Dave at kelton Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 It has been my brother and nephews ambition to catch a skate, they had tried without success from the shore so booked a boat out of Oban a couple of weeks ago. I was invited and whilst I don’t do a lot of sea fishing it was a chance to spend time with my family and its fishing! Staying overnight we were picked up at 08.45 and steamed out for about 30 mins where we dropped baits into 350 feet of water. It was slow and apart from a few spurdog on light tackle the skate weren’t playing after three hours. The skipper upped anchor and moved us further out to catch the fresh tide. Now we were in about 450 feet of water. Within half an hour the first rod went to be picked up by one of my nephews. He is a fit boy and tennis coach but it was half an hour before we had a skate on the deck. Measured it was estimated at 78lb and labelled a “baby” by the skipper. This despite being the biggest fish I have seen in my 67 years. Then it got silly with rods going regularly. First my other nephew hooked and lost a skate on light gear after about 30 mins. Next rod was a pal who fishes with my brother and has a YouTube fishing channel. An hour later and a fish of 103lb with another rod hooked in. That was my other nephew fighting a bigger fish. After three quarters of an hour we have 123lbs of skate on the deck. Now it’s my turn. Hooked in I can’t believe the power of the fish and after an hour I still have to shift it off the bottom. I take a few feet of line in and it takes more. Eventually I know it is coming up as I can feel it’s head shaking. My shoulders are aching and my back is killing me. In my thermals and waterproofs I feel like a boil in the bag kipper. My brother is giving me lucozade and I am hoping there is a defibrillator on board. After an hour and forty minutes and utterly spent I have landed the biggest at 128lb but! Whilst playing my fish my brother’s rod has gone and he too is fighting a big skate. It’s time to up anchor and the skipper is just holding the boat on the engine as the last fish comes on board at 198lb. It could have been heavier as it was a pregnant female and all weights are extrapolated from measurements before fish are returned. A days fishing I will never forget! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 Brilliant what a day to remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 Cracking write up. Well done all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 Wow, what a great day, glad they are all returned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 A very good write up of your exploits. You must have ached for days afterwards. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyboy1950 Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 (edited) What a fantastic trip, your going to need a very big bag of chips to go with those! There are a few places in Scotland I believe that Skate go over a 100lbs from some deep water ledges (shore side). Think I saw some Youtube videos a while back. Here is one I have quickly found. (Am certainly not belittling Dave at Kelton magnificent efforts). Respect FB Edited March 24 by Flyboy1950 adding video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 WOW! Just WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 24 Author Report Share Posted March 24 1 hour ago, Flyboy1950 said: What a fantastic trip, your going to need a very big bag of chips to go with those! There are a few places in Scotland I believe that Skate go over a 100lbs from some deep water ledges (shore side). Think I saw some Youtube videos a while back. Here is one I have quickly found. (Am certainly not belittling Dave at Kelton magnificent efforts). Respect FB Thanks and yes there are spots. My brother tried one off Skye without success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 Wow, what an adventure. A day and memories not to be forgotten. There`s me thinking that the skate (thornback rays) that I`ve caught in the past were big at up to 20 lbs! Thanks for posting and sharing. Well done. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 OK, Dave, you've changed my mind - there may just be a Nessie after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 24 Author Report Share Posted March 24 7 hours ago, wymberley said: OK, Dave, you've changed my mind - there may just be a Nessie after all! 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 25 Report Share Posted March 25 A bit bigger than the Essex Rokers!!👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted March 25 Report Share Posted March 25 58 minutes ago, Penelope said: A bit bigger than the Essex Rokers!!👍🏻 Or even the Kent ones. The Pan Sands always used to be a good spot for thornbacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted March 25 Report Share Posted March 25 15 minutes ago, Old Boggy said: Or even the Kent ones. The Pan Sands always used to be a good spot for thornbacks. True, but I believe Roker is an Essex name for Thornbacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted March 25 Report Share Posted March 25 Awesome fish well done I’m sure you will remember this day for many years 😊👍 I caught a couple nearly 45 years ago sadly their habitat was destroyed by gravel dredging and they are no longer there. It’s good to see them again 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 25 Report Share Posted March 25 What a great and memorable day, did the skipper tag them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted March 26 Author Report Share Posted March 26 18 hours ago, Old farrier said: Awesome fish well done I’m sure you will remember this day for many years 😊👍 I caught a couple nearly 45 years ago sadly their habitat was destroyed by gravel dredging and they are no longer there. It’s good to see them again 😊 Trawling of any type in that area is not permitted and apparently the skate are making a massive come back. My nephew caught one of about 1lb on his light gear too. 15 hours ago, islandgun said: What a great and memorable day, did the skipper tag them no not tagged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted March 26 Report Share Posted March 26 brilliant day and write up, almost felt I was there, thanks for posting Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted March 26 Report Share Posted March 26 great haul there nice tale for old age of a cracking day out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted March 26 Report Share Posted March 26 7 hours ago, Dave at kelton said: Trawling of any type in that area is not permitted and apparently the skate are making a massive come back. My nephew caught one of about 1lb on his light gear too. no not tagged It was the seabed gravel and sand extraction that did for them and created massive costal erosion problems the tides from the west are very strong and moved the sand along the coast depositing sand onto the beaches it wasn’t many years before the sand disappeared down to bedrock now the sandy beaches are very rocky and with no protection the cliff erosion is massive im glad to see the big skate are afforded some protection 😊👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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