Yaskalos

Snatcher, PM me with a few more details etc and I'll get back to you, this is my hot area at the moment! Nick

Hi With my Cuda 128 I use 8 re-chargeable AA's, they power the finder for about 12hrs continuously.

Hi Grant I just use the front hatch straps to hold it in place at the back of the base unit, see pic (I hope)! For added security I have fitted some velcro straps to hold the front though from experience these are not really necessary as the hatch strap holds it very securely. Nick

Hi Gilbo Welcome. I fish out of Plymouth, current favourite spot is launching from Wembury Beach, if you are ever this way always happy to have company. Nick

Hi Grant I use the Eagle Cuda 128, I have fixed the transducer (which is easily removable i.e. 2mins) to a bracket on the aft end of the Yak and use 8 AA rechargeables to power it. A full charge gives me about 8hrs continuous use. Fixing the transducer actually in the water gives crystal clear screen definition with no possibility of interference. Nick

Hi Simon Well looks like some are able to find some calm seas. We've had 40ft waves off Rame Head (no joking), the Plymouth - Santander ferry was hit by a rogue 60 footer broke windows and injured several passenges off the French coast! Nick

Hi I have been using the Eagle Cuda for the last 18 months and have to say it is excellent, easy to use, works on 8 AA's and will take a dunkin. I have made up a little bracket from small ali channel section (B&Q), which is fixed to the rear eyelet with a s/s bolt & wing nut. The bracket is bent to shape to hold the transducer in the correct position but not welded on the joint, this allows it to open up freely if I should accidently ground it. Again the transducer is fixed to the bracket (which stays on the YAK) with a s/s bolt & wing nut. It takes about 2 mins to release the transducer from or fix it to the bracket. The big advantage of this is there is no chance of interference with the signal going through epoxy or the hull. Have attached a couple of pics. Nick

Musket - Chuggs See you there tomorrow, will be getting there around 11- midday to fish low water up, good luck in the morning. Nick

Hi Jon Nice one, know what you mean about launching from there, I had my one bad experience there on the sand bar, it has put me off from going there since. That said, the whole place has huge potential, especially out around 'Mary's Rock' which is not too far to paddle out on a good day. I know a couple of Plymouth anglers who fish upstream very successfully for mullet, so either way you can get into fish. Pound for pound mullet are one of the hardest fighting fish in our waters especially on light gear, be good to go and stalk them up in the creek later in the year if you fancy it. Nick

Hi All Just seen this intro text on the 'Met Check' weather site. Gradual Improvements Added : Sun 23 April : 23:05BST It's coming to the time of year now, where the Azores High, which has been a shy feature of the UK weather this past Winter, begins to gradually expand and head North in a stop-start fashion. The week starts off in a familiar way, low pressure continuing to dominate the weather with rain and showers affecting many areas. The change happens towards the end of this week as high pressure ridges in from the West and continues to build across the UK bringing a taste of late Spring/early Summer to many areas. Although no heatwave is on the cards, temperatures should recover to respectable values with 70f not out of the question towards the end of the week. Sounds promising! Nick

Hi All Will keep this as short as possible. Arrived at South Sands at 0600 this morning it was like a millpond, and was fishing by 0630. I planned to fish the sand bank around what is locally known as Bass Rock which is a paddle out of about 300 yds (at low water). It was not long before the small tide began to make so I paddled downtide of the rock, using the fishfinder to paddle past the sand scour of the rock and then drift up past the rack and over the upstream scour. Second drift, and a decent bite, big Plaice thinks I, but alas no, much to my surprise a respectable Doggie. Several more paddle and drifts produced two more Doggies, well they got the adrenaline running, and a small Pollock. Around 10.30, I had a small tap, which I didn't strike, I could feel something on, this time a small Plaice (crispbag size). An hour later, a very definite knock, which I again allowed to develop, this then began to pull quite strongly and a decent scrap ensued on the light tackle. After a few minutes I could see coming up below the Yak a decent sized flatfish, near the surface there were the very welcome sight of orange spots. A decent Plaice, a good dinner plate size but quite thick for the time of year. On the scale at home it registered 2.25lb. It now resides in my stomach! Couldn't take the camera as the missus needed it for a kids party this afternoon. However, she did take one of me and it in the garden of the child who's birthday it was when I picked her up on the way home. This caused a great stir with loads of 2, 3 and 4 year olds gawping at it saying uhhh gross! Anyhow am attempting to upload the pic, hope it works, i'll check to make sure it's not a bouncy castle or something similar. Bait was Rag and Lug cocktail with coloured bead attractors. There was quite a strong easterly blowing but it was very sheltered and sea state remained quite calm. Nick PS. I'm the good looking one of the two.

Hi All Will post a full report later but fished Salcombe today, launched from South Sands, the car park behind the beach has plenty of room especially if you get there early. Cost is £5.25 all day. However, there was no-one there when I got there 0600 and no-one when I left, I put a sign in the window saying 'happy to pay on my return'. Good session - with fish see my report post later. Nick

Hi Jon Have a trip planned for early tomorrow morning so Sunday is doubtful for me but will call you if I can get out. Must speak to you soon re this Devon meet on the 29th. Nick

Hey Richi Thanks for that. I'll contact Musket and see what they are planning. Nick

Hi All Spent some time in my local tackle shop this morning getting all the latest local gossip and summer has arrived in this part of the world. In the past week some good thornbacks have been taken from both the Tamar and the Yealm rivers. (Most on Prawn) Plaice are now showing frequently from shallow water rock marks onto sand all the way along the South Devon coast, biggest reported in the last week is 3-12 (shore). Mullet are in the sound biggest reported just over 3lb. Pollock have moved onto the inshore reefs - 12lb, these will be closely followed by Bass. Sandeels are shoaling on some of the SE Cornwall beaches. Also reports of Huss and Small-Eyed's from the Yealm - Mothecombe area. Will be getting her belly wet again tomorrow! Nick

Hi All Sorry for being a bit thick here but I've lost the plot - who is meeting where and when? Can someone type it out nice and simple for me. Nick

Hi Simon I was actually fishing 'White Patch', I'm sure you know it. Went there as it was my first paddle of the season and it's an easy paddle out from Mount Batten. Never mind am planning to go again on Wednesday so if he's still there i'll av im. Nick

Hi John It was good to get back out again, was really gutted with losing such a decent fish. I haven't tried Mothecombe for Plaice from the Yak but have many times from the shore (but not this year). Have also heard that they are being caught there on the Mothecombe side from the shore (rocks below the last field before the point). After my bad experience in the Yak there last year it has put me off fishing from there again. We must get out again soon though. Nick

Hi All Well, got out for my first trip of the year on Wednesday, gentle paddle out to a local Plaice ground. Had nothing for the first 3hrs, then bang, a serious bite. I got the fish within about 2 feet of the surface, it obviously saw the Yak and didn't much care for it and did a serious dive for the bottom. I had the drag set (perhaps a little light), it disappeared back down a few feet then............nothing............slack line.........the b****** came off. Another 2hrs and nothing, came back in cold and gutted...............can't wait to get back out there again next week. I estimate it was at least 3-4lb!!!! Nick

Hi All Just to update this Sunday's local (South-West) paper The Sunday Independent reports a very poor showing of Plaice on the Skerries so far this year and the fish that have been caught are very small. Had one myself yesterday from the shore, just under a pound. Nick

DoP If you are looking for somewhere with easy access, then Mountbatten Pier is a good spot right throughout the year both night and day. This time of year you need to fish from the north side (looking back towards the Hoe). This side has a sand/gravel bottom and quite often gives up some nice plaice during daylight. Night-times from the pier can throw up anything at any time of the year, both bottom and float fishing. Other easy access spots are: West-Hoe pier Hoe sea front Bovisand beach & rocks Devils Point car park Millbay - from Devils Point car park Mutton Cove - produces Thornback this time of year. Hope this helps

Hi All Local paper's weekly fishing article reports a 3lb-10oz Plaice taken from the shore this past week from a South Hams beach, a birdie tells me it was at Bantham! Nick

Hi Simon Last time I half-heartedly attempted the paddle to the Skerries from Hallsands I hit the round and round bit which is when I paddled back in. The area you describe between Start Point and Hallsands I believe could be the best kayak fishing ground this side of the Florida Keys, the potential is huge and all within easy paddling, parking and launching, plus totally sheltered from the prevailing westerlies. As you say the ground is mostly sand/shingle banks interspersed with reefs and rocky outcrops. The cliffs are too steep for shore angling (I've tried) and as there are no major ports (only Dartmouth) it is rarely fished by boats, most are attracted to the Skerries. A good friend of mine who used to run a fishing boat out of Dartmouth told me that the area holds dabs, plaice, small-eyeds, thornies, undulates, bream, pollock, bass, turbot, etc etc. He used to fish it occasionally if he had a party of anglers down from up the line to go wreck fishing but the weather was against them, if they were really determined to go out after travelling a long distance they'd fish there in the lee of the land. Also, not so many divers visit here anymore as the divers hotel at Hallsands has closed down! Nick

Hi again After attempting the Skerries twice last summer I have to say YY talks a lot of sense, the current was really strong and you'll have to get your timing right not just with the weather but tides, winds and tide times also. I have fished it many many times from a boat and it is not easy to predict the conditions over the banks, wind against tide, tidal surges from around Start Point, etc. On the two occasions I have fished E. Portlemouth recently with very strong easterly blowing the Portlemouth side has been really calm although the Salcombe side over South/North Sands has been quite choppy as it is not sheltered from the easterly over there. Nick

Zippy From the photo doesn't look like the guy is very far offshore. Looks like a nice fish too.