Sea Angling Scotland

Maybe afloat on Saturday ?

2012-01-24T14:28:00.002Z

I was looking at Divas log the last time we went afloat was the 7Th of November last year.
I have never known a winter to be so windy.But we may get a trip this Saturday,Lets hope so.

I'm looking forward to this year its going to be an exciting time now that Diva is OK.
I'm going to concentrate more on soft plastics mostly Mojos and Red Giles for Pollock.Cod and Bass.Then not forgetting Tope, Conger,Spur Dogs and Porbeagle.

I now have a calendar on my Charter Rates page it will make it so much easier for individuals to see the availability when looking for a trip.

THE END OF 2011 GOOD

2012-01-04T12:52:00.002Z

I'm glad to see the back of 2011 with Cummins and Macdonald Power taking thirteen month to replace Divas broken crankshaft add to that three month of none stop gales the amount of times i went fishing in 2011 you can count on one hand.

A bit of good news is that the ferries have now moved from Stranraer to Cairnryan this means that we can now fish in the deep Channel no longer used by the ferries.It will be like a motor way for the Tope chasing the Mackerel.

Lets all have a good 2012 .All the best for the new year.

Conger Rods

2011-12-09T15:07:00.002Z

Well what can i say about November it was wind wind and yes more wind not just for Scotland but the whole of the UK.

At this time of year i start to give the rods and reels a good looking at and start thinking about next year.

Iv been looking for same time now for a good Conger rod.
Daiwa had the Powerlift and Shakespeare had the Ugly Conger but both don't seem to be available anymore but they are the rods for the job.

To days trend is for 30lb class gear or less,i read one article where they recommended a 20lb class rod and an ABU 7000 reel. YEAH RIGHT.
Light tackle has its place but not for large Congers

The thing to remember is that once a rod is at full compression it cant go any more it becomes a solid stick.

If a fish makes a bid for freedom by making a powerful dive to which the rod is at full compression two things could happen.
One the hook can pull out or two the rod breaks both Leeds to disappointment.
USE THE RIGHT ROD FOR THE JOB
I would not even use my Daiwa Kenzaki 30/50 for conger fishing it just has not got enough back bone to it.

I'm also going off stock rods most of them today seem to only last a year or so and weeks if your a charter skipper.
I'm thinking of going back to making my own rods i can make a rod to my own specification with the best of parts at about the same price as a stock rod.

I will think i will start by upgrading one of my old rods its a 30/50 stand up rod with cheep rings that have broken as they do.
Its a fast taper with good tip action but with a lot of power in the butt,that should do it. OLD SCHOOL

Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

2011-11-19T12:17:00.003Z

Andy Kendrick of jackslrf sent me same Nojos soft plastic baits 6 and 9 inc serpent worms for me to try out.
I took them down to the boat and had a little play over the side with them.

O boy what an action they move just like a real serpent no Pollack or Cod could refuse this lure.

Then tried a jelly worm they look lifeless in the water compared to the Nojos.
Then tried a red gill better but not as good as the Nojos.

Cant wait to try them out for real.
Go to www.nojosbaits.com and have a look at the video or www.jackslrf.co.uk.
They may just be the best thing since sliced bread.

Pollack fishing in Scotland

2011-11-09T19:23:00.005Z

We had same good weather over the weekend good out onto the wrecks and lets catch same Pollack but it turned out lets see how many large Pollack we can lose.

You read so much in the angling press about having fun on light gear yep that's fine for inshore Pollack up to about 5lb in shallow water.but you try light tackle in 70/100
meters of water with very very hard fighting Pollack The Pollack will win most of the time.

Why tackle to light and the clutch on the reel to slack are the two main reasons.When a large Pollack takes the lure you don't have much time before the fish has worked out it been hooked and is heading at full speed back into the wreck as most of them did over the weekend.

Tackle to use,a good 30/50lb boat rod, reel a Shimano tdl or Penn 4/0 not ABU 6500,
Line i use 50lb power pro braid with a 40lb fluorcarbon leader.You may think that this is been a bit over gunned but same still get away.

Top Tip When you get hooked into a good large pollack don't mess about showing all your mates the rod bent double you have to get it clear of the wreck as quick as possible or YOU WILL LOSE IT.

Sea Fishing This Weekend ?

2011-11-03T17:40:00.002Z

Weather is looking OK for this Saturday and Sunday light winds and almost no wind on Sunday Be nice to go fishing.

Individuals have always been hard to cater for.
So what i was thinking is setting up a mailing list so that i can just fire off an e mail and give them the opportunity of a days fishing.
I think that may just work maybe.

Price of charter fishing in Scotland

2011-10-30T18:20:00.002Z

I was thinking how nice it would be to have a twin engined catamaran with two 300bhp engines OH YES.
WELL NO first you have to find the 150-200k to buy it and then Therese the fuel consumption .I worked it out that a days wrecking would cost in fuel over £200 NOT GOOD.

Divas fuel consumption about two gallons an hour and that will do me fine.i think that has put me off catamarans.

Mind you i was having a trawl round the other charter boat web sites to see how much they were charging as you do,
I found one in Scotland that was charging £200 an hour and £650 for 8 hours up to 10 people nice if you can get it.

It makes my £160 for 8 hours 4 people look very good value for money.

Sea Fishing Holidays In Scotland

2011-10-27T22:25:00.002+01:00

Its new Sea Fishing Holidays in Scotland keep an eye on my new web page.

Gilling Drift Leads

2011-10-26T18:06:00.002+01:00

We have made a few now,they sure do look the part.
I think i have worked out how to rig them.

The reel line goes straight to the top of the weight and the snood line is attached to the other side of the weight.

This means that there is no need for a boom the shape of the weight acts as a boom ,also the shape of the weight will make it harder to snag.

The next time we are out we will give them a go.

Pet Hate

2011-10-18T20:15:00.003+01:00

Wind wind and more wind we managed to get afloat on Saturday and Sunday but were very restricted by the weather.The colour of the water was more like Baxters soup fishing was hard but we had a few.

I have two Daiwa Kenzaki rods that are very good rods but both have suffered the same fate the top ring has fallen apart,why make a good rod and then put second rate rings on it WHY
I have a Daiwa rod that is over 40 years old still used today and yes it still has the original rings if thay could do it 40 years ago so why cant thay do it today,?
And as for reels xxxxxxx.

Bad Weather

2011-10-10T16:55:00.003+01:00

Bad weather has been keeping me in port it must get better soon just a few days will do.

We have now started making my own weights now an 8oz to 10oz now retails at close to £2.00 each
I'm now making 8oz and 10oz cannon ball weights,once i got the hang of it i can knock out a 100 in an afternoon.

Now I'm getting geared up i now have a 12oz Bopedo mould and a 18oz Gilling Drift mould.
I just need to work out how to use the Gilling Drift Lead but it looks the part.

What i intend to do is to offer leads at a very discounted price to my customers

Is that the weather getting better ?

Bull Huss

2011-09-09T15:04:00.001+01:00

ALMOST BACK

2011-09-09T14:38:00.002+01:00

Diva has now been back in the marina for two weeks she has been out on sea trails four times now with no faults, i have a few small jobs to do on her before she goes back into service.On her sea trails i could not help myself but had to go fishing inshore wrecks large shoals of pollack and coal fish,the mermaid shoal had good spur dogs and bull huss.ITS GOOD TO BE BACK.

ENGINE BACK IN

2011-08-10T22:02:00.002+01:00

To day Macdonald Power refitted divas engine and broke an oil pipe,i think iv got the makings of a new tv program marine engineers from hell.It has now been over a year it started off with just a broken cranksharft Macdonald power have added a broken piston ,leaking oil seal and now a broken oil pipe.
And on there website it has Macdonald Power is the name you can trust.?

Engine out

2011-06-29T09:46:00.002+01:00

Friday the 10th june Diva went back in the water for sea trails oil leak at the rear of the rear of the engine .
Monday the 20th june boat back out the water.
Tuesday the 21st of june was the day that Macdonald Power once again removed Divas engine.This time it was for a bad oil leak on the rear main oil seal .

Engine back

2011-06-08T09:45:00.002+01:00

Divas engine was refitted on Tuesday the 7th June and back at sea on Friday the 10th of June. More to come later ?

Engine out

2011-03-05T10:24:00.003Z

Friday the 4th of March was the day that Divas engine was removed. Hope to have it back soon.

More good news

2011-02-17T20:41:00.002Z

Diva came out the water today Wednesday 16th February work has started to remove her engine which will be sent to Cummins to be rebuilt.The rest of the boat will get a good overhaul.She should be back in the water about mid March.

Good News

2010-12-10T11:43:00.002Z

Cummins have givan in after five months of me at them every day.
The parts are on order and the repair will soon be under way.
That means with a bit of luck we will be back fishing in the new year .

The Big Bang

2010-08-02T08:29:00.003+01:00

Bad news disaster has struck Divas engine.Whilst cruising up Loch Ryan there was a big bang and to my horror the front crankshaft pully was laying in the bilge.
The crankshaft had snapped just behind the front pully.

This had to happen at the busiest time of the year.We will keep you posted when the repair is underway.

Just to make me feel even worst the fishing has been brilliant with very large Tope,Bull Huss and Pollock to name a few.

Good Weather

2010-07-26T10:07:00.002+01:00

Sorry about not keeping the blog up to date .Iv been at sea every day for the last six or more weeks.
I must be the only charter skipper praying for bad weather so i can have a few days off.

I will update as soon as the weather changes.

April

2010-05-04T11:18:00.002+01:00

April has been a good month with not much wind able to get afloat most days.

Large shoals of Herring are in abundance as well as Codling feeding on the Herring we had same good catches of Codling to 5lb.

Loch Ryan
Dogs, Whiting and Coalfish at Finnarts Bay

Milleur Point
We had two Mackeral on Friday 30th-well its a start.

Inshore wrecks
Fishing well mostly Pollock Coalfish and Codling.

Offshore wrecks
Are fishing a bit slow at the moment.

March

2010-04-13T11:15:00.002+01:00

Bad news Diva spent the whole of March tied to her moorings due to bad weather and that ment no fishing.
April has started well but i will tell about that next month.

February

2010-03-05T10:53:00.003Z

Although its been the worst winter for 30 years February has been good with not to much wind but cold.
Fishing has been good inshore wrecks have been producing Coalfish Pollock, Codling and very large Whiting.
Some offshore wrecks are full of fish.This time we played the waiting game it was over 4 hours before the fish came on the feed and when they did the fishing was awesome.
The best Cod went 11lb 3oz best Pollock 8lb 5oz and best Coalfish 6lb 9oz.
The only regret is that my camera a Sony Cyber-Shot will not work in cold weather yet it works fine indoors?

JANUARY

2010-02-02T12:55:00.002Z

January had its highs and lows inshore marks are fishing well specially between Oust Rocks and the Craig Laggan Beacon with a good showing of Dabs Whiting Codling Pollock and Coalfish.

Inshore wrecks have been fishing well with mostly Pollock Coalfish and Codling.

Offshore wrecks are full of fish but there not playing the game.With hindsight it may have been better to stay on one wreck and wait until the fish come on the feed rather than keep moving from wreck to wreck in hope to find one were the fish are feeding.

TOP TIP ground bait/swimfeeder
I have just started using my home made swimfeeder,Its a length of drain pipe about 18 inches long with one end blocked off and holes drilled in the side attached to a length of chain and then to 6mm rope.
At the moment its loaded with a sponge soaked in Sardine oil and refreshed about every half hour.
It works very well much the same as in course fishing fish come into the swim looking for food if you can keep them there you have cracked it.
Iv only used it twice but on the last trip 3 of us had over sixty fish then ran out of bait.