The weather these past two weeks has been worthy of biblical descriptions. Wet? I think that’s slight understatement, we’ve not wanted to go outside let alone go fishing and on the days where it’s been almost tolerable the wind has been all over the place.

We did manage to get out a couple of weeks ago for another attempt at getting a Smooth Hound at Cleveleys.  The weather was perfect – flat calm and a warm muggy evening but all we managed was a small Bass and a Lesser Weever, not my favourite fish as they have a sting on their backs and when you try and pick them up they arch in a way to try and stick you.

Pliers and forceps are my usual method of dealing with these little buggers as the sting is very painful.

Looks like the weather is going to be equally grim this weekend so we’ll just have to see and maybe, if there’s a slight beak in the wind and a small ocean isn’t falling from the sky we’ll try and get out fly fishing somewhere local.

Once again we took our 2 week summer break on Anglesey where we intended to do a bit of walking and sea fishing. The weather was exceptional and we managed to get out and about on every day we wanted too, some days though we were so relaxed even fishing seemed hard wrok – I know – even I was amazed but Anglesey does that to you, you turn up and all the worries in the world just vanish as the island casts a spell upon you.

We tried a few new locations this time round, some completely new to us, others where we’d been before but never fished.

The first was Sandy Beach where, if the conditions are right, either Bass can caught (if there’s a surf) or Smooth Hound (if it’s mirror calm). Both times we were there it was neither rough nor flat with only a slight breeze making very small waves. Neither of the target species was caught but we managed a few Dogfish which saved the blank on our first sea fishing venture of the holiday.

We tried another beach just South of Sandy Beach but again the conditions weren’t in our favour and only a solitary Dogfish was landed.

Our next session was at a well known venue near Anglesey Race Track, Ty Croes where, after having a chat at Valley baits we were prepared for the mark we knew being occupied (which it was) so we tried a new one a bit further South known as Three Points (I think). This mark was very shallow compared to the favourite Ray hotspot but I managed a few Mackerel from the fast tidal waters about 80 meters out while Wendy got a few Pollock on float fished Ragworm closer in. What made this particular trip special was a pod of Harbour Porpoise ‘fishing’ about 100 meters off the rocks – we sat for a while and watched the experts, the fact we hadn’t landed anything spectacular completely forgotten.

Afon Alaw Tidal Lagoon

A venue I’d found while looking around our maps was a tidal lagoon where Afon Alaw flows into the bay formed by Penrhos on one side and the Gorad rocks on the other. We saw plenty of Mullet cruising around but even after chatting to the local experts we still couldn’t catch any, either on float fished Ragworm or fly fishing a sand shrimp type lure. We tried all sorts but they just wouldn’t take any notice of what we were doing – they’re there though and next time we’ll be a bit more prepared.

Once again we tried an early evening stint from the Gorad rocks where we fished from a couple of hours after low water for two hours – any longer and we’d have been stuck on the rocks. We’ve always been told to bottom fish Ragworm here but the crab activity meant the baits were stripped before the fish could find them. The most exciting time was just sa the water started to flow, you could see the fish breaking the surface so while Wendy tried a few plugs I again tried the fly rod with a sandeel pattern. We both had a few follows but no hooks ups – it was good fun though and a great way to spned an evening.

A new venue for us was Porth Aels, West of Aberffraw, where the water was so clear you could easily see to the bottom of the gulleys we were fishing into. We caught a few Wrasse, Ballan and Corkwing as well as a very plump Blenny and spent a very pleasant afternoon baking in the sun watching the floats bob up and down in a mirror calm sea.

This is an area we intend to explore a bit more and it looks to have huge potential for both Wrasse, the bully boys of the rocks and Bass as they chase the bait fish into the shore.

Apparently the bay you walk past where there is ‘the church on the rock’, St. Cwyfan’s Church, is full of Mullet on calm evening so again – somewhere new to try in the future.

We had a few walks, nothing to strenuous and spotted a few likely haunts for Mullet or Bass but mainly we either fished, relaxed or fished and relaxed – perfect.

Inland Sea - perfect Mullet hunting area

Once again we stayed at Ty Cristion which was excellent and as we were fishing mostly on the North or West side of the island we got most of our baits from Valley Baits with a bit we collected on our way through to the cottage coming from Menai Angling – both excellent shops with good local knowledge.

So… did we have a good time?

You’re damn right we did, Anglesey never fails to deliver no matter what the weather does and this time we had truly amazing weather, caught a few fish and even got a bit of a tan.

Plans are already hatching for our next visit in a few months for our annual Small Eyed Ray hunt…

In typical sea fishing style after a beautiful day on Saturday I arrived at the Venue know as Rossall Hospital nr. Fleetwood and it was chucking it down. As this beach is very exposed the gullies change location so while I was waiting for the rest of the BLAS crew for our 3rd match of the season I had a quick look up and down the stretch of beach we’d be fishing.

The best of these gullies was already occupied but looking North I spotted a likely looking spot so once everyone arrived I made my way to where I remembered seeing the break in the sandbank – remembered because in the short time I was waiting the sea had completely covered the sand and was breaking against the shingle.

Eight of us fished this match, the first leg of the beach cup, and it was hard going – at least for me.

Although there was a good surf on, a Bass like surf, no Bass showed – we didn’t expect any as it’s a little early but it would have been nice. The main species that was coming out was Dab and Flounder but the only thing I was catching was a few rays of sun.

Although the sun made me feel a bit better Tom, fishing a few yards North of me after having a bit of trouble with his reel came over for me to witness his Dab – I was pleased for him – at least a little bit…

The tide was ebbing quite quickly now so, using just Black Lug to try and keep my bait streamlined, I launched a bait as far as possible. Needless to say the cast went a bit wrong as these things always do when you’re under pressure and as Shacky called ‘all out’ I wound in thinking of my first ‘blank’ of the season only to find a fat Three Bearded Rockling firmly attached to my rig with half a large Black Lugworm down its gob. Possibly the greediest fish in the sea but I’ve never been so relieved to see that little Rockling.

As well as Dab, Flounder and Rockling an undersized Plaice was caught. Everyone caught something and had a good natter so once again thanks go to the Blackpool and Layton Angling Society guys for a great morning and hopefully I’ll do a bit better at our second visit to Fairhaven in a couple of weeks.

Not a wave in sight - lets hope the fish don't notice...

Sunday dawned bright and clear and although I’d been out the night before and lost an hours sleep due to the clocks going forward I arrived at the chosen venue, Fleetwood Channel, in plenty of time for the 2nd BLAS sea fishing match of the season.

Nine of us fished into the estuary channel of the River Wyre a couple of hours down to low water and a couple of hours back up again using predominantly peeler crab as bait with the odd try of Lug, Mackerel or Squid.

Once again I was first in with a fish, a plump little Flounder of 33 cms which went safely back then, as per last week, I had to wait ages for a second while people either side of me caught but eventually I did catch another Flounder of 31 cms which was a relief – I was starting to think that I was only being allocated one fish per match by the sea fishing gods.

A few other species were caught such as Codling (all undersized), a Plaice (again undersized) and a Long Spined Sea Scorpion (I think) of 20 cms. Almost everything was caught using Peeler Crab which seems to be the only bait of worth at the moment.

Flat calm on the River Wyre estuary looking towards Knott End

Great weather, good company and some fish – if there’s anything better I’m not sure I know what it is…

While chatting we did notice a bottle floating by and when it was washed up next to us we found it was a genuine message in a bottle, with a wax sealed cork. After struggling to get the paper out we found a note written by someone called John on 25/9/10 and thrown in the sea at Aberystwyth – which is an ‘up the coast’ journey of about 175 miles.

Not a genie in a bottle but still, a little bit different.

Next week proper beach fishing from Rossall – time to break out the long range stuff.

With the sea being almost flat calm and no movement of consequence in the water the humble Dab was the target species. Armed with 30 or so frozen (past their best) black lug and some Mackerel as bait I met up with the guys for a few of hours before high water then selected a spot in front of what I thought looked like a ‘fishy’ gully, set up a couple of 1 up 1 down clipped rigs with size 1 hooks (just in case anything bigger turned up) and waited for the shout of ‘all in’. We cast our baits into the darkness and then the wait began.

It was a good job the company and banter was good as the fishing in the area I selected was grim, not a bite for 2 hours. It was so bad a couple of the guys left early so I moved along the prom 50 yard or so to continue – hoping to maybe locate a fish or two.

The move payed off and I landed my first fish of 2011, a small Dab of 24cm. It seemed I had found the fish but time ran out on me and the call ‘all out’ came far too soon.

Although it initially looked like the fishing was going to be rubbish over half of those present handed in catch sheets which considering the less than ideal conditions was a great result all round.

First sea fishing outing of 2011, a fish and a good chat with some mates – what a great start to the year.

I’d love to say that our time spent on the beach in sub zero, almost flat calm conditions, paid off and we all landed huge amounts of fresh run Cod, Whiting and Dabs but out of the 8 BLAS members that braved the less than ideal conditions plus all the other sea anglers we met on the beach no-one got a bite let alone a fish.

It was great to be out and chat to the guys but on the Lancashire coast an easterly wind really does kill the sea fishing although not to have anyone catch was unusual.

Another blank… it’s getting to be a bit boring now.

Next match is Perch Rock on the Wirral in a few weeks where we’ll also be holding the Christmas Cup match again so I’m hoping for a few westerlies to liven things up a bit before then.

Although the forecast wasn’t too bad the wind was bitterly cold sweeping down the beach from the north and by the time our black lugworm baits were in the water we were wondering if this was such a good idea after all. This was confirmed as after 5 minutes our tackle was loaded with weed and was almost impossible to retrieve. After a few more casts Wendy decided to sit it out for a while to see if the weed situation improved while I launched my baits as far a possible, setting the rod high on the tripod and hoping to keep the line out of the weed.

After a couple of hours of this, Wendy rejoining our struggle against the weed we’d had enough and just to drive home the point I lost my terminal gear on the final retrieve as the line parted under the pressure of the amount of crud on the line.

It was interesting though to be on the beach after such wild weather, there were literally hundreds of Starfish washed up with all sorts of crab including a few Hermit Crabs (I tried one as bait) and the odd Masked Crab which you hardly ever see on the beach. There were also a lot of Sea Mouse, which look like something out of a cheesy Sci-Fi movie.

It’s a shame that the conditions beat us as the report by Shacky shows the conditions and fishing improved, we probably should have stuck it out longer but after looking forward to the trip all week the weed just killed off our enthusiasm for the session and after a couple of hours we said our goodbyes and made our way home where the only cold thing I encountered was a beer while watching the TV.

Wind whipping the sand along the beach at Perch Rock

Met up with a few of the guys from Blackpool and Layton Angling Society for an afternoon sea fishing match at Perch Rock, New Brighton, and to get details of how to get a Port of Liverpool Sea Angling Federation (POLSAF) permit to enable us to fish Liverpool Docks Alex Wall in time for the winter Cod season (I can always hope).

As BLAS matches aren’t exactly serious I elected to alternate casting fairly close in with a two hook rig baited with frozen Lug / Squid or Sandeel sections for Dabs or Whiting with another single hook up and over pulley rig baited with Sandeel or Squid for Thornback rays.

The wind was a lot stronger than forcaste, blowing down the estuary, out to sea which endeavoured to cover everything in sand, I’m still finding it in my eyebrows the following day after having a shower.

The fishing was poor with only Kev and Simon managing to catch anything of match worthy note; a Whiting and Dab to Kev and a Mackerel to Simon, the first I’ve heard of coming out of the Mersey. I managed a half decent Whiting that was just to small to count plus a few other ‘pin’ Whiting while the other guys had similar results to me.

So, after a run of blanks, although my fish didn’t count in the match, I did finally manage to catch something.

An Early Start Sea Fishing at Perch Rock, New Brighton

Once more the urge to get up at stupid o’clock overcame my common sense as it does with a lot a sea anglers as I made my way South through Liverpool and under the Mersey to meet up with a few of the guys from the Wirral Sea Fishing website at Perch Rock, New Brighton.

The target species for this sea fishing trip was Thornback Ray as a few had come out of the mark in previous weeks. We would be fishing two hours down to low water then a couple of hours back up into fairly deep water, at a range of anywhere between 50 yards and ‘as far as you can get it’ using either simple pulley or ‘up and over’ rigs armed with 3/0 hooks and baited with Sandeel and Squid wraps.

Signs were good as Richie landed a small Thornback Ray of about 3 pounds to a Mackerel and Squid wrap (just to be different) but appart from a solitary Whiting to Joe that was the only fish we saw with the crabs stripping the baits almost as soon as they hit the sea bed.

A hour into the flood Kev and I called it a day as the weed became to much with the fast current as the sea flooded into the River Mersey so that’s another blank for me. Still, it was good to get out on a beautiful morning and put faces to a few names from the WSF forum. We heard later that Joe went again on the following low tide but during darkness and caught a fish of about 5 pounds – usually the light level doesn’t affect the Mersey due to the colour of the water but who knows – maybe next time I’ll fish it into darkness.

The Sun sets over the surf at Rossall

With the wind in the West we decided on a late night sea fishing session up at Rossall near Fleetwood last Saturday to see if any Bass were out playing in the surf.

On arrival and after a fly by from the Red Arrows along the promenade we had a quick look at the state of the sea and although it looked a bit rough it seemed fishable enough so we quickly set up the gear and launched some black lugworm baits just behind the surf.

Initially this seemed to work well but contrary to the forcaste the wind seemed to pick up and as high water approached it quickly became evident that there was far too much weed in the water to make sea fishing feasible. You can see how windy it was – the bags hanging from the tripods in the photo above are full of rocks to stop things blowing over. This was quickly demonstrated in my last two casts where one bait ended up snagged round a groyne about 30 yards to my left – dragged there by the weed (I lost that one) and the other bait ended up on the beach with about 4 pounds of wed attached to it.

We gave up at that point…

A shame really as the sea looked very fishy but sometimes it’s just impossible to fish it and you don’t know until you give it a try.