Fishing from a Yacht - advice please?

[keelbolt]

OK, I'm off from Portsmouth around the Solent, then away along the south coast on a 40' yacht. I'm taking a collapsable rod, a reel with 50lb line, and an odd assortment of hooks etc. I also have one of those collapsable lobster pot things.

I've only done mackrel fishing with feathers before, so any suggestions on how best to use the kit im taking would be most welcome. Like, are there different methods for when I'm at anchor or when I'm going? Has anyone actually caught anything off a yacht?

KB

[Spahill]

Hi
Firstly welcome to the forum.
Never done it myself but heres a few suggestions.
When underway forget about fishing you will probably be too busy sailing.
You can get some big weights on handlines that you can drag behind the boat with feathers attached, but you may forget about them & taglt them in whatever sticks out the back of a yacht.

when anchored up, if you only drop at 1 end then you could fish off the stern (I'm almost an old sea dog now) with a rod & line.
If anchored over clean ground
I would fish a running ledger, put weight on slidy thing that goes on line, then a bead. tie a swivel on the end of line, then tie a hooklength and a hook at other end.
Chuck a couple of frozen mackerel in the freezer & fish thin strips on a size 1 hook (bigger or smaller if you catch anything. adjust the size of the weight to the depth of water and strength of tide. 4oz to 16oz. drop it off the back & keep it on the bottom, trundling away if necesary.

be carefull at slack water that you dont catch anchor rope as the boat swings around

If anchored over rough stuff, I would use a float.

Am sure there are others more qualified to give more advice.
But most of all have fun & don't forget to put them back alive if your not eating them.

[keelbolt]

Running ledger it is then. Thanks.