Hounds from a boat

[Old Smoothound]

If anyone is considering fishing for smoothies from a boat I would like to pass on a bit of info from my first ever 'Hound' boat trip on 29th July with another 'Hound' fan.

Left home: 3.45am (Look for a later Tide = more sleep)
Launched Boat: 5.00am (next time take waders, got very wet!)
Venue: Lilstock Somerset (Now I know where it is!)
Best Method: Uptiding (Best method ever discovered)
Best Rig: 8oz sputnik Grip lead, running ledger 4/0 sinlge hook
Best Hook Length: at least 45lbs (abrasion resistant)
Best Bait: Live Peeler and Hardbacks (Live Peeler outfished hardbacks)
Best tip: Set your drag properly, if not lose fish


Result: 17 Smoothounds best fish I have ever caught in my life!

Fish Rating: Absolutely Awesome!

Cheers
Shaun

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great info were they any size

For people who are reading this thread , smoothounds are amazing fish

They fight hard and are great sport , but please take a picture and release them

Smoothounds are my favourite fish , just love them

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Richard,

Best fish weighed in at 17lbs 4ozs, my best fish was 14lbs 8ozs. All fish bar one were into double figures.

I have the photo of my best fish, but it is too big for the site,circa 144kb and I don't know how to reduce down in size.
I also have other photos, one of the 17lb'er coming to the side of the boat and one of a fish, well splash actually as it headed off towards Glos!!

All fish were returned fit and well, like you I jusy love 'em

Am off to now to bonnie scotia.

Cheers
Shaun

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great fish and enjoy the scot trip , weather is better up there but who cares your on holiday

[Ben]

good trip byt the sounds of things
to get pics to fit on here i use paint, open thee pic, click on image along the tool bar and then screw/stretch and type in 25 opn both usualy does it
i am another smoothy fan, only had 3 but 2 of them were brilient
1st decent fish i have had from the sea and well worth the wait

[Old Smoothound]

It was brilliant trip, a red letter day! Sadly not all days are like that.
Many thanks for the info on reducing picture size etc, it works!! Will try and post up.

Once you have tasted catching "Hounds" everything else seems different, don't you think?
If you live down on the Solent, why not try Parkshore for Smoothhound, my pal went down there in July night fishing for them with peelers and velvet crabs and caught 8 in one session. Best rigs are either pulley's or running ledger, but you must have really tough snoods, nothing less than 45lbs.

Give it a try next year.

Cheers Shaun

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Richard,

The weather was kind only had one afternoon of rain. Fishing was good, have found some good marks on the Loch. St Catherines Jetty for mackerel, flounder, Thornback rays and of course "Doggies". Village of Furnace has an old quarry with rocks down to the shore line, holding decent conger, best fished at night.

Inverrary pier for mackerel, doggies and odd thornbacks, plus some big flounder from time to time. Further on down the Loch towards Tarbet, good Pollack to Jellies and Spinners (Bronze Toby's work 28gms down to 18 gms), with the odd Coal Fish showing. You have to search out the deeper rock marks close to the road, did not have time to fish anywhere else.

Best rigs, running ledger or pulley rig with bait shield for distance work, 2 hook flapper for closer in. Loch is very deep, up to 45 metres 100 yards out, therefore long cast settles down closer in than you think, funny looks as if its at your feet! Northern side of the Upper Loch is deeper closer in. Best fished on the flood 2hours up and 3 hours down.

Fresh mackerel, peelers, and lug worms best, but take your own fork! No one sells fresh bait up there, so either catch it or dig it yourself.

Masses of crab on the shoreline underneath the weed, but could not tell which were peelers??? Can you take the crabs and turn them into peelers y putting them in a fridge??? Not too sure on this, may need some help.

If anyone wants further info on the fishing marks just ask.

Cheers Shaun