    fishing Dartmouth sea angling Devon uk charter boat shore plaice turbot bass river dart |
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fishing Dartmouth sea angling Devon uk charter boat shore plaice turbot bass river dart |
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It was way back in December that my Wife, Patsy, won several hundred quid on a lottery. That evening, as we sat, enjoying a beer in the Paignton S.A. clubhouse, chatting with Lloyd Saunders, Patsy sat counting cash from an envelope. Lloyd remarked, “I’m sure it will all be there.” Patsy replied, “I know that, I want to give some to you, so you can take Mike on one of your trips to Guernsey this summer.” That was one of the best and most spontaneous Christmas gifts I have ever received. Thanks Patsy and thanks Lloyd. I was due to go early in June, but foul weather necessitated a change of plan. A fall back date was arranged, but then it got even better and I had to go twice on two consecutive four day trips. It’s a hell of a job, but someone has to do it! A week before my due departure date Lloyd asked me if I knew of anyone who would like to join four lads from Plymouth on such a trip as two of their party could not make it. I asked my pal David Pakes, who had already expressed an interest in catching a Turbot and a Brill. David took little persuasion. After thinking it over for at least five minutes, I decided to accompany him on an extra trip. We made a couple of ‘phone calls and arranged accommodation in St Peterport, packed our bags and tackle and at 6.45 am on Monday 30th June, I boarded Saltwind from the quay at Dartmouth. We collected David and the other lads in our party from the opposite side of the river at Kingswear. And we were off. Another good pal, Paul Millman was the very experienced crew. It’s always a quiet concern when first going on a trip with new acquaintances. What will they be like? Will we all get on well together? We joined Chris Wheeler from Callington; Peter Boothby from Calstock; Brian Metters from Ivybridge and his brother, Terry from Plymouth; all members of the Plymouth based Eddystone S.A. We could not have asked for a more amicable band of reprobates. We all knew it was going to be a sound adventure and indeed it was. Day 1 – We headed from harbour to a wreck mark several miles off the entrance where we feathered up Mackerel which were placed in the live bait tank. Now our adventure had really started. We headed for a mid-Channel mark on the edge of the Hurd Deep, where Lloyd put us straight onto good fish. We caught Cod; Pollack; and big Ling. The photos tell their own true story.
After still more strenuous effort hauling leviathans from the deep, we continued our journey, berthing in St Peterport during the late afternoon. We filleted those fish which we had chosen to keep for our own table. On arrival Paul collected crates of fresh crushed ice which he used to preserve our catch in “Saltwind’s” spacious fish hold for the eventual homeward run.
We made our way to our accommodation at The Yacht Hotel, overlooking the Harbour, where we slaked our thirst on several pints of cool quenching “Breda” lager. It tasted good after a hard day on the “briny”. Then to our rooms to unpack, shower and change before seeking a good restaurant. followed by collapse in a comfortable bed. Day 2 – We boarded “Saltwind” at 9.0 am, a gentlemanly hour. The plan was to go in search of big “Flatties”, then Bass and if time permitted Black Bream. Lloyd had already collected live sandeel from the fish quay and we were quickly under way. We steamed for a little over an hour until we reached the shingle banks off Alderney. We fished the sandeel baits on 3/0 hooks with clear flowing 15 b.s. traces. Paul was the first to find a small Turbot. David found the second one which was larger; he was a contented man.
Then we were off in search of Bass in a tide rip on the edge of the bank. Same light tackle set up with live sandeel baits. Lloyd held the boat pointing into the racing tide while we fished over each gunwhale and across the transom. Let your weight down to the bottom then slowly retrieve up 10 to 15 turns and repeat. You will know when you get a take! Mission accomplished! We all caught Bass between 2 and 5 lbs, many of which were returned alive to fight again another day.
We moved to a different inshore reef mark in search of those famous Black Bream. Lloyd showed us how to tie his preferred paternoster rig from 30 lb clear mono. Two blood loops were cut into short snoods about 2 feet apart, onto which we slipped a black and a green bead and a very sharp size 4 short shank hook. A rotten bottom to a 4 oz weight completed the trace. We baited the hooks with shellfish and gently lowered them straight down to the rocks below. Almost immediately I felt the sharp biting tugs from the waiting fish. I struck but not soon enough, those “Piranhas” had stripped both my hooks of bait. Re-bait and try again. Strike and we’re in. Weight for weight these Black Bream fight far harder than Bass.
In less than an hour we caught about 45 Bream, to about 2½ lbs, many of which were returned alive. Lloyd is mindful of the need to conserve valuable fish stocks by avoiding unnecessary slaughter.
Day 3 – Was a repeat of the previous day, Brian Metters caught some good Black Bream, and yes, David caught a Brill. He must be one of the “jammiest” anglers with whom I have ever had the privilege of fishing!
Day 4 – came all too soon. We embarked at 6.45 am for the return journey with still more exciting wreck fishing to come. The Pollack and Cod duly obliged. We saw still more quality and quantity. Surely it could not get better? It did! Success story of the day was Peter Boothby, a canny angler. He used a small "Eddystone" Eel with an orange coloured body, shading to a yellowish tail and with a red dash on the crown of its head, to hook and land eight consecutive Cod. We now refer to Peter as “The Codfather”.
I could recount side splitting tales about conversations between Terry and an Italian waiter. The stories are endless, but you just had to be there. It requires good company and good fishing for a successful angling holiday and we had all the right ingredients. Our return into Dartmouth during the late afternoon bid a fond “adieu”. We’re already negotiating for a five day trip in 2003 and I want to be a part of that. So now for the second trip; could it possibly live up the one I’ve just described? To cut a long story short, it did and in some respects eclipsed it. There were Carol and Mick Rice from Ilkeston; John Short from Somerset; David Lowden from Torquay; Joseph “Buddy” Harvey and Paul Millman, (the crew from our previous trip who returned as a paying customer). The last two both hail from Dittisham. Once again, you would be hard pressed to meet a group of more amiable folk. The four day trip was based on a similar game plan to that outlined above, although Lloyd can vary it to include more wrecking or Conger fishing as weather and group wishes dictate. If it works, why fix it? We caught huge Cod and Pollack from mid-Channel marks. Mick’s fish just pipped my own best Cod of 21 lbs 2 ozs 10 dr.
David captured some very good summer Pollack.
Mick caught a bigger Turbot than David did on our previous trip. Another "jammy" beggar! (You have to practise a lot and do everything right, to get really consistently "Jammy".)
I said to Mick, “What do you reckon to this then?” He summarised his pleasure with the brief but pithy epithet, “Sun shone, Turbot fed”. Just for good measure, “Buddy” hooked some massive Red Gurnard of more than 100% specimen weight.
Carol took 6 Bass in a single session.
Paul added two PBs to his own tally with another Red Gurnard of about 2½ lbs and a Garfish of 1 lb 14 ozs which hit his sandeel bait as he was retrieving it in mid-water.
If something is superb, can you match or top it? Lloyd showed me that it is achievable. I recall once going on a golf tuition holiday which cost a great deal more than the average £50 per person per day (plus on-shore accommodation at about £28 to £40 per night depending on room sharing and season), that a full Channel Islands charter aboard “Saltwind” costs. I learned a great deal from Lloyd who has chartered to these waters for the past 32 years. He is a clever and patient coach who gives selflessly of his time throughout every day. Unlike the golf holiday, I got to bring some very good quality and perfectly chilled fish home for my own table. Would I do it again? Yes, though perhaps not twice in the same week! Patsy and I have already booked another weekend three-day trip during August and I can’t wait. © Mike Concannon 8th July 2003 |
