A reflection from fishing this year, what are your targets for the next?

[concrete]

To be fair - you have to love your fishing if you're willing to driving 2 hours each way on a regular basis. For example Chesil is 2h20min each way for me (and usually full of people) - I like fishing but not 2h20min each way.

So is it the case that number of young people fishing is relatively stable but the number of (inland) club members has gone down?

If chesil was only 2 hours 20 minutes away, I’d be fishing it twice a month, maybe more.

 

[Shirleycodlin]

I've never really been that keen on travelling to fish. An hour at most.
If I thought there was a realistic chance of a decent bag of cod, Id go. But there is not, so I don't.

 

[Leginfisher]

I might be tempted to go on a bass charter if you were not restricted to just 2 fish. Currently bass stocks appear healthy and offer the best chance of catching a few tidy fish. But I’m not paying £80+ for a charter for 2 fish, which aren’t my favourite eating fish. Plenty there as shown in pic for the commercials, who I’d add are not doing anything illegal as long as sticking to their overall quota. Just a bit frustrating that RSAs limit is not a bit more reasonable.

 

[crablante]

Plenty there as shown in pic for the commercials, who I’d add are not doing anything illegal as long as sticking to their overall quota.

Are they able to target just bass? How do they do that?

 

[Kine262]

Going to sea fish at least once a month, as well as a couple of five day blocks, and also do other fishing (game and coarse) at least twice a month!

 

[GPSguru]

99.9% of fishing is from my boat.

It is good to see the commercial Pollock ban has been extended to 2026, and we are seeing much larger Pollock on the wrecks, 2024 gave me about 20 doubles with the best fish going just over 15lb, this year I am hoping for larger. Also, we are seeing more Cod on the wrecks, fish of 10lb Plus.

Coalfish made a comeback in 2024, so hoping that continues into 2025, we had several to about 10lb.

Also, I want to spend more time after the Turbot, now that I have located and explored a good area for them.

Over 50 years of fishing and I still have not managed a double bass, plenty of 'almosts' , fish to 9lb 13oz, but the double eludes me.

Grandson wants a 50lb dildo fish, so I will have to anchor a wreck or two.

We want a 20lb plus blond, so far we have managed a 18lb'er, so it's getting close.

Not interested in Tuna as I had one at 800lb in 2022, also not too interested in sharks, however, we are seeing a huge amount of BFT between July and December, I am talking 1000's not 100's, one shoal can often be over a 100 (noisy bast'ids).

Seeing more Dolphin is always welcome, saw plenty in 2024, so hope it continues into 2025, when the Dolphin are around, often the fishing is excellent. Once the dolphin start tracking my boat, I slow down to 20kts which is about their max speed, and they stay with me for miles.

 

[Kine262]

99.9% of fishing is from my boat.

It is good to see the commercial Pollock ban has been extended to 2026, and we are seeing much larger Pollock on the wrecks, 2024 gave me about 20 doubles with the best fish going just over 15lb, this year I am hoping for larger. Also, we are seeing more Cod on the wrecks, fish of 10lb Plus.

Coalfish made a comeback in 2024, so hoping that continues into 2025, we had several to about 10lb.

Also, I want to spend more time after the Turbot, now that I have located and explored a good area for them.

Over 50 years of fishing and I still have not managed a double bass, plenty of 'almosts' , fish to 9lb 13oz, but the double eludes me.

Grandson wants a 50lb dildo fish, so I will have to anchor a wreck or two.

We want a 20lb plus blond, so far we have managed a 18lb'er, so it's getting close.

Not interested in Tuna as I had one at 800lb in 2022, also not too interested in sharks, however, we are seeing a huge amount of BFT between July and December, I am talking 1000's not 100's, one shoal can often be over a 100 (noisy bast'ids).

Seeing more Dolphin is always welcome, saw plenty in 2024, so hope it continues into 2025, when the Dolphin are around, often the fishing is excellent. Once the dolphin start tracking my boat, I slow down to 20kts which is about their max speed, and they stay with me for miles.

I want to come out fishing with you!!!!!!!

Your list of captures is very impressive and one that many charter skippers would be envious of! The pollock, cod, coalfish and turbot fishing really appeals but I can't say that bluefin tuna have any appeal for me too.

One more thing and I just know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's a dildo fish?

 

[Trampster]

One more thing and I just know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's a dildo fish?

I'm guessing, at 50Lb, Conger Eel.

 

[GPSguru]

One more thing and I just know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's a dildo fish?

A conger, and I hate them with a passion.
My biggest is 92lb, which I caught on some rough ground about 8 miles out. They are a bloody nightmare on the boat as they ‘snap’ at everything including your feet, anything under 50lb gets T barred off at the side of the boat.

Interestingly I often fish the wreck where Vic Evans (RIP) caught the British record dildo of 133lb in 1995, however, we fish for Bass and Pollock on that wreck.

 

[Trampster]

A conger, and I hate them with a passion.
My biggest is 92lb, which I caught on some rough ground about 8 miles out. They are a bloody nightmare on the boat as they ‘snap’ at everything including your feet, anything under 50lb gets T barred off at the side of the boat.

Interestingly I often fish the wreck where Vic Evans (RIP) caught the British record dildo of 133lb in 1995, however, we fish for Bass and Pollock on that wreck.

And the biggest shore caught conger was here in Plymouth near me in 1992 - 68.5Lb.
I'm not keen on the bloody things either, though it does raise a chuckle when Troj in Guernsey on Youtube gets them in his Lobster pots!

 

[Kine262]

A conger, and I hate them with a passion.
My biggest is 92lb, which I caught on some rough ground about 8 miles out. They are a bloody nightmare on the boat as they ‘snap’ at everything including your feet, anything under 50lb gets T barred off at the side of the boat.

Interestingly I often fish the wreck where Vic Evans (RIP) caught the British record dildo of 133lb in 1995, however, we fish for Bass and Pollock on that wreck.

We share a loathing for conger then, only exceeded by @Mr Fish i would guess! He attracts them more than he does goats!

 

[Mr Fish]

We share a loathing for conger then, only exceeded by @Mr Fish i would guess! He attracts them more than he does goats!

I can catch them in a bathtub

At least @Ollieollie told me it was a conger eel

 

[GPSguru]

We share a loathing for conger then, only exceeded by @Mr Fish i would guess! He attracts them more than he does goats!

Well tbf, he does like a dildo

 

[The Third Earl]

I am hoping to get out on the Whitby charters that I have booked . Last year seven were cancelled due to weather which is no good for the skipper , or me .
Having moved , I am hoping to get more summer beach time in , chasing smoothies and bass .
I am also looking forward to two weeks in Shetland where charters are booked .
I will be chasing Gilts in the Helford , and bass and wrass in north Cornwall and some time on the North Norfolk beaches .

Now that I am closer , trips to the Trent are planned , it owes me a few Barbel , plus locally there is the river Witham and plenty of other stillwater to be explored .
Then there is next winter . Cod have been thin on the ground here so far so need to up my game there .

I just need the weather to play ball really . And hoping to have enough time to fit it all in

Dave

 

[concrete]

And the biggest shore caught conger was here in Plymouth near me in 1992 - 68.5Lb.
I'm not keen on the bloody things either, though it does raise a chuckle when Troj in Guernsey on Youtube gets them in his Lobster pots!

Martin Larkin?

My brother in law knows him.

 

[crablante]

I hope to catch a bass on a lure...that's it.

 

[Beach]

I want to catch a Halibut from the Sussex coast, we all live in dreams

 

[LeighamFox]

Just to get back sea fishing. So saving hard to make it happen.

 

[Shirleycodlin]

I think I'll give up sea fishing and concentrate more on embroidery.

 

[Shirleycodlin]

I might be tempted to go on a bass charter if you were not restricted to just 2 fish. Currently bass stocks appear healthy and offer the best chance of catching a few tidy fish. But I’m not paying £80+ for a charter for 2 fish, which aren’t my favourite eating fish. Plenty there as shown in pic for the commercials, who I’d add are not doing anything illegal as long as sticking to their overall quota. Just a bit frustrating that RSAs limit is not a bit more reasonable.

That's a lot of welk bait.