Having read some of the comments re:state of cod fishing, it's a combination of factors. What about the improvements in sewage trearment? Years ago, anchor the boat near a sewer outlet and catch plenty. The discharge is so clean now, there's no micronutrients for worms and crustaceans. Knock on effect, no small fish feeding on them and no big fish following the small fish. Other side of that coin, you'd never see smoothound and off Cardiff in the 90's, now they turn up every summer for shore and boat anglers. Same with blonde rays, they're a permanent fixture now, having become more prevalent than thornies (on the Welsh side at least).
I agree I believe it's a combination of facts leading to such poor fishing in the channel of late. I"m not talking about the cod because that changes yearly. Its the lack of resident species that's concerning, I have always caught congers and thornback rays throughout the year but I haven't had a bite for weeks. The amount of overspills happening at the moment are crazy I can tell with the amount toilet related products coming down the Avon. The amount of blondes up my way has defiantly increased in recent years some even being caught on the boats outside Avonmouth around august time.
@JWAFISHING very good point pal. I've been out on the boat 5/6 times since October and have a grand total of 7 fish: 3 congers, 3 whiting and 1 blonde. Shouldn't be long now before we see an upturn in fortunes and the rods start bending!!!
Pretty much the same as the last chap said. The trawling and the amount of fresh water, plus the fact that the channel goes dead this time of year and will probably start slowly coming back in a month. After 30 years of fishing Clevedon/Portishead area i found this to be the case.
I agree trawling has a massive effect but as you well know, we still pick up the congers and rays all year round but this winter seems to be the worst in my memory, even the boats are struggling. I stated in another comment about fresh water that we had records amounts of rainfall yet the cod fishing was great, I’d like to see someone do a study on it. If the fish get driven out the channel due to rainfall they would be smashed by the trawlers.
Tough,tough times in the Bristol Channel this winter. Seems like everyone is blanking with only the odd fish showing. I’m sure that you will get your rewards for the effort you put in fella. Thanks for sharing.
Makes you wonder has all the toxic mud from Hinckley delivered to portbury and dumped, killed the food chain locally combined with the heavy trawling that takes place?
That 800,000 tonnes of mud must of had a effect on the fishing and maybe your right we’re seeing the effects of it now, combined with others factors too.
The entrance of the bristol channel is heavily trawled on times, as the English is up to 350 trawlers most days, modern tec today means they miss nothing, plus so much fresh water has a bearing as well, but thats just my opinion,
The fresh water is a strange one, I’d like to learn more about it. One year we had records amount of rain yet the cod fishing was great. Couldn’t believe how well it was fishing with all the water horsing down the rivers. I like to fish the deeper marks when we’ve had heavy rainfall as the fresh water sits on top of the salt water.
It's just how it goes. It's fishing it can't be the same constantly. Even in coarse match fishing that's like hook a duck.you could be sat next someone they could be catching all day fishing exactly the same way as you and not get anything. Hopefully it gets better soon
Humber dead slow,had flounder and whiting before Xmas,odd few codling been caught and a few haddock but no good now,,,combination of fresh water coming down and no doubt the trawlers have destroyed the fishing,,,,,anyway let's hope for better fishing come summer flounder and bass 😊
Having read some of the comments re:state of cod fishing, it's a combination of factors. What about the improvements in sewage trearment?
Years ago, anchor the boat near a sewer outlet and catch plenty. The discharge is so clean now, there's no micronutrients for worms and crustaceans. Knock on effect, no small fish feeding on them and no big fish following the small fish.
Other side of that coin, you'd never see smoothound and off Cardiff in the 90's, now they turn up every summer for shore and boat anglers. Same with blonde rays, they're a permanent fixture now, having become more prevalent than thornies (on the Welsh side at least).
I agree I believe it's a combination of facts leading to such poor fishing in the channel of late. I"m not talking about the cod because that changes yearly. Its the lack of resident species that's concerning, I have always caught congers and thornback rays throughout the year but I haven't had a bite for weeks.
The amount of overspills happening at the moment are crazy I can tell with the amount toilet related products coming down the Avon.
The amount of blondes up my way has defiantly increased in recent years some even being caught on the boats outside Avonmouth around august time.
@JWAFISHING very good point pal. I've been out on the boat 5/6 times since October and have a grand total of 7 fish: 3 congers, 3 whiting and 1 blonde.
Shouldn't be long now before we see an upturn in fortunes and the rods start bending!!!
Pretty much the same as the last chap said. The trawling and the amount of fresh water, plus the fact that the channel goes dead this time of year and will probably start slowly coming back in a month. After 30 years of fishing Clevedon/Portishead area i found this to be the case.
I agree trawling has a massive effect but as you well know, we still pick up the congers and rays all year round but this winter seems to be the worst in my memory, even the boats are struggling. I stated in another comment about fresh water that we had records amounts of rainfall yet the cod fishing was great, I’d like to see someone do a study on it. If the fish get driven out the channel due to rainfall they would be smashed by the trawlers.
Try Littleton on seven. Mate.rag and lug.2 up 1 down rig or 3 hook clipped down. Hooks size 4.or 6.
Think I might, just a bite would be nice 😂
Tough,tough times in the Bristol Channel this winter.
Seems like everyone is blanking with only the odd fish showing.
I’m sure that you will get your rewards for the effort you put in fella. Thanks for sharing.
It is indeed, I’m putting in the hours so something must show up soon ! Thanks for watching mate 🎣
Makes you wonder has all the toxic mud from Hinckley delivered to portbury and dumped, killed the food chain locally combined with the heavy trawling that takes place?
That 800,000 tonnes of mud must of had a effect on the fishing and maybe your right we’re seeing the effects of it now, combined with others factors too.
I would probably run with over fishing. And the fact it's never the same every year this year is obviously a shit 1. Next might be better
The entrance of the bristol channel is heavily trawled on times, as the English is up to 350 trawlers most days, modern tec today means they miss nothing, plus so much fresh water has a bearing as well, but thats just my opinion,
The fresh water is a strange one, I’d like to learn more about it. One year we had records amount of rain yet the cod fishing was great. Couldn’t believe how well it was fishing with all the water horsing down the rivers. I like to fish the deeper marks when we’ve had heavy rainfall as the fresh water sits on top of the salt water.
It's just how it goes. It's fishing it can't be the same constantly. Even in coarse match fishing that's like hook a duck.you could be sat next someone they could be catching all day fishing exactly the same way as you and not get anything. Hopefully it gets better soon
The seas are filthy contamination a big problem in our seas, killing the fish off😢😢
The amount of overspill and plastic that comes out the Avon alone is unbelievable!
Maybe to many sprats and herring hanging about up in the layers other fish feeding on those
I think that was the case, we would pick up lots of rays still, but still a interesting theory
The Mersey and the Humber are also dead at the moment
What’s the winter been like on a whole, did you have a decent run of cod this season ?
Humber dead slow,had flounder and whiting before Xmas,odd few codling been caught and a few haddock but no good now,,,combination of fresh water coming down and no doubt the trawlers have destroyed the fishing,,,,,anyway let's hope for better fishing come summer flounder and bass 😊
@@steventyreman3642 just the a few bits a pieces coming out then. Yeah let’s hope for a good summer, after this winter we deserve it!
Mersey has had virtually no cod and the Humber had a short spell of cod and small haddock around Xmas time @JWAFISHING
So that's obviously the toxic mud from hinkley point that's not toxic lol 😂