Small Alderney story from couple years ago..

[Eatlard]

Hi all,

 

Thought I'd share a quick tale from my first year I visited Alderney a few years ago.

 

I visited with 2 others - my brother Roger, and Paul. We all have a fair bit of experience but wanted a shot at something decent and chose Alderney Breakwater for its conger. We are used to catching from South East beaches so anything a few pounds or bigger is a decent fish!

 

It was a beautiful September evening on a massive tide that was due to top out at about 10.30pm. After messing around a bit with small baits and floats with some success I decided to put a whole squid down the wall for a try at a bass. It was still very much light but the sun was just beginning to drop. After about 15 minutes I noticed a small nibble and picked up my rod. Feeling like a small pout nibbling at it I just held the rod for about 30 seconds before I felt a proper tug with the rod tip nodding down. It went again, I reeled down and struck and felt something bloody huge get angry at being hooked. I was on 4/0 Kamasans and realised quickly that this was a conger. I've had smaller ones from the shore before and realised I'd be lucky to get it in. I shouted for the others who were off float fishing, they came charging back to see my rod tip dipping violently before the inevitable slack came. Reeling in it had bitten through the line, no surprise at all.

 

There was a mad scrabble to get the conger gear up and in 2 minutes flat we had 3 conger rods out.

 

Calm....the 3 of us staring intently at our rod tips, ratchets all set. Nothing happened for about 10 minutes. Roger gets a small nod on his rod. He's gone with a squid down the wall (who wouldn't). Roger just happened to be the least experienced in this type of fishing and turned to me and asked "what should I do?".

 

He had picked the rod up and I advised he wait until he feels the fish moving off, normally obvious when it happens, then reel down and lift into it and get it moving. The bottom was very snaggy. "Ok" he says, I see the rod tip pull and he reels and lifts. Then all hell breaks loose. This clearly is an enormous fish and he's "ahem" not really got the right reel for the job. In fact he had a 6500CT loaded with 30lb. The line is ok but the reel isn't really geared for this type of thing. To top it off he's tightened the drag right up while I wasn't looking and he's now got his knees bent almost to the concrete of the wall and the rod tip is almost in the water. Roger's vocab has now been reduced to one word. The F word...lots of times and loud. I honestly thought he was going to either get a bath or lose the rod, fast as i could I managed to get to the drag and free it up enough for him to stand up properly. The fish was still going mental but by luck more than design, after 2 big dives he managed to get it to the surface.

 

Next problem...although I carry a gaff when congering I'd never used one. Would rather beach it on rocks if possible but this was not coming out without a gaff. Thankfully the tide was so close to the top of wall that I could literally lean down and lip gaff it. It took me and Paul to lift it out. Roger was stunned.

 

We tried to weigh it. Our scales went to 44lb and cluncked down immediately. Hmm. Oh well. Photo time and get it back alive. I stress - it went back alive. I hate killing fish without need and would also see it go back than kill it just to weigh.

 

Roger's face was priceless. A fish of a lifetime. He looked so proud and every time I think of that night it makes me smile. Incredible.

 

Well...I'm never going to beat it but I'm going back this year to try. We have been back once already and didn't come close to this size although we caught a fair few good conger. Now we always take a huge drop net. Shall i tempt fate by buying scales man enough to weigh this?

 

Picture attached I hope...

Edited May 3, 2006 by Eatlard

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Great story and a very nice conger, well over forty pounds as I have seen a forty four pound eel weighed and it was no where near the size of that fish.

 

Great stuff and I wish you lots of luck for your next visit.

 

PS Buy the scales

[Sharkbyte]

Great story, awesome memories I'm sure.

[Scotty T]

Great story EatLard, love it. I'm off to Alderney in 3 weeks for my first time!!! Roll on........

 

That Eel is easily 50lb + surely, its a beauty, well done mate.

 

Scott

Edited May 4, 2006 by Scotty T

[AlderneyBassman]

Great story and a great eel!

 

Gotta be a 50+.

 

My missus had a 44-12 off there a few years ago.

 

2lb bigger than my biggest and she keeps reminding me

[Toerag]

2lb bigger than my biggest and she keeps reminding me

 

 

 

That's because she's a good angler as opposed to Wreck decorator and DIY fanatic............

[Norm B]

Hi all,

 

Thought I'd share a quick tale from my first year I visited Alderney a few years ago.

 

I visited with 2 others - my brother Roger, and Paul. We all have a fair bit of experience but wanted a shot at something decent and chose Alderney Breakwater for its conger. We are used to catching from South East beaches so anything a few pounds or bigger is a decent fish!

 

It was a beautiful September evening on a massive tide that was due to top out at about 10.30pm. After messing around a bit with small baits and floats with some success I decided to put a whole squid down the wall for a try at a bass. It was still very much light but the sun was just beginning to drop. After about 15 minutes I noticed a small nibble and picked up my rod. Feeling like a small pout nibbling at it I just held the rod for about 30 seconds before I felt a proper tug with the rod tip nodding down. It went again, I reeled down and struck and felt something bloody huge get angry at being hooked. I was on 4/0 Kamasans and realised quickly that this was a conger. I've had smaller ones from the shore before and realised I'd be lucky to get it in. I shouted for the others who were off float fishing, they came charging back to see my rod tip dipping violently before the inevitable slack came. Reeling in it had bitten through the line, no surprise at all.

 

There was a mad scrabble to get the conger gear up and in 2 minutes flat we had 3 conger rods out.

 

Calm....the 3 of us staring intently at our rod tips, ratchets all set. Nothing happened for about 10 minutes. Roger gets a small nod on his rod. He's gone with a squid down the wall (who wouldn't). Roger just happened to be the least experienced in this type of fishing and turned to me and asked "what should I do?".

 

He had picked the rod up and I advised he wait until he feels the fish moving off, normally obvious when it happens, then reel down and lift into it and get it moving. The bottom was very snaggy. "Ok" he says, I see the rod tip pull and he reels and lifts. Then all hell breaks loose. This clearly is an enormous fish and he's "ahem" not really got the right reel for the job. In fact he had a 6500CT loaded with 30lb. The line is ok but the reel isn't really geared for this type of thing. To top it off he's tightened the drag right up while I wasn't looking and he's now got his knees bent almost to the concrete of the wall and the rod tip is almost in the water. Roger's vocab has now been reduced to one word. The F word...lots of times and loud. I honestly thought he was going to either get a bath or lose the rod, fast as i could I managed to get to the drag and free it up enough for him to stand up properly. The fish was still going mental but by luck more than design, after 2 big dives he managed to get it to the surface.

 

Next problem...although I carry a gaff when congering I'd never used one. Would rather beach it on rocks if possible but this was not coming out without a gaff. Thankfully the tide was so close to the top of wall that I could literally lean down and lip gaff it. It took me and Paul to lift it out. Roger was stunned.

 

We tried to weigh it. Our scales went to 44lb and cluncked down immediately. Hmm. Oh well. Photo time and get it back alive. I stress - it went back alive. I hate killing fish without need and would also see it go back than kill it just to weigh.

 

Roger's face was priceless. A fish of a lifetime. He looked so proud and every time I think of that night it makes me smile. Incredible.

 

Well...I'm never going to beat it but I'm going back this year to try. We have been back once already and didn't come close to this size although we caught a fair few good conger. Now we always take a huge drop net. Shall i tempt fate by buying scales man enough to weigh this?

 

Picture attached I hope...

Looks like a good 50lb, why will you never beat it? You could get a 60lb on your first drop, anglers are the eternal optimists, they have to be or we'd never go.

[Seahog]

Easily 50+ all day long.