Alderney
Angling.com
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28th April Still hit and miss with the flatfish but top boat this week appears to have been Valkyrie. Glens boat managed 23 on one day but in the main around 10 fish per day with a better quality now amongst the fish. Peace and Plenty, Offshore Rebel and Sundance had similar sort of sport. Not many Brill amongst the flats, best I did hear of though was a 9lb fish. The odd Bass reported too. Some good sessions on the Tope as well which added a bit of mania to all the fun and excitement. A word on the weather too, its been lovely. Calm, almost oily seas which makes it all an absolute pleasure. Shore fishing showing the odd Bass to plugs, seem to be a lot of schoolies congregating in one of the bays at low tide which are falling to spinners. Pollack, Gars and Wrasse making up the other catches. I managed to get out alone on Wednesday afternoon.........blankety blank for me on the Turbot. Fish were there as I missed two bites and the net was being worked fairly regular on the vessels close by, obviously not doing something I should have been! 25th April Those Mullet went off the boil yesterday but there really is a huge amount of them around. Good fish amongst them too, probably 7 and 8lb'ers. Pollack, Wrasse and Gars around the Breakwater and rock marks. Odd Bass falling to plugs. Offshore Rebel and Valkyrie back again. Offshore went on to the sandbanks for flatfish and found a dozen fish which were of a better size, Josh Simmonds was there as well and they managed 17, smallest 4lb 8oz (what a nice change!). Valkyrie stuck to the wrecking on the way over and had plenty of Pollack to 15lb. 24th (and a bit!) April Just cancelled my trip this afternoon because of Fog and watched Les Williams from Bristol pull out a few Mullet from the Breakwater which is absolutely swarming with them. Here is the best one which went 6lb 2oz.
24th April Only Peace and Plenty over the weekend and they managed a few Turbot although not a lot of time was spent fishing for them. I've no idea on the sizes or anything like that. Another photo on the Gallery page of a 20lb Turbot which was caught aboard Offshore Rebel last Thursday. Peace and Plenty found plenty of Pollack on the deeper water. Our trip yesterday was fairly productive. We had around 50 or so Pollack, not sure of the biggest but one we weighed was bouncing the scales around 14lb and there were plenty of others around the same sort of size. We had a few Mackerel too so they're in now. Slack tide was very quiet, one bite which was small but no signs of Ling or Conger. I should have thrown the pick in but didn't, daft really. Out again this afternoon, try for one of those monster Turbot! As of this moment I've no idea what happened from the shore this weekend as I've not seen anyone who was out. 22nd April Not many fish came out Thursday but two cracking Turbot were boated. On board Offshore Rebel of Weymouth was a 20lb fish and then following that up was a 25 pounder on Valkyrie from Langstone. I haven't got the anglers details yet but he never stopped smiling. It gave great sport on his ABU Conolon 12/20 and ABU 7000 whichis supplied on Glens boat. Two fine fish on what was a quietish day aboard the boats which were out. On their way home plenty of fish were found mid channel, Pollack to 18lb mainly, a few Ling but no Cod although I have heard of Cod both ends of the Channel. Picture of the 25lb Turbot is on the Gallery page. 20th April Best Turbot of the last few days has come aboard Alderney Felix, our local boat, it went just shy of 20lb. (Picture now on Gallery page). Catches of flatfish have improved as the week has wore on, best in numbers was aboard Tango Bravo who got to 16. The other boats weren't far behind. More mackerel have been showing whilst the lads have been launcing and they're also in the Channel. I had a few hours out yesterday afternoon, a bit of a family affair, Fieona, a friend and the dog aboard so it wasn't all serious stuff. Missed one Turbot before Fieona called time as 'mal de mer' set in. Dropped her and the pooch off and set back out for some Pollack fishing close by. Managed 30 or so fish on lightish gear in an hour and a bit, best fish around 5lb. Cracking weekend forecast, can't wait to head North for a change. 17th April The weekend saw Bass, Mullet and Wrasse taken by a pair of local rods from the shore. The Bass was around 4lb 8oz which is nice to see. Mullet, some biggies too, were spotted by another angler plugging for Bass in Braye bay. Seven Turbot and a 5lb Bass to a visiting pleasure boat yesterday on the sandbanks. My day out went ahead yesterday and not all doom and gloom as I feared it could be. It started badly though when we launched the boat. On starting the outboard there was a fuel problem, cut a long story short some numpty had cut my fuel line (not completely) under the hood. I have my suspicions who it is, spineless and petty he is with a total disregard for peoples property and of course lives. Anyway, we got fishing. No Bass on the plugs but our first go at the Turbot produced one to my rod in three minutes!! Then we went Pollacking and had 25 or so small fish, followed that up with another two Turbot (and one dropped) on the next slack. They weren't big fish, best just over 4lb but we achieved what we set out to do for the day, also a nice day out after a little maintenance which puts to bed all the possible worries which could happen after a lay up. Now for the rest of the year................ 15th April Slow end to the week for the boats. Single figure tallies to low teens. Best fish reported was 17lb on Valkyrie. Wrecks fishing ok for Pollack with private boat Second Opinion getting 23 in a short time. I had some hire rods on the Breakwater last night, my group only managed one Pollack but a couple of local rods spinning just as darkness fell managed two each. I'm definitely out tomorrow, nice to see the bottom of the boat getting wet instead of the top. Thoroughly excited and can't wait but will it be all doom and gloom Monday morning! 13th April Sundance and Offshore Rebel took advantage of a better day of weather than forecasted and had good tallies of Turbot with around 15 per boat, so it looks as if its on the increase. Some Brill featured too. Reports of small Bass on the shore being taken with plugs, another sign of good news.
12th April Deteriorating weather conditions saw all three boats, Sundance, Valkyrie and Offshore Rebel, back in port early. Half a dozen fish it seems each for their efforts, best fish I was told about was a 11lb 2oz Turbot caught by Glen Cairns on his own boat.
11th April Better news on the sandbanks, Valkyrie managed 10 Turbot in a half a day yesterday. Offshore Rebel and Sundance were amongst the fish as well. Smallish fish though. Wrecks are starting to produce as well. There seem to be good numbers of Pollack to 17lb and Ling being caught as well. For those of you coming over in the forthcoming weeks it seems a good choice as the general opinion seems to be that it hasn't started as early this year as in previous years. First mackerel reported too which is a cracking sign that the water is warming up. Where's the smoker.................. With regards to my own fishing, I should have the boat in the weekend so crossing my fingers and toes for some calm conditions. Pollack, Wrasse and Garfish being reported around the harbour quay and on the Breakwater.
6th April The lads that remained ashore from yesterdays weather had some good sport with Mullet from the Breakwater. Fish of 5lb 8oz,4lb and 3lb 8oz were landed. Reports of plenty of them about as well with good shoals both sides of the island. Garfish seem to be around in numbers with a local rod landing some good quality ones from the end of the Breakwater. Out in the boats and Valkyrie managed plenty of Bullhuss yesterday whilst Peace and Plenty had a day on the sandbanks for the Turbot, not many landed.
5th April Valkyrie, Smuggler V and Peace and Plenty all over here. Yesterday saw around 10 Turbot per boat, average size not particularly good but Valkyrie managed to get a couple around 12lb. Reports of Brill as well in the boats. Not nice weather today, one boat remained ashore but wind dying back already and forecast looking good.
31st March Oh well, just to finish the month I thought I'd put a note on here. March winds.........well it truly was. Fish wise there is nothing to report. I have seen though quite a bit of Mullet when walking the dog. Crabby Bay there were plenty although a seal was getting in on the action. On the south east coastline and Clonque I have had regular sightings too. Cracking forecast for Monday and with the start of Easter and a new month lets hope for better weather and loads of opportunities to get fishing, I'm certainly missing it!
25th March Less Turbot were managed on the final days of Chris and Glens visit although Glen had a change of plan after being buffeted by the banks with little reward and went to some rough ground to anchor. Found lots of Bull Huss to 11lb before upping anchor and drifted around for Pollack on light tackle which the best fish went 12lb. Plenty were caught so the crew had loads of good fishing. Excellent fun in the shallow water on the right tackle.
23rd March Strong Easterly winds made for very difficult fishing conditions for Peace and Plenty and Valkyrie, however both managed Turbots. Chris had 15 for his crew and Glen managed 6 for his. Double figure fish were amongst both boats. It bodes well for when the calmer weather arrives, good conditions today but tomorrow more wind is forecasted.
18th March I really don't want to say this but after two weeks away there is very little to report.........shocking! The Alderney v Jersey Match on the weekend of the 5th produced very little for the competitors. No target fish caught which were Eels and Mullet. Andy Hedges did though manage a 2lb 9oz Sole and a 2lb Dogfish. Very little angling is taking place at the moment due to the weather which I would have thought would have broken in to some Spring like sunshine and warmth, keep dreaming eh! I'm hearing of some good reports of Turbot catches though when boats from Guernsey have managed to get out to the sandbanks between there and here in Alderney so for those of you visiting next week on the south coast charter boats due over expect some good fishing so long as the wind is kind.
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