I do urge all anglers to read this page before there trip as this will give you a head start on the day, this is not just aimed at the newcomer I hope regular boat anglers will also find this an interesting article

Also a few tips at the end of the page on boat etiquette as you may well be sharing the boat with seasoned anglers who are usually very helpful with beginners and more than willing to offer advice, still understanding the boat etiquette will get you off to a flying start

The most common type of fishing we do during most of the year is drift fishing and as its name implies the boat drifts along while you fish, there will be times when we fish at anchor but that’s another story for another day,

while fishing the boat will be at the mercy of the tide and wind for however long it takes to drift the mark we are working (could be a wreck or rough ground) when we arrive at our chosen mark I give the word to  lower your baited hook lure or whatever to the sea bed and wait until you feel a fish on the other end simple yes?

 Well it would be if you were used to standing on a moving boat for a start, holding the rod with one hand holding on with the other and trying to drop the baited hook as fast and as smoothly as you can without tangling up the reel  it dose take a while to get your sea legs but after a short time you will start to feel at one with the boats movements the sea urchin is a heavy displacement type of hull and as such rolls less than most other hull types

The most important thing is to keep your bait on the bottom that way you will have the most success as most of our quarry are on or near the bottom, however this is easier said than done sometimes as I explained earlier the boat is drifting not only with the wind but with the tide as well which can be the same direction or different directions, and during the day the tide will change speed and directions the wind may not

Here lies the beginners confusion when dropping his bait he or she expects the 1lb lead to drop straight down instead it pulls to one side or under the boat why?

 Well once the lead drops beneath the surface the tides strength and direction take it the way its moving slightly but if the wind is particularly strong by the time the lead gets near the bottom instead of you being 160 foot away from your bait you could be 220 foot away and never even hit the bottom  and may be out of line to boot!

regular anglers know its is very important to get your gear down as fast as possible and when I say, any delay could mean you missing the mark and me asking you to wind in before you have got down it the wind is strong we may have only a few minuets over our mark

 

The tides we can predict smaller tides produce less drift so it goes big tides give a faster drift it’s direction and strength can be predicted at any point during the day the wind is a different matter and sometimes in our favour and sometimes against the skilled angler will still be able to keep the bait on the bottom by letting line out as the boat drifts away from the mark thus keeping in contact with the fish near the sea bed, we do catch fish in all tide strengths there are no hard and fast rules but less wind and smaller tides help

There are many different types of boat fishing hopefully we will try a few on your trip like mackerel fishing with feathers which has a totally different approach these fish are pelagic and as such feed near the surface so can be caught by dropping small hooks with feathers attached and jigging them up and down say 50 feet or so often catching three or more at a time this is a great and fun way into boat fishing during the summer months here at Whitby

Another method which has become popular of recent years is to fish with artificial lures called shads these are worked near the bottom and rigged on a single trace and can produce good cod when the water is clear,

When the water is murky bait is master and frozen squid it used on hooks near the bottom a good old fashioned approach and still one of the best mussel and worm is also used when available.

To sum up here are some tips to consider before and during your trip which ever boat you use these simple tips will help you fit in with regular anglers and the grumpiest of skippers

  I do hope you try your hand at boat fishing from our beautiful port here in Whitby I will do my best to make your day a memorable one

1        think about the tidal heights before you pick a day you will have much more scope if you can come mid week in summer weekends go fast

2        bring warm clothing and rain wear as well as waterproof  boots drinks and food

3        remember to bring any medication you need along with sea sickness tablets you must check with your doctor first

4        once on board don’t move around trying to find a better spot it’s courtesy to other anglers to keep your positions when fishing there is no best spot on a boat the person who catches the most is usually the person who is  not worrying what others are catching

5   the best of us sometimes gets the reel tangled but by making sure when winding your gear back in from the sea bed you keep the line level across the whole of the spool you will get few if any tangles when dropping the lead back down, to do this you simply push the line from side to side with your thumb during the winding in process, if you do get in a tangle shout up the sooner you shout the easier it is for me to untangle it 

6        slow steady winding is the best way to bring your fish up from the depths while keeping the line even across the spool this will aid a fast drop on the next drift, jerking and puling or fast winding will only pull the hook from the fishes mouth if you have a big fish on just shout me I will get the landing net

7        when sailing between marks place the lead and end tackle on the deck or in a bucket that way it wont clank about or swing into somebody’s face also when bringing your gear back into the boat first thing you grab is the lead NOT the line

8        when bringing a fish into the boat place your rod down against the hand rail grab the line and hand over hand until you reach the fish do not swing fish in on a loaded or bent rod if the fish drops off the lead and hooks are catapulted back into the boat creating great risk to everyone   lift your catch in or use the landing net

 

9        during the inevitable tangles please listen to the person with his hands in the middle of the tangled hooks usually me no pulling or yanking even if you have a fish on I have had many a hook pulled into my hand by anglers saying he can feel the fish when all the while it was me

 

10    put your fish in one of the fish boxes provided all are numbered nobody will take your fish, and leave the box in the rack this frees up the deck and keeps your catch out of the sun

 

11    please no filleting while the boat is underway or walking around with knifes in your hand we could be hours away from port and a major cut we do not need, and please don’t ask to use my knife, you may use your own for gutting and bait cutting but please be careful and use the cutting boards not my boat

 

12   remember to use a fast drop 1lb lead and leave your reel in the free spool position until you get a bite, this allows you to let line slip off as needed under steady pressure from your thumb,

Finaly my advice is to enjoy the day at first it can be like learning to drive having to do three or four things at the same time but by the end of the day hopefully you will have the basics under your belt and be ready for the next fishing trip, and don’t worry  I will be on hand to help with any questions you may have and please ask I enjoy sharing what I know most of it really is common sense and nearly everyone picks it up during the day

 

Mick the skipper