Happy Holidays.........

I was rather worried that this diary entry would be very much "more of the same" after last week's efforts.  I needn't of worried as Plymouth saved its best 'til last on my Summer holiday!

Saturday 28th saw an end to several days of rain and high wind so we set off to Plymouth in high spirits.  We were unable to get any live sand eels today as apparently they can't be netted in the East winds we had been experiencing - no idea why?  We decided we would try for some Pollack however and would get some launce on feathers if we could, but would fall back on artificials if not.  We also bought some very lively rag worm as a back up so we could finish our day with a bash at the Ballan Wrasse.

We were swiftly away from the marina on Pop's boat and went straight to the East end of the "drop off".  I rigged with size 6 hokkais and Pop's with small silver feathers, hoping for some Launce and maybe a Mackerel or two to use as bait.  25 minutes later and after three or four drifts we hadn't had so much as a bite - very ominous.  I eventually did catch a fish here - it was a juvenile Whiting I think - which fitted in to the pam of my hand without overlapping either side!

We had originally planned to drift the "drop off" for some Pollack but with no fish sign at all we abandoned this idea and headed off for the same wreck we had fished earlier in the week.  There was already one boat fishing the wreck when we arrived and we set up to follow this group over the mark on our first drift.  The results were instant and after two drops each we had enough mackerel for bait for the day.  Some were an excellent size, approaching 1.5 lbs.

Both Pops and I switched to artificials on flying collar rigs next.  Pops had a black and red weighted red gill and I had a firetail mackerel pattern sidewinder.  Pops didn't even get to the bottom before hitting a fish.

"Pops in to the fight"

The result was a small Pollack nicely hooked in the lip.  It was encouraging to note that despite the depth of the water the fish we caught on the day were all in good condition and we were able to return many alive. 

I quickly followed suit with a nice Whiting - the scene was set for an amazingly prolific hour or so.

After a few drifts, with several fish for each of us, I decided to change to a bigger lure to see if I could find a bigger Pollack off the wreck.  I opted for a 6" Rhubarb and Custard sidewinder which attracted immediate attention from the wreck's inhabitants.  Despite many hits I wasn't hooking up which suggested most of the fish were small.  Eventually I did hook a slightly better Pollack, but still only about 3lbs.

By this time there were another four boats fishing the wreck.  There was a 15' cuddy boat with a chap and his young son enjoying some excellent sport, ideally suited to youngsters.  The scene reminded me of Pops and me some 30 years ago!

Another 16' boat appeared to trolling over the wreck - unsurprisingly it didn't seem very productive as the wreck was in 150' of water.

There were also two mackerel trip boats giving good value for money to their crews with string after string of Mackerel and Whiting coming aboard.  One of these boats made me think I would never complain about over-crowding on a charter boat again.  What you can't see on the picture below are the other 2 or three anglers which are on the foredeck behind the wheel house - 15 or 16 anglers as well as the skipper!

"Shoulder to shoulder"

With no larger Pollack coming on the big sidewinder I switched bait again.  A real Christmas tree affair this time.  A size 2/0 hook with a medium sized blue and white muppet with a mix of blue and white beads and silver sequins above it.  I baited the hook with a strip of fresh mackerel.  The intent was to avoid the Pollack and Mackerel and find a larger Whiting.

We repositioned on the wreck and I lowered my new shiny bait.  It didn't get to the bottom.  A terrific hit followed by a spirited fight on my 8lb Sonik boat rod.  The result however was yet another 2 to 3lb Pollack - aarghh!  I rebaited and dropped again.  Didn't get to the bottom this time either, not a Pollack but another jumbo Mackerel.

"Jumbo Mackerel"

As we drifted further from the wreck we managed to avoid the Pollack and Mackerel and we found the Whiting.  My muppet rig managed to find a couple of larger specimens.  Pops also produced a couple of good sized Whiting on a whole Mackerel fillet and a size 4/0 hook!

We decided to give up as there were clearly no big fish on this wreck and the wind was freshening significantly.

We headed off to the lee of Penlee point to try for a Wrasse and to eat our lunch in comfort.  I re-rigged with a short flowing trace and a size 2 hook baited with fresh rag worm.  The bites came instantly.  Not Wrasse though - more blimmin' tiny Pollack!

We finished lunch and decided to have one more move.  We went to a mark near Picklecombe fort on the Cornish side of Plymouth Sound.  The wind and tide were perfect for fishing this area.  The northerly breeze and ebb tide enabled us to get in tight to the shore and be pushed out over a series of rocky outcrops and gullies.

Again, the results were instant.  This time it was Pops who found the irritating tiny Pollack.  Then he managed to follow this up with a Ballan Wrasse - the target species.