Its been a while that I have been identifying fish-holding marks on google Earth but due to the early of the season and the unstable weather, thought not to gamble and waste my time there, instead preferring the 'surest' marks. last week though we were blessed with good weather and slight winds and I made the call to try out two areas. the first one didn't offer a single bite (shallow, but might be worth checking over in a month's time..) but on the second one i struck gold! Found large numbers of very decent coalies in a shallowish bay along with good numbers of pollock, surprisingly close to the shore... This is definitely a mark to be re-visited especially with the lrf gear and maybe some topwater lures...
On the day I had the chance to use some flies from my friend Tolis of Smart Flies . I decided to add them as teasers to my usual metal combo rig and they really worked a treat! I was really surprised when towards the end of the session, and with the bites practically non existent, I managed a nice 2kg pollock that hit the teaser instead of the metal! For the past sessions, most larger fish would go for the main lure but obviously this fish saw something it liked...
Worth the trek...
Coalies are suckers for teasers...
Nice coalies on this mark... This one with net wounds..
LRF gear next time...
Spectacular!
Big pollock couldn't resist the sandeel teaser..
On Thursday, I had the morning off and decided to have a short session on Aird as the tide was good.
I reached the mark bang on high tide and started fishing away with metals. I got a nice fish on the metal but then bites tailed off on the metals. I then switched to a brass n glass Texas rig with a 10g weight, a 8mm glass bead and a 2/0 EWG hook. lures were a variety of slim paddletails, modified stickbaits with an added curly tail and straights. this way I was able to cover the area more precisely and keep the lure in the strike zone, in this case being close to the bottom as the tide was ebbing and the current intensified. I got the best results by casting 'upcurrent' and parallel to the rock-wall, working the lure with short hops on the bottom and bits of straight retrieve. Most fish would hit soon after touchdown or at the straight retrieve immediately after some 'hops'.
After catching some average fish, I got a solid take and the drag started to sing! I was using my KG Evolution Basic (2.7m, 7-23g) and it really was bent to the limit... This was a better fish and after a few runs it managed to get in a snag. I fed it some line and it soon came out, allowing me to bring it up with sharp pumps of the rod. I got a couple pics and then released this strong fighter.. It was interesting to note that the fish had some worms and parasites on it thus I suppose it hasn't been very active so far...
After that fish there was no point fishing any longer so I called it a day and went home for a nice meal.
Below some pics and videos of the action!
The first one on a metal...
And the rest on Texas rig...
Thought the larger profile might get me larger fish...
... Nope!
A good fighter!
Thanks for reading and don't forget to contact me if you fancy sampling some of this great fishing!
Gear used.
Rod: MC KG Evolution KGS-902L, 2.7m, 7-23g.
Reel: Daiwa Freams 2500
Mainline: Duel Hardcore X4 PE 1.0
Leader: Duel Hardcore Powerleader FC 20lbs
Lures: metals with teasers and brass n glass Texas rigged softplastics.
On Monday I had favourable conditions and I was finally able to visit the northernmost tip of the Isle of Skye, Rubha Hunish. From reports I've read it has a good depth and plenty of current, a combination that always means fish! It was a fair trek though and that's why I set off early on in the morning. I aimed to be fishing just after high tide and after making my decent from the cliffs I was soon stationed on a rocky point and fishing away...
I only took one setup (heavier) with me on the day as I wanted to be as light and mobile as possible and started fishing with my metal/teaser combo as usual. I got straight into fish and this went on for a good hour at that spot, bringing in nice coalies and average pollock cast after cast.
This first spot was relatively shallow and after the bites dried up, I moved to the front of the point and started fishing. The water had started to move now and the current was getting noticeable. I was getting bites and plenty of pollock but not all were landed, either because they took me to the only kelp bed in the area (in front of my feet!) or by weak hook-holds (using simple round bend worm-hooks instead of my usual EWG's). As there were loads of fish about, I decided to try a variety of tactics and presentations to see if it would make a difference to the bite rate.. Thus I used metals, cheburashka rigged paddletails and ripple/curly tails, straights (Sluggos) on darting jigheads and in the end, my new Magbite Vassalo swimming jigs tipped with Gulp Sandeel.
To be honest everything worked... For a time...As soon as the bites would dry up on one presentation, a change to something different would usually see more bites develop. This is a common behaviour especially when fish are shoaled up as they were.
Its a long hike...
A bit 'hairy'...
Double shots galore!
My first spotted pollock...
On the darting action.
Impressive.
The rocks are teeming with birdlife.
Vassalo!
Need to get over that on the way back...
After fishing and exploring for a few hours, the bites slowed down while it was approaching low tide and feeling full of the days fishing I decided to call it a day. I didn't get any big fish but the potential for them on this mark is evident. Moreover I'm impressed with the sizes of the coalies lately and it wont be long till I do a light game session just for them!
Next time I visit this mark though, I'll come prepared with food and drink as its not really suited for quick sessions!
Bellow the videos of the day. To be honest there were more fish caught but it just got tedious pulling one fish after the other in... lol
Things are livening up and I'm soon gonna be doing some reconnaissance for more marks. It is surprising how many areas are overlooked...
Moreover I'm looking to fine-tune my gear and I'm on the lookout for a new setup that would allow me to fish more effectively in the marks and conditions that I'm now faced with.
Yesterday I ventured to a couple northern marks as we had brisk southerly winds and I usually opt to be out of the wind.. It was a wet day though so that dampened the fishing experience somewhat...
First stop, a mark usually accessible only around low tide, in a kelp-filled bay. Even though it still seems early for the shallower marks, a couple casts with a metal/teaser combo saw a nice fish being caught, but not much after that... I think Ill leave the shallow areas for a couple more weeks.
I then moved to my deep water mark near Duntulum and had much steadier action there. I also managed to get my first cuckoo wrasse of the season, and a stunning male at that! I think Ill try and target them specifically with the finesse gear this season as they are so beautiful and also fun to catch.
Got some more pollock but the place seemed relatively quiet comparing to other times, with the fish being very localised and picky. Moreover the bites dried up completely towards the end of the day but anyway I had caught enough and it was time to go.
Just before I left the mark though, I passed from an often overlooked rocky outcrop that oversees a shallow, kelpy bay. I had a few casts there and before long I got two nice fish but only managed to land one as the other one dropped the lure... A good sign nevertheless that these areas will be full of life soon.
Even with the rain and wind, a session on Skye never disappoints!
Somehow I managed to fail getting the pics properly but below are the ones that came out along with a video of most of the day's action.
Absolutely stunning!
Rugged skinny fighter.
Almost orange!
And the video:
As already mentioned, don't hesitate to contact me if you would like to sample the fine saltwater fishing on Skye!
Tight lines all!
Gear used.
Rod: Tica Seha Graphite, 2.7m, 1/4oz-1/2oz (10-30g actual)
Reel: Abu Garcia Soron STX40
Mainline: Duel Hardcore X4 PE 1.5
Leader: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon 20lbs
Lures: 20g metal jigs with added sabiki teaser on the leader and then 20g cheburashka with 2/0 EWG offset hook and an Ecogear Grassminnow L.
As the title says, one day after my very productive session on Neist, I went to a mark in the South and really struggled... The conditions changed drastically and although it was still sunny, the temperature dropped and we had strong Northeasterly winds. I arrived at the mark shortly after the high tide and after catching a coalie on the first cast with a metal, I had high hopes for this session. Unfortunately fish had a different opinion and for another two hours I got no fish.
I was fishing with my finesse gear, as this mark is one of a few up here that allows for it, and a few times I could feel some weird nibbles when the lure touched down along with a couple knocks OTD a couple times. I went through various lures but in the end the simplest presentation with a naturally coloured (pumpkin/black flake) 3" Charlie Brewer Bass grub, on a 10g cheburashka did the business. I cast the lure at the entrance of a gully and felt a very light nibble. I worked the lure on the spot but the fish was just not taking. I then accelerated the lure and lifted it of the bottom and after a couple taps I finally felt a take! This was the hardest to convince pollock that I've ever caught!
This fish wasn't the largest or hardest fighting pollock out there, but I felt truly victorious after I caught it...!
It just goes to show how finicky fish can get sometimes when the conditions are not as they like.
A wily pollock...
Tight Lines!
Gear Used.
Rod: Majorcraft KG Evolution Sensitive Custom KGS-862SC (2.62m, 4-18g)
Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f
Mainline: Duel Hardcore x4 PE0.8
Leader: Duel Hardcore Powerleader FC, 12lbs
Lure: 3" Charlie Brewer Bass grub on a 10g Cheburashka.
Yesterday was another beautiful day here and I was glad that it was my day off! The wind was coming from the East and thus I thought it was time to visit the most well known mark on the Island...
In fear of the previous monster encounter at the last session I got the old gun out! (Tica Seha Graphite, 2.7m, 1/4oz1/2oz) a rod that's been with me for a long time and still going strong after some serious use and abuse... I don't use this rod too much these days as its super-fast and lacks real finesse, but never thought of selling it either as there are times that it proves very useful. It is supposedly rated up to 1/2oz but in reality its a 10g-30g rod. I love my Japanese-actioned rods, be they seabass, mebaru, ajing etc but I don't think that most Japanese seabass rods cut it for serious pollock fishing, such as we have here. It would've been awesome if the Japanese had a similar species as they would probably have designed dedicated rods for them by now...!
Contrary to typical sea-loch marks (deep channels with rough edges, basins, deep rocky passes) most marks here are usually shallower and the Kelp is just thick everywhere and makes fish extraction much more difficult. Needless to say about the substantially larger fish sizes as well... Thus I'm on the lookout for a beefier yet still 'finessy' and sensitive enough rod to allow the use of more delicate presentations. Until the time I find it though, the old gun will suffice!
And today it did just that. I fished mostly with 20g metals and added a sabiki teaser further up the leader as I heard of early mackerel showing up and wanted to maximise my chances.
I was fishing at about the high tide mark and I was soon in to some plumb coalfish... One of them was around 2lbs and put up a very energetic fight, although with a locked drag it couldn't do too much... On the LRF rods though it would've been a fight to remember!
A nice coalie.
I soon started getting double shots of coalies and pollock on the rig but most were of a small size. It took another 30mins when the tide was starting to move again till I got some better fish. Most bar one hit the metal jig and the vast majority of bites came O.T.D or soon after touchdown. Moreover although the fish were evidently in some numbers, they weren't feeding very aggressively as I had lots of missed takes and tentative bites. Their fights were largely unspectacular as well and this can only be due to the 'skinny' condition of these fish and the still cold water. Under the sun though, it was a glorious day and I was catching!
Double pollock!
A decent one on the teaser.
Bar of copper...
Best one of the day..
After a while the bites started to dry up as the flow intensified and I thought it was time to move to another spot. Other than a coalie though I got nothing more and decided to call it a day and go get a bevy as I had quite alot of sun...
Below a video of most of the action, check out the doubles!
I think that this was about as much good weather we could get, so I'll probably be fishing in the rain and wind next week, I just hope that the fish play along!
Please don't forget to hit me up if you would like to sample some of the fishing here!
Tight Lines
Gear used.
Rod: Tica Seha Graphite, 2.7m, 1/4oz-1/2oz (10-30g actual)
Reel: Abu Garcia Soron STX40
Mainline: Duel Hardcore X4 PE 1.5
Leader: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon 20lbs
Lures: 20g metal jigs with added sabiki teaser on the leader.
This week saw a tremendous change in weather patterns and as if somebody flipped a switch it is now summer (well for these few days at least)! I was waiting for my chance to get to the water and got it on Monday as I was working in the afternoon and had the morning free.
The mark I was aching to fish but couldn't all this time was Aird, as it is exposed to Northerly and Easterly winds and had been too rough till now.
I woke up around 06:30 and drove to the mark. High tide was around 08:00 and the wind was only a light breeze. After the walk to the point I was greeted by a slightly rougher sea than I would've liked but still very fishable...
It was the first outing with my new Daiwa Freams 2500 reel and it was newly spooled with PE 1.0 Duel Hardcore X4 braid. The rod of choice was my MC KG Evolution Basic KGS-902L.
Its been a long time since I fished with a Daiwa reel but this season I'm looking to compare this Freams to my Stradic Ci4...
As the sea was choppy and the mark quite deep, I picked UV and vibrant coloured shads to mount on 16g-18g cheburashkas. These certainly did the trick, and I started getting hits OTD. I was surprised to see the fish hunting so high on the water column and they seemed to be in a feeding mode as I soon started getting them in! They were only average fish for Skye standards (2-3lbs) but very welcome, especially after the last few slow sessions. After a while, I got a better fish but unfortunately lost it on the way up... The fish weren't fighting very hard and seemed relatively lean, testament to the very cold water temperatures here (still below 9C!).
First of many...
A bit choppy..
Gleaming in the sun.
After the high tide point (and getting soaked by some large waves!) I changed lures to metals as the fish seemed to be getting more aggressive. At some point I hooked a nice fish and was bringing it in before it managed to get snagged close in. I felt it getting free and applied more pressure when suddenly my reel started screaming and loosing line! This went on for a few minutes at least and it took me a while to think of taking a video on my mobile!
Below is the last part of it before my line broke off near the leader knot...
I retied and cast again, caught another decent pollock and then the same thing happened at the same area (the lip of the ledge before deep water). Now I've caught a seal before on this rod but it didn't feel like this. Moreover for the duration of the session (3hours approx), I saw no signs of any seals about, and they are not usually very inconspicuous. I really have no clue of what it was (Tuna lol!) but it took about 70m of new braid with it along with my fish and lure... On a positive note, the drag of the Freams proved to be top notch!
I think this is going to be a very productive season fishing-wise and full of surprises!
On a closing note, I have been thinking for a while now to offer guided fishing trips on my days off from work, gear can be provided and different disciplines and species targeted. Obviously this would be lures only (LRF, HRF, Light shore jigging etc) and with a strong emphasis on catch and release.
I believe that Skye is a true fishing paradise and with the summer fast approaching more species will become available so if you're interested please get in touch!
Tight Lines and more to come!
Gear used.
Rod: MC KG Evolution KGS-902L, 2.7m, 7-23g.
Reel: Daiwa Freams 2500
Mainline: Duel Hardcore X4 PE 1.0
Leader: YGK Nitlon DFC flouorocarbon 16lbs
Lures: 16g-18g cheburashka with 3" UV, Fluo and Chartreuse paddletails.
