Dover Southern Breakwater
Catches over the Christmas period were consistent with loads of Dogfish, Pouting and Whiting on the days when the gales eased up. Cod catches were patchy and varied from day to day but when they did appear they were usually in double figures. The best to be landed was a fine specimen of 20lb 4oz and there were many others around the 12lb mark landed (usually by the person fishing next to me!!!). The appearance of massive shoals of Sprats have meant the Cod have now moved offshore, although there continues to be plenty of other fish around to 'pull your string'.
The Admiralty Pier - Tel: +44(0)1304 225138.
The Admiralty Pier was not to be out done by the Breakwater and on the days when The Wall fished well, invariable the Admiralty fished better. The day the 20 pounder was caught on the Breakwater, a bigger specimen of 24lb was landed on this Pier, along with two others of 15lb on the same tide!! As with the Breakwater, catches were consistent with plenty of Dogfish, Pouting and Whiting and again the Cod catches varied from day to day. The best days were usually the day before I fished, typical!! Again, it seemed to be the person fishing next to me who caught the Cod and regular Ray Coyne was no exception when he pulled out a fine one of 15lb one evening from under my nose. Well done Ray.
When the Gales returned, fishing became very difficult, as the photos will testify.
STOP PRESS - Regular visitor Winston Vaz is the latest to hit the big ones, pulling one out of 21lb 11oz at 4am last Saturday night.
The Prince of Wales Pier
The P.O.W. did not miss out either, with plenty of fish coming up to those who were not pre-occupied with trying to catch a Cod (i.e. yours truly!). Even in a gale force Easterly, plenty of Pouting and Whiting were more than willing to keep you warm.
Boat Reports
With the Shoals of Sprats about, taking the Cod offshore, it is the Charter Boats who are now cashing in with bumper catches of double figure fish. Bobby Duffield latched into a number of 12 and 13 pounders last week, along with the obligatory Dogfish, Pouting and Whiting, which seem to get everywhere! Bobby was fishing no more than half a mile out from Samphire Hoe.