Food for free

[Guest]

I have never tried fishing at sea (or at anchor) and wonder if there are any seasoned fishermen who can give some suggestions on what equipment is needed and tips for success. If fishing when underway is it only necessary to dangle a line astern (with hook and bait), is there an optimum trawl speed, what bait is best, what size hook.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Depends what you are after
where we are mackerel is main past time
we use them for eeating and baiting pots. they will go after anything and if you hit a shoal you can catch several in a minute
our record is 23 in 7 minutes with one rod.
at anchor you need a short stout rod with a big barrel reel on it to vary the depth quickly.lures can be anything bright with a hook attched feathers or foil works well.

we also get pollock which i donot like and stick in the bait tray and Gurnod. Apparently gurnod is the new sea bass and tastes great. It is orange wedge shaped with a horny appearance
so i will now keep what we catch of that. the rods we bought at the local garage and tackle section of the newsagents that are around the beaches. cheap is ok but a good rod and reel is easier work than the cheap stuff natch. depends how much you want to do.

in our area you can also catch sea bass in the surf on the tide at the top of the straits. that is specialist tackle and i have not done that. but you need a big rod and i think rag worms are preferred bait.

there is also tope to be had but you needs gaffs to pull them in etc and i don't bothergoing after them.

on a boat we have some triple lures on a spoonshape aluminium lure which is about five inches long and an inch thick with a curve similay attached to a fin weight like a torpedo about 3 ft n front. We just stick it out tied to the aft normally travell 3 - 4 knots. have afeel oin the line every now and then and pull in.

mackerel are great filleted and barbqd fresh on the beach ( byelaws permitting bien sur)

my advice would be try lobster ppots. despite what people say you may droppots without a licence. i would have a word with the local potters just to make sure you donot tread on their toes as it is their livelyhood you are effectively impingeing upon. you have to get up early and check them or the locals may check them for you, they can be friendly and helpful like that. the best thing to do to start is go to the fish market and buy a tray of mackerel to bait leave them ina warm garage for a few weeks, then use them.i would not advise baiting the pots at sea if you have a weak stomach. you almost always get crabs. remmeber you cannot take small specimens, you can buy a guage. and donot take lobsters with roe or during forbidden periods, if there are any cannot remember. the rewards are great and it gets you out of bed in the morning and on the water ..which is what is really all about.

Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.

 

[bigmart]

If you want to fish on the move I would sincerely recommend that you obtain a device known as a Paravane. This is a paddle which, when towed through the water, makes the line & hence the lure dive down deep. The use of a Paravane will increase your catch of fish dramatically. They can be hard to find but are generally available from Fishing Tackle shops that specialise in sea fishing. Get them to show you how to rig one. these devices are great for Mackerel although I have been known to catch the odd Bass that way as well.

As for speed I find that I catch remarkably fewer fish when the boat speed goes above 4 knots.

I find that fishing is a great way to keep kids happy whilst sailing although trying to get them to eat their catch can be a greater problem.

Good fishing.

Martin

 

[Guest]

Would you know how to kill, gutt and cook them, or do you need instructions?

 

[Toutvabien]

During a couple of days last summer in the River Crouch, whilst on a mooring in the middle of town, we caught 27 Whiting and Pouting, quite a few big enough to eat, and a very nice Bass. Used Ragworm.

From the river to the table about 15 minutes, wonderful stuff!!

 

[dah]

On passage a couple of years ago from ravenglass to Douglas (IOM) I brought along a fisherman friend. he had a line with a light weight on the end and about a dozen hooks fitted on alternate sides. Within no more than 5 mins of throwing the line over the stern he hauled it back in along with 8 rather delectable mackeral. He then gutted them, fried them in some butter and served them up in some really thich bread slices. I have never tasted fish so good. From sea to sarnie in under 15 mins.