 fishing Dartmouth sea angling Devon uk charter boat shore plaice turbot bass river dart |
TALES OF SIX SKERRIES TURBOT |
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fishing Dartmouth sea angling Devon uk charter boat shore plaice turbot bass river dart |
TALES OF SIX SKERRIES TURBOT |
| Bryan Davies Every now and then something spectacular happens! I heard rumours over the Easter weekend 2002, of an angler who went out from Salcombe in a small boat, rounded Start Point and caught a huge Turbot, beyond the Skerries banks off Dartmouth. As with so many good stories, I heard of people who knew someone who had seen the spectacular fish when it was landed ashore at Salcombe later the same day - but as with so many third hand tales, I couldn't find out any more about it. Out of the blue, I received an Email from the son of the captor, complete with a photo. I couldn't wait to talk to Bryan Davis to find out more about his wonderful experience.
Brian, who hails from Somerset, was down in Salcombe for a short holiday and fishing from his brother-in-law Clive Mullins' privately owned 16 foot 6 inch long boat, "C-Fisher" together with his son Steven. Brian told me that he has only been going fishing for about the past year and is still learning as he goes. They were hoping for a sight of the famous Skerries Plaice, but got a surprise when Bryan hooked into something far larger. I just love Bryan's quote, "I struggled for about 20 minutes and with advice from my brother-in-law and skipper, Clive Mullins, I did get it to the boat." The magnificent fish was weighed on-board at 28lbs. Still in a state of shock, they scooted back to Salcombe, where the fish was weighed again in the local fishmonger's shop some six hours later. It scaled 12.51 kg, which is about 27 lbs. Brian used a 9 foot 6inch uptide rod, fitted with a Daiwa SL20SH reel loaded with 18lb main line. He used an 18 foot long trace of 20lb "Suffix" through to a size 1/0 Mustad 3134 pattern hook. The bait was live ragworm from Malcolm Barnett at the Devon Angling Centre in Chillington, tipped off with squid. Back in the 1960s, the Skerries shingle banks in Start Bay became famous for Turbot and Brill of this calibre. Today is a different story, although the occasional fish is starting to show again, due in no small part to the prohibited trawling box on the outer side of the banks.
Mike Concannon It was a day without breeze in mid-July 2002, when Patsy and I were drifting on a big tide, using live Greater Launce as bait, searching for Bass, west of Start Point, towards Prawle. The boat continually swung about in the tidal flow, causing us to process from side to side of our little boat "Smokin' Bloata", in order to stream out our baits on the sea bed. I was using a 7 foot 20 lb class "Northwestern" Kevlar boat rod, fitted with an Abu 7000 "Morum" multiplier reel and 20 lb braid line. I had a 4 oz lead weight on a running link and a 14 lb fluorocarbon trace of about 9 feet in length, through to a Mustad "Bass Special" 5/0 hook. I had inserted this very long shanked hook through the sandeel's mouth and out through its gill flap, where I had nipped the hook point through the silver skin just behind the gill plates, leaving the sharp point exposed. We had caught several good Bass to about 8 lbs using this method and were making yet another drift in search of more big Bass. As the boat swung around, I brought my line up about ten turns and moved to fish over the stern of the boat. As I let my line down to the sea bed, I touched bottom and within just a few seconds felt a vicious bite. It was nothing like a Bass, more like a very large Plaice, a hefty "bang bang". Almost instantly, line was pulled from my reel against my thumb on the spool as what was clearly a good fish moved off. I struck to set the hook and the fight was on. The fish made three dives for the bottom as I pumped it carefully towards the surface. I allowed it to take line against a properly set drag and used the cushioning effect of the rod to counter sudden dives and snatches. I thought I had hooked a good sized Ray or a very big Plaice. Patsy prepared our very large landing net. As the fish neared the surface, I could see it was a good sized Turbot. Patsy netted it without a moment's hesitation and the fish was ours. We later weighed it at Paignton S.A. clubhouse, where it tipped the scales at 13 lbs 10 ozs.
Turbot are a rare catch in our local waters these days. I've caught them back in the 1960s to more than 26 lbs, but the last one I saw landed aboard my own boat was in August 2000 and that weighed just 4 lbs 7 ozs. I've caught in excess of 20 Bass this year over 6 lbs in weight, but I would gladly have given them all up for this one Turbot.
Chris Martin It was a Sunday in mid August 2002 when I received a call on my mobile ‘phone from Chris Martin of the Brixham S.A. Club, asking me if I would take a photo of a big Turbot he caught from Dave Howell’s private boat “Blue Ice” out of Dartmouth, so I hauled up my anchor and made my way back in from the Skerries to Darthaven Marina where I took this picture for your enjoyment.
The fish, caught at a secret mark off Dartmouth, fell to live “Greater Launce” bait and was netted by Bill Pugsley of the Paignton S.A. Club, from Dave Howell's private Dartmouth based boat "Blue Ice". The fish was subsequently weighed at the Brixham Club and tipped the scales at 25lbs 12ozs. What a nice fish, it makes my own nice Turbot caught last month, weighing 13lbs 10ozs look like a tiddler! I know Chris is very proud of his spectacular catch.
Carl Underwood Age 11 years It was a Saturday in mid-October 2002, when Paignton S.A. member, Steve Underwood went out in his own boat "Predator" off Dartmouth, for a day fishing for Blonde Ray, in company with his son Carl, age 11 years. They fished at anchor, on a 5 meter tide, in the deep water outside the banks, off Dartmouth. They caught several "Blondies" on their "Ammo" frozen sandeel bait. The traces were starting to look a bit sorry for themselves, so Steve went into the cabin to tie a couple of new traces. As he was doing so, he heard a yelp of delight from Carl, "Dad, I've got one on and it doesn't feel like a Blondie - I don't know what it is". Steve went to the rear deck to see Carl pumping a large fish vigorously towards the surface. Steve encouraged Carl to "Take it easy". When the fish neared the surface they could see it was a sizeable Turbot. The fish was kept alive and taken back to the Paignton S.A. clubhouse, where it tipped the scales at 20 lbs 14 ozs.
In order to minimize stress and injury to the fish, it was kept flat at all times and not lifted by its gills, which can cause it serious harm. The fish was kept alive overnight in the aerated saltwater tank in the weighing room at the club, while the National Aquarium at Plymouth was contacted to see if they would like it as an exhibit.
Paul McAdam Saturday 14th June 2003 - Paul Mc Adam pulled alongside to show me a nice Turbot he had caught which tipped the scales at almost 11 lbs. He was keeping it alive in an aerated tank aboard his own small boat as he wanted to return it later after it had been officially recorded.
Here's what Paul told me. "The Turbot was just weight for most of the retrieve. It did kick a couple of times. I find it hard to think of a Turbot swimming 3.6 knots after a large Launce. That one too was just lip hooked." Well done Paul - you can add this prime specimen to your 11 lb 12 oz Bass - it really is your week!
John Hills Sunday 20th August 2001, and I've just returned home from a wonderful day fishing with my good friend John Hills, aboard his privately owned Jenneau Merry Fisher "Johrene II", out of Dartmouth. We started the day drifting the Skerries for Plaice. We caught about a dozen fish between us, all between 1½ and 2 lbs. in weight, most of which we returned alive to fight another day. Not an easy day fishing. The fish were there, but reluctant to feed. Many of the bites did not develop into a fish caught. We were patient and gave line several times on feeling each bite. The fish seemed to take the large baits we were offering, but often let go of them without getting hooked. The tides were perfect and running well. Why is it that some days it is harder to catch fish than others? We moved to the western extremity of the Skerries, between Hallsands and Start Point. Many of the local charter boats were working the area, drifting the far edge of the bank. As we did so, we saw Peter Passmore on his privately owned boat, "Karen Louise", pumping hard at a big fish, believed to be a Ray. The fight seemed to go on for 10 minutes or more and then his rod suddenly sprung straight as the fish made its escape. He subsequently confirmed the size 4/0 hook had straightened! We passed on our condolences. We caught more Plaice on successive drifts, all were released for another day. It was then that John Hills hooked into a far more substantial fish. His 6lb. class rod, and light braid line were singing as he pumped hard. It took line and he recovered it as the fish hung in the tide. Several times the fish tried to go back down as he wore it down. I took the landing net, expecting to see a big Plaice, but was delighted to see a nice Turbot. Few are caught on the Skerries these days, although it is the 3rd Turbot I've heard of being caught off Dartmouth this summer. The Turbot fell for a cocktail of freshly caught Cuttlefish, tipped off with a fresh fillet of Greater Launce.
We returned towards the Harbour and stopped, less than 5 minutes away from our moorings at Warfleet, in the area just beyond Dartmouth Castle, known as "The Range." John wanted to feather up a few mackerel to take home for his neighbour. I joked that I couldn't be bothered to change my terminal tackle and had decided to catch a large Plaice from just outside the Harbour entrance - not something that happens very often! We settled on a patch of smooth ground surrounded by reefy areas. I lobbed my Plaice terminal tackle to the bottom and within moments, I hooked into a decent Ballan Wrasse of about 3 lbs. in weight. We moved our drift a hundred yards or so, out into deeper water, but still over a smooth bottom amongst rocks. I lowered the same tackle with a fresh bait of ragworm & squid tippet, when I quickly felt the "Tap Tap" of a good bite. I was using 10 lb. braid on my favourite 6lb. Conoflex "Light Sabre" rod; Abu "Morum" 6600 multiplier; with 10 lb. b.s. flourocarbon trace and an Owner Mutu 1/0 Circle Pattern Hook. I gave line several times and then tightened on the fish as I felt its weight. It was hooked and put up quite a tussle on light gear. I brought it to the surface, where I saw it was a very decent sized Plaice. John netted it for me. Sometimes, daydreams can come true.
John remarked that you could visit this same small area a hundred times and never ever catch another Plaice from it. I asked John to try another drift in the same area. I hooked and landed another Plaice weighing 3 lbs. 0 ozs. 8 dr. Was it a coincidence? On a subsequent drift, I caught yet another Plaice weighing just over 2½ lbs. from the same spot. Can lightning strike the same spot three times in quick succession? I've been back to the same mark several times since. I've caught about 10 Plaice and a Dab there. None of the Plaice have been less than 2 lbs. John never did catch his Mackerel! That's life!
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