Recommended Charter Boats

I have noticed on some fishing firums there is an emerging tendency to "name and shame" skippers and boats when people have had a poor day. I think this is unfair as our sport is not an exact science and so thought I'd supply a list of charter boats and skippers with whom I have had a good experience.

Atlanta - Weymouth

Atlanta is skippered by the very experienced Dave Pitman. Dave works very hard to find fish and frequently has a "secret" mark up his sleeve providing great variety in a port that offers a very wide range of sport indeed. Atlanta has been the venue for many of my best days Bream fishing and was the provider of my first (and to date only) Blonde Ray.

Dave often runs trips that are accessible for individuals and small groups making it a mainstay of my fishing programme.

You can read more about Atlanta by following this link to the boats home page;

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/atlanta/index.htm .

Bonwey - Weymouth

Bonwey is skippered by Ken Leicester, the senior statesman of the Weymouth fleet. This is a very comfortable boat to fish with seating for 10 anglers, making it an excellent choice for anglers who find it more difficult to stand all day.

Bonwey was my introduction to Weymouth angling and the venue for my personal best Bream and Plaice. Ken is a top skipper who is excellent with novice and experienced anglers alike. Other notable days include a day when my personal catch included some 40 whiting and 8 Bass on the same day one December.

Kens individual dates tend to be advertised at shorter notice than some of the other boats so I've not been able to fish with Ken for 12 months or so.

Follow this link for the Bonwey home page;

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/bonwey/index.htm

Channel Chieftain - Weymouth

Skippered by Pat Carlin, Channel Chieftain is unrivalled in terms of space and luxury. Pat advertises a small number of week-end dates and larger numbers of mid week dates for individuals far in advance. This is one of my favourite boats for long range fishing and fishing for Bass in the race (before the current 12m row has led to the victimisation of this skipper by political nonsense).

Channel Chieftain is the venue that has produced by personal best Bass and Turbot, and has seen my single biggest days catches for Bass, Bream and Cod.

A trip home on the flying bridge in the sunshine is worth the days charter fee let alone the fishing!!

The Channel Cheiftain home page is here;

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/channel_chieftain/index.htm

Dalora - Torquay

I have only fished with Kevin Tate once. We had a February Pollack trip in what looked like it was going to be trip canceling weather. But a call to a commercial pal confirmed to Kevin that conditions were better in the Channel than close in so we fished in a fairly large but comfortable long swell at the 30 mile mark.

The fishing was very good in the morning but went off with the change of tide. Kevin worked hard to keep us on the fish and we tried four wrecks in the day. Perhaps the most unique element of this boat is however the fact that the skipper will often cook something for all of his guests to eat. On our trip a cold and wet day was definitiley brightened when we were served piping hot sausage and bacon sandwiches for a mid morning breakfast!!

I have read that Dalora (the original Evolution 38) is being replaced with a new Catamaran. I hope I get the chance to fish with Kevin again before too long.

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/dalora/index.htm

Flamer III - Weymouth

I first saw skipper Colin Penny on the TV, hosting John Wilson on a trip i search of Rays. Most of Colins' trips for individuals are mid week but a small number do appear from time to time at the week ends.

Colin, like all the skippers listed on this page, is very helpful with advice for novices and experienced anglers alike. I caught my personal best Pollack on this boat which Colin photographed and submitted to Sea Angler magazine on my behalf so I could get my "Mission Accomplished" badge.

Colin regularly sends a news letter to all of his previou customers and is very organised and professional with his booking system.

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/flamer/index.htm

Leo I - Falmouth

Well, we are going back and forth on this one a bit. I was told that Ken Dodgson had retired but apparently this is just an annual rumour and Ken's regular anglers won't let him! It is a good number of years since my family moved away from the Falmouth area so it is similarly a good number of years since I fished with Ken on his old boat as part of St Mawes sea angling club. I never had a bad trip with Ken with lots of quality fish always boated. I had one very memorable trip when I had double figure Pollack, Coalfish, Conger and Tope all on the same day as well as Gurnards, Pout and Whiting to complete the set.

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/leo1/index.htm

Shande III - Exmouth

I have unfortunately only managed to have one trip aboard Ian Goffs' boat but do intend to book another trip when I get the chance. The trip I took was in early June a couple of years ago and we went 40 miles in search of Cod. We had a good number of quality fish as well as double figure Pollack and a wonderful 11lb Coalfish. This was also the scene of a "one that got away" for me. First drift and well off the wreck I hooked a fish on the bottom that tore off and I couldn't stop it. Sadly my line appeared to snag on the spool and it was enough resistance to cause a break off. Ian cheered me up by explaining that far off the wreck it was likely to have been a 20lb plus Turbot - thanks Ian!

What is most apparent on this boat is how keen Ian is for you to catch fish, and he works tirelessly putting you back on the marks to get the most number of drifts for your money.

It was on Shande III that I got to see a skipper more dumbstruck than at any other time in 30 years of fishing. It was the look of shear bewilderment when one of the less experienced anglers on the boat asked him to drive more slowly when putting the boat back on the mark as he was kicking up too much spray and getting him wet!!

http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/shande/index.htm

I hope you find these recommendations useful and if you use any of these boats, you have as much enjoyment as I have!

Contact - steve@madpolka.co.uk

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