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Print versionCredit Crunch Angling 2 - Inshore Charter Boat Fishing
If you’re a charter angler in these tough times, then I don’t really have a wealth of advice. Charter fishing is, and always will be, more expensive than other types of angling because employing somebody’s skills to assist you in catching fish will always cost. However in spring and early summer there is a mild form of respite!
As our seasons progress, different species can be caught over different terrains as part of their migratory patterns. Summer and winter can often spell long-distance fishing to far offshore marks, which because of fuel and hours worked, will always mean a skipper has to charge top-dollar. But during spring – March until June, the UK sees an influx of certain species arriving close inshore after spawning, ready to feed, and inshore fishing only means one thing – less fuel, shorter days and thus cheaper trips.
Many ports around our coastlines have inshore sandbanks not too far from port. Sandbanks are usually created by fast tides around headlands, which pick up and move sand, shingle and shale, and as these tides decrease in speed, they deposit this carried matter which creates our sandbanks. These same tides also transport food, in a predictable direction, so it makes perfect sense for any fish to lie in wait in these areas for a free meal. Sandbanks attract fish just like any other underwater obstruction and now is the time to target these areas.
Spring sandbank fishing offers the opportunity to target certain species. Tactics are simple and cheap and although bait may add a little to the overall cost of a day afloat, tackle carnage is minimal so it all balances out. At this time of year, Plaice are top of the species list of fish to target from sandbanks, closely followed by two bigger members of the flatfish family – Turbot and Brill. Early Bass will be a bonus for some ports and never too far from a sandbank will always be roaming a Ray or two! With less time to travel to these marks, fuel consumption is less, therefore this is taken into account in the days overall cost. Long distance charter trips can cost up to £60 per person per day, but quite often inshore reef and bank fishing trips can cost anywhere between £25-£35pppd. It goes without saying that spring bank fishing trips are about as cheap as it gets for the charter angler wanting to grab a day afloat on a budget, without robbing a bank. Or was that to rob a bank?
Bank fishing does not require much tackle. On calm days, over shallow water marks, a heavy spinning or carp rod is the perfect tool to provide a little sport. Over slightly deeper marks, and on choppy days or over times of big tides, most skippers will advise using a 6 to 12lb class outfit. Braid will offer far superior bite detection to mono and offer greater tide cutting ability.
Live launce (greater sandeel) can often be caught on the day, and are good bait for our bigger species of flatfish, but for the smaller flatfish like plaice, rag worm and squid will be needed (lug worm can be a good bait too). If you want to be really tight, squid strip alone will catch if you’re lucky. Shellfish like cockles and razor fish also make great baits to tip off with and, along with peeler crab, these can be collected yourself if you have time, which will also save money.
A variety of readily available, self collected baits can provide rewarding results
For tactics, some skippers will advise a simple running rig whilst others will suggest the use of a Portland rig. Trace lengths and breaking strains will vary, depending on the species you are targeting, and if it’s plaice you’re after, a few beads and/or a spoon are often added to provoke this little aggressive fish to attack. Most bank fishing is also done whilst drifting.
Beads and bling is the way forward to boat a Plaice
Offshore heavy weights mean heavier tackle is needed to cope with conditions but inshore, lead needed is often less, as the depth of most sandbanks rarely exceeds 100ft and can be a shallow as 20ft. Less lead means one thing – lighter tackle and this makes bank fishing good sport. For those who have never fished for flatfish over a sandbank, it may be hard to believe, but a two to three pound place can put up quite a scrap on light tackle, just like a bigger fish will on heavier gear.
Watch leads are ideal for inshore bank fishing
Fishing for flatfish might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but for those that are broad minded enjoying all types of angling, spring sandbank fishing offers the buzz of light tackle, a chance to hone your rig making and bait presentation skills and a chance to test your patience, feeling for the slightest of bites, whilst trying to outwit some of our most intelligent species of fish. Clearly all flatfish make good eating too!
If you’re a charter angler, who is struggling this year and cannot afford your usual long distance wreck and reef fishing trips, perhaps give bank fishing a go. Check with your regular skipper if you have any sand banks in your area and if they hold flatfish during the spring. Sandbanks and flatfish can be found the length and breadth of the UK, but it is often the southern counties from Wales down that offer the best fishing for flatfish during the spring. Two of the most famous sandbanks that attract spring flatfish are the Skerries banks between Datmouth and Salcombe and the Shambles banks off Weymouth.
Just this week I enjoyed a great days fishing aboard the Salcombe based Anglo Dawn, fishing the famous Skerries Banks. The cost of a day’s fishing was £30. For bait I used £5 of rag worm, a box of squid and I used some cockles, razor and peeler crabs that had been collected previously and frozen. Over the duration of the day I lost no tackle. A total cost of £37.50
10 hours fishing, all tackle and bait, a qualified skipper/guide, with a few cups of tea thrown in for good measure – all for £3.75 per hour – now I call that awesome value for money!
Jim, proudly shows off the fruits of his credit crunch boat trip
Spring bank fishing for flatfish is a great credit-crunch alternative for the charter angler who, this year, cannot perhaps afford to be spending larger sums of money on expensive offshore fishing.
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