GET INTO BOAT FISHING
There are loads of different styles of boat fishing in UK waters. Here are seven of the most popular
Seven main styles you can try.
THERE ARE so many different types of boat fishing in the UK, but for many sea anglers, fishing for the table is the number one reason why they go boat fishing. However, there are an increasing number of boat anglers who simply go fishing for sport and to enjoy the day afloat.
Here’s just a sample of what types of boat fishing are available in the UK…
1. BASS FISHING
When it comes to bass fishing, you cannot beat getting in a small boat at 4am and fishing surface lures for bass close to the shore.
There are so many ways to catch a bass that we could easily fill all these pages with methods and tips. You can fish live mackerel or sandeels over shallow water reefs, wrecks and sandbanks, or you can work lures in 100ft of water over similar underwater features. Trolling lures behind the boat can also be very productive.
You can try fresh peeler crab baits at anchor, or a head-hooked ragworm, whole squid, mackerel head and guts, and even dead pouting fished underneath a float.
Float-fishing with live prawns is a killer method in some areas – the list goes on, but all of these methods can be used from both small and charter boats all around the UK.
2. REEL SCREAMERS!
During the summer, most areas of the UK are lucky to have access to tope and smoothhounds. These two species are often found together or in very close proximity to one another, and there are various ways in which you can catch them.
Depending on where you are fishing and the depth of water, you can target hounds with spinning rods and 2oz leads with live crabs, or you can target the tope on 20lb-class tackle using circle hooks and small mackerel baits.
However you choose to fish for either species, the facts are that you’re going to experience the raw strength of powerful fish stripping line from your reel and giving you the runaround on deck. Sport fishing for tope and hounds on light, balanced tackle is about as good as it gets in the UK for proper angling fun.
3. WRECK FISHING
Fishing lures over wrecks for cod, pollack and ling on the drift is extremely popular in the UK, and has been for decades. In fact, most south and north-east coastal ports built their charter fleets on wreck fishing in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
Although the outstanding cod sport of the past has become harder to find these days, there are still plenty of species to be caught over wrecks. Nothing beats the thrill of slowly winding in a lure, only to have the rod nearly torn from your hands
as a fish grabs the lure out of the blue and heads back to the safety of the wreck. This massive burst of adrenaline has to be experienced to be understood.
Not all wreck fishing is done on the drift, though. If you want to catch a big conger eel or ling, then the best approach is to anchor in front of the wreck and fish baits downtide back towards it.
Often carried out in depths between 100ft and 200ft, this style of fishing really gets your muscles pumped, and it’s the anticipation of the unknown that makes these days so special.
4. SITTING AT ANCHOR
Both uptiding and downtiding are done while sitting at anchor, and both methods provide the most relaxing form of sea fishing. You simply just sit there, watching your rod tips for signs of a bite.
The moments of self-induced hypnosis are only broken by heart-pumping, adrenalinefuelled action as you do battle with a huge bass or monster tope. Almost every species of sea fish can be caught at anchor, which is what the bulk of UK boat fishing is all about.
Fishing at anchor isn’t always about kicking back and relaxing, though.
Certain species require your full attention, and if you’re not quick off the mark, you’ll either miss the bite or lose the fish.
Black bream and wrasse are two such species, and fishing for them at anchor requires you to hold your rod at all times, feeling for the first signs of a bite in readiness to strike and do battle.
5. ON THE DRIFT
You really cannot beat summer drift fishing for bass, pollack, turbot, brill and plaice. There’s something about catching one of these species on the drift that gives a real sense of achievement, as well as some heart-stopping sport.
While the bass and pollack fishing can be relatively simple, it’s by no means an easy task to catch flatfish consistently, and it’s something of an art form, but when you get into the zone and begin catching you’ll understand why so many anglers enjoy targeting them.
6. SHARK AND SKATE
There are some true monsters of the deep that lurk in UK waters, from 100lb-plus conger eels to 200lb-plus common skate and, of course, porbeagle, blue, thresher and mako sharks.
There are plenty of skippers around the UK coastline who have purpose-built boats loaded with all the right tackle that specialise in these species. If you book a charter with the right skipper, it’s really not too hard to catch your first ton-up species.
For the sharks and skate, the best times of the year are June through to the end of September, but if you want truly massive conger eels, then September and October are the best months from many ports.
More recently, a few charter boats have gained licences to target bluefin tuna for research purposes. Places are limited. Do your homework and find the right skipper, and a big bluefin could be on the cards.
7. WINTER FISHING
Fishing for winter cod and whiting isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but for many it’s the highlight of the year. Being exposed to the elements on the deck of a boat in the freezing cold, when you can only just feel your fingers as you bait up, can be rewarded with the cod of a lifetime if you put in the hours. If you can stay warm and well fed it can be a very enjoyable day out.
Winter is also the time for catching big bass and pollack. Quite often a doublefigure bass will get caught on a huge bait intended for cod at anchor, but the winter months can be very productive when fishing lures over deep water sandbanks too.
With regard to the pollack, the winter months are the peak breeding season, and this is when you stand the best chance of cracking the magical 20lb barrier while drifting with lures over offshore wrecks.
NEXT MONTH
■ Part 4 – Basic rod and reel requirements.