Oban Skate Trip 2013 - Day One

Day One

Well the weekend past was one I had been waiting for eagerly for weeks and also with some trepidation due to the adverse weather forecast more recently. On Saturday morning I met with Jason (Sultzer) and we traveled down to Oban fairly uneventfully but constantly the chat kept going back to the weather. When we arrived at Oban there was a fresh southerly blowing.

We quickly geared up and made our way to the slip to speak to Colin, the skipper of the M.V. Creagallan, to find out his thoughts on the wind which was forecast to pick up. His mind was to sail out beyond the point for a look, then either go to the skate marks or Etive if it didn't look favourable. We set off once the rest of the anglers had appeared, one of Jay's colleagues Pete and his son Callum and the three Morecambe boys (Dave, Paul and Terry), Dave had one the Skate trip as a raffle prize held for last years Sick Kids Comp. The wind and swell were not bad enough to send us steaming into Etive but it was going to turn into a bouncy trip from time to time. After anchoring in the lee of a headland in about 130m of water we got the first baits (usual selection of mackies, squid, bluey and rainbow trout to start) down and waited. A couple of rods with small hooks also were put down to see what else might be about.

By and large there was just a roll on board but the odd period of larger swell did spill round the corner to make it a bit uncomfortable from time to time. It was a slow morning, but as often when the fishing is slow the banter is quick and there was a good atmosphere on board with everyone getting on and having a great laugh. One of the small rods went (first bite on anything of the day shortly before lunch and Jay handed the rod to Callum the young lad on board. He was delighted when he landed a spur of about 3-4 lbs, not a massive one but his first 'shark' :) I think a new sea fishing addiction has been started.

Just after this I decided to bring in my light rod as the tide run had really picked up and it was hard to hold bottom. A small extra weight on the line when I reeled in but I just thought that was just the tide so was delighted when I saw a blackmouth dogfish come over the side. The only species I particularly wanted to catch that weekend bar the skate. A really cool wee thing of about 3/4 lb.

With the wind a swell starting to build about 13:30 the skipper called for one last re bait before we would have to move to beat the tide turning and do a bit of general fishing somewhere more sheltered. One of the whiting I had caught onboard in Feb came to hand and down it went, first time we had used that bait that day. Jason and I had gone into the wheelhouse to speak to Colin and have a sarnie when about 15 mins later  a long strong run on a ratchet. Ooooh some action finally. Out of the wheelhouse to find that it was my rod that had gone (lovely wee whiting). Another couple of small runs, tightening up the line to set the hook and skate on, yeehaa.

Now there were five skate virgins out of seven anglers aboard so as this was likely the only hook up we were going to get all weekend (due to worsening weather) I decided to do the generous thing offer the rod to the first to step forward. This led to silence and five worried looks around at each other (they all still claim they immediately lept to their collective feet :)). I was up for this, one more ask before the I shut the door and took the fight myself. Second time round Terry, one of the Morecambe boys, stepped up to the plate and took up the strain. Lots of pissing taking ensued as he felt the weight and strength of the fish on the line. It was a feisty bugger but he dealt with it well. Dave took the strain a couple of times to give Terry a wee rest but even so it was off the bottom and over the gunnel in a little over 30 mins. A nice 112lb male, which had obviously been caught recently as there was a clean gaff mark visible as it came to the side.

Quickly measured, a few photos and safely back in the water to swim strongly off. Great sight as ever with the skate coming aboard then flicking its tail back to the depths. As was the grins round the boat as not only were there five skate virgins but this was the first encounter any of them had with a common skate. Pics and videos are great but not a patch on the real thing. I have to say I was a tad nervous I'd given a PB away but seeing Terry and is pals so happy with the skate  I was so glad I hadn't been selfish.

We then moved into a shallower and more sheltered bay on the way back but with no luck for the hour or so we spent there. Still we were all ready to get back for a beer and a slap up roast dinner kindly cooked by Pete (it was unexpected and excellent, roast pork and all the trimmings), then a few more beers and fishy chat in the pub. Slow fishing but a really great fun day, what would day two bring.

Cormorant 0 - Squid Ink 1

Another day on the Tay on Friday.

I'd arranged to meet Jason (Sultzer) to square up for next weekend's Skate trip (please weather gods be good to us!) so a wee session together seemed appropriate. Plan was 3 hours up and one down. There wasn't much wind but what there was was bitter. Mid April and still wrapped up. Jason arrived shortly after me and Brian appeared a bit later, but as there were little or no bites most of the session was spent chatting about last years skate trip and whether the weather was going to be kind next weekend. By half five only Brian had had a fish, a flounder of about an ounce.

Being freezing and with little fishy interest I decided on two casts then home. Shortly after casting out a new bait my rod started nodding furiously. As I took the rod up I felt bump bump bump, fish on. Then as I looked up I turned to Jay and said I think I've got that bloody cormorant. But just as I said that it popped back to the surface. Phew no just a fish on until we watched the cormorant duck dive again and my rod go mental. Up to the surface it came again but this time with the fish I'd hooked into in its beak. Bloody hell! I was determined not to leave with a blanker because of a sea bird. A short tug of war later and the cormorant gave up and flew off and I could see a flash of silver coming in to the wall. Not a biggie only about half a pound. And that was it for the afternoon, we all packed up with only the two fish between us. Very slow for the time of year.

Sunny but slow day at Elliot beach

Elliot Beach, Arbroath

With the weather being lovely and sunny and dare I say it a tad warmer than normal I decided to take the opportunity to get out and flex the rods for the first time in a month. I decided to try for a flounder or two over low but just couldn't decide where to head, East Neuk, St Andrews pier, the Tay, Arbroath or St Cyrus. In the end I plumped for Elliot Beach as I hadn't been in a while. Low tide was just after six and I planned to fish two down two up but my impatience to head off turned it into three down one up.

I parked at the back of the golf course and when I crossed the railway crossing found a wooden walk walkway has been put over the back of the  dunes similar to the one at St Cyrus. Good quality and ends right at the top of the dunes, all good. A nice calm sea greeted me and after scanning the beach I decided to go down right and fish what looked to be a wee sand gully. I was pretty hopeful of some fish, but decided to fish one rod close in and fire the other one out (more as casting practice than any hope but you never know).

A wee flounder

The first few baits came back untouched but I was un-surprised as the sea was more coloured than I had hoped and still bloody freezing. At least the air temp was nice, the sun was shining and the dog walkers all had good control of their animals and let me be a good day to be outside all told. After about an hour things started to look better as some bites started showing through and I landed a wee 19cm flounder. Perfectly lip hooked, a quick photo and he was put back to grow up. But rather than being the start of things it was the end. That wee guy must've been responsible for all the bites as once he was caught they stopped. An other three hours of no bites. Still I got some good casting practice in between staring at a stationary rod tip.

Beady Eye

I would have liked to stay and fish the whole tide up but when the sun set the temp plummeted and I realised I had made the error of not bringing warmer gear to fish the darkness so off home it was with the single flounder. No blank and a nice day out at least.

Product Review - Gemini Splashdown Solo’s

I first tried these about a year ago after they were suggested to me by a friend who used the integrated splashdown sinker.  I had a problem with pulley rigs unclipping just as I cast causing the bait to helicopter, losing distance and harming bait presentation. 

Like many good products these are well engineered and well manufactured. Put the hook into the slot, pull down at the bottom and the hook is firmly locked in place. Once cast the pressure from hitting the water pushes the bottom back up releasing the hook. I have used this clip many many times over the last year and have never had a single cast unclip inappropriately or fail to unclip correctly.  And whilst I am a modest caster at the best of times using the Gemini Splashdown Solo immediately put 10-15 yards on my cast due to the extra confidence my rig wasn’t going to unhook. They now go onto every single snood clipped rig I make intended for light or medium ground; bombers; pulleys; up and over.  I tend not to use them over the rough stuff as I like my rigs to have minimal snag points and, though reasonably priced at £2ish for five, when reusing over and over again they could prove pricey if going through 5-10 a session fishing heavy ground for cod or the like.

If I had one suggestion it would be to make an additional bigger size as occasionally it would be nice use them on a rig with 5/0+ hooks which are a bit big to fit.

My opinion is that for any single snood clipped rig they are the business.

 

A wee while in Wormit

All week I'd been starting out the window at work at the lovely sunny blues skies and wishing I was off fishing. With things not to busy I decided to take a half day and pop over the rail bridge for an afternoon on the Fife side of the Tay. My plan was to fish most of the tide up and was soon as the chosen spot about 2 hours after low. The usual set up one big rod out far and the bass rod in close.

Soon after I had the first to two casts out and was busy chopping some baits up I heard a funny noise behind me and turned to find a fairly big swan had come up to give me the once over. A fairly comical 30 mins ensued as I tried to shoo it off and it kept coming round the back off me and nicking bluey I'd cut up to re-bait. Beautiful thing to see up close but made me a bit nervy when spreading it's wings and hissing at you. I finally got it to go away by chucking a few bits of bait as far as I could to my left. It was a photogenic beggar but I was happy to see it head off as I knew the first hour or so I was there was probably the best chance of catching and I'd been missing bites left right and whilst doing the swan dance.

A quick re-bait and the bites were still coming fast and often on the close in rod. I missed a couple of rod folders as I was still keeping too close an eye on swany who was still hanging around just not up close and personal. I was starting to think it was going to be one of those days. Next cast I put into the votex behind a boulder that was just about to be covered over by the rising tide. No sooner was the rod back in the tripod when bang bang fish on, finally! Quite fun on light braid and a bass rod, but this one was coming in and after a wee struggle a lovely bar o silver came in. Happy days no blank. A quick photo and back to the murky Tay it went.

I was there another 2.5 hours and moved to a few different spots but not so much as another nibble. Still it was a really cracking day to be out and not at work, but  still no smelt, so will be back soon.