before I lose track of time again a quick update. Had a cracking session on the Breakwater yesterday, still no gars but we had around 20 Pollack to 4lb in a couple of hours.............that's more like it. Not one Gar but who cares now we have something to fish for. One or two Mackerel chucked in for good measure too. Space on the Breakwater hard to come by due to the amount of pots around the base of it, part timers mainly with out a flippin clue and with no due consideration to other users. 10 miles of island coast but lets pot the last 100 yards of the Breakwater............ numb nuts! When asked about moving so the kids and novices can fish the requests are met with total disregard like it is the last place on earth....................only in Alderney eh? Still you can't beat the fishing here!! I've got an angling journalist on holiday staying in our B&B with his two lads, they're having a cracking time with various species but being coarse lads they are totally fascinated with Wrasse and they are finding Ballans to 6lb 10oz, as well as Cuckoos and Corkwings. They've also had Bream, Dogfish, amongst other stuff I can't remember. Out in the boats....................the Bass have arrived at last. Not sure on the numbers of fish but it appears to be a start, my guess is that they will stay longer than normal but I base that guess on pure hopefulness. The way the season is lets just be thankful they have arrived. Turbot and Brill as you were, better than early June but not good numbers of fish, if you get to 6 on the boat in half a day then you've done well. Plenty of Tope about, a surprising amount of Huss with a fair bit of it in double figures. Black Bream increasing in numbers, also another surprise of one or two Plaice. Maybe a revival on the cards? 14th July Was 1st July my last update?? Time flies. Turbot gone off the boil as often can happen at this time of year, the Brill haven't yet come in and filled the void but I am sure they will do. Smuggler of Alderney managed a few in five drifts yesterday before Colin called time in case he pushed his luck! He had a crew on last week which got enthusiastic and stayed because of a good start, it messed the whole day up as they not only never added to a good start but then were out of sync for the remainder of the tide. Revolution found some fish too. Bass not showing that well yet. Best of it is amongst the rocks and kelp, bank fishing not working for them yet. Rough ground fishing good as it was last year. Bream starting to show with fish to 4lb fairly regular. Tope and Huss seem to be plentiful. In the harbour the Bass still showing well, Tiger Lily getting one of the better ones this last week or so at over 10lb, nice way for the crew to be greeted as they get aboard for their days fishing. Boats still finding plenty of Pollack on the wrecks, Smuggler once again finding plenty to 17lb whilst the boats from Exmouth finding Cod as well on the way over, picture below was taken aboard Ian Goff's Shande III. Ling are targeted too. Shore fishing, best of it is plugging for Bass. Yesterday morning a cracker of 9lb was caught at first light for a visiting Guernsey angler. Although not hectic fishing there is a fair few about. Normally we have a stack of Gars, Pollack and Mackerel on the Breakwater but that is fairly quiet at the moment, Garfish more conspicuous of their absence as opposed to the numbers.
1st July We're getting to that time of year when I find it increasingly hard to keep up to date on this page due to w busy we get on the island, every day just rolls in to the next one. Anyway, I have managed a couple of jaunts in the kayak after a 5 month break, one was just for the sake of getting out and trying the yak out again which I have added one or two new toys on, the best bit is a new Humminbird GPS/Fishfinder, a luxury you might think but it will pay dividends during the Autumn and Winter. Sunday I had a go to see if I could find some bass, I did ok with 3 landed and four dropped. Best fish for tea was 4lb, but one of the ones I dropped was bigger. I did have two hits on my first two casts so the session was buzzing. Had a rake of Pollack to 6lb too and with flat calm seas and sun shining it was a jaunt. Other than that I've been doing sessions with holiday makers and local children having a go at the Gars and Polack off the Breakwater. That's not been to clever so most sessions we resort to a bit of Wrassing which is a blast with fish to 3lb. Boats have been producing some good Pollack and Cod on the wrecks, sometimes it is hit and miss but in the main success is good. bass fishing is poor as it appears to be through out the Channel Island area and the western end of the English Channel. Think I have mentioned before the Turbot have gone off the boil but there are a few Brill to fill the gaps. Plenty of Tope and Huss on the rough ground marks and Bream to 4lb are showing in reasonable numbers. With the shore fishing it is hard to relay to you what is happening due to the lack of rods putting in the hours unless it revolves around flinging in some Mackerel feathers off the Breakwater. There should be Huss and Eels to go for if that is your game. The local lads that go plugging are finding Bass fairly frequently but keeping quiet on their marks, hardly surprising. Soon we should see Sole, Couches, Gurnards and maybe some Red Mullet all making an appearance. |
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