A bit of a tough few days as the water slowly clears from last weeks westerly blows. Fishing has been somewhat tough going. Most catches could likely as not be described as “a few” IE a few plaice, Bream, Wrasse, a mullet here n there while the much sought after mackerel and even horse mackerel seemingly have taken a bit of a break from the local area.

Most noticeable the last few days Id say were the number of garfish being caught on generally the EAST WALL although they have sometimes ventured onto the west side.
Up until a couple of days ago Night fishing had also taken a dip with a very big slowdown of catches on the horse mac front. Quite ironic then that people are still arriving with 25-30 gallon buckets expecting too pull hundreds of fish out of the water ! one dude this week even arrived with a plastic black dustbin ! Jeez,
I did explain that they had more chance of food poisoning if they filled the thing, IE stressed fish left too die in the bin, slowly then crushed for 6+ hours on the wall and a nice warm drive home too Manchester but it seems few people want too hear that and are unlikely too take notice of offered advice on fish care, but hey occasionally someone will listen… I hope 🤢🤢

Now if you have been paying attention too my text today you may have noticed a little hint of perhaps some sort of action going on ? did you spot it ? are you now scrolling back and wondering wtf Im on about ? hint, 3rd line of the above paragraph…. “UP UNTIL…”

So what could have changed or may have changed this week ? Well I have been mentioning too a few people especially last week up too the weekend that conditions were setting and creating calmer water. Air pressure becoming more stable also do go towards creating decent conditions for SQUID. They had started too arrive a couple of weeks back but those westerly blows sorta put a spanner in the works and pushed the 1st arrivals back into deeper calmer water.

Indicators were there and as said too a few I fully expected squid too start again as the weekend ended. Sunday and Monday there were occasional catches on the walls during the day, not many , mostly due too the lack of people trying for them though. Catches were also there Sunday night into Monday night but the info was quite slow filtering through. Tuesday daytime also saw some landed during the day but again very few trying for them.

Last night a few serious squidder’s decided too give it a go with decent results over night. It certainly looks like they are properly arriving on the walls. Some defo during the day so I’d say there were already good numbers out there as the Autumn run tends too be heavier at night so with daytime catches sprinkled about Id say get them jigs out and go for it especially near the high water marks. If you are on the east wall id say perhaps avoid the bend on the bigger tides as the water will run quite hard, low 15 bays and above 35 likely too produce the better results if the tide is near the 6m mark or bigger.
On the west wall just about anywhere will work for squid but again the takes often are less on the bend but dont rule it out, the water/tide doesnt run so hard on the west thus creates better conditions for most of that wall.

Hopefully now the squid arrival will be similar too the numbers we have seen over the last couple of years and allow for some sort of competition (or 2) too be arranged on the EAST wall with a later than usual finish on that side. I guess it is time too examine tide time tables and get my head together with Mark and see what can be sorted. Dates and details too come(obviously) and will have a chat with one or two of the squid obsessed too sort a format most likely on the lines of single largest squid/cuttle and overall length of bulk catches as has been done previously.

Connecting too a later comp and squid in general brings me too the boring bit today with a reminder of lighting policy on the wall at night. I realise some may feel there are too many silly rules regarding night fishing but that are there for genuine reasons and not just too give wardens the pleasure of having a moan at people over light use and general behaviour.

BLUE LIGHTS , blue filters on head lamps and wall lights
We are required by the harbour policy too ask anglers too filter strong white lighting. As a harbour there is always the chance of boats/ships passing close too the wall especially around the lower walled extension. At night boat skippers work in the dark and utilise night vision/low light in their cabins. A simple glance from an angler with a 5000 lumen light can blind a returning skipper long enough too create an accident, IT HAS and does happen, thus we ask all too filter their white lighting or use blue lights.
The exception here is using under water lights.
LIGHTS fitted too outside wall above the surface
These lights also must be filtered or blue, we cant allow white light too pour over the wall so close to a harbour entrance, white is a navigation colour and must be filtered or not used.
UNDER WATER LIGHTS
we do allow underwater lights too be used, in the past we only allowed blue lights but on request we tested various light colours and found that green, blue and white light under the surface glowed green from the water colour thus this year we have changed the fixed blue too allow blue, green and white under water lights.
POWER BANKS for lights
USB power banks of any form are recommended, small battery blocks similar too the work station type also ok.
CAR/VEHICLE BATTERIES
the marina requested three years ago for these too be stopped. Old batteries were being used and dumped. Some in the water many in marina bins. Car batteries have too be disposed of under specific rules and the marina were getting grief from the council for illegally dumping them unknowingly from their bins
as a result NO CAR BATTERIES to be on the wall ty

ON WALL LIGHING
up until very recently there was an increase in high powered lighting on the wall “too see what anglers were doing” please dont, keep your personal wall lights personal. torches, small lights/lanterns for kit and rig/bait sorting. Huge bright lights on the wall are not required and light levels should be as low as possible/practical. Please leave the arc lights at home, ty

LIGHTING on the wall at night is improving, wardens have access too blue filter material for lights, please ask for some, we shouldn’t have too chase every light on the wall for compliance, I also have a stock of pop up lanterns for sale on the wall should anyone want them.

I realise some of the lighting rules may seem petty but they are there for a reason. Giving grief too the duty wardens as they remind people of this is pointless and unnecessary. If we fail too keep compliance with night lighting it will eventually see the wall closed to night fishing. It seems we have one or two who feel the rules dont apply too them and find it easier too deal shit too working staff.
If the abuse continues the wardens have been instructed too close the wall until said problem removes themselves from the wall .

I suspect if the wall is busy and a queue waiting too get on the wall gets told that the wall has been closed until offender removes themselves anglers may find a way too encourage the person creating the problems.
None of the wardens need too be abused simply because someone feels that they dont have too follow rules on the wall, the alternative to anglers self policing would be for police intervention and sooner than later all this would achieve is the wall being lost for night fishing.
End of the day, if people cant behave on the wall it will be lost resulting in a well marshalled wall that is safe for all and has access for all being lost permanently, think about it folks, because I for one don’t give up my time at night too monitor knobheads and nor do other wardens.

Ok thats the grim shit out of the way, as a sorta round up my observations over the last few days/week.
Slow going after a cycle of stormy weather. Water clearing quite nicely although rather oddly there have been signs of “MAY ROT” over the rocks on the east. That or Southern water are at it again!
Main catches last few days dominated by Garfish, I suspect smaller tides have slowed the Sole catches, still decent congers out there too be had during the daytime. the sands on the east are seeing a very slow increase of Plaice, Bream and Wrasse numbers seem very low atm for some reason. Bass, hmmm they are there but proving abit shy on the hooks. Mullet require a lot of work but again they are there. A few rays are being caught but no seeming patterns too catch rates.
Mackerel and horse mac have either taken a 2 week break or buggered off, I hope they are on a break! Spider crabs now seem a thing of the past.. do ya remember all them cut lines ? well now the issue seems too be with dodgy knot tying causing lost gear on the east wall ! No real standout catches this week so far and I guess the main bit of news is the return of squid.

East wall closing times will shorten now as the sun sets earlier. We usually have too close the wall around sunset too comply with marina residents wishes and current close is 7.30pm. Yes we are hoping too run a squid comp over there and it will run into later hours than usual close too probably 10pm ish.

Thats it for today, I wonder how many read all or just skipped bits 🙂 and so I will sign off for the day and as usual bid you all ADIEU
F