[highlandshorecaster]

This time last year the fishing was very hard on my regular Moray Firth marks.
I put this down to cold temps and loads of freshwater entering the sea near to these places.
Anyway this winter I have been trying to fish more open beaches to combat freshwater and also the temps have been kinder.
My logic must be working as my catch rate is far superior - here are some brief reports.

02/01/2014
Fort William Area.
Calm after heavy rain.
H.T 18.30 Fished 11.00 - 19.00
8 Dogfish 1 Whiting.

05/01/2014
Dornoch Area.
Calm to start, weather deteriorating as day progressed.
Big Tides.
H.T 14.30 Fished 08.30 - 15.30
5 Flounders.

19/01/2014
Cromarty Firth.
Weather bad on coast - moved to a sheltered estuary.
2 Sea Trout.

26/01/2014
Cromarty Firth.
Weather still bad.
1 Dab.

31/01/2014
Fort William Area.
Cold/Wet and Windy.
H.T 18.30 Fished 12.00 - 20.30
5 Dogfish.

09/02/2014
Dornoch Area.
Calm
H.T 20.00 Fished 13.00 - 21.00
10 Flounders 1 Whiting.

14/02/2014
Loch Etive.
Fancied a change and a Thornie!!
Squally showers/snow.
Blank!

16/02/2014
Dornoch Area.
Breezy, odd showers.
2 Sea Trout 2 Flounders.

28/02/14
Fort William Area.
Breezy to start/showers.
H.T 17.30 Fished 11.30 - 20.00
4 Whiting 4 Codling 4 Dogfish.

09/03/2014
Dornoch Area
Breezy to start - calming later.
H.T 17.30 Fished 11.00 - 19.30.
10 Flounders 1 Turbot 1 Sea Trout.

22/03/2014
New Mark. Dornoch Area.
Breezy/light showers.
H.T 15.00 Fished 08.30 - 18.00.
10 Flounders 1 Sea Trout 1 Plaice


Keep a diary as it deffo helps for the following years as I am now reaping the rewards of doing so and all the legwork.
Cheers, Leo.

 

[nicevans]

Thanks for sharing Leo, good idea to keep diary, I keep one for salmon and trout so why not sea fishing ! Looks like the flounders kept you busy on a couple of days, nothing like sitting there in the cold and not getting a nibble.

Tight lines, Nic.

 

[Guest]

good to see all your hard work paying off with the increase in catch rate mate.as you say ,a diary will prove its worth in the long run.
cheers rab

 

[Clansman]

Cheers Leo, good to see you getting some decent days among those you've had!!!
And a wee turbo among them, nice one.:thumbs:

 

[highlandshorecaster]

good to see all your hard work paying off with the increase in catch rate mate.as you say ,a diary will prove its worth in the long run.
cheers rab

Thanks mate.
Never really got the Cod hunt off the ground much last winter but appreciate your advice at the time.
Love exploring new places and keep a diary in pretty good detail - more than posted - don't won't to give away all my trade secrets just yet!!

 

[highlandshorecaster]

Cheers Leo, good to see you getting some decent days among those you've had!!!
And a wee turbo among them, nice one.:thumbs:

Aye a few good days.
That new mark threw up some whopping Flounders - shame they were thin from spawning - otherwise they would of been specimens some of them I'm sure of it.
Turbo was a pleasant surprise but had a gut feeling they would be there at some point. Now to confirm the rumours of Bass and Rays from the same mark!

 

[Findus666]

Leo

Good effort mate...ye cannnae beat a bit of empirical data.:thumbs:

 

[Pugs]

Aye a few good days.
That new mark threw up some whopping Flounders - shame they were thin from spawning - otherwise they would of been specimens some of them I'm sure of it.
Turbo was a pleasant surprise but had a gut feeling they would be there at some point. Now to confirm the rumours of Bass and Rays from the same mark!

Top marks bud. There is somebody who swears aboot the Bass up around Dornach, I'm probably thinking the same mark as you. Might have to wait a few months yet, tight lines.

 

[Weardale fisherman]

What bait for seatrout was this in an estuary

 

[highlandshorecaster]

What bait for seatrout was this in an estuary

Bait was lug tipped with mackerel.
Most of the time I am fishing open beaches, but the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths are kind of like giant estuaries - think Bristol Channel sort of scale.

 

[excalubur/swd]

Heres a brace i got on ragmorm tipped with mackerel,i find this combination deadly where there is a possibility of sea trout

 

[ericthefish]

Brilliant post Leo:thumbs: You're always one of the first to help with info and it's always appreciated. You've did well in virtually all of your trips...great percentage. Well deserved too as you put the effort in.

I think we all know that a diary is a good thing and that we all intend to log all of our fishing trips, but how many of us actually do just that? I know I've thought about it many times but never did it. Many thanks mate!