Sea Angling for Spearos

[ADM]

I went for the big buster bream again today with the light float gear and oily shirvy, out of the wind today as it has gone N or NE so was whizzing over my head, much easier fishing though still cold with the air temp 7c according to my in-car thermometer thing, pretty cold for October daytime in Guernsey.

Unfortunately, the buster bream wasn't there, I was on different tides though, fishing the ebb not the flood this time. I did see several mullet, some larger ones as well but they didn't hang about long, I had a nice little take but on striking it didn't feel right, turned out to be a pollack of about half a lb, cast again then I got a good bream take (with bream the float kind of shivers then shoots down proper) and struck into a fish, good scrap on it but nothing like the lost fish of last session, he came to the net without too much drama and weighed in at 1-10. A couple more bites after that, but more like mullet than bream takes, then as I ran out of shirvy it all dried up and no more takes so I packd up and went home to warm up.

At least I was out of the house!!

 

[Mr. X]

Was surprised to hear Hugh Fernley-Wittingstall say on River Cottage last week that Black Bream are half the price of Bass in the stores, due to lack of demand. Surprising as it did very well in a taste test vs. Bass. I'd love to try Bream but thought it was relatively uncommon & assumed it was expensive. Huw suggested asking fishmongers for it if they don't carry it.

 

[foxfish]

I quite like bream to eat but not so good the next day, I mean bass fillets can last two days in the fridge before the decomposing flesh really changes the flavour. Bream, I would eat withing 24 hours or freeze it straight away.
Fresh bream is very similar to fresh bass but has a line of pin bones so I fillet it more like a flatfish ending up with two fillets a side.

 

[ADM]

Bream are very nice to eat, the missus loves them and rates them better than bass. This one went in the freezer as she already had something defrosting for dinner (apparently i'm not reliable enough to feed us...). I'm pretty well stocked now, and could have stocked a whole fishmongers with bream this week but only kept 1 fish. Dead easy to catch round here, in fact almost a pest at times when bottom fishing with worm baits.

I would have though they would be present in the SW, but do people fish the type of marks they are present at here?? Deeper water straight off the rocks, quite sandy but often near boulders and eel grass beds really help as well??

 

[Mr. X]

Watched a couple of episodes of Extreme Fishing with Robson Green today, on and off. Not impressed (see "in the news thread"). Also saw an episode of Accidental Angler yesterday. Seem like extravagent programs that aren't really that enlightening. Entertaining enough but I preferred HFW's River Cottage Gone Fishing. [Anybody remember Jack Hargreaves & Out of Town/How!? Great stuff]

 

[atomichaggis]

Fishy reportings from Norway:

went out in awful weather last night to a Conger spot. My friend Lasse and I fished 3 rods, he got a knock which felt like it had hung up, so after a 10 minute wait for Mr. Slimey to come out of his hole the fight began...

some 22 kilos... made for an interesting night

 

[foxfish]

Nice one mate!!!!

 

[ADM]

Excellent fish. One of the many species I just can't catch no matter what I do.

 

[atomichaggis]

Excellent fish. One of the many species I just can't catch no matter what I do.

Perserverance mate, If you know they are there just stick a big smelly bait out and wait, they should be quite active now before the water gets really cold.
Last nights lesson was waiting when it seemed like it was hung up... rod back on the pod til it started swimming again.
I'll be back at this spot sometime soon I think and get me one

 

[Old Man Dave]

I've shot them that big and although I don't do it anymore (kill conger eels) there's no denying the thrill (and skill) required.

Dave

 

[ADM]

I always knew you were mad, but admitting to shooting snakes that size is pure madness. Enough hassle dealing with one on dry land when someone has already landed it!!

 

[Mr. X]

Perserverance mate, If you know they are there just stick a big smelly bait out and wait, they should be quite active now before the water gets really cold.
Last nights lesson was waiting when it seemed like it was hung up... rod back on the pod til it started swimming again.
I'll be back at this spot sometime soon I think and get me one

Great catch and good to see you back in Norway & back on line

Hooking a congor is one thing, landing it is another. I found a huge one, dead floating near the surface, still hooked with the line all tangled round the rocks. Sounds like you figured out both parts (interesting tip), well done.

 

[atomichaggis]

I've shot them that big and although I don't do it anymore (kill conger eels) there's no denying the thrill (and skill) required.

Dave

We have been talking about taking our winter bathing to this spot and I thought about diving it but I don't thik I wanna attach myself to a beast like that... Picture number 2 says it all rofl
There is also Anglerfish at this place too and plenty crab.
Unfortunately I haven't dived in ages tho and the ex has my gear so it might not happen.

 

[atomichaggis]

Great catch and good to see you back in Norway & back on line

Hooking a congor is one thing, landing it is another. I found a huge one, dead floating near the surface, still hooked with the line all tangled round the rocks. Sounds like you figured out both parts (interesting tip), well done.

Landing is as easy or as hard as you make it... WSF explains well the best way. Just gotta be careful not to let them spin.

 

[Old Man Dave]

Check this out Henry Gilbey

Dave

 

[foxfish]

6am this morning I got up, dressed quietly, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, slipped quietly into the garage to get my tackle sorted.
The wind was blowing 70 mph, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day.

I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. There I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, 'The weather out there is terrible.'

My loving partner of 20 years replied, 'Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that shit weather?'

I still don't know to this day if she was joking, but I've stopped fishing.

 

[ADM]

Strange. Mine just tells to to *&^$& off. Maybe she needs a few more years!!

Anyway, can't be on here all day. Deals to be struck and fish to be caught. Looks great out... In fact i'll save some bait for next Thursday/Friday. Bass weather is that... Just need a net and stand by the sea wall.

WindGURU: Guernsey - Channel Islands - Guernsey

 

[atomichaggis]

Fishy reportings from Norway:

Haven't managed a lot of fishing lately but managed a first with very little effort last weekend.
We had gone a couple of hours away for a bit of socialising and much drinking. On the way home we missed the ferry so decided to fill the 40 min wait with a spot of fishing. My friend had said that some Polish guys had caught Ling from land at this ferry terminal so we had to have a bash.
we put a single rod together and and slung a bit of Mackarel out... took all of 2 secs Mini Ling by any standards but from land... one can't complain! Was a few good bites and lost fish as well at this spot, My friend caught a poorcod as well then the ferry was coming in but we shall visit this place again... without a hangover next time.

Pics tell the story:

Made a nice meal

 

[Old Man Dave]

Ling can be agressive blighters. Speared one once and another one (his/her mate?) swam up and tried to eat me.

Dave

 

[atomichaggis]

You diving deep OMD? They are typically a deepwater fish... tho these small ones pop up at 20-30m

here is a funny vid of the lings fat cousin the Tusk: Saltstraumen Under Water - Video : Feedingtime