Conger fishing

[Tonygdodds]

Has anyone got any stories to tell of conger fishing in the English Channel?
I'm thinking of planning a trip possibly the end of month or early 2015
I've fished from devon & cornwall years ago(20+) but no doubt things will have changed since then

I've heard a lot of suggestions from people to fish from Brighton area
& more or less all sorted with gear 80lb mono but gonna switch to braid on my tld25
Got 150lb trace wire big hooks swivels etc

 

[alcaucin]

I think you would be better looking on wsf as I think they will be more into that species. Although there maybe those who have fished for them down south. I fished for them on the IOM at Douglas. So long as you have a heavy enough trace to stop them grinding through it , you should be ok. I used a running lead with a macky flapper. Great scrappers, I believe that they can swim backwards so fight all the way up. I think they fish for them from the shore at the Isle of Whithorn in SW Scotland. Probably too cold along this coast for them but I wouldn't mind betting that there will be a few lurking among our deeper wrecks but who fishes for them?

 

[Tonygdodds]

Had a few from breakers yard cairnryan
They banned fishing from the pier so we had to anchor up on a boat as close to or attached to the pier most of them around the 30lb mark but still a good battle,
We also done well around porthleven in cornwall but always thought of trying for a big one

 

[Jamesgoesfishing]

I do most of my fishing around brighton and surrounding ports, with the odd trip up North when I visit the grandparents. Congering has sort of fallen out of fashion a bit, as there are many eels in the up to around 40lb and then the size seems to drop off. that said the 100lbers are still pulled. But I think the issue is people send half an hour to pull something in whihc then goes back - perhaps thats whilst people arent keen.

This is a good time of the year for them. Main baits are cuttlefishing, macky and pouting. Most fishing is done with braid down here, but for conger some are still using mono, they reckon the stretch is better once you get a hook up. The skipper anchores uptide of a wreck and then you bang the running ledger down 1-2lb+ of lead and go from there. This also brings up cod and ling and occasionally pollock. Its not cheap! some skippers will only take 7 or 8 and charge 65-80 for the day. In terms of boats here are a couple to try:
- Grey Viking II out of Brighton - has a good section on conger
- Ocean Warrior 3 from Newhaven - hold port record at 103lb
Both are nice boats and take individuals on conger, ling and cod days.
Also worth a call is great escape from brighton. Fabulous boat and its massive, very well suited to anchor fishing.

I think you should look at WSF for further advice. I have heard plymouth is good and weymouth.

 

[spongebob]

I was told there is a MASSIVE one along a local pier lad who told me was told by a diver

 

[davydunn]

Conger

Conger

Contact british conger eel club Plymouth I fished the championships held every summer way back 1990 excellent experience.they will give you all the imformation you need