I did manage to get out on Sunday. Oli and I left Amble marina in flat calm seas. Headed north to Boulmer and then further up to Craster and Dunstanburgh.
So much better conditions than the previous weekend. Water clarity had improved - perhaps down to 12-15 feet. Water temp had gone up one degree and was measured at just under 11 degrees. Plenty of gannets around, but not diving, but loads of puffins/razorbills/guillemots, though few terns. Nor many baitfish on the sounders. There was a solitary dolphin, or maybe a porpoise just off Amble piers as we departed at 09.30.
We initially tried the rough ground, and I started off with a nice pollock, and then the day progressed with a steady stream of fish. Most were codling between 2-3lb, with a couple of 4-5 pounders in addition. Frozen prawns accounted for those. I also had a small but nicely-marked wrasse, and 6-7 coleys to 1.5lb. At slackwater, we visited a couple of inshore wrecks, and though they all contained fish there were no larger specimens, so we ended back up on the hard ground again. I caught just under 40 fish, all of which except 1 codling went back, and though Oli lost count, he too had a similar number to me using exclusively his home-made lures.
One of his codling coughed up what might be a type of rockling, or maybe a tiny ling. The eyes were more on the top of the head, and it had a pointed nose, unlike a butterfish. I'd be interested if anyone knows for certain what it was.
Oli wanted to try out his drone, flying it off the boat. It was such a cracking day, and the results were interesting. I will post some of the shots on the Forum somewhere. You will see how clear the water was on those, even showing the underwater features.
So much better conditions than the previous weekend. Water clarity had improved - perhaps down to 12-15 feet. Water temp had gone up one degree and was measured at just under 11 degrees. Plenty of gannets around, but not diving, but loads of puffins/razorbills/guillemots, though few terns. Nor many baitfish on the sounders. There was a solitary dolphin, or maybe a porpoise just off Amble piers as we departed at 09.30.
We initially tried the rough ground, and I started off with a nice pollock, and then the day progressed with a steady stream of fish. Most were codling between 2-3lb, with a couple of 4-5 pounders in addition. Frozen prawns accounted for those. I also had a small but nicely-marked wrasse, and 6-7 coleys to 1.5lb. At slackwater, we visited a couple of inshore wrecks, and though they all contained fish there were no larger specimens, so we ended back up on the hard ground again. I caught just under 40 fish, all of which except 1 codling went back, and though Oli lost count, he too had a similar number to me using exclusively his home-made lures.
One of his codling coughed up what might be a type of rockling, or maybe a tiny ling. The eyes were more on the top of the head, and it had a pointed nose, unlike a butterfish. I'd be interested if anyone knows for certain what it was.
Oli wanted to try out his drone, flying it off the boat. It was such a cracking day, and the results were interesting. I will post some of the shots on the Forum somewhere. You will see how clear the water was on those, even showing the underwater features.
