It’s been a good start to the year, certainly in weather terms even if the fishing has been a little bit quiet. I’m still playing around with the new boat (how long does it take until you can stop calling it the new boat?) a bit more than I’d like but it is slowly but surely getting there. It’s coming out this week for a quick blast and clean (told I could be losing up to 10 knots of the top end so no way it’s getting left till next year now). The final thing is to try replacing 1 more thermostat and see if we can’t get it running a little bit hotter but other than that no complaints. She rides well and is solid as a rock. Compared to Kirsty it feels like fishing on a ship when there’s a bit of chop about. Anyway, on to the fishing.
April as is tradition was most about the shore fishing. Sure I’m not giving any big secrets away here but there are Bass all the way up the west coast, way more that we’ve ever seen, well certainly as long as I’ve been alive. They can be hit and miss, some days there, other days none BUT lure fishing for Bass on the Isle of Man has never been in a better position that it is now. I know from a couple of trips up to Jurby that lots of others think the same, or are at least trying. I’ve never seen so many fishing a remote stretch of beach. Just like with all fishing though there are the right tides and conditions to make catching easier, seeing as how it’s become such a mass participation sport I’ll leave people to figure that bit out for themselves, don’t want to take all the fun away. And remember the limits FFS. Other trip was down to Scarlett where I thought I’d try coming in from the south side, fishing low water. What a massive mistake that was. Took over half an hour scrambling through deep gullies to even get near the water and then when I did the weed is so thick at low water you couldn’t fish it. But you live and learn. Finally I did get 1 trip out in the boat, in fact the new boats first official fishing trip and first fish. As you’d expect there are shit tones of Callig and Coalfish about. With everything going on in the world last year I’m sure there has been less pressure on fish stocks as a whole. Loads and loads of small/medium sized fish and not really anything better. I also headed out in to the depths for a go around the banks but all that turned up was a lot of small Whiting.
May was a better month and managed 5 trips out in the boat. Seeing as the inshore marks are loaded with small fish it was mostly concentrating on the deeper stuff and the on-going search for a line caught Manx Turbot. In May I must have spent close to 20 hours drifting around out there and whilst catching a few species (Whiting, Gurnard, Callig, Coalfish, Mackerel, Herring, Dogfish, Bullhuss, Cod, Haddock) Turbot and anything flat has still alluded me. I will get one on the boat one day, I’ll not give up trying. The last trip of the month was a very windy job and resulted in the anchor going down (another new first on this boat) on to my dads mark. Was looking for Bream but once again the numbers of Callig and Coalies made it a bit of hiding to nothing. So with the wind building it was knocked on the head early and an evening outside the Peveril seemed like a much better idea.
That’s been about it really. As a general picture the waters around the island are loaded with life right now. I’m sure everybody has seen the pictures of the Minke Whales? I’ve got a few video clips I’ve not posted but enough to say that the Mackerel, Herring and Sandeel situation offshore is good, better than it has been for a long time. Still very few Mackerel inshore but as always happens that will be more towards the end of June. Inshore reefs and rocks are rammed with fish, but no decent size yet. Consider a 4lb Callig a result. The Tope haven’t shown yet, I’ve heard of a few small ones caught right out but they will no doubt follow the Mackerel in and with so much other stuff around I’d expect a really good Tope season, again very little commercial activity last year. My only real targets this summer are a nice Plaice and a Turbot of any sort, quietly confident to be honest, I’ve got a good feeling in my water about this summer.