[PhilR]

45. Coalfish (also called Billet up North)

 

[PhilR]

46. Lesser Weever

Very pleased to get this, considering the number of hours I have devoted to getting one.

 

[bananas]

Well done Phil, that's you past the 45 hurdle:thumbsup:, some miles done to get the coalie and multiple Dabs, was the Weever from up there to?

 

[PhilR]

Well done Phil, that's you past the 45 hurdle:thumbsup:, some miles done to get the coalie and multiple Dabs, was the Weever from up there to?

Yes, I had four weevers from Whitby East pier. In a short session I had dabs, coalies, whiting, codling, weevers and a flounder. None stop action and too hectic for more than one rod. Made a great change from Weymouth pier, not a wrasse in sight!

 

[bobthedog]

You were that busy catching fish that you didn't realise you were on the West pier not the East. Almost 50 years since we first fished there (49 if we're splitting hairs). We're a little more proficient at catching fish these days & still not to fussy as long as it has fins. Good to catch up again.

 

[PhilR]

47. Small-eyed Ray

 

[bobthedog]

50 within sight now, still no thin lip yet?

 

[PhilR]

Tried to tick off several last night. Bagged the small-eyed, but failed on the sole. The wind was in the East and there was too much surf. Might try for thin lipped next week. Just got some nice new shiny mullet spinners.

 

[Dave Thornton]

Yes, I had four weevers from Whitby East pier. In a short session I had dabs, coalies, whiting, codling, weevers and a flounder. None stop action and too hectic for more than one rod. Made a great change from Weymouth pier, not a wrasse in sight!

I am down in weymouth next week, still need a rock cook and cuckoo wrasse.
Is there anywhere down there where I would stand a chance of any of these? Cheers.

 

[bananas]

Ive not seen any reports or pics of any down Weymouth way, thats not to say they are not around that part of the coast, I had mine in Torbay, we seem to have a few good spots for Rock cooks and the breakwater holds a few Cuckoos as well as odd Baillions.

 

[Dave Thornton]

Ive not seen any reports or pics of any down Weymouth way, thats not to say they are not around that part of the coast, I had mine in Torbay, we seem to have a few good spots for Rock cooks and the breakwater holds a few Cuckoos as well as odd Baillions.

Thanks for that, down there for 4 days just seeing what I can catch up on.
No wife so solid fishing.

 

[PhilR]

I am down in weymouth next week, still need a rock cook and cuckoo wrasse.
Is there anywhere down there where I would stand a chance of any of these? Cheers.

Never seen a Rock Cook or Cuckoo from Weymouth, but I have heard of the former being caught. Extreme long shot though, trying to avoid the millions of Corkwings and Ballans.
I once had a Baillon's from the Pleasure Pier, but they are pretty rare also.

 

[PhilR]

End of year summary
Trips: 41
Fish caught: 744
Blanks: 0 (first time ever had no blanks)
Species: 47 (50 would have been nice but there were some unique challenges)
Average fish caught per trip: 18
Commonest catch:

• pout : 137
• mackerel: 102
• whiting: 88
• pollack: 51
• dab: 47

Boat highlights:

• 5 double figure undulates
• 1 double figure thornback
• 1 double figure bull huss
• a few nice pollack

Shore highlights:

• 50 cm bass
• twaite shad
• a couple of nice cod

Failures:

• Some tactical errors meant that I missed out on thin lipped mullet and sole.
• Due to lockdown restrictions, I did no fishing in April and December.

 

[bobthedog]

Happy new year. Not a bad tally for the year, pity you didn't make 50. I've been out of action for the last 2 months with a bad case of sciatica, had trouble standing & walking let alone fishing. It came on after 2 days on the trot sat up the pond after the big perch.

 

[PhilR]

Happy new year. Not a bad tally for the year, pity you didn't make 50. I've been out of action for the last 2 months with a bad case of sciatica, had trouble standing & walking let alone fishing. It came on after 2 days on the trot sat up the pond after the big perch.

Happy new year Bob, hope you get well soon.
In the past I've had some cracking perch using big lob worms for bait.
I've won matches like that when everyone else has been using maggots/casters.