With rain predicted all day long, maybe today wasn’t the best day to take the kids out? For my youngest son, Max (aged 9) this was his first UK boat trip. Having enjoyed several productive trips abroad, he was looking forward to this one and wasn’t going to be put off. Joined by his friends Miles (13) and his brother Robert (10), we cast off in the rain, but with smiling little faces all around.

Catching mackerel for bait was proving difficult, so after 45 minutes, and with only a handful aboard, we decided enough fishing time was wasted and we set off to the marks. The intention was to drift for the Pollack using plastics, whilst one or two worked the feathers in the hope of a few more mackerel.

The first drift, over some rough ground, was a long and productive one. Choosing to fish either “firetail jellyworms” or 4” sidewinders, young Robert was first in to the fish, with a Pollack around 2lb. This was quickly followed by Miles, with another Pollack and then by Max, with his first Pollack, all around the 2lb mark. The youngsters were showing us the way!

”Max putting on the pressure”

A few more Pollack fell to the adults rods, all around the 2-4lb mark, when Miles landed a nice codling around 4.5lb. Interchanging baits between frozen sandeels, squid and mackerel strips and the plastics, the next 3 drifts saw another 9 codling aboard, around 20 more Pollack, a small ling and a red gurnard. The species were mounting up.

”Miles gets the biggest cod”

At 1pm, and with now enough mackerel for bait, we decided to anchor up and fish for the black bream and bull huss. Not the best of choices, we realised, when after an hour had past there was only one bream aboard. Caught by Colin Luxton, and at 3lb a nice fish nonetheless, but that was it. Not even a doggie!

Moving to another mark, we decided to give it another hour at anchor. To keep the kids interested, we set them up with 4” sidewinders, whilst the adults fished the static baits in the hope of some decent ling or huss. Both of which proved to be elusive whilst the youngsters reeled in Pollack after Pollack!

With an hour of fishing time left, we decided to up anchor and go back on the drift over a small wreck. Success was instant. Using baited feathers, Max was first in. And this time, it was a big one? With the encouragement and interest of all on board, he struggled and fought to haul the fish up from his home. When we could finally see colour, we realised why; a double hook up. It was two nice Pollack, around 3lb each, which were responsible for giving him the hard time. Skilfully netted by the skipper, Max was over the moon with his triumph; and the rest of the boat could get back to the fishing.

The Pollack, all between 3-5lb, continued to come aboard steadily, falling to 4” firetail sidewinders or baited feathers; and at 4 o’clock, it was time to head home. The weather hadn’t been kind, having rained all day and the sea state a bit choppy. But with around 50-60 Pollack, 10 codling, 1 bream, 1 ling and a few “odds and sods”, no one was complaining. And, more importantly, the kids had really enjoyed the day out.

”Max brings home the dinner”

Skippered by Ken Cave, “Penganina” is the only commercial boat to go out of Boscastle. You can always be sure he will work hard for your fish and, given the right conditions, you could get up to 20 different species.