[dynebar]

Been fishing all my life, now I've blanked on my last 4 or 5 trips. What the hell is going on?! Never seen it so bad. Didn't even catch one decent cod all winter even with 4 or 5 boat trips and 100's of shore trips.

And this weather too... it's meant to be August, global warming my arse!!

 

[Grogg]

Been fishing all my life, now I've blanked on my last 4 or 5 trips. What the hell is going on?! Never seen it so bad. Didn't even catch one decent cod all winter even with 4 or 5 boat trips and 100's of shore trips.

And this weather too... it's meant to be August, global warming my arse!!

Apparently they are all on Aberavon beach, best fished at night with lug and squid ;-)

My theory is that it has taken a while for our waters to warm up this summer following a deep and late winter. This was then followed by a hot spell that heated up the algae (May weed), which has come in later this year and de-oxygenated our inland waters. If my theory is right things should improve as this ****e disperses and our water return to somewhere near normal for the time of year.

 

[whyknot]

They are about..it'd be called something diffrent to fishing if we caught them all the time wouldn't it. 4-5 trips? I've blanked for much longer than that so count yourself lucky!

Think you're hoping big time for a decent cod anyway. Plenty of other species to target. Although i'd say there were more codling about this year than last year...

 

[Ryan.H]

Come September there'll be a dozen or so 1/2 lb codling caught and we'll all get excited talking about the best year ever... AGAIN. Then it'll collapse around us and blanks all around. Same old same old, sorry... BUT check out some of the threads for Cefn Sidan etc. and you'll see there are places producing. It's just finding them, don't waste your time targeting cod unless you want dissapointment... head West and go Bassing:1a:
Ryan

 

[Grogg]

Come September there'll be a dozen or so 1/2 lb codling caught and we'll all get excited talking about the best year ever... AGAIN. Then it'll collapse around us and blanks all around. Same old same old, sorry... BUT check out some of the threads for Cefn Sidan etc. and you'll see there are places producing. It's just finding them, don't waste your time targeting cod unless you want dissapointment... head West and go Bassing:1a:
Ryan

Who's targeting cod?

 

[col1608]

Been fishing all my life, now I've blanked on my last 4 or 5 trips. What the hell is going on?! Never seen it so bad. Didn't even catch one decent cod all winter even with 4 or 5 boat trips and 100's of shore trips.

And this weather too... it's meant to be August, global warming my arse!!

Have u ever eared of cefin sidan ? premier league beech of wales , thats where all the fish r

 

[ilovefishing]

ive had 40 sessions since the 1st of jan and blanked 4 times and that could have been avoided if not targetting surtain species as for the weather i think its been great compared to the last two summers weve had barely any significant rainfall in the last 4 months the rivers are exstremely low and the water temperature is high ive been doing really well on bass and theres plenty of mullet to be caught u need to pick your venues carefully at this time of year august is allways bad on general fishing, hounds bass and mullet for me this time of year

 

[Ryan.H]

B. Didn't even catch one decent cod all winter even with 4 or 5 boat trips and 100's of shore trips.

/QUOTE]

Not stated as targetting, but I know a few last winter who went out with the sole intention of getting in amongst the cod... even fished a boat trip where the kitty was first to be paid out on biggest Cod... a 2lb cod was the only one seen and knocked a 19.5 lb blonde ray off the top spot.

 

[codkid]

i fished cefn sidan last wednesday and had 8 bass all schoolies but very good fun

if you got time have a trip out of plymouth had 2 in the last 8 weeks never caught so many fish such as pollock,big whyting,big pouting plus a 18lb cod and a 15lb cod onboard aswell cracking

 

[madpierre17]

:doh:save 500 quid and go to skjervoy fiskcamp in norway!guarenteed 20 lb cod(our biggest was 36)a tiddler.4 good lads,a few pirks,shads etc and a arvour boat,no darkness,totally the best fishing holiday ever :victory:i got sick of spending money on water that has been fished out!ps ive been 3 times and every time gets better as you suss it out!and the haddock and coalfish are clonkers mate,we threw the cod back and only eat the wolffish,redfish,halibut and haddock!and the sunsets!and daybreak!all in one hour.priceless.

 

[dynebar]

:doh:save 500 quid and go to skjervoy fiskcamp in norway!guarenteed 20 lb cod(our biggest was 36)a tiddler.4 good lads,a few pirks,shads etc and a arvour boat,no darkness,totally the best fishing holiday ever :victory:i got sick of spending money on water that has been fished out!ps ive been 3 times and every time gets better as you suss it out!and the haddock and coalfish are clonkers mate,we threw the cod back and only eat the wolffish,redfish,halibut and haddock!and the sunsets!and daybreak!all in one hour.priceless.

Would love to go to Norway, talked about it many times with my mate, it's a "must-do" for me!

Fishing here has truely gone down hill, add another session to my blank list today :wallbash:

 

[oarsman dan]

:doh:save 500 quid and go to skjervoy fiskcamp in norway!guarenteed 20 lb cod(our biggest was 36)a tiddler.4 good lads,a few pirks,shads etc and a arvour boat,no darkness,totally the best fishing holiday ever :victory:i got sick of spending money on water that has been fished out!ps ive been 3 times and every time gets better as you suss it out!and the haddock and coalfish are clonkers mate,we threw the cod back and only eat the wolffish,redfish,halibut and haddock!and the sunsets!and daybreak!all in one hour.priceless.

After Norway - you'll never want to fish the Bristol Channel again!

Well................for a month anyway - then your arms stop aching and you get the bug again!!!! lol

 

[fiskrond]

in my experience...
this year so far has been diabolical
the beach which i have fished regularly for several years has gone from (last year) having to set down one of two rods due to 'thick and fast' activity and n'er a blank has gone to a LW > HW plus 2hrs back only resulting in the odd knock.
Same place, same bait, etc.
Several of my mates (nonforum) have experienced equally disappointing results.. and they can usually winkle them out of thin air!!
Honestly don't think netters entirely to blame, water temps are down, mother nature dictates all methinks..bad global cycle?
Good job i see going fishing as an excuse for a shoreline picnic than an objective exercise, i looks at it these days as actually catching something being as bonus on top of a trip to the beach with my knapsac of goodies!

 

[Cabin Boy]

I`ve been doing alright with the Gower Bass, Had three codling this week too, which suprised me for August..

 

[Jase-Top Angler]

I`ve been doing alright with the Gower Bass, Had three codling this week too, which suprised me for August..

ive had a good year aswell :fishing1: :thumbs::thumbs:

 

[Ken Davison]

When you say you have been fishing all your life to be honest that is not very long. At 67 my uncle Gerry first took me down to the river fishing for minnows when I was two, my mother thought it was great at the time but regretted it in later years. As for a serious start I was nine years old and fishing Poole Harbour and during the last 58 years there have been enormous changes both in fresh water and sea fishing.

Sea fishing is suffering with the number of fish being depleted by the commercial effort, yes there are fewer boats but the remaining ones are very well equipped. I think the inshore boys now know the writing is on the wall for most of them and the big boys don't give a toss, they will continue to hoover up fish until it is no longer viable.

We have lost our shout for various reasons mostly our own fault and now organisations like WWF, MCS and others have the main shout, even the big boys are no match for them.

Ironically those organisations may in the end be our salvation, by pressing for marine reserves which will be no take zones fish stocks will have a chance to increase and other areas should reap the benefits.

A thought struck me the other day, if we joined forces with these conservation organisations and between us pressed for the Golden Mile as a net free area we could all gain. It might mean bag limits but if you can go and catch fish with a couple to take home it will be better than no fish.
Just a thought.

With regards to global warming none of us can argue with the fact that average temps are increasing and seasons are changing, this is the forth consecutive wet July and August. You might argue the reasons for it but not the figures.

There are still fish about but if you take mackerel last year and this they have been very scratchy, one would have to guess the big boys with their pair trawls are doing the damage in the Irish Sea.

Your generation are going to have to give things some serious thought if you want to go on fishing, old farts like me will probably see things out with a few more fish, but it is a different story for you young'uns. Make the right choices which may include licenses, bag limits etc and you could have lots of happy days ahead of you. But most of all you have to stand up and be counted where it matters and support angling organisations to have a real voice.

 

[VooDooMan]

When you say you have been fishing all your life to be honest that is not very long. At 67 my uncle Gerry first took me down to the river fishing for minnows when I was two, my mother thought it was great at the time but regretted it in later years. As for a serious start I was nine years old and fishing Poole Harbour and during the last 58 years there have been enormous changes both in fresh water and sea fishing.

Sea fishing is suffering with the number of fish being depleted by the commercial effort, yes there are fewer boats but the remaining ones are very well equipped. I think the inshore boys now know the writing is on the wall for most of them and the big boys don't give a toss, they will continue to hoover up fish until it is no longer viable.

We have lost our shout for various reasons mostly our own fault and now organisations like WWF, MCS and others have the main shout, even the big boys are no match for them.

Ironically those organisations may in the end be our salvation, by pressing for marine reserves which will be no take zones fish stocks will have a chance to increase and other areas should reap the benefits.

A thought struck me the other day, if we joined forces with these conservation organisations and between us pressed for the Golden Mile as a net free area we could all gain. It might mean bag limits but if you can go and catch fish with a couple to take home it will be better than no fish.
Just a thought.

With regards to global warming none of us can argue with the fact that average temps are increasing and seasons are changing, this is the forth consecutive wet July and August. You might argue the reasons for it but not the figures.

There are still fish about but if you take mackerel last year and this they have been very scratchy, one would have to guess the big boys with their pair trawls are doing the damage in the Irish Sea.

Your generation are going to have to give things some serious thought if you want to go on fishing, old farts like me will probably see things out with a few more fish, but it is a different story for you young'uns. Make the right choices which may include licenses, bag limits etc and you could have lots of happy days ahead of you. But most of all you have to stand up and be counted where it matters and support angling organisations to have a real voice.

Great post Ken , pretty much tells it as we older folks see it. The youngsters might see the situation as partly our fault for not joining forces and making a stronger case for recreational sea anglers. All I will say is to younger anglers , is learn from the older generations mistakes and do as Ken suggests .

 

[dynebar]

When you say you have been fishing all your life to be honest that is not very long. At 67 my uncle Gerry first took me down to the river fishing for minnows when I was two, my mother thought it was great at the time but regretted it in later years. As for a serious start I was nine years old and fishing Poole Harbour and during the last 58 years there have been enormous changes both in fresh water and sea fishing.

Sea fishing is suffering with the number of fish being depleted by the commercial effort, yes there are fewer boats but the remaining ones are very well equipped. I think the inshore boys now know the writing is on the wall for most of them and the big boys don't give a toss, they will continue to hoover up fish until it is no longer viable.

We have lost our shout for various reasons mostly our own fault and now organisations like WWF, MCS and others have the main shout, even the big boys are no match for them.

Ironically those organisations may in the end be our salvation, by pressing for marine reserves which will be no take zones fish stocks will have a chance to increase and other areas should reap the benefits.

A thought struck me the other day, if we joined forces with these conservation organisations and between us pressed for the Golden Mile as a net free area we could all gain. It might mean bag limits but if you can go and catch fish with a couple to take home it will be better than no fish.
Just a thought.

With regards to global warming none of us can argue with the fact that average temps are increasing and seasons are changing, this is the forth consecutive wet July and August. You might argue the reasons for it but not the figures.

There are still fish about but if you take mackerel last year and this they have been very scratchy, one would have to guess the big boys with their pair trawls are doing the damage in the Irish Sea.

Your generation are going to have to give things some serious thought if you want to go on fishing, old farts like me will probably see things out with a few more fish, but it is a different story for you young'uns. Make the right choices which may include licenses, bag limits etc and you could have lots of happy days ahead of you. But most of all you have to stand up and be counted where it matters and support angling organisations to have a real voice.

I agree with everything you say, a few things that should be brought into place in my opinion:

1. Stretches of land/beaches where nobody is allowed to fish (anglers and trawlers)
2. Sea fishing rod license so that a proper organisation can be funded to stand up for anglers
3. No trawlers within a set distance of the shore, say 2 miles or so.

We need some pretty radical plans brought in ASAP to stop our sea stocks going to a point of no return!!

Netting should be completely banned too.

I'd be happy if all trawlers were banned from the Bristol Channel for the next 10 years, we might have reduced stock in shops of local fish then but it would allow our stocks to return to higher levels. Although I fear at the end of the 10 years the trawlers would sweep everything up again.

Very annoying

:banghead:

 

[Spaceman1]

I have caught more species this year than last year but not as many over all fish if you know what i mean, But it is very poor year fish count i have blanked more this year than 3 years previous put together.

 

[stevieg]

There are still fish about but if you take mackerel last year and this they have been very scratchy, one would have to guess the big boys with their pair trawls are doing the damage in the Irish Sea.

Hi Ken

Any idea where all this "big boys with their pair trawls" action takes place in the Irish Sea....................it obviously must be a fairly prolific fishery if they are "doing the damage in the Irish Sea" as you clearly state........:blink:

I have worked in the Irish Sea for 30 years, and in all that time I have seen the grand total of absolutely zero pair trawlers fishing for mackerel.........which is a tad odd to say the least..........:g: