Duration:8.30am-8.30pm
Weather:Flat calm mostly, light breezes in stages, the sun never really burnt through the fog saving us from a real scorching.
Bait:Crab, Mack
Rigs:Various
Results:Pollack (loads), Cuckoo Wrasse, Ballan Wrasse, Grey Gurnards, Pouting, Poor Cod, Mackerel, Launce, Herring.
Report:
CHOLF (Cork Harbour Orkney Longliner Flotilla....) AKA me and Lee had been watching the weather for the past while for a window to get the Orkneys out onto the Ling Rocks. Situated 6/7 miles offshore, we needed a bit of a break to get out there and boy did we get it. Initally we were trying to raise a couple more bodies but both failed dismally in our efforts but decided, in the interests of safety to launch both boats anyway and travel and fish in convoy as it were.
Met with Lee in a deserted Oysterhaven to be greeted with glassy seas and the promise of a balmy day. Boats were dropped in and away we went, stopping near the Sovereigns and again a bit further out to pick up a few macks which at that time were hard to come by.
I suppose 45 minutes or so from there cruising out at 9-10 knots had us setting up our first drift on the Lings. Fishing that far offshore in the small boats was a first for me and being out of sight of land was disorientating to say the least. With a heavy mist and the glassy seas, it was almost surreal with, at that stage it seemed like the seas to ourselves. We came across a few more boats on moving to the other end, John Boy and Lagosta amongst other numerous small boats. Fishing wasn't too good to be perfectly honest but as we moved around, we managed a few bits and pieces with the only species in real quantity pollack and Cuckoo wrasse. Pollack were becoming pests to be honest and the latter part of our trip out there was spent avoiding them. Decent general size though of around 5-6lbs. Mackerel and crab baits fished on the bottom accounted for a few small ling with the biggest about 6lbs or so. We were joined by a couple of ballans, pouting, grey gurnards and poor cod too before, around 2.30 ish deciding to head back to the slip.
We stopped on the way in for a few mackerel which were again playing hard to get and headed back into the slip. Unfortunately, it appeared we were a half hour or so too late and we were unable to retrieve. Looks like we were going to have to carry on fishing for another few hours.... Dammit!!
Being a bit tired at this stage, we moved close in to the back of the greater Sovereign thre down the hook and dropped down big baits for Conger. No joy there Im afraid but it was relaxing if nothing else and gave a chance to get the boat tidied up and tackle sorted etc. After 90 minutes or so of that, we hauled anchor, well I did..... Poor old Lees was stuck fast and Im afraid is now a feature of the sea bed.... Back out for a search for some more mackerel, this time we found them in numbers. A pleasant surprise was a handy few herring mixed through them, a rare treat these days. I managed a dozen or so to tiny sabiki lures. Thankfully, on returning to the slip, we were pleased to see a bit of water covering it and managed to retrieve, a full 12 hours after setting off.
A thoroughly pleasant day, even if the fishing wasnt quite as good as it could have been. Great to be able to hit marks like that in the small boat and in comfort too. This years first plateful of fresh mack awaits me this evening and I cant wait....
Forgot to mention, I reckon we did over 20 miles or so all in at least yesterday and still had a couple of litres left in the 12 litre tank at the end of the day.
a red gurnard out there. Had only 9 species out there, add 4 more inside the harbour.
?
When we went back first time to retrieve, I beached the boat and sprinted for the car before heading back to sea again..... 8 hours is a long time at sea without a smoke....