Bait gathering in style

Well after an aborted attempt a couple of weeks ago due to the weather Gordon invited me out on his boat to fill up the freezer with mackerel for bait and maybe a cod or two.

Zooming over to Anstruther harbour after work I met Gordon and we were soon on the way. After a few fruitless drifts to see if there were any coddies about Gordon took us out to deeper water to get some mackies. They were still about in large numbers taking only 2 seconds to drop the hooks down to have them filled. Only 5 mins or so and there were about 60 mackies aboard. 120 nice fillets for bait to be frozen down.

Gordon then moved back to ground that he thought should hold as cod or two despite the small tides. Not the busiest trip bar the mackies but no blank for either of us. A wee suicidal coalie for Gordon and a 2lb odd codling for me.

Light fading we made our way back to Anstruther. Nice couple of hours blethering with Gordon and heading home with a cool box full of bait which I bagged up in to hand session sized portions. Thanks again to Gordon.

Oban Skate trip 2013 - Day Two

Day Two 

Day two dawned to find Oban Bay gray and overcast, wet and very gusty. Pete and the Morecombe lads started my cooking breakfast for half of Oban :) Sausages, eggs, bacon, beans, toast, fried bread, fried onions and mushrooms in mountainous piles. I seriously do not know where Pete puts it as he had a massive prawn curry after the pub the night before as well.

The morning was actually better wind speedwise than the day before but it was from a slightly more awkward direction and was due to increase more steadily than the day before. As discretion is the better part of valor Colin the skipper decided we were Etive bound as it would be too uncomfortable/dangerous to head out to the skate marks. We were all a wee bit deflated but not too much as it was expected all round to be honest and there is no excuse to push things.

Still a day in Etive was a good second choice and we were expecting a fair days fishing. Steaming round the corner to Etive we firstly anchored up just before the connel bridge. This spot has produced some decent spurs before and it did again today. Young Callum was first in I think, followed by his Dad, Pete, then Neil (who had joined us for the Sunday trip) all with spurdogs in the 2-4lb bracket. It was nice and sheltered here but you could tell that the wind was starting to bow and that the correct decision had been made to fish Etive. Paul then had a Lesser Spotted Doggie and Terry another spurrie aboard. Jay then caught a thornie so small the wind blew it of his hook when he lifted it out the water, but it gave a fair few kicks on the way up that made us think it was another spurrie.

I hooked up a belter of a feeling fish that was giving a real fight on my light rod. I stupidly got distracted and allowed the line to slacken off and with a last knock it was off. I'm still gutted at my stupidity as I genuinely think that was a big spur. Definitely a pb (currently 6lb) and possibly a doubler.

I was still feeling like an idiot as we upper anchor and moved into the loch to another mark after a short fruitless drift. The next stop was mid loch near to the Priory. Hopes were to bag a few thornies here and maybe some other of the Etive regular or irregular species. It wasn't to be, after an hour or so of no bites at all and little crab action we moved on to another point. Dave was getting pelters and starting to get nervy as he was the only person onboard on a weekend blanker.

Next stop produced no fish either and baits were getting torn to pieces by crabs with the odd one or two coming aboard until this crab ball appeared. Six or seven crabs made it to the surface, god knows how many might have been on the bait when it was 100 ft down. I knew that Etive could be bad for crabs destroying bait but I've never seen so many crabs. After a decent start to the day it was looking a bit bleak, pretty slow few bites and fewer hook up and fish landed. All sorts of baits and hook sizes were going down but to no avail. Still a lot of banter round the boat and know one was downbeat as it was still better to be out trying to catch.

As the tide would be running there again the skipper moved us back to near the original mark with a couple of hours of the trip left. The wind was howling now and rain coming periodically so the boat was moving at anchor quite a lot so it was pretty difficult to hold bottom. So it was a nice surprise when a few spurs started to come aboard.

I had a few wee niggley bites then which I thought were whiting then got a decent bite and hook up which I thought was a small spur. But was pretty surprised to find a mackie on my line which had taken a mackie bait, cannibal :)) Quickly dispatched and cut up as fresh bait before I managed to get a wee photo. Not to mind everyone has seen one lol. One last fish was to come aboard and the best of the day as it turned out an 8lb spur for Neil. We weighted it in a sling and were surprised it was quite as heavy as it was but it was a chunky monkey.

And that was the weekend, super fun time but slow fishing, ah well next time is bound to be a bonanza, isn't it???

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.

A week in Gairloch

With the family congregating in a holiday house (Lochside Cottage) for a week the rods were packed for a few wee sessions when I could sneak out.

In front of Lochside Cottage

Lochside cottage panorama

Long Spined Sea Scorpion

Stu and Me, Lochside Rocks

First full day in the house after we'd all got unpacked my dad, brother and I decided to have a wonder down to the rocks in front of the house to see if there was anything doing fishwise. Three spinning rods plus my mini species rod. A wee bit cool when we got down but there were a few birds working the water which made us hopeful of a few mackies at least for the pan and as bait. Walking up and down the shore a few 100 yards there were big differences in the depth (around high tide) from just inches to 20+ feet. Whilst Dad and Stu started with feathers and spinners I scavenged a few mussels and put out the mini rod before joining them hunting macks. It was to be a short few casts only and the lack of any fish shortened it a bit. Wee bit disappointing as a fish fest on the door step would have been a treat. Luckily for me the mini species beat my blank with a lovely ugly wee sea scorpion.



Sands Rocks

Sands Beach and Rocks



Me on the rocks



Next morning with the family going for a walk along the beach with the twins I decided to go ahead and have a few casts and to scout around a bit more. Nice deep water and kelp on one side with shallower water and sand on the other. Looked very very fishy to me. I had very little bait yet so again opted for spinning (jelly worm) and mini species rod with a few more scavenged mussels. Having packed light I made the most and had a few casts and moved round the rocks regularly. First few spots were deep, rocky and full of kelp but alas no fish, no bites no nothing. Bit disappointing but  was the way. As the tide was rising I had to move round a bit as the front of the rocks are enclosed around mid tide (very large and safe in calm seas but I did not have the time to stay). I found another likely spot at the back with a very wide deep kelp filled gully. Again out with the jelly worms and in with the mini species rods. Same outcome with nothing taking the lures had a few knocks on the mini rod that had me hoping for a flattie or a small coalie or pollock only to find a bait robbing crab which was followed by several more. First blanker of the holiday. Still think that there are fish there lol.

Gairloch Harbour

Gairloch Harbour

Wee Sea Trout



After a trip to Red Point on the south side of Gairloch and failing to find a way to the rocks at  Port Henderson, I wanted to try for pollock, on the way. I decided to pull in the harbour at Gairloch and try for mackies and minis. Pier was reasonably full with family groups of holiday makers mostly with wee rods spinning with mepps or the like so I had to set up further down the pier that I'd have liked. I could see lots of mackies were being caught along the pier end but I had nothing at all from my first dozen casts or so. I was glad when eventually I felt the feathers tagged and the rod get heavy as I only wanted a few macks as bait. Fullhouse of four was enough for me, one filleted there and then and some tiny wee baits cut up to see if there were any minis under the pillings. Straight away the baits were all being hammered very quickly and stripped, coalies were my thought but over the next half hour I was proved wrong as I pulled in tiny pollock after tiny pollock along with one wee sea trout. Was fun on the light gear but I had hoped for wrasse and blennies but none to be had. 

Portia of Poole

Portia of Poole in Gairloch Harbour

Going for a different tack we decided to book a trip out on one of the charters based in Gairloch Harbour North West Cruises. Being tight timewise we couldn't book a day trip so a three hour general fishing afternoon trip it was. First off cracking boat to fish from lots of room as it has a nice wide beam giving a lot of deck space and a great couple of guys, skipper Jody and Dee, running the boat. Plan was to get some mackies as bait and then  move to ground that should hold ling and pollock.


Gairloch is a stunning place and the steam out to Longa Island near the mouth was a great opportunity to see the landscape from a different angle. Once we'd stopped the whole boat was quickly into mackerel. Really small for the most part but the odd monster was landed. It soon became a bit of a game to try to get through the wee macks to get the the bigger ones that were obviously at the bottom of the shoal. To be fair not many biggies were caught as the wee ones were kamikazeing themselves on everyone's hooks. My brother got a couple of the biggest that were both 1lb+ and into the bait box they went.

My First Ling

After a short while on the mackerel we moved over the otherside of the loch's mouth to fish over ground that should throw up some ling. Hokkais with the freshly caught mackerel went down into much deeper water. Fishing just off the bottom I could fell a lot of bites but was missing them (maybe just tiddlers nibbling the bait) until fairly quickly I connected with a good bite and landed a small ling of 1lb or so. Delighted as it was my first ling ever. Re-bait and hooks back down and I quickly doubled my ling count with a bigger one of 3-4lbs. I was a happy camper but no one else had had a sniff one that patch so it was another move to some reef's that the skipper said should hold some decent pollock. Baited hokkai's and a jelly worm on a boom were the tactics here. Quite quickly another species was onboard when my dad got a triple shot of coalies a few more were landed round the boat, before a young lad behind us had his rod fold on him and with no help (other than getting it over the side) landed a decent pollock of 4-5lbs. That was quickly followed by 2-3lb'er to another guy on the opposite side of the boat and a small 1-2lb'er for myself. All the time a few larger macks were still coming into the boat, then shortly before our time would be up my brother's rod took a massive knock and he had obviously connected with something nice and big as his rod was nod, nod nodding and had me thinking decent cod. But unfortunately after having it on for about 10-15 seconds it was off and away leaving my brother somewhat peeved to put in lightly. A few more fish caught, but nothing of note before we were off back to harbour. A really enjoyable trip the only pity being we couldn't get out for longer.

Gairloch Harbour

Stu and me Gairloch Harbour

That evening my sister in-law (fueled by the tales from that afternoon's trip I think) fancied going down to the harbour to try and catch something. A few folk on the harbour but not as many as the previous day so all three of us had room closer to the end of the pier. From the off it didn't look great as there wasn't any catches from those that were there already and a couple of seals patrolling around. Still it was a good chance for Lynsey to get to grips with casting and there was always the possibility of the macks appearing at any point. First cast Lynsey caught a street light and second cast the pier :D. There were a couple of very very small (almost mini species size) mackerel caught at the pier end but that was it for the whole time that we were there for the 8 or so rods that were fishing. Still over the course of the hour and a half or so Lynsey's casting improved greatly and we all had a good craic. But it was soon time to get back to relieve my folks who were looking after Stu and Lynsey's twins (and open a cold beer) so pack to HQ it was without a sniff of a fish for the three of us.

Portia of Poole trip 2

Motoring between Marks

After missing a really good fish my brother was very keen to book another trip out with North West Cruises and Dad and I did not take much convincing. As there were a few younger kids on the trip we could make it was only going to be two hours out fishing but in the same format, some mackies for bait then general fishing primarily hopefully for ling and pollock again. This was a trip I'll long remember but not for the fishing (although good for a short trip) but the unexpected visitors... To start with it was a similar trip to the last one with mackies coming thick and fast as well as coalies (a triple shot of coalies puts a fair bend in yer rod! Much more than similar sized macks).

Dashing Dolphin (photo courtesy of Dad)

As we were all reeling in to move on Stu caught a splash further out in the loch and as we all turned to look saw several dolphins breach a few hundred yards away. Fishing forgotten for now we moved over to a parallel course to them (giving then a fair distance as they obviously had young). That distance wasn't good for them as they wanted to play and they rushed over to play in our bow wave. One minute fishing for mackerel next surrounded by 20-30 dolphins arcing around the boat quite often almost close enough to touch. What an unbelievable experience, I've seen them fairly close from the shore but never in such a close sustained way as from the boat. They were obviously just having a great time cavorting and darting around the boat, amazing how the tiny wee calves keep up the speed of the whole pod. They must be born with rocket packs! And with that they were off chasing mackies for tea, probably a good 20mins or more round the boat, but there was about an hour of fishing left and back to it I went.



I was first in with a ling of about 2 lb, this was followed round the boat with a load of coalies. Things went quiet for a while with lots of rattling bites but no catches till Stu followed by me caught a couple of the bait robbers, pin whiting! Wee buggers. Lots of re baiting with them stealing everything off the hooks quick smart. I never knew I had my last catch of the day when I found I had a little pout when re-baiting. I was happy with four species as we had probably only fished for an hour between the dolphins and moving about marks. Another enjoyable session which had me even more determined to go back for a full day deep sea trip :)

In front of Lochside

Lochside Rocks

View over Gairloch 

My last day I decided to try on the rocks right in front of the house again. With folk spinning off the rocks I wanted to be on I moved a few hundred yards along the coast. First few casts showed that this was very shallow in all directions. Two bait rods, one my ever present mini species rod and my bass rod with a flapper as far out as I could get it. It was a beautiful day and to be honest I wasn't fishing hard and more just sitting on the rocks letting time go by soaking in the scenery and the scarcely glimpsed sun. Once again crabs was all that came ashore and though I would have liked to end on a fish and not a blank it was a lovely couple of hours to end the holiday fishingwise.

Back for more???

Well lots of places I wanted to fish and never managed has left me wanting more, Firemore Bay looked very deep close in at low tide and the beach itself looked likely for a variety of flatfish as did Sands. I never got out to Rhue Rhea lighthouse that looks so pollocky as well. Top of the list of wants is a full day trip on the Portia of Poole with the guys of North West Cruises  out to the back of Skye and Rhona. But it was a superb holiday and pretty good fishwise with five new species for the year (LSSS, Ling, Mackerel, Sea Trout and Pout) countless dozens of mackies and mini pollock, need to go for a fortnight next time.