Charter Fishing Boat

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 Boat fishing vouchers   surprise the fisherman or  woman in your  life this year with a voucher for a days fishing on the sea urchin, single places are no problem click this link above the picture below to read more…….

 http://whitby-sea-fishing.co.uk/fishing-vouchers

During the year I have been toying with the idea of an extra pair of hands on the boat especially when the boat’s at full capacity the tangles can be hard work even for the many regulars who use the sea urchin and know the score tangles and netting fish in the boat can be very demanding all day on your own,

the problem is finding such a crew person with the right experience, and the  polite and friendly manner sea urchin anglers have become used to and then out of the blue Mac a local retired fisherman one day asks if he can go out on a trip or two for free and help with the anglers as a way of passage perfect I thought let’s give it a go

Mac has been fishing commercialy all his life on many vessels in different parts of the world as well as working on plenty of Whitby boats he has spent many years on angling boats during the 1980s, local potting, netting,trawling, drifting, long lining, and has many a fishy tale to tell of the cod wars he loves nothing better than sharing his briny stories with the anglers during the day keeping everyone entertained while leaving me time to concentrate on the fishing marks and shipping traffic, e.t.c.

in years gone by nearly all the whitby charter boats took a crewman along indeed for many years it was a M.C.A. requirement, but times have changed and costs have stopped just about all the other charter boats from employing a full time crewman but anglers on the sea urchin now have (me the skipper) and Mac on hand all day to help with tackling up, landing fish, and boxing them up and sorting tangles, Mac will also fillet your fish ready for the table he makes it look so easy with all those years of experience he can make short work of a box on the journey home,

But please note while Mac enjoys looking after you all day  filleting your catch  he dose in kind and in no way is part of his job please show your appreciation of him before you leave if you have been pleased with his services I know he would never ask that’s not his way,

and if you prefer to fillet your own he won’t be offended honest

Mick the skipper

Had a fantastic day out on the distant wrecks yesterday with a group of regular lads from Manchester who wanted to target cod as apposed to ling which was forming forming the biggest part of the inshore fishing of late so I decided to steam off with the forecast half decent and a 2.5 hour journey either way this is always a gamble but the lads knew the pitfalls and were happy to sacrifice fishing time in the hope of a jackpot,

the anticipation was evident with all the lads having just traveled on a two hour trip from Manchester then another two hours plus on top I was really hoping there journey was going to be worth the wait, as the wrecks grew closer land was only just visible and the sea was threatening a change with fresh northerlies getting fresher this was either going to be sh*;;”t or bust,

as I run over the wreck I could see a huge feed mark which can be a good sign but alas not always the only way we would know if I had made the right choice was to get the lines down to the bottom first drift the lads were taken completely by surprise all the rods were in before they hit the bottom some had shads some were on the jigger some on hokias didn’t matter there were so many fish down there every hook was taken on every drop, after the first three drifts I asked the lads on the hokias to change on to a single hook it was taking an age to pull  fish up with huge cod on every hook, they agreed and all switched to mainly shads of different colours drift after drift saw a fantastic stamp of  cod mostly in the 8 to 10lb range with the best at 16lb with enough fish for the table we decided enough was enough and left what must have been hundreds of cod below us for another day and headed home on the long journey with a stiff northerly breeze behind us the trip was slightly faster by 10 minuets and we were back in town by 4pm,

a day to remember and all the lads agreed they had not witnessed cod fishing like that ever and a few p.b. were broken in the process

this proved to be a jackpot day which could just as easily been a disaster Whitby will continue to produce the goods  for anglers prepared to try alternative trips in my opinion

the uptide season is just around the corner with heaps of juvenile cod showing this summer the prospects of a good season look promising

The whales have arrived in a good few numbers now I am planning a evening trip on Thursday 2nd September (this week) please give me a ring to book your place 07855439380 or leave a telephone number we will depart around 5.30pm on Thursday if I get sufficient interest the conditions are perfect with flat seas and little wind so don’t miss the chance to see these wonderful creatures while they are here

Mick skipper.

P.S. I have tried to contact a few of you whale enthusiasts who left your contact numbers last year but only had one reply so far

How to book a Charter Boat

What sort of tide do I need?
The right tide varies according to the sort of fishing you wish to do. If you want to fish over wrecks, you need a small tide so you get longer periods on your mark when it is easier to get the bait down to the bottom. ground fishing needs a little more tide to cover the ground your skipper will advise you of the type of fishing he will be doing on a given day just ask.

Can i go on my own or with a friend?
l take individuals or groups, Quite often a party will be short of anglers and I may be able to fit you in albeit at short notice. Don’t forget that boat fishing is fun and it’s the people you fish with that can make a day special.

I don’t know if my tackle will be suitable.
When booking the boat, confirm with me that hire tackle is needed or if you have your own if so take what you have and I will advice you on it’s suitability and may hire you some if necessary. If for example you have some gear and you want to make sure that it suits the type of fishing you will be doing just ask.

What should i wear?
In an ideal world, you would wear a flotation suit with a pair of waterproof boots. If this is not an option at the moment, then aim for plenty of layers to keep you warm, with a waterproof top layer which will also keep out the wind. It is important to wear a hat as most of the bodies heat is lost through the head, they also keep the sun off you. (Make sure the hat you wear will stay on as baseball caps can blow away). Do not cut back on warm clothing, even in the summer, it is always cooler at sea you can always take it off if you want.

Skipper knows best.
Remember that no matter how much you fish it will still be a fraction of the hours a skipper spends at sea and he does it all in the same area. As the skipper, but more importantly, listen to him or the crewman because this is their area of expertise. It could well be the different fifty miles down the coast, but they will know what works here. And remember to watch what others do on the boat and how they a faring. Never stop learning.

Can i keep my fish?
You can keep any fish as long as they are sizeable, but ask yourself how many fish you want to kill each month; if you fish to fill the freezer, then go to the supermarket, it will save you money. Angling is for sport, there is nothing wrong with taking a fish home every now and then, but please be sensible about it.

I’m a novice boat angler.
Angling is gradually becoming more like other sports and there are now plenty of skippers in Whitby who are more than happy to show you the ropes. Many skippers are happy to help you in the right direction on how to catch fish and what methods / tackle & bait to use.

When should I phone the skipper?
Don’t phone him at closing time, after you’ve had a skin full, he will not be impressed. Likewise, do not phone him at six in the morning if he is up and gone, his partner may not be impressed. Be sensible about the timing. The skipper may inform you that you must call the evening before the trip, after they have had time to see the weather reports. Usually about 7.30pm is acceptable, but ask the skipper beforehand when you have booked the trip.

What happens if the trip is cancelled?
Trips usually only get cancelled due to bad weather, breakdown or illness and only by the skipper! Remember what is a days fun to you is the skippers livelihood. If the skipper has to cancel due to bad weather, don’t have a go at him, he does not want to cancel, he is losing money. If the trip is cancelled the skipper will do his best to book another date for you as he does not want to lose your custom, but if a suitable date is not available, then any good skipper will refund your deposit. If you are the one canceling the trip, ask the skipper when you book the boat, how much notice he needs if you wish to cancel the trip, this should give him time to take another booking if not expected to loose your deposit.

How to book a Charter Boat

What sort of tide do I need?
The right tide varies according to the sort of fishing you wish to do. If you want to fish over wrecks, you need a small tide so you get longer periods on your mark when it is easier to get the bait down to the bottom. ground fishing needs a little more tide to cover the ground your skipper will advise you of the type of fishing he will be doing on a given day just ask.

Can i go on my own or with a friend?
Most skippers will take individuals on certain weekdays only, but shop around on this site and ring some skippers who you think fit the bill Quite often a party will be short of anglers and the skipper may be able to fit you in albeit at short notice. Don’t forget that boat fishing is fun and it’s the people you fish with that can make a day special.

I don’t know if my tackle will be suitable.
When booki9ng the boat, confirm with the skipper that hire tackle is available on the boat, if so take what you have and the skipper will advice you on it’s suitability and may hire you some if necessary. If for example you have some gear and you want to make sure that it suits the type of fishing you will be doing just ask the skipper, as the target species changes from one area to another.

What should i wear?
In an ideal world, you would wear a flotation suit with a pair of waterproof boots. If this is not an option at the moment, then aim for plenty of layers to keep you warm, with a waterproof top layer which will also keep out the wind. It is important to wear a hat as most of the bodies heat is lost through the head, they also keep the sun off you. (Make sure the hat you wear will stay on as baseball caps can blow away). Do not cut back on warm clothing, even in the summer, it is always cooler at sea you can always take it off if you want.

Skipper knows best.
Remember that no matter how much you fish it will still be a fraction of the hours a skipper spends at sea and he does it all in the same area. As the skipper, but more importantly, listen to him or the crewman because this is their area of expertise. It could well be the different fifty miles down the coast, but they will know what works here. And remember to watch what others do on the boat and how they a faring. Never stop learning.

Can i keep my fish?
You can keep any fish as long as they are sizeable, but ask yourself how many fish you want to kill each month; if you fish to fill the freezer, then go to the supermarket, it will save you money. Angling is for sport, there is nothing wrong with taking a fish home every now and then, but please be sensible about it.

I’m a novice boat angler.
Angling is gradually becoming more like other sports and there are now plenty of skippers in Whitby who are more than happy to show you the ropes. Many skippers are happy to help you in the right direction on how to catch fish and what methods / tackle & bait to use.

When should I phone the skipper?
Don’t phone him at closing time, after you’ve had a skin full, he will not be impressed. Likewise, do not phone him at six in the morning if he is up and gone, his partner may not be impressed. Be sensible about the timing. The skipper may inform you that you must call the evening before the trip, after they have had time to see the weather reports. Usually about 7.30pm is acceptable, but ask the skipper beforehand when you have booked the trip.

What happens if the trip is cancelled?
Trips usually only get cancelled due to bad weather, breakdown or illness and only by the skipper! Remember what is a days fun to you is the skippers livelihood. If the skipper has to cancel due to bad weather, don’t have a go at him, he does not want to cancel, he is losing money. If the trip is cancelled the skipper will do his best to book another date for you as he does not want to lose your custom, but if a suitable date is not available, then any good skipper will refund your deposit. If you are the one canceling the trip, ask the skipper when you book the boat, how much notice he needs if you wish to cancel the trip, this should give him time to take another booking if not expected to loose your deposit.

How much will it cost?
The cost of booking a boat varies according to the type of fishing you do. Sixty miles out to sea takes a lot of time and diesel and will obviously cost more for the day. It may also depend on the hours you book, if the skipper supplies bait & tackle, this may well be an added expense. This will be ordered on your behalf and have to be paid for even if the trip is cancelled. On some trips you can catch your bait (usually mackerel) on the way out,

Congratulations to Shaun Pickles winner of the recent whitbyseaanglers boat fishing match with a fine ling of 15lb 08oz see full report from the link below

http://www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16531.0

New record ling on sea urchin

This week I had a group of lads on from Helmsley mostly novices who were fishing a big tide of around 5.4m, still there was no wind and the water was clear as a bell, Robin Molesworth was fishing baited Muppet’s on my hire tackle when he hit into a huge fish on some ground close to Whitby.

 We had been catching a steady run of mainly cod around 3/6lb and I decided to keep the same drift while fish were coming up. Drift after drift fish every time even by his own admitions Robin was a newbie only ever fished from a boat some 20 years previous.

 When he hit the big one he had gained much from the codlings that were coming aboard so did not panic at all he just kept steady pressure on the fish as we all stood by in envy the rod bent almost in half.

 I knew from my experience this was a real good fish after around 12Min’s I could see its length beneath the boat this is a big one I said still fifty feet down it looked huge, Finlay it broke the surface at the same moment my gaff hit it under the chin bingo, (believe me I have missed a few in my time but this was unmissable)

 What a fish I knew as I lifted it over the hand rail it was the biggest ling I had seen for many years, at that moment another angler local lad (Mike Butler from the endeavour pub) shouted I have a big fish on get the gaff ready please skipper in all the excitement I had not realised he was still fishing another rod bending ling broke the surface only to meet the gaff again another cracker

so up to my electronic scales and we all hazard our own guess at the weights and the first  ling weighed a whopping 29lb 10oz a new record for Robin and for the Sea Urchin and it’s many years a fish this size has been landed by any whitby charter boat so close in. The second fish of Mikes was just on 20lb, after all the excitement we had drifted a good half mile off the mark what with the big tide and all so I headed back up the same drift while the lads were taking pictures.

I set the boat up again then one bloke at the back who spent all morning tangling the reel getting stuck and finding it hard to get to grips with the drift trebble hooks and the rough ground,  hit another big fish at first I assumed he had the bottom again has he had during every other drift but no he was retrieving line and the rod was showing signs of a nice fish with deep bends as the fish nodded it’s head in an attempt to dive this time a cracking cod which weighed in at 14lb exactly.

 What a brilliant day even without the three really big ones there was plenty of cod for everyone to take home, once again just shows small tides don’t mean big fish and you don’t need to be an expert to land a fish of a life time if you have decent tackle and a little guidance.

In an attempt to speed up my bookings and to save lots of wasted calls for you anglers I have just added an online availability calendar to my website which is accessible on every every page,  as well as this post

I will try my utmost to keep it up to date every day or two whilst it is not an absolute guarantee the space is available, it will give a very good indication of my projected availability you still have the option to email me with your requests  but I always recommend you give me a call or email me before you send any payments this saves sending deposits to and fro, and just because the calendar says I am full on a particular day I often have cancellations the day before so keep checking the calendar it will change most days in one form or another.

Hope you find the service useful just hover your cursor over a date for more info

The w.c.s.a. angling festival is behind us now and at last I have had a chance to load up the many photos I promised, this year we had one daily winner with Steve Ackroyd with a fine cod of 12lb 8oz and a third place with local lad Damien Townsend with another good cod of 11lb 13.5oz , as well as a third placed lady overall Donna Wagstaff  with yet another cod weighing in at 5lb 15.5oz, still our catch rate and the quality of the cod we caught were very impressive many cod in the 9/12lb  bracket and we saw a huge number of tiny throw back codling’s close in while mackerel fishing all in all a great sign for the future fish stocks,

I would like to thank all my regular anglers along with other not so regular anglers for supporting me and the boat throughout the festival you all worked as hard as I did to get the boat up on the leader board thank you all.

Now sit back and re live your day through the pictures and video I have put together.