Isle Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Week One At Roag On Loch Bracadale - Glenn, Lobbers, Faron, Mike, Dan, Damo, Mike, Shep, Mark And Miff

• Whitby Bass Club On Skye 2014 Week 1
• Whitby Bass Club On Skye 2014 Week 2

Further Reading On The Isle Of Skye And Whitby Bass Club

• Skye Sea Fishing Guide
• Read More About Skye Here.
• Adventures Of The Whitby Bass Club
• Skye Fishing And Photography Gallery
• Bass Club On Skye 2013
• Whitby Bass Club On Skye 2014 Week 1
• Whitby Bass Club On Skye 2014 Week 2

Day One - Friday

We left Whitby late afternoon, and after a chance meeting with Ellie Goulding near Edingburgh, we arrived on the Isle Of Skye about 1am and decided to catch some sleep in the landrover in a car park in Portree. Not the best nights sleep but Im sure I managed 6 uncomfortable hours which was much better than last years first night.

Day Two Saturday

Breakfast in portree followed by a few hours fishing on the rocks just to the south of portree. The fishing was pretty dire with only a couple of tiny fish landed between the lads, but we fished low tide which never seems to be the most productive time up here. The mark looked awesome and a few hours into the flood im sure things would have been very productive, but sadly we had to leave and get some shopping in before heading to the cottage at 4pm to get checked in.

Miff did the honours for tea with an excellent Spaghetti Bolegnese which was followed by some of Pippas amazing biscuits. The weather outside was horrid and some of the lads opted to stay home in the evening whilst myself, Mike, Lobbers and Mark headed to Roag in search of the first real fish of the weekend.

We didnt have a lot of bait, infact just 1 small pack of sandeels, but they did us proud and all the lads managed spurdogs to 10lbs, with Lobbers having the most suprising evening and catching a near double figure spurdog on a daylight fished on a light spinning rod.

Tomoorow is another day, the forecast looks slightly better and we have a few ideas for some fishing North Of The Island.





















Day Three (Sunday) - Kilmalaug Bay

With the wind moderate and from the south west we decided to fish the north east side of the Island at a little mentioned place called kilmaluag bay. Fishing was by no means as good as we had expected but we did manage some half decent fish and all the group managed to catch.

Best fish of the day was a cod of around four pounds which was the brightest ornage looking cod Ive ever seen. Well done Dane on that one. The rest of the group had pollack upto 5 pounds and mark landed a decent coalie.

The ground here was not quite what we had expected with shallowish kelp running out for 40 to 50 yards in front of us and no sign of the very deep tidal waters we had expected.











































Day 4 (Monday) - Loch Bracadale

Monday was quite a dreadful day, Gale force winds from the south east and then driving rain. We stayed home most of the day and then ventured out after tea as the weather improved.

Once again we opted for Loch Bracadale. The wind had swung west and there was quite a swell driving into the loch. The fishing was good right from the off with Spurdogs well into double fiugures coming thick and fast. These things fight amazing well especially when targeted on light spinning gear or bass rods. The fishing here really is excellent. At one point we had 4 lads into spurdogs all at the same time and all running close to double figures.

Then as the night progressed a few of us switched to the other side of the island we were fishing and hit into a few pollack with Mike getting the biggest at just over 5 pounds on The BAss Club Scales.

Another great days fishing on the Isle Of Skye.





























Day 5 (Tuesday)Back To Kilmaluag Bay

An early morning session in the bay for Mike, Damo, Faron and The Rev yeilded about 40 mackeral for the planned session later in the day back up in the north of The Island.











This evenings session was very special indeed. The fishing was average for the island with all the lads managing fish but nothing massive on this occasion, however big fish were certainly hooked and lost and this place holds potential for future visits.

Best fish of the night was a conger of around 15lbs for Mike. Both Damo and Farron were nearly pulled seaward by fish which surely were massive, only to loose them not long after hook up.

This mark has excellent tide flow, not to strong and well within casting range. Species for the day included mackeral, coalies, ling and pollack with everybody catching something.

The day was rounded off nicely with an Hebridean sunset, Gannets diving all around and several minke whales swimming in the tide. Where elese on the planet would you want to be.









































Day 5 (Wednesday)Day Off Pub Day

Knackered, tired out, fished out. So went to the pub.

Day 6 (Thursday)Back To Kilmaluag Bay... Again !!

Every now and again you find a mark that has fished well but you just know it hasnt fulfilled its full potential. Kilmalaug Bay in the north of the Island has become one of our favourite marks. Gannets diving all day long, numerous whales feeding righ up to the rock edges, mountains on the horizon, this place is just so special. Today Kilmalaug Bay showed us just how special a mark it really is.

We arrived just after high tide and fished the ebb. The tide flow was far too strong initially and it was clear we were going to struggling with bait fishing. A few of us opted for some calmer waters just out of the tide whilst a few stuck at the bait fishing with little sucess, at first.

Mike and Mark opted for some calm waters away from the tide flow and were rewarded with some decent pollack upto the 6lb mark. Then as the tide came towards low water, the focuss returned to bait fishing. Dan managed to land a few fresh mackerel over low tide and the lads all baited up and waited.

The last time we were here, 3 of the lads had hooked into big fish which had stripped off line from their reels before snapping them off, today the fish never faired so well and we came out on top.

First into a decent fish was Faron. An epic battle followed and after 45 minutes a huge fish broke surface. Having witnessed Dans 45lb top on our trip to Skye last summer I thought we would never better that fish, but when a huge commen skate broke surface, estimated at 120lb, last years best fish was well beaten. We managed to ground the fish and quickly measure it before sending it back to the deep.





















Then................. Just as you thought it couldnt get any better, it did. Just as Dan struck into a bight, the fish took off at a thousand miles an hour. We knew instantly what it was. Faron just patted Dan on the shoulder and wished him luck, and the fight begun.

For the next hour Dan saw the fish of a lifetime come to the surface, only to see it strip all the line off his reel once again and head back down to the deep.

After what seemed an age we managed to ground another huge commen skate, this one was clearly significantly bigger than Farrons. We quickly measured it and took a photo before watching the huge fish swim away gracefully.

We knew it was a special fish and when Dan phoned it in to the shark trust this morning the lady on the phone had to ask how big (three times) before dashing off for her charts and giving us an estimated weight of 208lbs, a new Brittish record, Potentially.










And that was that, we all sat as a group and watched the most perfect sunset set across the outer hebrides, Gannets diving, whales surfacing, fish jumping and the sky on fire, The Isle Of Skye really is one of the most special places on earth.







Day 7 (Friday) - Neist Point... At Last

The one mark everyone had wanted to hit this week was Neist point. After last years escapades with spurdogs, ling, conger, and a 45lb tope, all the lads had wanted to get back to Neist, but the weather had stopped us all week.

Well all I can say is thank god the weather stopped us fishign Neist, because if we had sat there all week we wouldnt have seen the amazing fishing available else where on this island.

We managed to round up enough mackerel and coalies for bait and we cast the big rods out just before low water as the tider slackeened.

Sadly we didnt manage a repeat of last years fishing, but on a couple of occasions I did pull in to find my 150lb hook snoods bit straight through. Tope perhaps ??

The session was dominated by spurdogs, which in truth became a bit of a pest after a while. Who would ever imagine you would tire of catching double figure fish one after the other, but yes its true spurdogs can become a right pain after a while.

So thats it for week one. Its kind of sad to see the back of Dan, Damo and the lads. Even though we know they will be back home when we get there in a week, it feels like your saying good bye to good friends for the last time. Another awesome week for the Whitby Bass Club, some great fishing, but perhaps most of al, the Ethos Of The Bass Club has continued. Fishing with friends, no pressure to catch, no need to compete and everyone happy to see fish coming ashore regardless of who catches them. Well done to Dan and Farron on the best fish of the week, and a massive thankyou to everyone for sharing another amazing week. I wonder what next year has in store ??

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Looking forward to the reports guys,it really is an amazing place.
Have you had a look at that big channel just before you come into portree.

Its tidal and looked very bassy when it was empty at low water the day I passed it.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Hi martin, The whole area looks awesome for bass, just dont seem to be many around to be honest. Not sure why. The place were today was near the moth of Portree harbour, a beautiful looking spot.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Beach SW corner?

But, as I said before, I am betting Talisker on an easterly swell incoming is a top bet.
I am up Friday so will try to beat you to it!


In meantime, cracking fishing, lads.
Those cod, particularly first on Day 3, are the most amazing colour I have ever seen. Almost look photoshopped.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

P.S. I will try and bring some sun.
Looks like you could do with some.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

I couldnt believe the colour of that cod myself. Bright orange. Never seen anything like it.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

amazing photo's as usual and that fish is a stunner, did it come from a deep water kelp mark ? seen a few bright ones like that come from Eyemouth and st Abbs

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Brilliant read and the photos are stunning as usual....that Orange Cod photo is a cracker.

Looks like a great adventure youre having up there.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Great read, thanks for sharing! Lovely looking fish

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Myself and Dave have just fished Upgang this evening.
We also had 2 bright red codling.
We are looking after your fish until you return. ha,ha.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Todays Tea. Best food of the holiday so far.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Looks a great place,those orange cod are awesome!

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Great Post's & Pics Glenn- Like an Advert for a fishermans Whish You Were Here....LOL Keep em comin!!

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Miff cooking this evening curry for Dan's birthday today

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

good to see the fish r comin in thick and fast lads that cod for dan is a fish to remember, wot amazing colours. gook look on finding them big pollock agen lads. keep um comin, enjoyin the updates.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Nice one lads, we'll be on our way in 24 hours ;D

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Hi boys,
Good going on the spurs at Bracadale. Were they from the mark I gave you, Bracadale Point, at the entrance to Lock Harport?
Or....?
Cracking fishing anyway.

Also, what did you catch the cod on, if I may ask?

Leaving in morning at 5, so hopefully bending my rod on a monster pollock by tea time.
Cannot wait.
Will definitely bring sun.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One

Hi mate, no the Spurdogs were from Roag. Cod were taken on Mackerel.

 

Re: Isles Of Skye Sea Fishing - Return Of The Whitby Bass Club - Week One