Back in January we managed to sneak offshore for a day. Myself and several of the regular lads had been keen to head offshore for a couple of months and with the new boat to play with it made me all the more keen. I had been keeping an eye on the weather each time the tides came around and eventually the weather and tides looked good so I rounded a few lads up. We headed off and the weather wasn’t as good as forecast. There was a keen westerly breeze going s/w later in the day with a northerly swell rolling through underneath as we got further off. This wasn’t ideal to be honest but it was perfectly comfortable on the catamaran. We got off there in comfort and at speed so soon enough the lads were making their first cast. There was room for me to fish as well which was great, on my first cast I tamed a giant dogfish much to the envy of the other lads on board. I heard a shout from the other side of the boat where shane had a better fish on. We thought it was a roker at first but as it neared the surface we saw it was a spurdog so I grabbed the net and got her aboard. While he played this one his other rod had been going. We thought it was tangled around the fish but when the fish came up clear of any lines we new he had a fish on the other line. Sure enough he had another spur on. So on the first cast of the day he had a nice brace of spurdog. The first one went 13.8lb and the second 15.4lbs. he wasn’t keen on have a picture with both together but I got a picture of him with one. After this great start we settled down and picked out the odd spurdog or smooth-hound through out the rest of the day. Stephen Charles shamelessly stole a spurdog on one of my rods. It was only small so I didn’t mind, the next cast I had another decent bite. This time I bought it in myself. As it was clearly bigger Stephen grabbed the net and threatened to knock it off for me. Spurdogs are funny fish, one can fight really well and the next can go like a roker. This one went well all the way to the top. It surfaced and danced around on the top for a bit before getting away. The trace had parted 5mm bellow the knot! The trace line must have been nicked or cut on something. (or sabotaged by Stephen) It wasn’t my biggest spur but somewhere in the mid doubles and would have been nice to land. As the tide eased the dogfish came on the feed in large numbers. We still had one or two other fish mixed in like a stray pouting, whiting and a couple of roker too. By the end of the day we had 5 spurs and 6 hounds with lots of other bits and bobs mixed in. the wind had freshened and I was a bit apprehensive about the punching back home into the sea which had white tops on by now. I was very pleased with how the boat handled it and gave us a comfortable ride home. Some people I have spoken to since have been surprised we had spurs in January let alone hounds. To be honest I have seen a few hounds off here through out the winter and regularly expect decent spurs in January even when its cold, let alone when its as mild as this January.
We managed another run off on the next set of tides. The group was made up of many of the same lads with just a couple of different faces. Once again Shane pulled out a good few spurs and hounds along with some dogfish and his favourite fish the roker. The fishing took a while to get going today but it built nicely as the day went on. As the tide died we had a move, I don’t like to move away from fish but I was keen to try a mark we had tried on our last trip to help build my confidence in it. As the next tide got away we had a few more spurs and hounds mixed in with the dogfish before heading home. I am pleased to say nick had his first spurdog after joining us on both trips. We had 11 spurs and 10 hounds that day. Most of the fish we had were smaller than the stamp we have come to expect around here. However to be honest I am always relieved when the first spudog comes aboard on any trip off here as there still aren’t many boats that can boast catching them as regularly as us around here. Just to prove how elusive the spurs can be we managed to get off here a couple more times in march and only had dogfish, roker and hounds for our efforts. That’s not to say the fish weren’t there just we couldn’t find them. The only point this does make is please don’t write off January and February, if the weather and tides are good then make the most of every opportunity. I for one am glad we did this year as we can’t get out right now and don’t know when we will be able to get out next. So if you fancy an offshore trip with a chance of spurdogs and hounds next year then get in touch as far in advance as possible and book suitable tides anytime between January and April. Its nice to get off and catch some different species early in the year. Right now I would be happy to get out and catch whiting!
For more information, regular updates and availability please visit www.essexseafishing.co.uk or call 07956411528
I have held back a few reports from before the lockdown to keep myself and you reminded of what we are missing. Hopefully reading them over the coming weeks will help you escape the boredom and pass some time as I hope it does for me.

Regarding any trips in the coming weeks and months. At the moment we are unable to take trips and even myself and stacey are abiding by the rules and only leaving the house for essential goods. Over the coming weeks and months we will take it week by week depending on what rules are tightened or relaxed. If you’re booked in for a trip please bear with me and I will evaluate it nearer the time. If you wish to book for a future trip please feel free to do so. We promise not to spent your deposits on bulk buying loo roll and instead keep them separate in case they need to be returned to you.
If you fancy a trip and wish to know my availability please call 07956411528 and I will update you with our current plans or visit my website and have a look at the availability page at http://www.essexseafishing.co.uk/availability/