Sunday 27th - Luccombe Bay SE IOW

[Solent Fisher]

Hi Guys,

My Dad and I braved the strong Westerlys yesterday and went out from Langstone on my 16ft Boat "Fishful Thinking". We cut straight across to the eastern side of the IOW to gain some protection but after an unadventful session at Culver Spit on Saturday I decided for the first time ever to go further south and try some of the rocky reefs past Sandown Bay. We anchored a few hundreds yards from the headland as any further out and it was just too rough with a heavy swell coming in from the south. The ebb tide even in 40 feet of water meant us having to use 1lb weights and we were only just holding bottom. We lost loads of tackle in the broken ground and the afternoon was almost fishless except for what we thought was quite a rare catch. Now i've caught plently of 3 and 5 bearded rockling from the beach but never seen one over 6-8 inches long.

This fish was well over a 1lb in weight and 20 inches long. I know 3 bearded easily reach these sizes but correct me if i'm wrong the record for the 5 beard is only 1-0-0 lb, caught in Wales and has stood since 1995?





What do you think guys... a rare catch or nothing unusual?

The trip back home at 6pm was a bit nerve racking with a heavy swell following us all the way home which was trying to turn the boat around and over as we hit the deep troughs! Plenty of excess power on tap with throttle control kept us on a straight course and above rather than below the waves. We were totally drenched by the time we reached the slip which by that time was a very welcome sight.

James

[steve devon]

Thats a big rockling but the record isnt 1lb its 3lb 4oz from the boat (unless u mean the area record)

great catch well done

[Solent Fisher]

Originally Posted by steve devon

Thats a big rockling but the record isnt 1lb its 3lb 4oz from the boat (unless u mean the area record)

great catch well done

Hi Steve,

I know the 3 bearded stands at 3-4-4 from the boat 1992 but the 5 bearded in a much smaller variation of the species and according to my record booklet its only 1lb listed under mini species records. Are you sure the record is 3lb 4oz for the 5 bearded?

James

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done mate and cracking pics

[steve devon]

o rite yeh sorry the 5 bearded is 1lb from where you said

[steve devon]

From the pics i would say that was a three bearded rockling

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/p...drockling.html

If you look there it looks totaly different

[fishypaul]

good report james, thats a nice rockling,well done

[Solent Fisher]

Originally Posted by steve devon

From the pics i would say that was a three bearded rockling

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/aquarium/p...drockling.html

If you look there it looks totaly different

I was 99.9% sure you indentify them by the number of barbles/whiskers they have. It had 5 so that makes it a 5 bearded as the 3 only has 3. Anyone know if this is the correct way of telling them aprt as you've got me doubting myself now???

[steve devon]

whatever kind itis its a big one so well done!

[Solent Fisher]

Thanks guys.

I'm pretty sure Steve's right, its a not a 5 as it should have 5 on its lips. This little beauty only had 3 plus a couple of barbles on its throat - just like this one....

Barton 22/10

Still a nice size compared to what i've seen before but certainly no record. Still it went back safe and sound so maybe get the little beauty again in a few years. It had an appetite for whole mackerel fillets so it should put on weight pretty quick!

James