With the weather setting reasonably fair, but about to worsen, we decided to go fishing this week on Thursday. As the conditions were fairly flat another Skerries trip seemed favourite, since the Bass have yet to arrive over our marks.

Another trip to our live bait tackle shop for lug worm (still no rag worm) Steve arrived and we set off for the Skerries Eastern buoy. The boat was really on song as we skimmed along at 17 knots with power left in store. Getting nearer we saw that a couple of charter boats were at work alongside 4 or 5 small private fishing boats.

It was not long before we had our first Plaice aboard with Mike catching a nice sized 2lb 7 oz example. Steve then followed suit with an excuse of a plaice and nowhere near the wonderful plaice Mike brought in (you can tell who is writing this blog I suspect!). In total we managed to catch 5 nice plaice all of them much larger than that sold in my local Sainsbury store! How do they get away selling such baby plaice?

Anyway since Sandy (who after nearly 40 years of marriage finally says its her favourite fish!) was away we decided not to keep two of them and they were released after catching. Mike took some video but we will have to wait until he can edit it.... with the wind picking up earlier than the forecast and now releasing all we caught it was time to call it a day and return to out berth in Noss Marina.

After mooring and sorting out we gave one plaice to one of the lads at the marina before heading home. It was a pleasant trip as well as showing there seem to be more plaice about this year. We will have to be careful though for if our success rate in catching continues we could even move out of the novice category we so covet.

Ships Log

Date: Tuesday 14/05/2010

Weather: Force 3 rising 4/5 SSW

Sea state: slight moving to moderate

Engine hours at start: 219.2

Engine hours at finish: 220.6

Crew: Steve Mike

Time off moorings: 0930

Tide: Low water 1030

Author: Mike (skipper)