Still no mackerel but inshore ground fishing is ok.

Its nearly June and we have still not caught any mackerel. It appears that the consistently lower water temperatures this year are discouraging the mackerel's movement north through the Irish Sea. Despite the knock on effect of having to use frozen bait instead of fresh mackerel the inshore ground fishing has  been ok. Three trips this last weekend produced plenty of whiting and dogfish with a few dabs.  A few bull huss to 12lb and one thornback weighing about 9lb were caught.

We haven't been to the offshore wrecks for a couple of weeks now but the pollack fishing should be ok and we are hoping that the cod we saw in June last year turn up again this year.

As usual trips with room are listed on the website but if you have any other dates you'd like to book don't hesitate to phone.

The last two places on a two day Isle of Man trip on 30th June-1st July are still available. A great fishing break costing £165 including 1 night B and B.

Below a few pictures of the lads over the last few days.

Lady Gwen's Last Day

My old boat 'Lady Gwen II' finally departed Conwy yesterday to start a new chapter in her life in Northern Ireland. She will be working as an angling boat from the port of Ballycastle.  It was an emotional day despite the fact that I hadn't been to sea in her for over a year.  Lady Gwen had been in the family since new, 32 years ago. So as you can imagine I have spent thousands of days on her, many of which were with my Father, Meurig.

She was lifted onto a low loader and travelled up to Troon on the lower reaches of the Clyde. Her new owner will sail her over to Ballycastle across the North Channel, as soon as the bad weather period breaks.  Many great memories went trundling up the A55 today, but already I have quite a few associated with my new boat 'Gwen-Paul-M'.

The fishing well offshore is still ok for pollack with a few coalfish mixed in. Inshore there are plenty of whiting, dabs and dogfish. One of the other angling boats in Conwy did catch a couple of mackerel the other day and within a couple of weeks we should hopefully start seeing them in numbers.  Dad always used to say that we would start seeing them by Cup Final Day which I think is this weekend, but everything is late this year.

I have space for 5 on an 8 hour ground fishing trip this Sunday if anyone fancies a late notice trip.