Salcombe Inshore - 3 day trip

[Platitudinus]

Hi guys;
Just finished a three day trip on Anglo Dawn (Chris Roberts) out of Salcombe. The idea was a sole charter to re-live some memories with my 88 yo dad who first went to Salcombe 80 years ago and we have had 4 generations of our family fish there since.
Monday 27th - fished the Skerries to get Dad his sea legs again - quiet day with some rain and very cold - flat sea and just caught a bucket load of quality plaice to about 1.5 lbs. Many also thrown back as undersized and a couple of small gurnard landed as well. Bait was cocktails of lug, rag and squid fished on 10-15lb tackle.
Tuesday 28th - lovely weather, fished the inshore reefs 6.5 miles out (about 30-40m deep) and filled the fish boxes:
12 Cod to around 5lb, 4 Bass to 4lb, around 50 pollack - most pollack survived being put back with their swim bladders deflated, several good sized whiting, 4 small coalfish - around 1lb (quite unusual), plus the usual rubbish (pout). Nearly all fish caught on plastics slowly retrieved on 12ft traces, plus a few on mackeral strips as bait; even gulp plastics brought up fish that took anywhere from the bottom to mid water.
Wednesday 29th -fished three inshore wrecks 10-12 miles out, amid strong winds, high waves and strong tides. Dad took an 18lb cod off the first wreck and a 10lb pollack - not bad for 88 years young, and we also had a 5lb bass of the wreck (70m deep -wow!) and a nice ling plus plenty of smaller pollack. Again most fish came to slowly retrieved redgills (blue/white and custard/rhubarb). Several mackeral livebaits and flappers were taken but our 20lb gear (rod + braid) couldn't hold whatever took them although we managed to land everything else!

Dad was tired out so we left at 3pm to come home. A great three days and we would strongly recommend Chris Roberts and his crew Neil to anyone looking for a good day out. Enjoyed comparing tactics with Chris and Neil and showed them some good knots including the Palomar and Slim Beauty (braid to mono). Also a quick whipped double hook set up we use down under.

As some of you know I live in Australia so was keen to resample Salcombe as a boat fishing paradise - IT STILL IS!
Sorry - no pictures yet but may try and add them later when I get back to OZ in mid July.
Cheers
Plato

[tjnorton]

Sounds like 3 super days. The fishing is still good there providing the commercials keep away. Last year the netted almost every wreck.

tj

[Portland Pirate]

Well done on a great few days. Hope your Dad enjoyed them as well. I bet he did.

[pingu]

sounds a good few days, nice one

dave