Cruden Scaurs Bouy

[spartacus]

A rather unsuccessful fishing trip out of Cruden Bay on Sunday. Pictured is my grumpy brother and the marker bouy 'Cruden Scaurs' which lies approximately 1.5m SE of Cruden Bay. Sea was kind of lumpy, and it was like pea-soup visibility wise for a time.

Anyone who has successfully fished this area - I'd like to hear from you. As far as we're concerned the area has been stripped bare, which is worrying.

[Bigmuz7]

Join the rest of the club the west coast is no different except when the Mackerel come in .. then its 'eat' all you want time .. but there is only so many ways you can do 'em ......

[spartacus]

There's 'west-coast' and 'the west coast'!

Was west of Lewis in August and the fishing was great. Red Gurnard, Mackeral, Saithe and decent sized Pollock. Only took what I planned to use and always put undersized fish back to fight another day.

The fishing on the east coast just now is incredibly poor. Was planning to visit the SS Fram for a spot of wreck fishing but visibility was poor and it lies 4 miles north of Pennan.

[Hightower]

Last two weekends I've fished for Mackerel and it was hard going, I recon they've had enough of our crappy weather

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Saithe and decent sized Pollock.

They are never a problem to find, just not the best eating.. although I see they are making their way into the restaurants now .. we used to use em as lobster pot bait only. I have a wee nook I can catch pollock or Lythe as they are known here, with a line, and a black eel that, unless you wear gloves will cut your hands when you pull em in they are so big (YIK ..fishermans tales)

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Last two weekends I've fished for Mackerel and it was hard going, I recon they've had enough of our crappy weather

Should still be plenty I'd have thought Andy, I find their depth varies a lot though ?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Should still be plenty I'd have thought Andy, I find their depth varies a lot though ?

Went to 3 holding area's last weekend and only managed a handful in 2.5 hours, wouldn't have minded so much if eating these, but I was bait fishing and ate into serious fishing time.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Went to 3 holding area's last weekend and only managed a handful in 2.5 hours, wouldn't have minded so much if eating these, but I was bait fishing and ate into serious fishing time.

Not sure what you mean but if I can help for Mackies just post up

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Not sure what you mean but if I can help for Mackies just post up

There are areas in the Solent where you are more likely to find large shoals of Mackerel, localy these are called a holding area. One such area is around one of the Solent Forts (No Mans Land) where the Sandbank to the South funnels water in the direction of and around the Fort. This speeds up the tidal flow and is attractive to our little friends.

Of course Mackrel can be fished all over the place, but is rather pot luck unless you see the Sea Gulls working an area.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

There are areas in the Solent where you are more likely to find large shoals of Mackerel, localy these are called a holding area. One such area is around one of the Solent Forts (No Mans Land) where the Sandbank to the South funnels water in the direction of and around the Fort. This speeds up the tidal flow and is attractive to our little friends.

Ah .. I see.. ever get any Horse Mackerel down your way?, I havn't seen or caught one for years & I dont know why we dont seem to get them anymore

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Ah .. I see.. ever get any Horse Mackerel down your way?, I havn't seen or caught one for years & I dont know why we dont seem to get them anymore

By Horse Mackerel, you mean a scad? Or that's what we call them, drab in colour with large eye's. Last time I saw one of these I was off the Needels a good few years ago.

[wavelength]

Horse Mackerel, you mean a scad

big dutch trawler targetting them last year in the channel-then they go off to Africa. Lucrative apparently! Which could explain why there are so few of them, or anything else for that matter, here. Lots around the dutch coast on rod and line-they get in the way of proper fish

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by wavelength

big dutch trawler targetting them last year in the channel-then they go off to Africa. Lucrative apparently! Which could explain why there are so few of them, or anything else for that matter, here. Lots around the dutch coast on rod and line-they get in the way of proper fish

I kind of remember them being nearly as bad as Dogfish or Pout.

[wavelength]

kind of remember them being nearly as bad as Dogfish or Pout

s'about right! Like the term " a good dogfish " a complete contradiction in terms, there's no such thing

[Hightower]

Doggies actually make quite nice eating once you're though that sandpaper outer skin.

I actually caught a decent sized Smoothound up in Pompy Harbour the other weekend whilst I was sheltering from the Westerly that was blowing. Was hunting for Bass on peeler, I couldn't believe it!

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Doggies actually make quite nice eating once you're though that sandpaper outer skin.

I actually caught a decent sized Smoothound up in Pompy Harbour the other weekend whilst I was sheltering from the Westerly that was blowing. Was hunting for Bass on peeler, I couldn't believe it!

Blimy that skin is tough, Ive never eaten one, what did it taste like?

As for 'scad' I googled it ..and it doesnt look quite the same, close but not quite, unless the google pics were bad uns, but what we refer to as Horse are just huge Mackerel 18 " in length with exactly the same markings but fainter in colour.... just curious as I havnt seen them in years

[wavelength]

naw doggies are a pain in the ****, won't eat em as a matter of principle. However first time I dived with one of the guys from a local club he spent his time picking up doggies, chopping head off and stuffing them in his goodie bag for the freezer. Bag was still trying to swim when he handed it to his other half in the boat. She wasn't impressed.

[wavelength]

scad are thinner profile, silvery with long pelvic fins and a habit of getting hold of pirks and feathers meant for cod. Different to tubular shaped green and stripey proper mackerel

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by wavelength

scad are thinner profile, silvery with long pelvic fins and a habit of getting hold of pirks and feathers meant for cod. Different to tubular shaped green and stripey proper mackerel

Wow .. I have never got a cod on a feather, they will only take bait up here, thats when you can get them at all

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by wavelength

Bag was still trying to swim when he handed it to his other half in the boat. She wasn't impressed.

Yeah those fookers do that,.. something to do with their central nervous system being odd.... usually after shopping ...anyway what was the fish like ?