Evening Conger Fishing

EVENING CONGER FISHING (rods & tackle provided)

An introduction & what to expect! 

Normally leaving the Harbour at around 6pm, we will catch fresh Mackerel on the edge of the ground before we anchor up. The reef we will be targeting will have large rocky pinnacles, and we will aim to anchor at the base of these pinnacles during slack water.

Decent, strong tackle is provided and if you are new to fishing, Patrick is always on hand to help & teach.

A general rule followed by anglers is the bigger the fish you're after, then, the bigger the bait you need, this rule certainly applies to Conger Eel fishing, but something Patrick has learnt over the years is that big baits do catch big fish, however smaller baits will catch small fish AND BIG FISH at the same time.

Mackerel is the most successful baits used for Conger. Made into a “flapper” (this is a specially shaped Mackerel with the backbone and guts removed), the side fillets of the Mackerel flap around in the swell of the tide. This movement resembles an injured or vulnerable fish and will prove irresistible to a hungry predator. Mackerel also being an oily fish, when cut up emits a pungent odour that will attract predators.

When you get a bite on the hook be patient and don't strike straight away! Give the Conger time to take the bait into its mouth. Pull the rod up sharply and strike (the fish may descend into a deep dive and it is often pointless to try and stop it!). Let line out from the reel and wait, then start reeling in when the dive has stopped. Get ready for an epic battle when you hook a Conger and start preparing your personal tail of how you caught a monster whilst fishing with Patrick on the Carrie-Jane.

All About Conger Eels in our waters

Centuries ago, sailors told stories of mythical beasts that dwelled in the oceans. They put no names to these beasts. Modern day sea anglers tell their tales of monsters lurking in the sunless fathoms of our coastal waters. They have names for these monsters. They call them “Conger Eels”.

Conger's can grow to spectacular proportions. Specimens from boats fishing over wrecks have been landing Conger Eels of more than 40kg.

Despite its enormous size and aggressive appearance, the Conger Eel is a shy creature and hastily retreats to its lair when threatened, the fish is coloured grey along the back and its belly is silver-yellow. It has teeth and powerful jaws for catching and holding prey, the natural diet of conger eel includes fish, lobster and squid.

The Conger Eel is found all around the coast of Britain. It favours wrecks, reefs and rough, rocky habitats. During the hours of darkness they tend to swim in shallower waters closer to the shore.

Conger Eels are heavy, powerful fish, we will be using a well built boat rods and a sturdy multiplier reels with plenty of heavy duty fishing line, large weights will be used to keep the bait deep in the water.

According to a few locals, 'diced, breaded & deep fried Conger' makes the worlds best “Scampi”!