A day out on the "Cassie"

[snatcher]

My mate George on the Clashwhannon site has the fishing bug again. His boat the Cassie has been "mothballed" for ages but this summer has seen him launching from the MOG on quite a few occasions .
.
I was invited along as "deckie" with him yesterday. We launched at about noon with the intention of having about 3/4 hours out. We had to get back sharp as the Ipswich/Toon game was on tv at 17.30( Newcastle won 4-0 )

From the launch we headed straight out and put on the mackerel flies. I elected for a smaller shrimp rig and after our third move we eventually started picking up a few fish.

My shrimp rig just drove those gurnards crazy and I must have caught close to twenty over the session. Getting all 3 species which was nice.

After we had enough mackerel for bait George switched to hokies baited with mackerel strip. He was looking for a cod for his tea but the couple of cod he caught were undersize so were carefully returned. We were also picking up coalfish,pollack,haddock,whiting,launce and George even managed to bring up an octopus which he shook off at the surface.

The pair of us on occasions were bringing in two fish at a time which was nice

Had a bit craic with Toonfireman who was fishing from his boat the "Joshua",not sure how he came on. I think he was anchored up after cod.

On the way back in to the trailer George took us close into the rocks so I tried spinning a sandeel. I managed to pick up one decent pollack of about 5 lbs which I unhooked in the water. Well what a great day it had been and all the fish being returned bar the mackerel. Thanks for another great day out George.

John

[fragmeister]

Great report yet again.

Love seeing different species from the other side of the world.

What are the double hookups you and you George have in the photo?

Cheers

Jim

Edited November 19, 2014 by fragmeister

[Guest no one]

Pollock Jim, very common North Atlantic catch, think they're related to cod if I remember correctly? They have thousands of at sea fish farms up north that hold them as well as salmon and mackerel.

I find it strange that gurnard love both here and there!

[Guest no one]

Also - good catch john! Looks like a nice day to be out considering its November!!!

[NaClH2OK9]

Yes pollock are members of the cold family. I used to soak the fillets in sea water for a few hours which firmed the flesh up a bit. Easily as tasty of cod in my opinion. I still remember being 7 or 8 years old and my dad catching our first gurnard in North Wales. I was fascinated by it with its pectoral legs and the way it croaked. Great read John.

Edited November 20, 2014 by NaClH2OK9

[snatcher]

Yes as has been said they were pollack,a very tasty and hard fighting fish Sorry if I misled you but that report was not a current one. I am just trying to give you ozzie boys a flavour of the different type of angling that we have here in the UK..

I will have to dig up a few more of my UK reports (I am an active member of 6 different UK fishing forums) and post them onto here if you enjoy reading them.

John

[fragmeister]

Pollock Jim, very common North Atlantic catch, think they're related to cod if I remember correctly? They have thousands of at sea fish farms up north that hold them as well as salmon and mackerel.

I find it strange that gurnard love both here and there!

Thanks,

I was born in the UK and my mother tells me we just about lived off fish as kids.

Can't say I remember though...it was 50 years ago!

OMG!