Fishing St Davids Head Pembrokeshire

[Greenheart]

Just got back from a weeks camping on St Davids head Pembrokeshire. ( A week without rain in Wales... is that a record?) Took a look at a few marks & decided to have a try plugging & spinning for Bass & Pollack on the rocky headland to the right of Whitesand bay. The weather was scorching hot & the water crystal clear, which I don't think helped. Tried every lure in my box & after 6 hours & a lot of windknots (Braid) I could'nt get a touch. Time to rethink my campaign. The local tackle shop only sold frozen bait & as I'd not brought a bait fork I made a 50 mile round trip to get some Ragworm from Milford haven. Problem was, how to keep it fresh in the heat?
A bag of budget frozen peas fro Morrisons soon solved the problem.

Next venue I tried was Porthclais Harbour, about a 5 minute walk from the tent.

Two rods were set up, with 3 hook flapper rigs, all baited with worm. I was'nt hold out much hope due to the conditions & was supprised to get an almost immediate bite that nearly pulled the rod out of the rodrest. This resulted in This good sized flounder.

A boat Angler who was just loading his gear aboard his boat informed me it was the first decent fish he'd seen caught from the wall there & weighed the fish for me. Just over 2lb....
I left one rod fishing inside the harbour & cast the other well outside the harbour mouth, hoping for a bass. Another bite followed & I struck into what felt like a reasonable fish. It turned out to be this double shot of Dabs.

Then things went quite for a while. I tried fishing down the side of the harbour wall to try for a wrasse, but could only manage a Goby & a Shanny.

One more Flounder followed from inside the harbour, then it was back to the tent for a drop of Cider & a Barbecue...

Next day I decided to fish the same spot again, trying outside the harbour mouth & still hopeing for a bass. Fishing was a lot slower. Things were not helped by having about 30 kids getting canoeing lessons right where I was trying to fish... But I did manage to get two more bites, one of which resulted in this fish. I think it may be a Plaice as it has a lot of orange spots.

The only downside of the week was when the bailarm of my nearly new Mitchell Avocet Surf reel just fell apart Definately won't be buying Mitchell gear again...... It's a shame as they used to be a quality manufacturer....

[fullcreel]

Sounds like a nice trip. Shame about the weather, what was best, fine dry weather for the camping? Or nice overcast and a touch of wind for the fishing?
I guess you picked up some species points too.
I plan on hitting the south coast soon yself, spinning from the rocks at Lulworth cove?
Creatures from the Cobb at Lyme.
See you at Crocketon

[fishypaul]

well done ian,doesnt that sea look lovely and claer and blue,its all brown and horrible down here .

i think that flat is a flounder mate,i have caught loads over the years with spots like that

[BaggieRich]

A good week all round then Ian. Looks like a cracking mark.

Now I stand to be corrected here cause my fish ID'ing skills are ropey to say the least, but I believe that the presence of spots isn't the be all and end all in Flounder/Plaice ID's. Isn't there something about the lateral line being boney to the touch on a Flounder and smooth on a Plaice??? I dunno!

Either way, nice report mate!

[lazy hooker]

nice report.

porthclais harbour can throw up some good fish.

if you get there again walk to the right of the harbour (looking out to sea) for about a mile, can be a great bay for spinning, collecting crab and good bass in the evening.

john

[Greenheart]

Thanks for the info John. I'll definately be going back again....

[Twiddler]

Nice one and well done......now if the weather is like that and the water always as clear I could turn to the dark side more often

[pingu]

Originally Posted by Twiddler

Nice one and well done......now if the weather is like that and the water always as clear I could turn to the dark side more often

you already fish the dark side my dear, the sea is the light and the way

looked a great trip there ian, and a cracking sea


dave

[geejayy]

looks like a great holiday m8,
fine weather & clear blue seas, + booze got to be good
that wall definately looks a good spot for a dangle.
i must find time to do some of that myself for wee beastys like gobys etc.
i hate to say it but that spotty ones a flounder & double shot looks the same though the bottom one looks very oval so poss a dab but the colour looks to dark , i thought dabs were invariably sandy but well, i don't know it all.

either way a good result on the points front, plenty of time to catch up yet

[cuckoo]

Great report ian , and that looks a cracking venue to spend a few days