Malc

No problem, I'll put some pictures together and get back to you in 1/2 hr

Any chance you can write a how to guide on smoking? Most mackeral end up as bait but as a kid I used to love them smoked…. Be keen to try it at home with a DIY smoker or maybe a low cost one (suggestions welcome 😉 ) 
Looks rather tasty! I love to bake my own bread so this would be perfect with that 🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍

Do it. Serve him right when it lands on his doormat.
#carefulwhatyouwishfor

mouth watering

Yes please! That looks ace 👍

Checked out a new launch site and went out into a haar but visibility was 300m and better at times. I hadn't used the yak for 9 months or so and it was nice to get out, I plotted in way points so I can get back safely as it is a rock fest if you aren't careful. 
Eventually spotted arches after 3/4 hrs of drifting and searching and sent down a 20gm wedge with 3 sabikis on a 10-40gm rod and 4000 shimano. Bang and away we go!
Lots of fish but concentrated in a small area around 50m² or so, mackerel were in ones and twos and coalfish in threes and fours. The coalies were 1lb+ and hauled me about the place which was fun. Took 8 mackerel for the table and put the coalies back, they outnumbered the mackerel 3-1

Easy to do with either bought smoked mackerel or if you want something special DIY.
I have a Camerons smoker but you can make your own from 2x roasting tins and a cake cooling rack. 

I fillet, skin and remove the small bones that run along the middle towards the lateral line as I smoke a lot for friends and some are fussy about bones. Salt the fish for 15-45 minutes then rinse and pat dry. Smoke them for 15 minutes on a low heat and then switch off and leave for 30-45 minutes, then put the fish on a plate and cool. I use cherry wood as I process my own firewood and use 50/50 chips and sawdust that is moistened so it smolders better. 
Weight the fish and use the same amount of soft full fat cheese and blend in a processor or mash with a fork until you get the consistency you want, the one below is smooth for a friend. Stir in lemon juice to taste, pepper and capers if you like. Sprinkle with paprika and enjoy!



Apologies to those who prefer to see mugshots in the photos but the mackerel were shy.

Checked out a new launch site and went out into a haar but visibility was 300m and better at times. I hadn't used the yak for 9 months or so and it was nice to get out, I plotted in way points so I can get back safely as it is a rock fest if you aren't careful. 
Eventually spotted arches after 3/4 hrs of drifting and searching and sent down a 20gm wedge with 3 sabikis on a 10-40gm rod and 4000 shimano. Bang and away we go!
Lots of fish but concentrated in a small area around 50m² or so, mackerel were in ones and twos and coalfish in threes and fours. The coalies were 1lb+ and hauled me about the place which was fun. Took 8 mackerel for the table and put the coalies back, they outnumbered the mackerel 3-1

Checked out a new launch site and went out into a haar but visibility was 300m and better at times. I hadn't used the yak for 9 months or so and it was nice to get out, I plotted in way points so I can get back safely as it is a rock fest if you aren't careful. 
Eventually spotted arches after 3/4 hrs of drifting and searching and sent down a 20gm wedge with 3 sabikis on a 10-40gm rod and 4000 shimano. Bang and away we go!
Lots of fish but concentrated in a small area around 50m² or so, mackerel were in ones and twos and coalfish in threes and fours. The coalies were 1lb+ and hauled me about the place which was fun. Took 8 mackerel for the table and put the coalies back, they outnumbered the mackerel 3-1

Ah, fair enough. Forgot you were using multiple hooks/lures on your rig.

Coalies got more stamina than pollack, they never give up 😂

They're coming, smoked mackerel pate with capers 😋

Checked out a new launch site and went out into a haar but visibility was 300m and better at times. I hadn't used the yak for 9 months or so and it was nice to get out, I plotted in way points so I can get back safely as it is a rock fest if you aren't careful. 
Eventually spotted arches after 3/4 hrs of drifting and searching and sent down a 20gm wedge with 3 sabikis on a 10-40gm rod and 4000 shimano. Bang and away we go!
Lots of fish but concentrated in a small area around 50m² or so, mackerel were in ones and twos and coalfish in threes and fours. The coalies were 1lb+ and hauled me about the place which was fun. Took 8 mackerel for the table and put the coalies back, they outnumbered the mackerel 3-1

They're coming, smoked mackerel pate with capers 😋

Checked out a new launch site and went out into a haar but visibility was 300m and better at times. I hadn't used the yak for 9 months or so and it was nice to get out, I plotted in way points so I can get back safely as it is a rock fest if you aren't careful. 
Eventually spotted arches after 3/4 hrs of drifting and searching and sent down a 20gm wedge with 3 sabikis on a 10-40gm rod and 4000 shimano. Bang and away we go!
Lots of fish but concentrated in a small area around 50m² or so, mackerel were in ones and twos and coalfish in threes and fours. The coalies were 1lb+ and hauled me about the place which was fun. Took 8 mackerel for the table and put the coalies back, they outnumbered the mackerel 3-1

It is great to have Kyle back as crew, now that he has finished his A levels, so we launched at 07:30 into a flat sea, with an intention of getting back to the slip at 15:30.
The forecast for the skerries area was fog / mist until 09:00 and then a cloudy but warm day, but the weather guessers got that very wrong.  Once we rounded Berry Head, the mist was thick and getting worse, so I dropped the speed to 24knts, however the visibility was 1/2 mile so no real issues. On went the Nav lights and I also double checked that the AIS was fully functional.
We arrived at the Skerries at about 08:15 and the visibility was just a few hundred yards, but the sea was mirror calm, and no wind.
A few drifts across the banks produced numerous small Plaice and only one keeper (we don't keep anything under 35cm), 4 plump Mackerel, one monster Launce (snake), and numerous Red and Grey Gurnard, so plenty to keep us busy.
At the end of slack water (12:15 ish), we motored over to the outer edge of the banks and I dropped the pick. Bite were slow, with kyle getting a doggie and 2 decent  blonds (8lb & 10 1/2lb). I was trying out some other ideas and only managed a 3lb spider !
At 14:30 we pulled the pick, the visibility was getting worse at maybe 200 yards, so a gentle trip off the banks at 20kts, but we picked up speed once we reached the Mudstone Ledge.
Back on the slip at 15:30, a total trip of 48nm, and a very pleasant day.
Just one pic that says it all

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

wow what a day, I met Tim and his son at Tims boat at 7.30 - with the plan to be a morning on the Shambles drifting the last of the flood for Turbot until the tide got too much and the afternoon under the bill drifting for bass and wrasse. 
We picked up 10 decent mackerel first thing and headed out to the shambles West bouy (as the tide as flooding W-E).
Rigged up with booms, watch leads, and mackerel fillets on long traces - size 4 hooks so the small flatties have a chance too!
Fist drift was a tad fast, but Tim hooked into a very nice 4lb Bass. great fish!

2nd drift it was my turn to get a bite - a good scrap, plenty of head shakes and taking line and I Bag a worldie of a fish - a monster Bass - it was huge - biggest i've ever seen let alone caught - it went to 10lb on the scales - put my previous 2lber in the shade! 

not long after dropping down again i got another hit - and this was another big fish - a decent fight, stripping line, and heading up tide, soon at the boat we could see it was a big tope - it didn't like the boat or the net so went for a 3rd run - soon enough we had it in the boat for a quick pic and then away. 

just as we had motored back to the west bouy the tide turned so we had to reposition - this drift produced a lovely Brill and a weaver for Tim. 
  
the ebbing tide picked up real quickly producing some nasty overfalls so we decided to drift off the back of the bank into deeper water and switch to soft plastics for the bass - we all managed a couple of smaller bass on lures - all around the 2lb mark. 
as we drifted away we realised we were heading into the race, and the sea picked up real ugly so we quickly aborted plans and motored slowly back through the horrible sea off the bill - swell coming from the SW, tide racing west - It was not pleasant for about 30 mins motoring. expert skippering from Tim on the wheel and throttle saw us back in the bay to anchor on the mud. 
here we caught doggies, smoothies and bream for the afternoon. 
I took my bass to the angling club to have it weighed as i believe it to be specimen size, meaning I might win monthly or even annual biggest Bass award. Sadly it lost weight over the day in the coolbox (I had bled it) and it came in at 4.072kg which is a fraction under 9lb - still a monster fish!
Tim gave me his Brill to take home and then i had the dilemma - was i going to have bass or brill for tea? 
since i've never had Brill before i went for that and the bass got filleted up, Vacuum packed and put in the freezer. 10 decent sized fillets off it! there were 2 more brill fillets for the freezer too
Brill fillets baked in butter and seasoned - delicious.

 
it dwarfed my chopping board and sink!

 
An epic day and a new PB - going to take me some time to beat that now!

i caught a lovely one off the back of the boat sat on the pontoon - they wouldn't take the bread submerged under a float or freelined - but when i kept the line and hook almost out of the water and the bread just on the surface they took it. 
seemed they were cautious when they had time to think - but when it was on the surface they smash and grab. 
frustrating, but also very exhilarating when you get one!

Mullet are easy once you've got them cracked.
Feeding habits change from location to location. When you can see the fish up in the water like this on top, throw in half a slice of bread and sit on your hands and watch. Rip into finger tip sized flakes but don't squash the bread and knock the air out..as it will obviously sink.
Key is to gradually build up the offerings and only when they confidently numing the bread should you sling in a line... and then beyond the feeding fish and bring your line in slowly to the area where the fish are feeding.
Hooks? Mustard B983's, size 8 or 6. I use a carp self cocking float .. hook length is tricky as fluoro will sink so just a good quality line, about 5 ft should do it.. bread flake should be pinched around the eye of the hook.
Mullet will also feed differently upon location, creeks can be tough if they are sifting silt for micro organisms.. no different from chucking surface lures for Bass if the bass are noses down looking for crabs.. match the hatch to a degree..
Harbours, sea walls at depth is easier again but less fun.. shop bought ground bait, mix in some bread.. shitty mackerel if you have it and ball it in to start then gradually feed.. as for set up? Waggler style with a reasonable drop or as some of the less finesse guys approach is to drop down a two hook patt small hooks and mould bread to hook, obviously exposing the hook point. Another tip, mould bread or ground bait around the sinker.. also worth fishing mackerel strip!
Time of the day plays a part, off the top.. early mornings late afternoons into evenings..
Fishing deeper, you'll catch any time of day or at night.. 
When we used to get round to Hurst Bassin on bait gear, we used to regularly catch Bream and Mullet on 8/0's, mackerel head and gut baits. Goes to show that Mullet are not all that difficult.  

@Saintly Fish and I went mulleting with @Scotch_Egg2012 from shore a couple of seasons ago. Bloody frustrating they were.
Would love to properly target them but I'm not sure I have the patience.

I've caught a few now since the trip @Andy135 has mentioned. 50/50 bread mushed up and moulded into golf ball size baits. Lobbed in and then float a load of bread pieces too, one of them has your small hook embedded! 

I'm going to take a travel rod and get totally frustrated. 

Does anyone target mullet from boat or shore at all?

Annual trip was written off due to weather conditions but my friends kindly twisted my arm into going over the weekend on the proviso that they got me to the airport or home before my flight to Spain. 
First day was choppy at times and finished flat, but we managed to get some mackerel, scad and launce to bolster our few frozen baits and ended up with a topelet, a similar size smooth, a mid sized huss and a mid sized TBR.
Day two and we headed off for tide and depth. First off was a huss of around 90cm but as the tide strengthened we headed to another spot just to the side of a drop off, the anchor kept pulling out and then stopping us, so a slow drift really. 
On one of the stops my friend had a knock and a slow run so we thought Huss, but on striking it went bananas! It was great to see a good bend in the rod and eventually the fish obliged and headed to the boat and then towards the warp!!!! It was expertly handled back towards us and netted and tailed in one swift move. 

151cm iirc.
Short while later I had a couple of sharp pulls and then a run, I gave it a count of 3 and tightened and she was off! I thought I would lose her as the tide was raging and she was using it to good effect, however I managed to get some line back before a couple of short runs, and started to pump her back in towards the boat but she wasn't heading up just keeping deep until under the boat and then she headed up...
Then well before we saw the leader she saw the boat and I just held on as she shot off downtide, when she slowed I turned her and started again. She surfaced 15m downtide and managed to turn and run a few yards and then wrap herself on the leader! However after really testing the tackle she came alongside and unwound and was lifted in by my friends!

mid 150's in French inches. 
I was cream crackered on the plane after 2 eight hour days in choppy conditions and just 2 hours kip but I have recovered sufficiently and am off to the pool to wallow and slumber! 
HAPPY DAYS!

Club comp tomorrow from Burnham On Sea

Havnt posted in a while so a quick recap.
Great few days out of Milford Haven, weather was kind and the range had a few days off so could venture to new areas.
The bass fishing was phenomenal with birds hitting the water all over the place and bass busting out!
The pollack was also great when you could find them, along with huss to 14lb tope estimated around 40lb, gurnards dabs weavers and dogs.
Also some nice lobsters and spider crabs In my pot 🙂