Cold water temperatures.

The first angling trip of this year, yesterday, proved to be very poor. The cold winter has lowered the sea temperature to over a 1 degree centigrade cooler than is normally seen at this time of year. This doesn't sound much but it makes a huge difference to the activity levels of fish and other species inhabiting the Irish Sea. The water temperature inshore was 4.9 degrees C and closer to the Isle of Man the temperature rose to 6.7 degrees C. The water in the western Irish Sea is deeper than in the east so retains more heat through the winter than the shallow eastern side. We fished 7 wrecks up to 37 miles from Conwy and only managed to catch one pollack. We had an hour ground fishing on the way in and managed to catch some whiting, dabs and dogfish.

So the next angling trip is in a fortnight and with warmer weather predicted from next weekend hopefully the sea water temperatures will start to rise. I'll be potting later this week to bait up the gear ready for the start of the season.

Satellite image of sea surface temperature (24th-30th March) (NERC)

I spent most of last week taking advantage of the perfect late winter season snow and ice climbs to be had in Snowdonia. Its been a long season of winter climbing this year and due to the persistent strong easterly wind through this last cold spell there have been some amazing ice formations up there.

Safety Training

Over the last couple of days I've been taking advantage of some safety training courses, that are available as refresher courses for commercial fishermen.   I also use Gwen-Paul-M for commercial shellfish potting as well as angling.

As a minimum requirement to go to sea as a commercial fisherman, whether crew or skipper, the following certificates are needed; Sea Survival, First Aid, Firefighting, and Safety Awareness. I have completed these courses some years ago, but despite the fact that they were still valid its always good to have a refresher. Also the courses change from year to year, as opinions of how to deal with certain situations alter, especially in First Aid.

So yesterday we ended up in Llandudno swimming pool inflating a liferaft and climbing in and out, which was actually good fun in the end.  Hopefully I never have to deploy a liferaft in anger but it is great to do it in a controlled environment, so that you know exactly what will happen if the raft is needed.

Today I completed the First Aid Course.  Tomorrow, as the angling trip is cancelled due to strong easterly winds, I will be able to attend the Firefighting course.  I will also attend a Stability Course next month which is an very important aspect of commercial fishing boat operation.

I have resheduled tomorrow's angling trip (10 hour) for April 7th and there is one place left on it. Winter still grips us and as frosts are forecast here all week I hope to manage a couple of late season winter climbs in Snowdonia at the end of this week.

I'm constructing a little history section in the website, about the business.  If anyone is interested, click on this link to have a look, http://www.sea-fishing-trips.co.uk/?q=node/15.

First angling trip of this Season.

I have 2 places on a a 10 hour angling trip on 24th March spare. Its a little early in the season and water temperature is colder than usual for this time of year, but if we're lucky with the weather and can travel in excess of 30 miles, we should have a good chance of some pollack on the offshore wrecks. So if you fancy braving the cold and taking a flyer on an early trip email or give me a bell. Cost £65, sail 0700.

'Gwen-Paul-M' has had her first refit over this last month. We've completed a considerable amount of routine engine and sterngear maintenance and have fitted a new piece of electronic equipment called StructureScan. It is a cross between an echo sounder and a sonar, giving a sidescan image of the seabed. It will help in wreck and rough ground location. Its linked to the repeater screen at the back on the wheelhouse so you'll be able to see it from the deck.  All the hull has been cleaned and polished and her bottom scrubbed. I went out last week on a lobster potting trip and found her to be a little quicker after all the cleaning!


I've been taking advantage of the cold weather this winter, mountaineering in Snowdonia and Scotland.  Its been a great season for one of my winter hobbies.