tough one that. I think it depends on the ports.

I quite like the idea of a longer trip for in shore trips if that means you are going to cover a number of different types of fishing in the day and rack up the species. Trips from Weymouth that I do tend to be 9 hours ish and the range of ground means you can do some flatties, reef stuff and even an inshore wreck or two all on the same day anyway - not sure the extra time would gain that much.

If it is wrecking then it depends where you are leaving from. On the south coast if you are in the far south west I can see the point as you might get to some far off wrecks in the western approaches that are out of normal range. If you are east of Plymouth however all you would do with the extra travel time is cover wrecks you could have more easily got to from other ports? (would get worse the further east you go I guess).

If the aim is to have more time on the wreck then I would question the point. If the wrecks are fishing their legs off then you probably have plenty enough fish on a standard trip and given most wreck fish die when you catch them in deep water you can't put back. If the fishing is rubbish then spending another 3 or 4 hours flogging a dead horse doesn't really appeal.

The circumstance I can see that may make it attractive is if you have been struggling all day and late in the afternoon a shift in tide causes them to come on the feed. Then I can see you might want to stay out but you wouldn't know this until it happened so very difficult to plan for? On the whole I think I've convinced myself things are probably ok as they are!

 

i would certainly be up for longer trips,always seem to catch with 1/2hr to go

 

Cor 14 hours just think how many pouting and dogfish we could get in that time !

 

Deffo up for more hours afloat!!!

 

Its ok doing 12/14 hour trips but its getting the people to do it. I run a charter boat on the isle of wight and i do 12/14 and have done 24 hour before but it the cost that puts lots of people of ....

 

Well i know its a hard one but if skippers where offering to take you to places where you wouldnt normally get to fish ie along way over the the shipping lanes or uncharted wrecks etc i think its always worth having a go,as they say nothing ventured nothing gained, in my opinion if you trust the skippers you fish with then if they have got something up there sleeve its always worth paying the extra and having a stab at it.
I find with the skippers i fish with they always try to find the fish as word always spreads fast.If you fish with a skipper who just fishes the same old wrecks all the time and never goes anywhere else and just relies on his previous reputation well i think thats just flogging a dead horse.
Anyway im getting of the subject here so come on boys whats the verdict?

 

I understand that people think that it can be costly but if you break it down per hour fishing is really good value for money,if i take my boy to football it can cost over £150 and thats for 90 minutes so if you paid say an extra £20 and get a good result i think its well worth it.

 

Definitely, yes.
The only thing I don't enjoy about fishing is having to reel up for good for the day and come in :-(
So I try to be out to fish as many daylight hours as I can when out on my own boat; and I'd personally far prefer 12 or 14 hour charter trips, especially in the summer.

 

Given a choice I would definitely go for the longer trips. Given how often the weather blows us out, might as well much as much of the few opportunities we do get afloat as we can.....

 

[Well i know its a hard one but if skippers where offering to take you to places where you wouldnt normally get to fish ie along way over the the shipping lanes or uncharted wrecks etc i think its always worth having a go.[/QUOTE]

I agree. Happy to pay more to go where the fishing "may" be better. I know it can't be guaranteed but at least you've given it ago and could pay off. Trouble with 8 hour wrecking trips usually seem to be you either spend an hour to an hour and half steaming to 15 - 20 miles and then have 5 hours fishing. If the fishing is poor then you start moving between wrecks taking say another 30 - 45 minutes, maybe pushing out a bit further, going east or west or even working your way back, leaving 3 - 4 hours fishing. So in the day you may have spent up to 4 hours driving, 4 hours steaming and 4 hours fishing. I'd prefer to spend more time fishing. As a general rule I've normally had better results the further you go but you do get the exception and it that case if the skipper suggests less steaming will produce then maybe stick to the 8 or a 9 hour trip which'll still give you around 6 hours fishing.

 

Simple.

Discuss it with the skipper when booking.

Not sure I understand why the need to discuss here?

Personally I really dont think it could be any simpler.

"Hey skip, if we book you can we have a 14 hour trip?"

Answer = Yes or No

"Hey Skip, if we book you for an 8 hour trip and we are having a good day, can we keep an option open to extend it to a 14 hour trip?"

Answer = Yes or No

If yes, then book the trip, if No, then thanks but will find another boat.

 

Definitely yes, 8 hours always seems too short a day, especially when you consider how long it takes to steam too and from the wrecks, and the amount of days lost due to bad weather.................

 

Simple.

Discuss it with the skipper when booking.

Not sure I understand why the need to discuss here?

Personally I really dont think it could be any simpler.

"Hey skip, if we book you can we have a 14 hour trip?"

Answer = Yes or No

"Hey Skip, if we book you for an 8 hour trip and we are having a good day, can we keep an option open to extend it to a 14 hour trip?"

Answer = Yes or No

If yes, then book the trip, if No, then thanks but will find another boat.

Many of us will book spaces as individuals, rather than the whole boat. In that case it is rather more difficult to influence the duration of the trip.

It is true that, very occasionally, a wrecking trip will produce more than enough fish in a couple of hours. Also there is the odd occasion when no fish whatsoever come to the boat. More typical is that 4-5 hours fishing will produce a couple of fish.

The cost of the boat is only part of the overall cost of the trip. I live a fair way from the coast, driving to the boat will take 1.5-3hrs depending on port and cost £20-40. There is then the cost of food for the day an the inevitable lost tackle plus parking adding £10-20 extra.

All in I suspect I rarely have change out of £100 per trip.

On a typical 8-9 hr Wrecking trip, the time fishing, therefore, costs me £25 per hour.

If the trip length was increased by 4 hours for, say, another £20 I would get twice as much fishing time for not much extra money - reducing cost per hour to c£15
I do also like the idea of being able to try a few different things rather than just wrecking. For example the Turbot that have been found far offshore. I've heard mention of a couple of other offshore options that would be good fun but out of the range of a normal 8-9 hr trip.


In short, yes, if Sussex skippers offered 12 hour trips for £75 ish I would definitely book.

Further west longer trips are quite commonly offered, but I would rather use ports closer to home.

I did go on a 15hr trip out of Weymouth last summer. I was great, we got the best of the tide ebb and flow for wreck drifting, some time at anchor for congers and a couple of hours flatty fishing on the way in. Best part of 11 hrs fishing time for £85 felt like a bargain to me!.

I would have thought a few of these trips would be attractive to skippers. Whilst the longer day will burn some extra fuel and be knackering if done too often, it is a chance to break from the normal routine, get some publicity for doing something different - and probably end the day with more profit even once the extra fuel is covered.

 

Marshy I imagine paying to be abused by mr blue for further 4 hours could be extremely good VFM !!!!

 

All sounds ok to me , I can see all points here I'm up for some longer trips , quite sure most other skippers will be if offered to them too , when we get a bit further into the year I will post a odd day or to on here as individual days , 12 hours marshy I'm gona need some paracetamol

 

As to the comment most other skippers would most probably be up for longer trips , that's a statement as most boats advertise 8 10 12 14 hours

 

Gary time and money doesnt really come into the abuse from Mr Blue if he feels like abusing me he just calls me and lets me have it lol!!!!

 

some of the south coast skippers ive been on clock watch, as soon as its dead on 3pm they come in if the fishings good or not. ive also been out with skippers and if were having it off we stay out for an extra hour or 2 and never paid more.

paying for longer trips id be up for but id only do it on certain boats i know that will work hard to catch fish, sod pulling in the odd doggy for 18/20 hours. id rather pay a top skipper full whack for an 8hr trip.

 

Another plus of longer trips is that you can work it to get two periods around slack, when the fishing can be most productive, instead of the one.

I take the point about staying out that little bit longer if the fishing is good, and I often do, but that could be put back onto the crew, if you ask to stay out that bit longer and offer extra money then no skipper is going to refuse unless he has a prior commitment. Skippers will meet a demand if it is there. The fact is money is tight for the vast majority these days so it has to be give and take.

 

Anyone interested , sea leopard and myself are doin a couple of long trips this summer , which will consist of turbot and brill all day on the French banks , anchor through the night for some congers , more turbot the following day then home , both of these trips 2 boats will be fishing together , and should produce some nice turbot , any wsf members interested call leopard boy on 07957760063 or myself 07403198775 max of 7 per boat

 

Put me down please , which ever boat , what month are you planning for , any idea of costs , is it week end or weekdays , just thinking is rob allowed Steve or is he with leopard boy ?

 

Sign me up Steve! Fishing and a 'sleepover' Do we need to pack our jim jams?

 

Martin im off with leopard boy im fed up with abuse from blue bell so im gonna try some new abuse from the big yellow boat,come with me on yellow dog and we can abuse blue bell throughout the night,we can throw frozen cuttle baits at him lol!!!

 

Hoges your not still wearing them spiderman jim jams are you?

 

Steve just had a quick chat with Jason and mick , both up for it so would need 3 now , ring you tomorrow cheers