First time overseas member

[Deleted]

Hi, Just would like to catch up with the views and thoughts from anglers that fish on the sea from boats and the shore

I have been out of the country for the last 38 years but still keep fond memories of my fishing from the Humber north.

I spent most of my youth fishing out of Bridlington up to Scarborough.

I have never been back home to Hull in that time so I can expect there has been many changes in the fishery, techniques, quotas, regulations etc.

The winter cod and haddock fishing and the taste of a nice piece of plaice, surrounded by chips, still has me licking my lips.

I moved to New Zealand and live in a place called New Plymouth which is in the North Island.

I still am madly into sea fishing, some of the species are similar or the same as around Britain but we have seasonal visitors from the tropics during the summer months when the water warms up, which adds a lot of fun and excitement.

Cheers Barry

[jerseyman]

Welcome Barry, as you can see, bit distant but about 10829 miles nearer than you.
The fishing has changed, but the biggest difference is the lack of fish, in comparison to your day. Haddock is scarce, cod recovering, the plaice is a pale shadow.Tope, haven't heard of one for ages. Over fishing without doubt has been a major factor, but the sea itself warming up has pushed the haddock and cod further north.
Interesting point is the decline of ling, over fishing ? i wonder whether the gradual break up of the wartime wrecks has caused a loss of habitat?
Good news is the number of skate and ray has increased, and bass, once rocking horse stuff, is actually targetable.
Also they see a few new ones, Trigger fish esp

Graham

[Deleted]

Hi Graham,

Thanks for the information.

It is sad to here that the fishery is suffering and to the point were you are now finding other species taking over.

I certainly had good fishing back then, i was fortunate to have an uncle that pioneered the tope fishery and the wreck fishing out of Brid, so it was great to have had those experieces.

Interesting to hear about the Bass, was always "a fish caught down south".

At least the Trigger fish is nice to eat.

Fisheries are changing all over the world with some countries suffering through foreign fishing pressures.

The fishery here went through a few concerns but pleased to say that it has now turned the corner with really heathy fish stocks.

It is just the change from the climate that we suffer more with now.

Once again thanks Graham for the reply.

Regards Barry

Do you fish at all up north or are you island bound?

[Deleted]

Hi Graham,

Just thought that you might be interested in the type of fishing that I do over here, this was a fish I caught last month.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0wJSrlit7w

Cheers

Barry

[jerseyman]

Nice!!

I go back once or twice a year now, though its purely to fish the rivers these days, something we haven't got here

The EU fishery management has been something of a joke, though the UK fleet has managed to win some concessions by introducing new conservation measures, which are helping a lot.
of course it doesn't stop the the rest fishing as close to the uk as poss and blowing wholes in them.
One big change, has been the uk publics gradual acceptance of "different" species for the table, that have traditionally been dumped[ discards]
Interesting you mention tope, there is a run down here in the Channel Islands, but very strange to try target. yet when they are found, the're very big fish 40-50lb[ shore by the way]

tight lines Graham

[Phil Rogers]

Nice to hear from an english kiwi - my daughter is at Wellington University at the moment so I'm planning a trip out there later in the year

There are indeed bass to be caught on the Yorkshire coast nowadays - I only fish on lures but I had good catches last summer once I'd worked out where and when to go. Not big fish as a rule 2-4 pounders on average - my best was just over 5. I do know of a few 8 pounders that were netted too but these are few and far between. Bigger fish may move further north if sea temperatures continue to increase as has occurred in recent years
My catch rates improved dramatically after I acquired a RIB and expanded my locations
I also found a few places in the Humber estuary where there are mullet so I'll be targetting them as well when the weather improves.

At the moment as I look out the window its lashing down so I don't think I'll be getting out anytime soon - dreaming of past catches and planning future trips at the mo

[Deleted]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the reply, I still find it hard to believe about he Bass so far up the country.

If you come out and are up around New Plymouth which is in Taranaki, give me a contact so might be able to organise a fish while your up here.

Graham was also saying that the fishing for most of the flatfish is now not very good, do you find that?

When you say you fish with lure, are these softbait or hard body types?

Cheers

Barry

[Phil Rogers]

The bass have been steadily increasing in numbers since the nineties - many put it down to global warming.
Personally I think one reason is there are greater numbers of young fish that are having to spread out more from their established breeding grounds further south - I know of regular catches being made around Tyneside and even to the Scottish borders during the summer!

I'm a relative newcomer to the Yorkshire sea fishing scene having been a diehard river fisherman for more years than I care to remember - although I dabbled a bit back in the seventies

I only fish with lures 'cos thats what I like to do but I do use both hard lures and soft plastics - I'm still in a big learning curve in that regard. Do NZ anglers fish with mainly lures or bait?

Regarding flatfish - we often went out on the cobbles from Flamboro back in the seventies and early eighties and used to catch big plaice close in when sea conditions were too rough to go far out. Doesn't happen nowadays I think - all fished out

As and when I get out to NZ I'll certainly try and make contact - perhaps you can put me on to places to catch the big snapper, kingfish and trevallys
My daughter buys her fish direct from the boats in Wellie harbour and sends me photos - can't get fresher than that. Lots of exotic species too - makes my mouth water at the prospect of trying to catch a few

[freddie]

Hi barry welcome to the forum I have cousin that keeps going to New Zealand every year for a 3 month break and they love it there are you catching plenty of the big fish there .

[Deleted]

Phil,
Sad to hear about the state of the flatfish fishery, suppose if there is too much pressure on the fishery, the only result is what you guys are suffering with.
We have a good quota management plan for all fish species and the recreational catching sector is part of that.
The "snapper" which a few years back was thought to be in decline, is now in an amazing state with all parties catching quotas very easily.

I fish a lot with softbaits inshore up to 70meters, then mainly baits. I have got into vertical jigging or mechanical jigging and that is one hell of a lot of fun on kingfish and hapuka or groper as you may know them.

The small light rods and reels from "Jigging Master" are unbelievable, the weight you can put on them is a beyond words.

No problem with your request.

Freddie,

Thanks for the welcome, your cousin must be very happy to spend three months over here, is it during the summer?

Yes, I am fortunate to get out a lot, and yes, I do seem to fluke a few good fish.

If I mentioned the names of the fish it probably would mean nothing to you.

I fish up to 70 NM off shore as well as inshore.

I could post a few pics if you are interested.

Cheers guys

Barry

[freddie]

Hi Barry my cousin David goes in Jan -- 31st March a few pics of fish would be great and thanks Regards Phil

[Phil Rogers]

Those jigging master rods look the part - pricey tho . Good that you can buy locally made products that fit the bill
Virtually all the best bass lure rods sold in the UK are Japanese and expensive too.

How big do the local kingfish and groper get? I've seen goliath groper caught on TV programmes to huge proportions - hundreds of pounds

I spent the latter half of last summer mainly experimenting with soft plastics with some success locally - the best being Savagegear sandeels.
I also spent a lot of time in New England as well catching striped bass mainly on big sluggos and sidewinder type lures - my best shore caught fish was 6 ounces short of 30lbs.
I'm heading back there shortly and drooling at the thought