What I have done so far in 2009
Species 2009: 15 Target 20
Sessions: 27 Marks: 14 Boat trips: 2 Blanks: 4
2008
Sessions: 28 Marks: 13 Boat trips: 1 Blanks: 7
Whiting (65+) LSD (17+) Dabs (2) Pout (5) Flounder (2) Rainbow Trout (2) Brown Trout (3) Garfish (1) Smooth hounds (5) Sole (2) Tub Gurnard (1) Pollock (1) Shanny (4) Poor Cod (10ish) Bass (1) Golden Grey Mullet (5) Mackerel (1) Black Bream (1) Small eyed Ray (4)
Garfish
Habitat:
Most abundant in cold and temperate shelf waters. Over winter in deep waters and then migrate shoreward in the spring when the water temperatures reach between 11/14ºC. It would appear that our Eastern Atlantic population has no inter-mix with the Western Atlantic populations.
How to catch:
Float fish thin slithers of fish strip on size 6 hooks.
Where I caught them:
Oxwich, West pier, West Bay (Bridport)
Shanney (Lipophrys pholis) Smooth Blenny, Common Blenny, Sea-frog
Habitat:
Rocky areas below low water mark, intertidal (mid-shore and below) spring to autumn*, under rocks, in crevices and rock pools, especially the juveniles. This fish habitually leaved oxygen-deficient pools and can be basking on rocks and completely out of the water at low tide. (* in the south-west this fish can be found on the shore during the winter).
How to catch:
Small fish baits on small hooks (size 4), just lower your rig down the side of a structure e.g. pier, harbour wall etc....
Where I caught them:
Porth Gain, Mumbles pier.
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) aka the Chinese fish - Wy Ting
Habitat:
Whiting tend to be mid to bottom water feeders in depths of 20 to 150m (although juveniles often in shallower water), found in shoals often over sand or sandy mud / gravel.
How to catch:
November - March, fish strips or worm bait on flapper rigs with size 1 hooks.
Where I caught them:
West Pier, County hall steps, Oxwich, the deeps etc...
Pouting (Trisopterus luscus) aka Pout, Bib
Habitat:
Common inshore fish of waters with depth from 3 to 100m, although 300m is not unknown. Small pout are to be found in shallow water over sandy ground, whilst the larger adults tend to favour rocky substrates and wrecks. Loose shoaling fish, that tends to be demersal in nature.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
West Pier Swansea, West bay Dorset.
Small Eyed Ray (Raja microcellata) aka Raymond
Habitat:
Confined to sandy grounds in particular to certain sandy bays and estuaries in shallow to moderate depths.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
West Pier Swansea
Turbot (Psetta maxima)
Habitat:
Turbot generally inhabit waters of 20-80 m, on both sandy and rocky ground.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
Caswell Bay
Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) aka bar of silver
Habitat:
Schooling predatory fish, associated with warm coastal waters, reefs, estuaries, as well as, over sand and mud, down to depths of 100m.Larger fish tend to be more solitary, than the smaller school bass of 4lb or less. Inshore migration during March through to may, often into brackish water.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
Cefn Sidan, West pier, Foxhole
Common Eel (Anguilla anguilla) aka slimy b******d
Habitat:
Bottom dwelling fish that can be found in most freshwater habitats and in estuaries.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
Foxhole
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)
Habitat:
Most abundant in cold and temperate shelf waters. Over winter in deep waters and then migrate shoreward in the spring when the water temperatures reach between 11/14ºC. It would appear that our Eastern Atlantic population has no inter-mix with the Western Atlantic populations.
How to catch:
Spinners are good, fish strips on size 2 hooks, Float fishing or feathers
Where I caught them:
Oxwich, West pier, West Bay (Bridport)
Flounder (Platichthys flesus)
Habitat:
Sandy and muddy bottoms, particularly estuaries. Some flounders may travel far upstream into completely fresh water.
How to catch:
Worm baits are best on size 2 hooks with plenty of 'bling' (coloured beads).
Where I caught them:
Oxwich, Cefn Sidan, Pwll.
Dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) Lesser spotted dogfish, Catshark aka woofer, pain in the arse etc....
Habitat:
Swansea! Bottom dwelling shark, with a liking for sandy, coral type structures, mud, gravel and algal areas. Found in very shallow waters to 110m
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
Dab (Limanda limanda)
Habitat:
Sandy and muddy bottoms, particularly estuaries. Some flounders may travel far upstream into completely fresh water.
How to catch:
Worm baits, small lug are best, size 2 hooks with plenty of 'bling' (coloured beads).
Where I caught them:
Oxwich, MumblesHorse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)
Habitat:
Found in large pelagic shoals, typically down to 100m, although 200m is not unknown. Migrate into UK waters during spring and summer.
How to catch:
See mackeral
Where I caught them:
West Bay (Bridport)
Pollock (Pollachius pollachius)
Habitat:
Pollack prefer the cover of reefs, wrecks, piers and rocks. They prefer deep water, though young pollack will inhabit kelp beds closer inshore. A bottom feeder during the day moving closer to the surface as the light fades.
How to catch:
Where I caught them:
West Bay, Mumbles
Starry Smoothound
Habitat:
Most abundant in cold and temperate shelf waters. Over winter in deep waters and then migrate shoreward in the spring when the water temperatures reach between 11/14ºC. It would appear that our Eastern Atlantic population has no inter-mix with the Western Atlantic populations.
How to catch:
Peeler crab is a must. Strong size 3/0 hooks on a running ledger or similar.
Where I caught them:
Oxwich
