An Update.. 23/7/12

WELL…

The first night I came up to Aberdeen I had high hopes of fishing a mark I had previously fished a couple weeks before and had very good results- but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. My new fishing mate Stewart had a small pollockling of about 3/4lb, that I didn’t see, but definitely believe that happened!

The next session I had was a long trip up to the Peterhead region, where we had a good 8 hour session picking up about 60 codling,whiting,poor cod,pollock and whiting on scratching rigs. The excitement on the big rods came when I finally got a better result on the scratching; a slightly slack line induced me to strike into a 43cm codling that was the highlight of the night. Luckily landed as the lower hook in the 2hook flapper had caught its dorsal fin and the lip hook had almost bent out!

The next day saw me Joining John at a mark I caught him at the first time I came to Aberdeen a month ago, he was deep spinning with some pink jelly worms he got a nice Pollock of 2lbs.  I was busying myself at catching some blennies in the rockpool near the mark, but unfortunately pissed off the monster in the pool without catching him, so no photos yet, but there will be soon! Hopefully a dull day will allow me to film the lot..

So no major report, just an update of happenings..

                                                                                                              

First Session in Aberdeen, August 2012

I was in aberdeen for a week to drop off a car-load of stuff at the new flat, so my mate Ross (Fishingfanatic2012.blogspot.com) thought he'd visit for a couple days to check out the fishing up here!

With no expectations we went south of Aberdeen from guidance from the lads at Somers Tackle Shop, and got a yomp on. After 20 minutes we found 2 other anglers on the rocks, and headed down for a quick word and pick up some local advice. John and Matty had just got there themselves, and we watched matty get a good couple pounds of pollock on feathers immediately, so following a generous invite for us to join them we legged it back to the car to get some gear and to start fishing alongside them. Ross had a cracking time nailing pollock to about 4lb on a deep spinning rig he'd perfected at his pollock marks in North Wales, whereas I was using jigheads, and so not getting the required depth. Meanwhile John and Matty had a steady stream of codling from bait, giving us immense confidence in the mark, and the general fishing in the area. Luckily that first day I eventually managed a codling of about 2lbs on a savagear sandeel 125mm.



Estimated 6lb pollock, at 66 cm



The next day we joined the pair again, and after going back to somers to stock up on deep spinning rig components, I had more confidence of getting some pollock. For some reason I struggled when Ross was bringing in some decent size fish, until he lent me a firetail sidewinder, first cast of which I got a right battle from a loverly 6lber, a definate pb. not bad for the second scottish session.   Shortly after, I lost another which I thought of an even bigger one due to an inconvieniently placed reef in front of us, and Marty also had a cracker of codling on a sidewinder.

This post is published the night before leaving for Aberdeen for my very eagerly awaited third session, which will be full of photos of my lures, rigs and hopefully fish!!

Up To Now 16/9/2012




nothing like surface fishing for carp with your spinning gear!

I kicked off my fishing with freshwater carping a good 5 years ago now. This was centred around a select few lakes in North Yorkshire, such as Stavely Lakes and The Willows. I thoroughly enjoy surface fishing for carp, it takes alot of beating to be able to an individual fish and watch them take your bait. I also did a lot of pike fishing as it was the closest fishing within walking distance to my house, and catch a good few jacks every summer when I visit home.




Jack Pike caught on a gold/purple  IMA sasuke in Yorkshire


I then also started fly fishing on Fewston resevoir and the River Nidd. Its obviously a bit more expensive, especially on stocked venues where you take fish, so never got too much practice, but Id like to think a 6.5lb rainbow on a self-tied montana fly is one of my most rewarding catches.


an upside down for some reason picture of my pb 6.5lb rainbow from Fewston



 

When 19, I started at Bangor University in North Wales. My first year was spent trying to learn to sea fish on my own, and involved my carp rods and rigs struggling in the Menai Straits, and infamously difficult place to fish. Because of this, fishing was slow for the first year, but after meeting the joint founders of the sea Angling Society at the university, Ste Gyte and Ben Edwards, my fishing greatly improved and I started catching!


My father with a Jewfish from on holiday in the florida keys.
 this was shortly after I started fishing, so Id love to go back now!




Baby tarpon- the result of 3 nights stalking the reflection of their eyes in my torch

Through the Society I met many more fishing buds, too many to list, but theyl be on photos soon im sure. Through these people, and a few very helpful posters on World Sea Fishing Forums,who also know who they are, I would like to think myself as a fairly competent angler!
 

Rays coming thick and fast for Ross and myself


 

pb  thornback ray at 7.5lb


 

Early season bass at Dinas in N. Wales


In my third year of uni, I started the blog of NorthWalesFishHunting.blogspot.com, but unfortunately due to workload of disertation and exams, I couldnt keep it up after march, despite extensive fishing, I must have thought if I was at the computer i should be revising not writing about fishing!
 

Nice pollock on an orange/green IMA komomo II, my favourite hp




7lb conger


 









I do a lot of my fishing with my girlfriend Katie, who now gets no help with her fishing as she usually catches better than me. She had a cracking time recently in Ireland with her first lure caught bass, and the biggest pollock Iv ever seen.


Katie with a  beautiful specimen wrasse from anglesey at 4lb 8oz

 

Katies first lure caught Bass, sight casting with a pink IMA komomo II


  

Katies 7.5lb Pollock from the yaks in ireland, Thanks goes to Kevin Brain!















 I have just moved up to Aberdeen to start 4 years of working here, and I will be focussing on quite a bit of species hunting, but also trying to get some good sized cod, pollock and congers.

 

A recent pb huss of an estimated 12.5ish lbs, too feisty to weigh properly!



One thing I do believe strongly in is the safe return of almost all of the fish I catch. Only when the fish is deeply hooked or is not able to swim back to its depths, its taken for tea. If you do use any techniques or anything I post up and you have great success on it, I would persuade you to fish responsibly and return everything you can as it is frequently possible to have a dozen fish over eating size a session. Taking all of these fish does ruin everything for everyone!