Sunny Rhyl Sea Fishing Diary
Llandudno Pier - 18/01/2008
Venue - Llandudno Pier
Tide - High
Time - Night
Bait: Frozen Lug, Frozen Mackerel, Frozen Squid, Frozen Crab, Donner Meat
With near gale force winds buffetting the car on the journey from Rhyl to Llandudno, I was half expecting to find that the pier would be closed on my arrival.
However, the shelter that the Great Orme offers to a SW wind meant that the pier was both fishable and comfortable to boot.
There were 15 of us fishing tonight. With such a good turnout, hopes were high that some decent fish would be making an appearance.
With no shortage of bait, we started fishing 1hr before high.
Doggies were showing, but not so many as to plague us.
Spaceman had his fair share.
Down on the end, Wilbur's attention to detail was in evidence. His bait tray was stocked with everything you could ever need on a sea fishing outing. 30 minutes of preparation had his Mackerel strips laid out like soliders, the Squid was trimmed, gutted and skinned in anticipation, the crab was halved and bound with elastic, the Lug was sectioned and ready to go.
Unfortunately for him, a gust of wind caught the tray and it was last seen heading towards Anglesey!!!!!!!
The sound of bells ringing led me to investigate.
Pier regular Pat was giving a masterclass in how to catch fish at a remarkable rate of knots.
Spaceman was upping his species tally with some Whiting.
James had been into the Whiting and Dabs.
Armed with the most powerful headlamp I have ever seen, Sinbad had been plagued by crabs all night.
When his bait lasted long enough, he was into Whiting, Dabs and Doggies.
I had a quiet night.
Just Whiting for me.
There were reports of some good fish being lost tonight. Spaceman and Richie, fishing by the end Cafe, had both been taken under the pier legs and snapped off twice by some monsters. Richie did eventually land a 6lb Thornback though.
Mark was still shaking when I spoke to him shortly after he lost a good fish whilst lifting it up. Magnet had a good look at it and confirmed that it was a Conger.
Firetip had a right good knock and with a big fish on, he was just about to attempt the lift when it gave way. It turned out that his 6/0 hook had been bent straight.
Fishing 40lb mainline and big baits on a 5/0 pennel, there was no mistaking Del's intentions tonight.
Something big was on his mind!
Having had a few runs that led to nothing, eventually the shout of 'Drop Net' signalled he had finally hooked something that had a bit of pull to it.
He got it to the pier and with the assistance of Suveran skipper Simon, managed to get it up and over.
A Conger estimated at 8-10lb
The fishing was good but the highlight for me was the social aspect of tonights gathering.
It was a 'Who's Who' of the North East Wales fishing scene, with familiar faces around every corner.
Species caught between us included Whiting, Dab, Dogfish, Rockling, Thornback Ray and Conger Eel .
Happy Days!!!