North Wales on New Years Day

[legg]

Hi all

A group of us had a meet on NewYears Day. We had a great time, but not much in the way of fish. The only place we could kayak safely, because of the weather, was Conway estuary and the tide was on its way out, but we got this photo/artical in the local Daily Post.

 

 

 

[nifty]

Nice one Legg,

 

I think that goes to show that there are far more of us out there than we realise

Are any of the other lads on the photo, members of the forum here or do you belong to a club or something up in North Wales? I know myself that there are a few yakfishermen about around the Aberystwyth area that have been getting out for a few years now and either don't know about this site, or just prefer to get on with it, and no doubt there are plenty more around the UK just doing it!

 

Very Interesting anyway,

 

Stuart

[SpeciMan]

Way to go. I thought the newpaper article was well written and focussed on the safety aspect.

 

Can't believe I haven't seen the site they listed:

 

NWSA - Kayak Forum

[SpeciMan]

Also check out their news page for more info:

 

Latest

 

They had a safety boat plus some pairs were fishing on tandems

[nifty]

Your eyesights better than mine Simon, Well done for picking up on it

 

Just had a quick look and it looks like it's going to my favourites straight away

 

Stuart.

 

 

Blimey Legg, You kept this quiet

 

Trouble is I can't register, Bloody aol won't allow my activation key through :angry .

Edited January 5, 2006 by nifty

[ZEBRA]

Nice one Legg,

 

I think that goes to show that there are far more of us out there than we realise

Are any of the other lads on the photo, members of the forum here or do you belong to a club or something up in North Wales? I know myself that there are a few yakfishermen about around the Aberystwyth area that have been getting out for a few years now and either don't know about this site, or just prefer to get on with it, and no doubt there are plenty more around the UK just doing it!

 

Very Interesting anyway,

 

Stuart

[ZEBRA]

Nice one Legg,

 

I think that goes to show that there are far more of us out there than we realise

Are any of the other lads on the photo, members of the forum here or do you belong to a club or something up in North Wales? I know myself that there are a few yakfishermen about around the Aberystwyth area that have been getting out for a few years now and either don't know about this site, or just prefer to get on with it, and no doubt there are plenty more around the UK just doing it!

 

Very Interesting anyway,

 

Stuart

there are a few of us who are members of both sites me (zebra)and john (legg) for example it realy is quite a friendly forum nwsa i find i always get answers to my questions which is not always the case on other forums

[Martin Hurst]

The reference to keel size is obviously a journalistic error!

[SpeciMan]

Your eyesights better than mine Simon, Well done for picking up on it

 

The article was a bit of strain to read.

 

Have typed it out.

 

Sea Anglers can have their kayak and beat it.

 

New canoe-based craze gives them freedom of coasts.

 

By Andrew Forgrave

Rural Affairs Corrrespondent

 

A NEW craze is sweeping North Wales sea angling - fishing from specially adapted kayaks.

 

The sport was virtually unheard of six months ago but New Year's Day saw 16 kayak anglers set off from Llandudno's north shore for a day's fishing around the Orme.

 

Anglers love the new freedom to explore Wale's coast and fish in areas never fished or netted before.

 

"They can go to places which are no-go areas for trawlers and fishing boats," said conservation officer for the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers Glyn Hope.

 

"Kayaks have a draft of just two or three feet so can go over shallow wrecks, reefs and sand banks.

"I'm told you can see fish like bass swimming beneath you because, unlike boats, kayaks have no engines making a noise or heavy hulls slapping in the water."

 

Favourite locations include the Constable Bank, one mile out from Conwy, the reefs off Colwyn Bay and Anglesey's myriad coves and inlets.

 

Sea angling is easily the most popular form of fishing in North Wales and as kayak numbers increase so do safety concerns.

 

A recent near miss between a kayak and a charter boat off Anglesey highlighted potential dangers.

 

But Mr Hope said: "There has always been conflict between boat owners. Charter boats believe kayaks shouldn't get in their way and, likewise, tankers say ferries shouldn't be in their way.

 

"Besides kayaks are safer than fishing boats because you don't have to start up an engine and get out of the way".

 

Even so kayak anglers are equipping their crafts with brightly coloured flags.

 

Although kayaks are stable even in rough seas anglers are advised to carry a VHF radio, mobile phone,compass, flares, first aid and buoyancy aids.

 

The sport was imported from the US where it is hugely popular. New kayaks, such as the Ocean Prowler, cost £300-400 and some anglers are trading in their old fishing boats to join in.

 

One of the sport's British pioneers Terry Jackson who has been fishing along the North Wales coast for two-and-a-half years.

 

He said: "For two years I never saw another kayak. Now you bump into them everywhere"

 

With so many novices rushing out to buy kayaks he fears coastguards could be over-worked.

 

He added "It only needs one idiot to go out in the wrong conditions with inadequate equipment and get drowned for the sport to get a bad press."

 

For further details log onto www.nwsa.ukf.net

 

 

----end of article----

[Simon Everett]

Good report that - good group of yakers too! From the headgear it would seem as though it was a trifle chill, or was that just to keep headaches at bay?!

 

Nice to see some about the place.This is going to get as popular as boat fishing before long....do any of you go for the smoothounds along there at all?