Review of 2012

January 

 I started 2011 full of enthusiasm at the start of my first full year sea angling. The previous six months since I picked up a rod in anger for the fist time since I was a child, though mixed in results, had given me a thirst for more exploring of marks, bait, tactics and species. Through sites like Shoreangler I had also met several like minded souls to explore with and learn from. 


With a new rod to christen I went for my first trip in the first week of the new year to a mark on the South Shore of Loch Etive. The day was very bright and I did not hold out a lot of hope as I could not stay and fish through the night as I wanted but it was a great day to be out in the beautiful scenery. I'd started fishing around 1 o'clock and had been getting my baits stripped my crabs all day. Just after darkness had fallen I gave my self two extra casts on each rod before packing up.First new bait was in the water with the ratchet set I turned to cast the other rod when I hear bzzz, bzzz, bzzzzzzzzzzzz. Yes, lifted into it and fish on! Soon I caught the tell tale glint of eyes in my head torch beam and landed a lovely spurrie, weighted (new PB at 4lb 1 oz) and back in the water to swim off.

And though a slow start the first trip of the New Year ended well with my new rod christened with a PB in the bag.

February 

February  was the month of the poor
decision leading to the 'Long Way Round'. A long planned trip to Lochaline dawned and though all forecasts were for wind and rain, they were incredibly varied in strength and direction. So we all (Sharpie, Silver Fox, Conger11, Jammy John and me) decided in for a penny and got on the road. I got to Lochaline after an uneventful and slow drive to find Jamie and John just setting up.  With the promise of a huge variety of species baits were in the water quick smart. The depth here shocked me as I'd never experienced it before. The wind was strong but at this point not to bad, or so I thought. Frankie and Sharpie arrived shortly after and along with them the wind built and built. My tripod took a tumble losing me a couple of eye inserts, followed by a few near misses for almost everybody bar Jamie who had bungied his tripod to the pier pilings! With the high winds were snags and tangles a plenty so when Frankies rod spectacularly failed we decided to beat a retreat to the Sheep Shed to get some shelter and see out the worst of the weather.


Everyone quickly broke the collective blank with a few small doggies. After a short period of time the wind changed direction and as the last ferry had gone at Corran we had the choice between a long night in the sheep shed or a 40 odd mile detour round Lochs Linnhe and Elie to get back onto the A82 and on to Etive and with fishing now impossible with the wind direction that was the decision made. Least said about that drive the better other than Sharpie had Frankie and me trailing in his wake and we all pulled up to the Priory far quicker than expected. But unfortunately it wasn't to be, no bites no fish and with forecasts coming in of heavy snow I decided to break for home and get past the higher ground before the snow came, eventually calling it a day at around 3 a.m. 


A long long way for a couple of doggies. That had me waiting for better weather and march was spent in tying rigs and sorting out the gear generally.

April

After a spell of several weeks without a trip I was determined to get out a lot in April both locally and further afield. First trip was to be my first Skate trip on the Creagallan from Oban organised by Sultzer. The weather was glorious and we were soon out in the Firth of Lorne with big baits out all round. In short order Frankie's ratchet was first to go and soon it was evident that he had a decent skate on. This was my fist experience of skate fishing and watching Frankie battle had me wondering if I really wanted to hook up myself :) It was almost an hour before we all got a glimpse of the beauty Frankie had on.

And once to the surface it was not long before a New PB (208lbs) was landed for Frankie. I never managed my own but it was a fabulous trip and the look of relief/achievement/joy on Frankie's face has me determined to land my own in 2012.






















Next trip I was fishing for much smaller flatties in the Tay, some size difference! Still it was an enjoyable trip with my old man.

Easter weekend was a trip back to Loch Sunart aboard Sharpies boat get Shorty. I had a shore session on the Friday then met Sharpie and Ian in the evening for some beers and a day afloat on the Saturday. Lovely view and good craic but a double blankety blank for me and the only catch for anyone all weekend was a solitary languistine for Sharpie.

April and the first quarter of the year ended with the Royal nuptials and another bank holiday. A wee flattie bash on my todd was the order of the day and back to Wormit bay for a few flounders.

May

Early May was another planned trip west with some of the North East lads Manny, Rauri, Tony Master et el. Staying just south of Fort William for a couple of nights. I'd been looking forward to it for ages but this was another trip plagued by bad weather. First night was fishing at Loch Linnhe near Corran followed by a a session near the mouth of Loch Etive. Nothing for me but some nice spurs and thornies were landed. Next day was Lochaline and the Sheep shed and again blanksville everyone blanked at Lochaline and a horrible thunder and lightening storm drove us back to our digs. And I decided to call it and went home.

June

After a couple more flattie bashes at Wormit and Arbroath it was time for the arrival of the chief teat puller Mr Malky Udderman for a tour of the East and North East with me and Sharpie, now that trip epic in nature cannot really be edited down so I've added the links to the original posts. (Operation Udderman: A beach too far!; Part-1; Part-2; Part-3) Suffice to say excellent trip great fun and a highlight of the year.

July

A trip to my favourite spot on Loch Linnhe and then a visit to Malky was the plan for July. As usual Loch Linnhe produced for me with some nice thornies (target for the day) and a Grey Gurnard.

Down at Malky's later in the month he introduced us the the 'over the hill' mark which had produced a wide range of fish for him over the past few weeks but alas nowt for us.

That followed by a flattie bash on a local beach that had the fastest tide I had experienced. Virtually jogging up the beach with gear and bait to keep ahead of the tide going in. Once again Malky and his udderling Paul showed the way with a few nice flounders. Next day a trip to Mull of Galloway never really produced we got our marks mixed up and went left instead of right and only had a few doggies to show for it. Still lesson learn, when on new ground make sure you know where to go in advance!

August

August was to be the month of the mini, inspired by catch reports and chats with some other mini species aficionados I decided to see what was about locally. First of was Arbroath cliffs, thought being put out the mini rod and do a bit of spinning/float fishing as well. Nothing on the float and a single large mackie to a jellyworm/leadhead combo left the mini rod to be the redeemer of the session. After playing about with rigs and hook size I finally caught my first mini a wee Shanny. Common enough but it was fun winkling them out of the nooks and crannies with the wee rod and light line.


Next it was Cellardyke harbour for a lot more shannies and another first for me of an LSSS. God ugly was invented for them!

Growing up in Boarhills I love my trips to Fife and hope for many more visits in 2012.

September

A wrasse trip to Fife turned into a very short session with only a single LSSS to show for it. Wrasse are really my bugbear species. Several planned trips for them this year and last have all gone tits up. Getting into some decent wrasse fishing is a big wish for 2012.

September was also another road trip with Mr Sharpe blighted for the first couple of days at least with pretty hellish weather. Rain and wind, I seem to talk about them as much as fishing! Still over a couple of days we managed two sessions at the Priory one at the Windsock , with Big Al, one on Loch Linnhe and one on Loch Leven. Lots of lead, bait and hooks flying but not a lot on the fish front, though Sharpie managed 4 or 5 species and only doggy for me :(

October

Then it was the day of the Help for Heroes meet at St Cyrus. A great turn out from the members of Shoreangler and a great days fishing was had by all. Nobody blanked and there were several folk with large catches, over 200 fish to 23 anglers. Flounders and dabs making the majority but not forgetting Arthur's grand turbot. All that and £259.50 raised.

At the end of the month a trip to Fife to meet Sandy to see if there were any early coddies about. not to be unfortunately but a coalie saved the blank and I have a new mark I can fish with my dodgy knee if we ever get any Easterlies.

November

Early in the month was another couple of trips with Sandy, one shore and one on his boat. The shore trip was a blank unfortunately but I did get a free shower courtesy of a pop up sprinkler head on the golf course we crossed to one mark :) The boat trip a couple of days later spoke volumes to the weather and temperature as among catches of coalies and a couple of cod to Sandy there were still mackies about as well. It was a beautiful day to be out and many thanks to Sandy to having me along.

December

No fishing at all for me in December. It's never easy to find time with the festivities looming, compounded by a dodgy knee. Oh well still lots of time to build rigs and plan for the New Year.

All round it's been a great year and a lot of fun. I've blanked a lot more often than I'd like but I've been out and about trying different things and marks and learned a lot to hopefully make 2012 more productive. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces and getting in among the fishes with the usual suspects.

Tight Lines all have a good Hogmany when it comes.

Slow times in the East Neuk

With a week off looming and hoping to get out fishing 3-4 times I thought it best to get an early start and get out on Saturday. The plan was to meet Sandy (Fife65) somewhere in the East Neuk. On the way over to the mark Sandy phoned to say the swell was too big and the wind increasing to be safe and arranged to meet at an alternative nearby, where I shortly found Sandy having a coffee after getting his hooks in the water. Big hooks with rotten bottom  pulleys were the rig of the day as we were after some coddies.

The sea was fairly rough but not mad and there was a reasonable colour to it which had us hoping even though the weather and water were both unseasonably warm.

The chat flowed but nothing was interested and after a short unfruitful move along the mark a bit we decided to move further away and give the White Pier at Anstruther a bash.

The tide was dropping so we went towards the end of the pier. This time there were a lot of knocks but we were both fairly sure that the culprits were small coalies and not the coddies we were after. Worried about a blank we had a small rod in the inner harbour hoping for flatties or mini species. Sandy was first to beat the blank with an eel pout followed quickly by myself with a wee coalie so at least a double blank beaten.

We fished on for another couple of hours with no more luck.

Help for Heroes - St Cyrus

1 October 2011 and the day of the Help for Heroes meet to raise a few quid for the charity.

Up early doors for the drive p which was done in (at times) torrential rain. Not looking good I thought and it still wasn't any better when I arrived at the meeting place. So out with the kettle for a brew and thankfully by the time I'd finished the rain had almost died.

My concerns of a poor turnout, due to the weather and the Scotland v England game at the Rugby World Cup (least said the better), were thankfully unfounded as 23 folk turned up and paid their dues to fish.  And with that half the anglers jumped into the tractor and trailer that Paul had kindly brought along to give a lift to the far end of the beach.

The other half of us were to be fishing at the South end of the beach. By the time we walked to our spot at the south and set up the rain had stopped altogether and the cloud lifting a bit.

We could see the tractor offloading at the North end of the beach and everyone setting up there at the same time.

I spent the day fishing with Malky and his son Paul having a good laugh all day. Starting off reasonably even but with Paul then firstly then Malky easing away from me in the catching stakes. Best fish for me was a nice 26cm Dab.

Fishing was reasonably steady for all with Flounders to 36cm, Dabs to 30cm an a lovely 40cm Turbot and over 200 fish in total to the 23 anglers.

With everyone putting in to fish the meet and then a small raffle afterwards everyone's generosity raised £259.50 for the Shoreangler Fish for Heroes Team.

Brilliant.

East Neuk - 19/09/2011

Bait - Spoots and Lugworm
Rigs - Simple Paternoster, float
Tide - Over Low Tide
Place - Kimming Rocks


With thoughts of wrasse in mind I set off for Fife to some nice jaggy rocks near Crail to get there about 45 mins before low tide to get out to the deeper water at the end of the rocks. Weather ok, overcast with some blue patches and nothing more than a gentle rolling swell on the sea but as I got out to where I wanted to fish the water was murky brown, not what I wanted.

Still in for a penny and all that, wee rod out with lug tipped with a limpet and the bass rod with a sliding float with a spoot on it, close into the rocks. A couple of casts to get the depth set right and I let it bobble about in the tide keeping a close eye on it.

After an hour with nothing to show on either rod I was getting a bit restless, when my float started to take we dips. Nothing spectacular but a bit of interest at least. Slack taken and at the next dip a wee strike and some weight on the line but no sign of a fish. Weed I thought, till I got the hook up and landed an edible crab. A fair size but still undersized for eating unfortunately. I reckon it must have been on its tip toes just reaching for the bait to make the float dip. If only it had been a bit bigger and I'd have been happy as it was back it went to grow till it was dinner sized.

Shortly after I got a couple of good knocks on my mini rod and landed my only fish on the day a nice ugly blank busting bullhead.

Retreating back over the rocks as the tide came in I never got another sniff of a fish and when I lost my float to a snag I decided to pack up. Only a short 2-3 hour session in the end.

On the way home I stopped off at Wormit bay thinking about some flounders but the water was even more dirty here and seeing the water coupled with a massive downpour I decided to get some brownie points and go home early.

Hoping for an other couple of trips this week though :)

Watching Sharpie catch fash Part 3

Sunday

4 a.m. came and went with a brief return to consciousnesses only to find the rain pouring down again and no signs of life from the other two so turned over for some extra kip.

Come 7 a.m. the weather was nice again but the tide was ripping through once again. We all decided to call it quits so unfortunately a triple Wind Sock blank was the result!

With Big-Al homeward bound Sharpie and I were off north again to Loch Linnhe or Leven for more fashing. Stopping first at the brilliant Onish Post office for brekkie.

Now at this point and wary of a whole weekend long blank I suggested the picnic area on Loch Linnhe to try to get a doggie for me at least! When we arrived there was one guy spinning who only had a single small pollock to show for his efforts.

Still expecting a load of doggies we just fished one rod each. And lots of doggies it was, well for Mr Sharpe! I had plenty of sharp knocks on the rod but nothing was hooking up. Then finally something on the line is it just a huge clump of weed or actually a fish. Clump of weed it is, but hey ho want is that a tiny wee doggie as well surfing in amongst the weed. Closer, closer, then to fall off the hook just before I grab the trace to let it go. A few choice words later and with Sharpie getting a bit bored of hauling in doggies and a foul hooked dab to boot. Off we moved to another mark for possibility of thornies.

Of we went and 20 mins later we were unpacking the gear again. With only about three hours left of the weekend fishing two rods it was as the thought of going home with not a bloody sausage caught for so many hours put in was too much to contemplate.

The previous form started again with Sharpie landing doggies whilst I got bites and reeled in clean hooks. Still with loads of bait left there was plenty of fresh(ish) stuff so no need to scrimp. And the persistance payed off with a wee doggies finally coming in. Plenty times doggies have saved my blank but not in a spectactular weekend long blank like this!

Shortly after sharpie got the call he was dreading, back to work, so it was rods way. Thinking he had a large lump of weed on reeling in his last rod shapie was pleased to find a reasonable sized thornie.

And that was that as they say for the weekend, 1 spurrie, 1 thornie and 100's of doggies to sharpie and 1 single solitary doggie for me. An enjoyable weekend oot and aboot but probably the most miserable fishing I've had since starting up again last year. Sharpie used to joke I was his jinx, I think this weekend proves it is the other way around lol.

Watching Sharpie catch fash Part 2

Saturday 3 September 2011

Up at 5 a.m. to find the rain still on but definitely less forceful. Baits quickly out and kettle on the boil, keeping an eye out for a break in the weather so we could break camp as dryly as possible. We eventually fished till about 9 a.m. before the rain stopped and in all that time neither of us had the fainest rattle. So it was tents and gear into the van and off to Oban for a fry up (not the cheapest but good quality).

After a few stops to recce some possible new (for us) marks we went to Taynuilt pier meet Big-Al to see if we could get any mackies. None to be had but thankfully Al had caught a few on the way up. So of it was to the Wind Sock.

New mark for me, but again not one that turned out to be fruitful on the day. Weed and tide getting the better of us. A few tangles and retrieved crack offs later the lack of any action had us combing the lowtide mark. A few goby's and butterfish under rocks and millions of crabs were an interesting aside. Sharpie retrieved around a dozen sinkers and rigs.

When the tidal rip got really bad the fishing was knocked on the head temporarily and we retired to the camp and planned to start again early morning over the next low tide. So a couple of beers, food and chat it was to be for now. Al's face was a picture when he found out just how hot the sauce in his donner pot noodle was! And sharpie must have a mouth and stomach of iron as he went on to finish the lot.

As the moths etc started to gather round the lights we noticed bats flitting about us. It was pretty cool watching them as they swooped round and between us only inches away at times. After a while though we all felt the need for some shut eye and turned in with the intention of getting up at 4 a.m. to hit the low tide. On turning in I found out that I seemed to have pitched my tent on a cobbled street as there seemed to be more rocks than grass under my tent. Despite the discomfort I was quickly out for the count.

Watching Sharpie catch fash Part 1

Friday 2 September 2011

The plan for last weekend was to head to somewhere on Etive and meet up with Sharpie and Big-Al, hopefully for a decent spurrie session.

Sharpie was going to pick me up as he is working nearby currently and as luck would have it he finished early so we were off to Etive on the Friday night as well as the Saturday. With Big-Al wanting to fish the Windsock on Saturday we opted for the priory. Partially as it has been a productive mark for Sharpie but mostly as it is easy access to the van and ground we knew so we could pitch our camp easily enough in the dark.

It was just starting to rain as we arrived so first priority was to get the tents up and the gear inside without getting wet, which we both managed just before the heavens opened. Still it was only about 9ish and we were determined to get some fishing in despite the weather's determined effort to deter us. And it was quickly so two rods out each and waiting on the bites. As we had not actually planned to get out that night the tides was not best placed and almost at high tide as we started to fish and being a large tide we were quickly fishing on the grass by the time high tide was reached.. But we noticed that there were 100's of crabs, big and small, right round our feet and we were actaually accidentally standing on them quite often due to the sheer amount. Due to the poor fishing I actually resorted to dropping in wee bits of washed out bait and watching them scuttle about. I'm usually cursing crabs for stripping out but they actually were quite amusing to watch for a while.

By the back of midnight Sharpie had a one spur (round the 3lb mark) and a LSD and all I had was one decent feeling/fighting fish lost in a snag so we decided to get some shut eye and get up around low tide.

Mair Mini's

Bait - Prawn and Lugworm
Rigs - Sliding Float & Paternoster
Tide - Mid Tide >>>High
Place - Cellardyke

After the successful(ish) first attempt at mini species at Arbroath cliffs a couple of weeks back  I thought another bash at expanding the mini species list was in order. Especially good preparation for the Skate trip next week :)

I'd asked my wife to come along in the vain hope of getting her interested in fishing (a bit) so it was to be an easy spot and my first thought was Anstruther. So with the car packed we were off at the crack of lunchtime, but when we got to Anster harbour it seemed that there was some sort of gala on with pipe bands etc. Though both piers were empty bar a couple of folk we could see fishing we couldn't find anywhere to park up. So Cellardyke was the next choice quick drive over to find a parking space right next to the harbour wall.

So a quick trot along the wall to the end to find a nice calm see and that the tide was in just far enough to fish without venturing down to the rocks.

Had the mini rod out with a two hook paternoster (size 4 and 6 hooks) and a sliding float rig on the bass rod (size 1). Hoping for anything on the mini rod and wrasse on the float rod.

Quite quickly the mini rod was tugging in my hands and as I reeled in I could see a double shot coming up in the shallow water and two shanny's (I think) quickly appeared.

One bigger...

and one smaller...

Mini rod was re-baited and I passed it to Alison to see if she could catch her first fish. Time to take in the very neglected float rig expecting the bait to have been stripped only to find a lump I firstly mistook for some seaweed masking the hook. On closer inspection it turned out to be my first Sea Scorpion (Long Spined I think but not sure) so another species for this years list :)

Ugly beggar.

At this point my wife piped up 'something is tugging on the line' so I told her to reel it in and lo and behold another shanny made it's starring appearance as her first catch.

It was a lovely day, bit breezy, but we could only stay a couple of hours before heading home. I did try spinning for a while after I saw some gulls diving quite close in but never had any interest at all. Still a very enjoyable short session and a big difference from the skate trip planned for next week.

A few more pics.

  

Arbroath Cliffs - 06-08-2011

Bait - Prawns
Rigs - Jelly Worms and free lining
Tide - High >>>Low
Place - Arbroath cliffs


Not having had a trip out in a while (busy and bad weather) I had been keeping an eye on the weather forecast closely over the last couple of days. The plan was up early doors for a mornings fishing off the cliffs and back home in time to watch the Scotland -v- Ireland rugby match. So it was happy days waking up to overcast dry weather with little wind.


Up and out quick smart just light gear for spinning/float fishing and my mini rod for my first bash at mini species. Travelling light for the cliffs. Fairly uneventful trip to Arbroath apart from as I was driving through Dundee something caught the corner of my eye  just after I turned onto the Arbroath road. Turned out to be a Sparrow Hawk mantling over prey. Nice sight in the city.


Parking up at Vicky Park and a short walk up an over the cliffs to the mark I'd decided to fish at. I was glad to find the sea fairly calm just a gentle rolling swell and fairly clear. Not quite gin clear maybe more cloudy lemonade :)

So it was out with a flapper with mini hooks firstly, then to toby spinner on the other rod. After a fruitless 15 mins or so I decided to change the spinner for a red tailed jelly worm and a lead head. The change did the trick, first cast of the jelly bang mackie.

I thought that I might get a few to stock up on bait and a couple for tea. Not to be unfortunately. It was my first time using lead heads and jellies so I don't know if it was something in my technique but I just couldn't connect with anything else. I did feel several more fish hit the lure but no more hook ups. Maybe just smaller fish, but they didn't feel like it.


I wasn't having any better luck with the small rod/hooks until at one point as I re-baited it I noticed something take the washed out bait I had thrown in on the other side of the rock from where I was casting. After breaking a prawn up and dropping the bits down the side, I could see that there were quite a number of small fish coming out the rocks and from under the sea weed. I decided to take off the flapper rig I had been using and put a single size 8 hook on the 5 lb line I was using. After a couple of false starts I was fairly quickly in with what I think is a Shanny.

I was pretty chuffed as it was my first ever mini species. 

Pretty fun trying to winkle them out of the nooks and crannys. I ended up with about a dozen or so before I left for home and the rugby.

Casa del Udderman

After our trip up to Sharpies it was time for the next leg and for Sharpie and me to go down to Malky's.

Sharpie picked me up around 6 a.m. and after a pitstop for rolls and coffee we quickly headed off on the road. The plan was to arrive around 10 and have lines in the water for 11.

And so it was after bacon rolls and more coffee we headed off over the hill at Malky's. Cracking spot and Malky is a lucky man having a fishing spot like that on his doorstep. Over the dyke and down the slope out to the rocks, Comfortable fishing for three folk.

 Recently Malky has had some great catches there, but unfortunately it was not to be. For the 4 hours we spent there we only had 2 bites on the 5 bait rods we had out, and I had one small bass (I think) rise at my spinner. So sunbathing and banter it was before we climbed the hill again to be fed and watered (lovely stew courtesy of Mrs Udderman).

Then off for the evenings flattie bash, the stroll down to the beach was not as long as anticipated and nice and flat. The coolness of the evening making for a pleasant walk and mare banter.

The speed of the incoming tide was far quicker than I have experienced before. I was just dropping my rigs at the waters edge and walking back. Quite quickly having let out 200 yards of line before rebaiting.

Still as far as fish were concerned Malky's son, with a flounder, followed by Malky's couple of flounders were the only to be had for the evening. Still nice walk, good company and a few fish for Malky and his laddie.


There was a lot of discussion as to where to go the day after. A few rock marks locally were discussed, but we eventually decided to head down to the Mull of Galloway.

So after a hearty breakfast courtesy of Malky it was off on a quest for fash, and being on a blank any fash at all! We quickly found the rock mark we had decided upon and got the baits out. The weather continued to be glorious and was possibly partially responsible for the fish being shy. Malky pulled in a steady stream for doggies whilst Sharpie and I just sunbathed and rebaited occasionally!

Sharpie was the first of the visiting team to catch bringing in a small LSD. I've seen them curl up regularly, but this was the first I had seen already curled up on the way in lol.

I didn't have too long to wait to get my own blank off. Again a small LSD. Followed on my last cast with another.

It was soon time for a change of mark after a pitstop for some scran.

Unfortunately it was the same story no fish and plenty of crabs as we fished the tide in at the new mark. Still I got in some good casting practice. We were all planning another days fishing but after some broken sleep it we all decided to call it a day and head off home.

Despite the poor fishing as ever it was great to get out and about and have a couple of banter filled days. Big thanks to Malky and his clan for the food and board, great hospitality.

Looking forward to the next round...