Mull of gallaway
- Thread starter clarky
- Start date
yak
yak
Going to be there from the 22nd with my yak, hope to see you.
yak
Going to New England bay from the 16th aug, taking kayak this time two weeks of bliss
Going to be there from the 22nd with my yak, hope to see you.
mallconpak
Well-known member
Yes would be good
Davyred
Well-known member
Just come back from the Mull after 4 days there, which I do every year. Just thought I'd add my thoughts on the matter, and my mate who's lived in Sandhead all his life and knows the place like the back of his hand.
The problem with the mull is any decent wind with west in it, prevents you fishing all the Pollack marks on the West coast, and there are countless that still produce excellent fishing. When this happens (and its just happened to me for 4 days), you're not spoilt for choice anymore. If you want Pollack, you have to go down the end of the mull. Trouble is, everyone has the same idea, and as its a relatively small area, its gets packed...and overfished.
Another option is Bass. My mate has told me its been poor this year, and it was terrible when I was there (1 lost fish in over 12 rod hours). This was before all the rain that the remnants of the hurricane dumped over there last sunday. As a result, all fresh water streams running into the bay were in spate. The water where I fished was nowhere clear as it usually is. There were also Smoothies being caught around a couple of the bays. I fished one night tide for them , but all I got was dogs.
I'm also told that the illegal razorfish collection isn't helping things either, as it may just stun the razorfish, but it kills all the fish fry etc in the area.
One more thing about the marks on the West Coast. The seal population is a real problem over that side now.
I don't think the Mull is anywhere near fished out, but be prepared to have other plans in place as your options are severely limited if you can't get to the west side.
I'll still be back next year though
The problem with the mull is any decent wind with west in it, prevents you fishing all the Pollack marks on the West coast, and there are countless that still produce excellent fishing. When this happens (and its just happened to me for 4 days), you're not spoilt for choice anymore. If you want Pollack, you have to go down the end of the mull. Trouble is, everyone has the same idea, and as its a relatively small area, its gets packed...and overfished.
Another option is Bass. My mate has told me its been poor this year, and it was terrible when I was there (1 lost fish in over 12 rod hours). This was before all the rain that the remnants of the hurricane dumped over there last sunday. As a result, all fresh water streams running into the bay were in spate. The water where I fished was nowhere clear as it usually is. There were also Smoothies being caught around a couple of the bays. I fished one night tide for them , but all I got was dogs.
I'm also told that the illegal razorfish collection isn't helping things either, as it may just stun the razorfish, but it kills all the fish fry etc in the area.
One more thing about the marks on the West Coast. The seal population is a real problem over that side now.
I don't think the Mull is anywhere near fished out, but be prepared to have other plans in place as your options are severely limited if you can't get to the west side.
I'll still be back next year though
mallconpak
Well-known member
Quite happy to potter around very close inshore for pollack etc in the yak, only taking very light gear anyway
Stores
Well-known member
Just come back from the Mull after 4 days there, which I do every year. Just thought I'd add my thoughts on the matter, and my mate who's lived in Sandhead all his life and knows the place like the back of his hand.
The problem with the mull is any decent wind with west in it, prevents you fishing all the Pollack marks on the West coast, and there are countless that still produce excellent fishing. When this happens (and its just happened to me for 4 days), you're not spoilt for choice anymore. If you want Pollack, you have to go down the end of the mull. Trouble is, everyone has the same idea, and as its a relatively small area, its gets packed...and overfished.
Another option is Bass. My mate has told me its been poor this year, and it was terrible when I was there (1 lost fish in over 12 rod hours). This was before all the rain that the remnants of the hurricane dumped over there last sunday. As a result, all fresh water streams running into the bay were in spate. The water where I fished was nowhere clear as it usually is. There were also Smoothies being caught around a couple of the bays. I fished one night tide for them , but all I got was dogs.
I'm also told that the illegal razorfish collection isn't helping things either, as it may just stun the razorfish, but it kills all the fish fry etc in the area.
One more thing about the marks on the West Coast. The seal population is a real problem over that side now.
I don't think the Mull is anywhere near fished out, but be prepared to have other plans in place as your options are severely limited if you can't get to the west side.
I'll still be back next year though
Can't argue with any of that Davy and it's the same for anyone in the NE who plans a fishing holiday in advance - you're at the mercy of the weather and the terrain. Most of us who go away go to more challenging terrain and more fickle conditions so the chances of being disappointed increase. There's two reasons why me and Rod don't go to Coldingham any more and it's not because we've fallen out of love with the place. Firstly we're both getting older and no matter how much of a mountain goat you are, age, like the sea, takes no prisoners and secondly, if the weather's bad, around Eyemouth and St Abbs, catch rates can quickly go to zero with few alternatives (at least at the Mull you've got two coastlines). Given that a week away costs around £600, and with the years remaining decreasing faster than the bank balance we've compromised with Usan.
Would I rather be yomping around St Abbs? - yes!! Would I appreciate a week of cr*p weather and no fishing .........not rocket science. And, just like you, Davy, we'll do it all again next year (fingers crossed).
The marks around the mull head, east/west tarbet are fished out imo, you will still catch but not like a few years ago, the place is a **** hole of a mess aswell. A walk of a couple of miles along the west coast from Crammagg Head however, and you are fishing excellent shots that still produce great catches, providing you can climb
