We set off at 7am and headed to a couple of local wrecks but found it hard going. We decided to head North to a couple of banker wrecks but the fish were scarce and we even struggled to locate any Mackerel. Just before slack water, we came inside to drift the rough ground and immediately our fortunes changed with fish coming to the boat at regular intervals. Our quota was reached in early afternoon and we threw back perhaps a dozen decent Cod although none were into double figures. Just before close of play I hooked something very heavy that I struggled to wind up and I assumed it was an old lobster pot or perhaps a length of rope. When I got it to the surface it turned out to be a large Monkfish of approx 25lb and when we got it into the boat it became quite aggresive and we had to avoid it's jaws because it grabbed anything that moved. I tried to remove my pirk by allowing the fish to bite onto the wooden priest/knocker but it swallowed the priest and then grabbed a newly landed Codling that happened to be nearby.
I'm sure we would have thrown it back if we could have got the hook out in a timely manner but it wouldn't let us near so it's skinned, filleted and shared out amongst the crew.
View attachment 3353
I'm sure we would have thrown it back if we could have got the hook out in a timely manner but it wouldn't let us near so it's skinned, filleted and shared out amongst the crew.


Last edited: