Our week at Camp A in the Lofoten islands northern Norway has come to an end, I had the pleasure of guiding 12 lads from all over the UK for Sportquest Holidays.

This trip was arranged over two years ago to ensure we got the biggest tides possible at the end of the season to target monster Coalfish and Halibut that Camp A is famous for.

During the week we managed to fish three full days and two afternoons due to the weather conditions, this is pretty good going for this time of year in Norway.

The ebb tide each day out fished the flood tide massively, as soon as the ebb tide kicked the fishing went mental for Coalfish and Cod.

The Coalfish fishing was truly amazing with everyone catching there biggest Coalfish ranging from 27lb to 33lb!!

When the tide was doing 3.5 to 5 knots we caught the biggest Coalfish using 300g to 460g lures and retrieving them as fast as possible.

When the tide eased the Coalfish where smaller around 15lb to 25lb, one of the boats got really lucky and came across a shoal of Coalfish feeding on the surface and they managed to catch them to 20lb on surface lures.

The Halibut fishing was not as good as we hoped, we only managed 15 to 88lb taken on lures and dead baits.

The Cod fishing was good for this time of year plenty around 15lb to 20lb a few over 30lb and the biggest going 44lb.

The Plaice fishing was good lots of 1.5lb to 2lb fish and a few over 3lb, there was also a few monster Dabs to 2lb.

Biggest Cod of 44lb and Halibut of 88lb where caught by Rob Lynn from Crew, it was Robs first time in Norway and definitely won’t be his last.

George Shannon from Preston caught the biggest Coalfish of 33lb, this was George’s second time in Norway and he is already looking to book again in the future.

Brian Harrison from Preston caught a 20lb Angler fish while fishing for Halibut, the lucky bugger!!

Top boat this week was skippered by my good self, biggest Halibut, Cod, Coalfish and Plaice, after over 13 years of fishing in Norway it looks like the penny has finally dropped ha ha.

Camp A is well equipped, there is a restaurant/bar on site meals are £20 to £35 and alcoholic drinks are £9 upwards, there is also a supermarket just a few miles away.

There is a self drive mini bus available for everyone staying at the camp to use free of charge.

The Lofoten Islands are amazing and beautiful especially at the end of the summer, if you are lucky enough to come to this part of Norway then it’s definitely worth going for a drive, you won’t be disappointed.

My next two guiding trips with Sportquest are to Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean to target Dogtooth Tuna, GTs, Marlin, Sailfish, Grouper, Wahoo, Yellow Fin Tuna and Dorado.

If you would like to book a fishing holiday to Norway or anywhere in the world give Sportquest a call on 01603 407596 and they will be more than happy to help.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie

#sportquestholidays
#mckiesfishingcharters
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In just over a months time we will be starting our winter season in our home city of Liverpool on the mighty Mersey.

From the end of October to mid November we mostly try to target the off shore wrecks up to 60 miles out, the weather plays a massive factor for these trips.

If we get lucky enough to get out Wrecking you can catch Pollack, Cod and Ling most are 3lb to 6lb with the odd double figure fish every now and again.

If the weather is not so good we can fish the mighty Mersey as a back up, targeting Thornback Rays up to 60+ in a day, Cod in to double figures, but most are 3lb to 5lb, Whiting, Dabs and odd Conger.

From mid November to the end of February we fish the sheltered waters of the mighty Mersey, targeting Cod in to double figures but most are 3lb to 5lb, Whiting and Dabs.

Every season is different and the biggest issue when fishing a tidal estuary is too much fresh water can be a bad thing for sea fish.

We have over 2300 packs of top quality frozen black lug and 96 x 1lb frozen boxes of calamari squid in storage, this is only available to anglers fishing onboard Size Matters.

We also have a full range of top quality Shimano fishing tackle available to use free of charge.

If you would like to join us, here is a full list of available dates from Liverpool this coming winter season.

NOVEMBER

Tuesday 5th Wrecking 5am sailing
£80 pp 5 places available.

DECEMBER

Thursday 5th Mersey 6am sailing
£45 pp 6 places available.

Friday 6th Mersey 7am sailing
£45 pp 2 places available.

Wednesday 11th Mersey 10am sailing
£45 pp 11 places available.

Wednesday 18th Mersey 4.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 19th Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 9 places available.

JANUARY

Thursday 2nd Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Friday 3rd Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Sunday 5th Mersey 7am sailing
£45 pp 6 places available.

Tuesday 7th Mersey 9am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 9th Mersey 10am sailing
£45 pp 11 places available.

Friday 10th Mersey 11am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 16th Mersey 4.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Sunday 19th Mersey 6am sailing
£45 pp 6 places available.

Monday 20th Mersey 7am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Tuesday 21st Mersey 8am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Wednesday 22nd Mersey 9am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 23rd Mersey 10.30am sailing
£45 pp 9 places available.

Friday 24th Mersey 11am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Monday 27th Mersey 12.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Wednesday 29th Mersey 3.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 30th Mersey 4am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Friday 31st Mersey 4.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

FEBRUARY

Sunday 2nd Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Monday 3rd Mersey 5.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Tuesday 4th Mersey 6.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Wednesday 5th Mersey 8am sailing
£45 pp 11 places available.

Thursday 6th Mersey 9am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Friday 7th Mersey 9.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Saturday 8th Mersey 10.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Saturday 15th Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Sunday 16th Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 8 places available.

Monday 17th Mersey 5.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Tuesday 18th Mersey 7am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Wednesday 19th Mersey 8am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 20th Mersey 9am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Friday 21st Mersey 10am sailing
£45 pp 11 places available.

Thanks

Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Liverpool).
07999628511.
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com

#Shimano
#Liverpool
#Mckiesfishingcharters ... See more

During the last week the fishing has been very up and down.

At anchor we have been catching Conger to 45lb and Ling to 21lb, our best day we caught 50 Conger to 45lb in just 4 hours.

But when we have had east winds the fishing has been very poor, this is very strange because we have had some of our best days on an east wind in previous years.

We did give the off shore wrecks ago on the drift with lures and bait.

Sadly there is no change and they are fishing very poor, on one of the days and we done a 15 hour charter traveling over 140 mile round trip for just 25 Pollack to 10lb and a Ling of 17lb.

Hopefully some fish will turn up on the off shore wrecks before we finish our season in October.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511.

#Plymouth
#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters ... See more

After taking time off for a fantastic family holiday, we are now back in on the action.

Over the last four days we have been fishing at anchor for Conger and Ling.

We have boated 202 Conger to 54lb
(all returned) and 23 Ling to a massive
39lb 8oz and a new boat record for
Size Matters!!!

On our best day the lads boated 72 Conger with four over 50lb with the biggest at 54lb and 8 Ling to a massive 39lb 8oz!!!

The massive Ling of 39lb 8oz was caught by Jason Morgan from Tintern, we took a few photos of the Ling so you can see just how big it was, well done Jason.

Tony McQuillan caught two Conger on the same trip over 50lb with the best tipping the scales to 54lb, this was his personal best Conger and it was his birthday, well done Tony.

Sadly the wreck fishing on the drift with lures and bait is extremely poor, just the odd small Pollack and Ling showing.

Over the next few weeks we will try to get the anchor down as much as possible to give our anglers there best possible chance of a good days fishing.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511.

#Plymouth
#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters ... See more

As the old saying goes, when the wind is in the west the fish bite the best, when the wind is in the east the fish bite the least.

That sums up the fishing from Plymouth during the last week, there is never two days the same in the fishing game.

Sharking is definitely not a patch on previous years, ebb tide has been much more productive than the flood tide for the sharks and we have only had blues to 60lb and Porbeagles to 20lb this week.

Fishing at anchor for Conger to 55lb and Ling to 24lb has been good when the conditions are right, but every wreck we have fished this week has had lost wreck nets on and we have been having to pull the fish through the nets, this is a nightmare when trying to land big Conger.

We have had a few individual places become available in September.

1 place available on Wednesday 11th
Conger/Wrecking £80 12 hour trip.

1 place available on Thursday 12th
Conger/Wrecking £80 12 hour trip.

1 place available on Monday 16th Wrecking £80 12 hour trip.

1 place available on Monday 17th Wrecking
£80 12 hour trip.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511.

#Plymouth
#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters ... See more

We managed to get out for a few days after nearly a week of bad weather.

We had a group of anglers on from South Wales and Bristol who fish with us each year, the plan was to go for Conger.

The water was like pea soup up to three miles out after all the bad weather and the mackerel where very hard to find, it took four hours to catch 50 pin mackerel, Pouting and Whiting for bait to put the anchor down.

When we got the anchor down the lads where straight into Conger after a few hours the lads started to run out of bait so I fished for Whiting and Pouting on baited feathers.

The lads done well considering the bait shortage, Conger to over 50lb, odd Ling and Cod.

The lads pulled the hook on some nice Conger and lossed a few in the wreck, but that’s Conger fishing.

Then I had a group of regulars on from Peterborough, they booked a four day Guernsey trip, but the with the weather forecast the only option was to fish from Plymouth for two days.

We decided to stick to the reefs and we got quite lucky considering the way the weather has been and we where fishing neap tides.

The lads caught plenty of Pollack to 8lb most where 4lb to 5lb, odd Bass to 5lb, odd Cod to 3lb and the first John Dory of the year.

The weather looks quiet bad now for a few days, let’s hope it settles down quickly so we can get back out and try and make a few dreams come true.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511

#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters
#Plymouth ... See more

We are now just 11 weeks away from starting our winter season in our home city of Liverpool on the mighty Mersey.

From the end of October to mid November we mostly try to target the off shore wrecks up to 60 miles out, the weather plays a massive factor for these trips.

If we get lucky enough to get out Wrecking you can catch Pollack, Cod and Ling most are 3lb to 6lb with the odd double figure fish every now and again.

If the weather is not so good we can fish the mighty Mersey as a back up, targeting Thornback Rays up to 60+ in a day, Cod in to double figures, but most are 3lb to 5lb, Whiting, Dabs and odd Conger.

From mid November to the end of February we fish the sheltered waters of the mighty Mersey, targeting Cod in to double figures but most are 3lb to 5lb, Whiting and Dabs.

Every season is different and the biggest issue when fishing a tidal estuary is too much fresh water can be a bad thing for sea fish.

We have over 2000 packs of top quality frozen black lug and 96 x 1lb frozen boxes of calamari squid in storage, this is only available to anglers fishing onboard Size Matters.

We also have a full range of top quality Shimano fishing tackle available to use free of charge.

If you would like to join us, here is a full list of available dates from Liverpool this coming winter season.

NOVEMBER

Friday 1st 23 hour Wrecking trip
£160 pp 6 places available.

Tuesday 5th Wrecking 5am sailing
£80 pp 10 places available.

Friday 8th Wrecking 8.30am sailing
£80 pp 3 places available.

DECEMBER

Thursday 5th Mersey 6am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Friday 6th Mersey 7am sailing
£45 pp 7 places available.

Monday 9th Mersey 8.30am sailing
£45 pp 11 places available.

Wednesday 11th Mersey 10am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Wednesday 18th Mersey 4.30am sailing
£45 pp 12 places available.

Thursday 19th Mersey 5am sailing
£45 pp 10 places available.

Sunday 22nd Mersey 8am sailing
£45 pp 8 places available.

Monday 23rd Mersey 8.30am sailing
£45 pp 9 places available.

Thanks

Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Liverpool).
07999628511.
mckiesfishingcharters@hotmail.com

#Shimano
#Liverpool
#Mckiesfishingcharters ... See more

From hero to zero in just a week, that’s the life of a charter skipper, we are only as good as our last charter and if last week is anything to go by it’s time to sell the boat ha ha.

After our amazing three day Thresher trip, we had Sefton Sea Anglers with us for a few days, the plan was off shore wrecking.

We thought we knew where there was some quality fish, but after traveling over 200 miles and trying 16 wrecks over the two days we had very little to show for our efforts, just Conger to 30lb, Ling to 15lb and Pollack to 8lb.

Then I had two brothers down from Stoke who book the whole boat each year for sharking.

They managed 11 Blues to 110lb (released in the water) and only boated a few small ones for photos, so it was a welcome boost we needed, well done lads.

Then I had The Ship Fishing Club from the Wirral with me for there annual few days each year.

They wanted to go Wrecking but I advised them it was extremely poor, so we hit the inshore reefs and caught plenty of
Pollock to 7lb, Ling to 16lb, odd Bass to 3lb and odd Cod to 3lb.

At the end of the week I had Heartcliff Sea Anglers onboard for there first sharking trip of the year, conditions where perfect, plenty of bait and chum.

Hopes where very high after our last sharking trip but it was very slow we only managed one small Blue about 35lb.

After speaking to a few other skippers in Plymouth and other ports along the south west coast they where struggling on the sharks too some boats catching up to 5 a day and some none.

What we have noticed is the water is very clear now, all the algae has started to die off and is sinking to the sea bed.

When sharking the deepest rod was getting lots of red slime on the line this is the algae dieing and from passed experience the fish don’t feed to good when this is about.

There is some good news though, the Mackerel have turned up in massive shoals, good size too some over 2lb.

I was even catching them out side the lock gate while waiting for it to open each evening.

I have had family down to visit me and I took them out for an evening mackerel fishing, they all loved it.

If you ever want to get anyone into sea fishing then take them mackerel fishing for the first time.

We caught our first Chub Mackerel this week that’s now 65 species caught on Size Matters so far.

This coming week we had some very serious anglers booked in for our first proper go at some big Conger, the lads where traveling from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

Sadly the weather forecast is terrible so we have had to cancel, the big Conger will have to wait now till the net set of neap tides.

I personally think this bad weather we are going to have this week will do the fishing some good, it will get the sea stirred up and get the fish on the move and feeding again.

We are no fully booked for Plymouth till 2021, massive thanks to everyone who has booked onboard Size Matters, you all know how hard I work and love the job I do.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511

#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters
#Plymouth ... See more

I honestly don’t even know where to start, we are over the moon with the results of our latest adventure.

Phil had booked Size Matters for four days to get a chance to fish a place well off the charts, sadly the weather to do this was not in our favour.

So it was time for Plan B Thresher Sharks and Flip Flops.

On the first day we stayed close to Plymouth and fished a mark only a few miles from shore that had produced a few porgies on previous trips.

Sadly we blanked but did top up our bait supply, we then steamed well over 100 miles through the night to our chosen area to fish for Threshers.

We knew this was going to be a challenge because none of us had ever seen a Thresher before let alone caught one.

Five hours into the first day we got a screaming run Phil was up and once the drag went up the shark went air borne, it was a Thresher around 200lb.

After about a 20 minute fight we had it about 20 meters from the back of the boat, it then turned and spat the hook, we where all gutted.

The rest of the day we where trying to figure out how it spat the circle hook out, normally once a circle hook is in it stays in.

I was changing hooks all the time, keeping them sharp and changing baits regularly.

We never got anymore interest from Threshers just lots of small Tope 10lb to 20lb stealing baits and trying to bite our chum bags at the side of the boat.

When it went dark the lads went to sleep and I carried on fishing though the night trying all sorts of Sword fish lights to see if they would attract the Threshers during the night.

They sure did look good but the Tope loved them especially the green ones.

As soon as daylight started to brake I steamed the boat back to the area where we got the first run the day before.

I had just put all the rods out, John had just woke up and was on deck with me, with in 5 mins one of the rods had a short run I said to John it’s another Tope, as I picked the rod up and started reeling in it took off and jumped 4ft clear of the water it was a Thresher I was screaming at the other lads to wake up.

I had no butt pad on, flip flops on my feet and the fish was heading to the bow of the boat, I jumped up the side of the boat with the rod in my hand then fought it for 30 mins on the bow.

The problem was my mono leader had a nick in it so I needed to be extra careful, eventually we got it in, an incredible shark when you see them up close, this one was just over 100lb, I was well chuffed.

Then a few hours later we missed a good run then about 20 mins later Phil had a run and was back in the game with one that looked around 250lb smashing through the surface for about 25 mins.

The hook hold looked good and was coming to the boat perfect, then the same happened again it turned and spat the hook.

Again we where trying to work out what we done wrong, then we started to do things a little different.

Next up was John and he tested out our new approach to hooking the Threshers and bang it worked after a 40 min fight he landed a cracking fish around 150lb.

Then it was Tony next and again the new system worked, he landed one around 60lb.

Phil was back on the rods but once we started to lose daylight the Tope moved in and the Threshers disappeared.

It was now home time and we steamed through the night back to Plymouth.

Please note all Sharks where handled with extreme care, we used our Scottish National Heritage Skate sling to lift the Sharks just 10 inches from water to the deck of the boat supporting there whole body, we then used buckets of water to keep the sharks wet and release them as quickly as possible.

If you love Shark fishing or just love Sharks then make sure you go out of your way to see these fantastic Sharks up close and personal, they truly are an amazing creature.

This now means the Thresher Shark is the 7th species of fish caught on Size Matters over 100lb in UK waters.

As always our Shimano rods and reels done us proud and never let us down, the
Speed Master Dendou Maru 1000 20/30 rod is one of the finest sharking rods I have ever used with bags of power in the blank and teamed up with a Tiagra 30 it’s one hell of a combo for sharking.

A massive thanks goes to Phil, John and Tony for there team work and taking the opportunity to try something new.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters (Plymouth)
07999628511

#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters
#Plymouth ... See more

After doing 30 straight days of charters, it was a relief to take time off last week when the weather turned bad.

This give me chance to see the family and recharge my batteries, as soon as the weather settled it was back to work as usual and putting our anglers on fish.

The lads from Bristol who fish with me every month where kept busy catching Pollack and Ling in to double figures.

They also managed to catch some monster Tub Gurnard and a surprise Red Mullet.

After catching the Red Mullet I totalled up how many species we have caught on Size Matters and it stands at 63 so far.

The best news of all is that the Shark fishing is in full swing, the lads today managed 19 Blue Sharks to 105lb, long my it continue.

Here are the last few dates available for 2020 from Plymouth onboard Size Matters.

INDIVIDUALS PLYMOUTH 2020.

APRIL

Saturday 4th 12 hour wrecking trip
1 place available.

Sunday 12th 12 hour wrecking trip
1 place available.

MAY

Friday 22nd 12 hour wrecking trip
2 places available.

JULY

Thursday 23rd 12 hour sharking trip
places available.

Thanks
Kevin Mckie
Size Matters Plymouth.
07999628511

#Shimano
#Mckiesfishingcharters
#Plymouth ... See more