Lady Helen Penarth Report

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Lady Helen Penarth Sea fishing trip


Well the alarm went off at 2am and with one eye open I packed my car. Then a big swill of red bull I became superman and fully awake I hit the motorway


A quick 1.15 mins drive and I was in the car park and soon met by the rest off the guys . With my head lamp handy we boarded Lady Helen and made our way into the dark Bristol Channel with only stars to navigate by ( ok plus gps , radar ect helped a bit)


It was a flat calm morning and as the sun began to break with some much welcome warmth we dropped anchor on our mark hoping for some tope action .For people who do not know the Bristol channel, it has the second highest tide range in the world so certain areas are un fishable on the anchor except for rare low tides – hence the 4am sail

Rigs for our tope campaign were
- 3 to 5 foot wire traces ( tope are like sharks and will cut through normal mono line)
- Size 6/0 to 10/0 hooks
- Uptiders and one downtiders rod ( you can tell who the one who is not a local – me )
- Bait was from side of mackerel / whole mackerel flapper and whole herring flapper

So the baits were down the sun was up . I had done 1ltr of red bull and we were all ready for the off


The tide was starting to die down and no takes except for the world famous “ doggy man of Penarth “ ( sorry mate he he ) who was making sure his title stayed in his corner by bagging up on doggies

Still quiet and on slack water two bullhusses came aboard

Now knowing that the tope were not about the call was made to make a move to some sand banks to try our hands at some ray bashing . Once on the sand banks the rigs were 4/0 hooks on 4 foot flowing traces fished uptiders except for me down tiding ( New uptider had not arrived in time for trip ) With baits down of which were whole squid on pennel rigs , the wait began of which was not very long and the first was within 30 mins

I think there were about 14 small eyed rays caught upto 13lb all returned and in great condition . My year continued and I did not get one single ray . Maybe it’s because I was the only one downtiding or the guys were better than me on the day

With a load of small eyed ray onboard the call for a few drifts over a reef was made on shads to see if there was any bass around . Two long drifts but not a sniff so it was time to call it a day


Overview was lots of great small eye rays and a wonderfully played bullhuss – hehe

Once again had a great time on Lady Helen and a massive thank you to Mike and the guys for a great day !! although next time I will not hold back so much


Cheers guys see ya soon



OH pics to follow once Mike puts down his beer

[Vlad]

Well done for managing to get up that early, for catching fish, and for the great info( especially on the rigs)!
It is becoming abundantly clear, we need uptider rods for fishing the channel.
I'll follow Mikes advise and buy the Abu.
Did you fish braid or mono?
What about the other guys?
Cannot wait for the pics.

[Norfolkboy]

Well done Richard, lovely read

There's some pics in the gallery which look great

[Charter Skipper]

Sunrise over the Bristol Channel at 5am

Richard with the first Bull Huss of the day

Small eyed Rays provide great rod bending action

Small eyed Rays to 13lb..

Last cast of the day produced the elusive tope we`d been hoping for...!!! all of 4 oz`s

Richard soaking up the sun and surroundings off Nash Sands

[Vlad]

Great photos Mike!
The rays look wonderful!
Nice bullhuss Ricard, well done!

[pingu]

Nice on richard on the huss iff not the tope, looked a cracking day out

[gullyworm]

Cracking read,cracking photos,nice one Richard

[fishingbonsai]

Great report and pictures guys.

Are you sure thats you Rich it looks like your more chilled out younger brother. All that sea air is doing you good.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Rich it looks like your more chilled out younger brother

LOL - My body was still in recovering from the 2am start

[Charter Skipper]

2am is just a state of mind..........or should i say a state of out of your mind !.....what is it about fishing that drives us to do such things as being awake at 2am.