Porlock Bay

[Rob M]

Great photos mate, the starry is a beautiful fish

Rob

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by pinguprogress

nice photos as ever & mmm nice hat shaun
how are the rest of the hillbillies

Sunburnt mate!!

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Lookfar

Hi Old Smoothhound,
I'll be moored in Porlock Wier from the 24th, so I've got about 4 hours each day across the top of the tide. Not allowed out across low water as the family needs some attention too

I've got GPS numbers for the Ivystone and a wreck off Foreland, plus chart plots on some deep channels a mile or two off. Porlock Bay is where I really struggle though, I've no confidence about just dropping the pick at random. Even some simple alignments on the harbour, or the coastguard station etc would be a help. Do the charter skippers normally anchor in the blue or the brown stuff? Will the hounds take hardbacks? Not too worried about the tide sizes, I'm geared up for big tides in the Solent anyway and I've the speed to get offshore, fish across the slack then come back in as the tide gets too heavy.
If all else fails, I'd planned this year on trolling plugs and jellies tight in on the shoreline down towards Lynmouth in hope of pollack and bass.

Steve

You cannot miss the Ivy Stones its a very large Rock with undergrowth on it
From the Ivy stones motor straight out towards South Wales circa 10-15 minutes or in a faster boat 5-10 minutes. There is a set of gullies and a deep rift about 60-80 fathoms deep, it is only fishable 1 hour either side of low water, then the tide is just too fierce, or wait until smaller tides.

All of the Minehead Skippers anchor in the bay in the clear water in the main, but there is rockier terrain nearer Hurlstone point. Take a point in line with Hurlstone Point and Foreland that is intersected with the break in the natural sea defences of Bossington beach, this is roughly where you need to be.

The Smoothounds are 150 -200 yards of shore at 2 hours after high water they then move closer in towards high water. Trigger fish are at a point just 100-150 yards up from the Ivy Stones towards Foreland Point and about 150 yards out. Also Pollack are caught here together with Bull Huss.Smoothounds will take hard backs but try and take the shell off the back and let the juices lay a scent trail

The wreck off Foreland is the Coal Barge and a lot of divers get into it if the weather is good. Some very large Tope have come off there in the recent pastto whole Mackie Flapper.

Around the Point towards Lynmouth is Sillery Sands this is fantastic Ray water with Blondes, Small Eyed, Occasional Turbot, and Tope in the evenings into the night. A nightmare to get to on foot as its a goos 30 minute walk down steep paths and even longer and harder going back!

On Foreland you can feather for mackie. There is also a couple of sand banks just out of sillery sands called the Sandwich Banks, good for the odd bass and ray.

I hopw this helps and that you have tight lines down there.

Good luck

Shaun

[Lookfar]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

From the Ivy stones motor straight out towards South Wales circa 10-15 minutes or in a faster boat 5-10 minutes. There is a set of gullies and a deep rift about 60-80 fathoms deep,

The Smoothounds are 150 -200 yards of shore at 2 hours after high water they then move closer in towards high water. Trigger fish are at a point just 100-150 yards up from the Ivy Stones towards Foreland Point and about 150 yards out.

The wreck off Foreland is the Coal Barge and a lot of divers get into it if the weather is good. Some very large Tope have come off there in the recent pastto whole Mackie Flapper.
I hopw this helps and that you have tight lines down there.

Sean,
Thanks mate, perfect info.

The rift off the Ivystones I've visited, easy to find from the chart and as you say, deep. Though I'm not sure exactly what a fathom is in feet and inches? We managed just a strap codling from there but in a roaring tide and a pound of lead, it all but ruptured poor Alan hauling it in Hounds are what I'd like, since I'll mainly have novice friends aboard and the kids catch me a ready supply of hardbacks. Triggers will depend on getting some rag or squid I guess. Did the new tackle shop in Minehead survive the winter?
Foreland wreck is more of a long-shot, don't range down to Lynmouth unless the weather's perfect. Too tempting to stay a bit longer if the fishing's good, then end up rushing back against the ebb. There's no second chance at Porlock Wier, get back 5 minutes late and you are locked out for 8 hours, I've squeaked in with just inches under the keel too often for comfort, one day I'll overdo it.

Steve

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Lookfar

Sean,
Thanks mate, perfect info.

The rift off the Ivystones I've visited, easy to find from the chart and as you say, deep. Though I'm not sure exactly what a fathom is in feet and inches? We managed just a strap codling from there but in a roaring tide and a pound of lead, it all but ruptured poor Alan hauling it in Hounds are what I'd like, since I'll mainly have novice friends aboard and the kids catch me a ready supply of hardbacks. Triggers will depend on getting some rag or squid I guess. Did the new tackle shop in Minehead survive the winter?
Foreland wreck is more of a long-shot, don't range down to Lynmouth unless the weather's perfect. Too tempting to stay a bit longer if the fishing's good, then end up rushing back against the ebb. There's no second chance at Porlock Wier, get back 5 minutes late and you are locked out for 8 hours, I've squeaked in with just inches under the keel too often for comfort, one day I'll overdo it.

Steve

Hi Steve,

A fathom is 6 feet mate therfore 20 fathoms = 120 feet ( I think) . ITs no fun fishing it with 1.5lbs of lead mate.

Do try Sillery Sands around the Foreland point its well worth it for Rays and the odd Tope. But Trigger should be in when you are there plus hounds will still be marauding around

Have a good trip mate and let us all know how you get on.

Shaun

[Vlad]

1 fathom is 6 feet or 182cm.

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Vlad

1 fathom is 6 feet or 182cm.

I knew we were fishing in 120 feet of water but couldn't remember if the skipper said 20 fathoms or 60 fathoms, so it must have been 20 ,,,, Thanks Vlad

[Lookfar]

Hi Sean,
120ft is about right from what I remember. Dead easy to find as it runs perpendicular to the shore. We steamed out watching the sounder and the ground just suddenly drops away like nobodies business. Another 50 yards and it comes back up again 40ft. Serious geology!
Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll give it a go as soon as I've sorted the obligatory trips around the bay for half the campsite. If you happen to be in the Wier at any point between 24th and the 3rd, say hello. Can't miss Lookfar, Warrior 165 moored in the outer basin. I'm the short, hassled looking bloke doing all the work

Steve

[tommy a]

Steve,

Weve got a Warrior 165 moored in Exmouth - good boats eh ? Just wandered what you think of them -0 I reckon they are the monkeys nuts for the money !!

[Lookfar]

Hi Tommy,
Best all-rounder in their class, I'd say. Getting common though, the boat compound at Eastney looks like a Warrior showroom. Build quality is great, we've done 5 seasons and she still shines up nicely

You done much customising? Couple of things I've found really handy. I've screwed eyes into the back of the cuddy and the anchor well bulkhead so I can stretch bungees between them and stop luggage leaping off the stbd cuddy seat. On the port side, I've put a short rail on the seat which lets me do the same thing. Nothing more irritating than trying to travel in a chop while all your tackle, coats, fuel, cameras etc etc are migrating steadily over your feet and towards the stern
I've got vinyl covers over the gunnel pockets doing the same job, plus a stainless bash plate across the gunnel where I haul anchor. Don't have to dead-lift the weight of the chain to protect the fendering, I just let it gouge hell out of the stainless plate.

Steve