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This was my 7th trip upto the wilds of north west Scotalnd to try for them monster skate that are becoming rarer every year despite what the experts say.
Anyway myself and two mates set off on the long 6hour drive on Friday for a two day boat trip. We arrived at the bnb just before dust and boy it was cold.
View from my bnb window
The following morning we got up had a full english and set off at 8am for our boat trip, the weather was not nice and rain wind and temps around 1c.
4 lines down with a mix of baits that included, pollack, mackerel, octopus and coalie and within the first 1hr Terry had his first ever skate a male for 144lb so things looked good but......that was it skate wise.
We did all hit thornbacks upto 10lb, conger upto 30lb, bullhuss upto 8lb and the dogfish.
After a nice meal out and a few drinks it was to bed and up again for day two, we woke up to a slight covering of snow on the ground but no wind at all and the sun just starting to come out so this looked more promising.
Set off and once again 4 rods down with a host of baits, we had a couple of runs between us then a litte tap and run, i grabbed the rod struck and it was solid, 2nd skate of the trip on.
After 1hr 10mins up came the fish, i have had skate just shy of 200lb but never managed to break into that select club of over 200lb mark...until now.
A 204lb female!!!!!! unreal, we got her checked over and got her back in straight away.
After that we had a couple more thornbacks and dogfish but no more skate runs at all. This was the least amount of skate we have ever had in a two day trip but the most thornbacks and conger.
Uuntil April and my next trip at them
Anyway myself and two mates set off on the long 6hour drive on Friday for a two day boat trip. We arrived at the bnb just before dust and boy it was cold.
View from my bnb window
The following morning we got up had a full english and set off at 8am for our boat trip, the weather was not nice and rain wind and temps around 1c.
4 lines down with a mix of baits that included, pollack, mackerel, octopus and coalie and within the first 1hr Terry had his first ever skate a male for 144lb so things looked good but......that was it skate wise.
We did all hit thornbacks upto 10lb, conger upto 30lb, bullhuss upto 8lb and the dogfish.
After a nice meal out and a few drinks it was to bed and up again for day two, we woke up to a slight covering of snow on the ground but no wind at all and the sun just starting to come out so this looked more promising.
Set off and once again 4 rods down with a host of baits, we had a couple of runs between us then a litte tap and run, i grabbed the rod struck and it was solid, 2nd skate of the trip on.
After 1hr 10mins up came the fish, i have had skate just shy of 200lb but never managed to break into that select club of over 200lb mark...until now.
A 204lb female!!!!!! unreal, we got her checked over and got her back in straight away.
After that we had a couple more thornbacks and dogfish but no more skate runs at all. This was the least amount of skate we have ever had in a two day trip but the most thornbacks and conger.
Uuntil April and my next trip at them
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