Weymouth: Flamer IV: Colin Penny
On my first charter trip since the middle of March. I had the pleasure of Khang and his friends, on the way out they were treated to a dolphin leaping out of the water several times. As they all had light tackle we anchored a mark to the East of Weymouth in not too much tide catching Thornback Rays, Congers, Smooth Hounds and the usual Dogfish also quite a few Mackerel. They enjoyed themselves so much they have already booked for a trip next week.
Corona Virus Update –
For the rest of July there will be the restrictions on numbers with reduced numbers of 5 passengers plus me (more passengers will be allowed if they are from the same household). For Individuals trips unfortunately there has to be a price per person increase – Inshore trips will be £100 per person and Wreck trips £140 per person. This is for July and hopefully the next set of government guidelines will see numbers able to increase on the boat and prices adjusted. For those of you who have bookings in August I will contact you soon should I have to make any changes or ammendments to your booking. Links to COVID-19 Operational Rules for Customers/Passengers click HERE
NOTE: please sanitize your hands before boarding the boat, during the trip and before getting off the boat.
For those of you who have had trips cancelled because of the Coronavirus Pandemic and can not or do not want to re arrange for 2020 then please re book for 2021.Your deposits will be carried on to the future date(s) booked.
My Bookings diary/schedules on all my web sites are done through until the end of October 2021. The proposed itinerary’s are not set in stone and can be changed subject to the tides. Thanks for your continued support. Stay Safe.
https://www.flamer4fishing.co.uk
Minehead, John Sherlock reports:
What a crazy year, storms and torrential rain through January and February then Covid 19, but now, at last, it’s good to see the boats out. As soon as the Angling Trust gave the go ahead some of the Minehead fleet started operating on man charters with strict social distancing guidelines in place and rigorous cleaning of the boats. The first charters found excellent mixed bags or rays and smoothounds with good sized blondes being caught along with plenty of thornbacks. Skipper Mike on Teddie Boy, landing one of 15lbs and Paul Roper also with one of 15lbs. On some days, when anglers had plenty of crab, smoothounds were in abundance with the best weighing in at 19lb 4oz for Derek Gammon. Another day, on another mark, found the small eyed rays feeding with Paul Roper getting in the action again this time with a fish of 12lbs. All these fish were caught on short range trips and the action at times was hectic with anglers using multiple rods.
The excellent weather we have seen has given the boats a chance to head west into clear water to target the tope. This has seen Mark Nixon landing a fish of 49lb 2oz and skipper Mike landing the best 66lbs.
There is still time to book for the excellent summer fishing that the Bristol channel has to offer and with restrictions lifted even further and the boats now taking five Anglers please give them a ring and discuss your needs.
Mike Webber-Griffiths – Teddie Boy 07894536672 – www.teddieboycharters.co.uk
Steve Webber – Osprey – 07967 362132 www.ospreycharters.co.uk
Brighton: Proteus/Brigand: Steve Green
IN early June we had another glorious day out and a crew to match it. It’s amazing what you see when the sea is so flat – dolphins breaching & shoals of bass breaking the surface 5 miles offshore were a couple of the highlights. Wrecking was the order of the day and we gave it a good go. Nothing monstrously huge but as the ebb kicked in a steady stream of bass, cod & pollack followed. Slower that we had hoped and not the big numbers that we had earlier in the week – a glorious day with lovely nonetheless. Mark Pantony has now been promoted to second officer, guided us home safely (thank you) and of course caught cod….. again! We have introduced a strict Covid protocol which was tested rigorously. We are operating in a restricted capacity with a maximum of 6 anglers (unless we are advised you are for the same household) and our pricing structure will reflect that until restrictions are fully eased. No price increase (for the 5th consecutive year), however, £650 for the whole boat for offshore fishing will remain the same or £110 for individual anglers.
Brightlingsea: Sophie Lea: Lee Bolingbroke
We have now had our first weeks of chartering, but due to the virus many things have changed, we are very lucky to have a catamaran on which social distancing is much easier to practice. We have two meter markings all around the boat making it technically able to take out ten anglers but in practice that isn’t so easy so we are now limiting our charters to six. We have equipped the boat with hand wash station and tissue dispensers and will do what we can to stick to the guidelines and keep everyone safe . This obviously causes a little bit more expense but what can we do? We need to keep our customers, and ourselves, safe. It is important for anglers to support charter boats through this pandemic, if we don’t when things get better there won’t be any boats available. Many charter boats out there have mortgages to pay, I have been contacted by many charter boat skippers for some advice on how to operate – help from the Government for charter boats is minimal so we just all need to try to operate sensibly. As for the fishing it is great in our part of the UK; the Thames estuary with big hounds rays and bass making up catches and also some very good spur dogs offshore. We are also finding it very busy with many anglers being furloughed from work getting out on the boats and the weather has been perfect for it, so it’s not all bad news for us.
07774482856 www.sophieleacharters.co.uk Info@sophieleacharters.co.uk
Ireland: WICKLOW, EAST COAST OF IRELAND, LISIN & CASTLE MAIDEN : KIT DUNNE.
It’s been an odd time for everyone with Covid-19 restrictions, needless to say we didn’t get much fishing done recently and we don’t have a lot to report on. Here’s a wee summary of our 2019 Irish Specimen Fish results, a snap shot of what we’ve missed lately.
Autumn & Winter fishing began in October and ran until February, in 2019 we produced over 40 Specimen spurdog up to 19lb weight, about 20 more have been claimed in early 2020. Spring into summer produced nearly 140 Specimen smoothounds up to 22lb weight, June & July proved to be best Months. Tope were most prolific June through to October, with more numbers in summer but bigger fish in autumn. Six claims were ratified with many more fish caught but un-claimed as weight-based claims must be weighed on land. We had 3 blue shark specimen claims in our 2 months shark fishing, August & September, up to 130lb and 1.9M long. We had our few black bream throughout summer but none of specimen size this year.
So, if it’s an Irish Specimen hound, spurdog, tope, blue shark or black bream you wish to target give us a shout.Kit Dunne, Wicklow Boat Charters, +87 6832179
Wales: Holyhead: My Way II: Gethyn Owen
Thanks for the messages and calls regarding getting back afloat aboard My Way 2
On June 1st the Welsh Government eased restrictions in Wales. In line with the current Wales Health Protection (Coronavirus ) Regulations this allowed charter boats in Wales to return to work – however severely restricted compared to our normal operations. During lockdown Mrs Owen and I have spent time preparing our information pack, risk assessment and operating procedures as required by MCA MIN 616 amendment 2 – Notice to all Ship Owners, Ship Operators and Managers, Masters, Officers and Crew of Merchant Vessels, Skippers and Crew of Domestic Passenger Ships and Inland Waterways Vessels. Until the next review on 18th June 2020, sadly we can only offer one angler or one household fishing trips. Travel restrictions remain, 5miles was mentioned, but first Minister Mark Drakeford on 29th May 2020 stated it was a rule of thumb and sober and sensible judgment should be used. We have the following dates available until 18th June 2020 and the next restriction update
Fri 12th
Mon 15th
Weds 17th
All dates are for 6hrs in Holyhead bay smoothound or general fishing and priced at £150 + bait, our rods and reels if required remain of charge thanks to our sponsors at Pure Fishing.
All dates are also available for trips further afield, however our normal pricing then applies.
Please message or call 07971 924046
My Way 2 is sponsored by leading brands – PENN Fishing Shakespeare Fishing Abu Garcia Berkley Fishing Spiderwire