Cornwall, England, 17-22 August, 2011

Once a year I like to get down to Cornwall in the far south west of England. I camped on the Lizard peninsular and fished at Porthhoustock,Porthcurno and Porthleven.

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As per usual This has been pasted and copied from the anglers afloat forum in the UK.


After working nights for a week I had 8 days off, but what to do with them ? A few days in Cornwall would be just the ticket. So I set off early Wednesday morning and made the long drive to the Lizard. I arrived at about midday and soon found the Zoar camp site, Ian spotted me driving down and dropped into say hello. After setting up I decided to head into Porthoustock and launch. There was a bit of a dump unto the beach but nothing I thought I could not handle….well I was wrong about that ! A wave flipped my scupper pro onto its side and tipped a few things into the surf. Right in front of a couple of anglers and half a dozen holiday makers picnicking on the beach. Well it gave them something to talk about if nothing else. Luckily I got all my kit back and managed to launch successfully in the shelter of the concrete structure on the right hand side of the beach.



It was a bit lumpy out and the manacles were out of the question, so I contended myself with fishing in front of Porthoustock. It was very slow going and I was beginning to think I was going to blank, but eventually I did manage a couple of Mackerel, so that was tea sorted. I did think about fishing into the dark but the sea looked a bit dodgy for fishing alone at night. I headed back in the evening gloom and cooked my tea back at the camp site.

Having had a long day the day before and coming off of nights meant I had some sleep to catch up on and did not rise until midday on Thursday. After a mega breakfast and a shower I was ready to go again . I got to the beach and saw the swell was a fair bit bigger than the day before and even with my deluded self belief knew I would not be able to launch from the middle of the beach. I looked over to the sheltered spot where I had launched the day before. It was low water and it offered some, but not much protection. I watched for a while and dithered over whether was do-able or not, I noticed that there were some calmer periods usually just after a big set came in. I decided to go for it after all what's the worst that could happen ? I waited and waited and then leaped on and went for it ..eazy peazy, my self belief now restored, I paddled out and fished again. It was hard going and only managed a few small Pollock and a few Mackerel. In the evening the wind picked and it got a bit snotty, so I headed back in a little early.

Friday I was up at a more respectable hour of the morning, the sun was shinning and there was little wind. The sea was calm and the swell of the previous day had gone. So I headed out to the Manacles. I found a pot buoy near a steep drop off and started to fish. I had plenty of Cuckoo Wrasse and Pollock, not of any size but at least I was catching fish. One Wrasse had a half digested fish hanging out its mouth, I don’t know what it was, but it was colourful.





I needed a toilet break and a stretch of the legs so I headed over to Manacle Point and had a breather. I even got the fly rod out and had a bash from the rocks hoping for a small Pollock or something, no joy.




So back out on the yak and fish a bit closer in. Just off the point,. I had seen a pot buoy in a likely looking spot and headed for that. There was a short cut through the rocks and I could not resist paddling through. Nothing doing there, so I had another paddle round and managed a few Mackerel. Kevin had turned up at the camp site so we needed a few for tea.

Saturday it lashed it down with rain all morning, so we took the opportunity to go to Tesco's and stock up with beer and meat. By then the rain and had stopped and the sun was breaking through. So at lunch time we launched, this time heading for the next bay down towards Cavarack. We drifted across some clear ground and fished baited feathers hoping for Gurnard, but had no luck. We met up with the Cornish contingent out on the water and had a chin wag for a while.








Eventually we passed over a big reef that turned up some Pollock and Wrasse. We got round the next point and had a look round there, it was pretty rough ground and we decided to head back to the smoother ground in a last ditch attempt to catch a Gurnard. There was a breeze blowing in the right direction so we hoisted our sails and set off back across the bay. Again we tried for Gurnard without getting a bite. I had drifted close to a small beach below a disused quarry, so I took the opportunity for a stroll on the small beach before heading back out to Kevin and heading back towards Porthoustock.




Back at the camp site we had a rethink about where to fish, Porthoustock was not producing the goods so we hatched a plan to head for a stretch of coast west of Penzance. Kevin knew of a nice little spot to launch from and after an early start and leisurely drive we carried our kayaks down to the sea and rigged up. The tide was in and the only thing to keep us company was an inquisitive seal.



We headed out and soon encountered a fair sized swell but nothing too scary. First drop down and I was into a lovely golden Pollock, not big, but pretty as a picture. We headed East or was it North? Anyway it was away from Lands End, which was just a few miles away. It was very snaggy at first, but then the water was deep, in places up to 80 ft just a few hundred metres from the cliffs. I managed to catch a Garfish, my first from a kayak.



The coastline was spectacular along this part of the Cornish coast and it was great just to be out on the yak on such a sunny day, taking it all in. I was feeling a little queasy [ probably down to wine the night before ] so we decided to head for the beach. The only one we were able get onto was swarming with holidaymakers, the others had too much surf, but it was very scenic paddling in under the Manack theatre perched high on the cliffs. Suitably restored with chocy bars and an apple we headed out again.




I was feeling better with something in my stomach and the mall de mare did not bother me again that day. We decided to head off round the next headland and investigate there. On the point was some nasty broken water so we had to make a bit of a detour to avoid that. Tucked up a round the point was a rocky bay that was sheltered from the swell. There were a couple of conveniently positioned pot buoys so we tied up to them. I lowered down some baited feathers and jigged them just off the bottom. After 20 minutes or so I thought I had hooked the bottom, but no it started to pull back. I heaved up on my rod and was soon doing battle with something down below. I shouted to Kevin that I was into something. After a brief but dogged battle up popped a fish the likes of which I had never seen before. I done some more hollering and whooping and Kevin came over to see what I had in my lap. I was informed it was a Trigger Fish. Yay that's a first. It was a fiesty little fecker with snappy jaws and a nasty spiky dorsal fin. But I liked it. I held it up to be photographed and put it back. I was well chuffed.







The time was getting on so we paddled back slowly, stopping to fish every now and again and catching the odd Pollack or Mackerel. Arriving back at our launch point we found it a lot busier than when we arrived. So we picked our way through the families spending the day on the little beach and set off back to the Lizard. In a final drama I drove off with my camera on the roof of my car. I got half a mile up the road before I realised and turned back. I had a look round but could see nothing, so I went to the little ice cream kiosk and asked if anybody had handed it in. They had ! Phew that was lucky.
On the way back we took a short detour to see a stone circle.



The forecast was good for Monday so as I did not have to be back at work until Tuesday, I stayed another day. We rang Ian and Jan for some advice and ended up plumping for Pothleven on the Western side of the Lizard. Again it was a lovely day and we were hoping for Plaice or the elusive Gurnard. After buying some lug from the local tackle shop we paddled out of the pretty harbour and headed West towards the old tin mines perched high upon the cliffs. There was a nice little break at the harbour entrance that was being enjoyed by the local surfers.




The ground was rough at first, but within a quarter of a mile the ground levelled off and we started to drift in about 60 ft of water, bouncing our baits along the bottom. It was a long time before we had any bites but eventually I managed a small Plaice. It was deep hooked so it was kept for Tea.




The fishing was slow but by the end of the day I had managed 4 Plaice one of which was a good size and also kept for the pot. Kevin had a few Mackerel but no Plaice, a bit of a mystery really as we were only fishing a few metres apart and Kevin's rig looked much more like the sort of thing a Plaice would take. Funny game fishing.




So it was mid afternoon and time to pack up and head home. I had had a good few days down in Cornwall, Porthoustock had proved poor for fishing, but I had a really enjoyable day down near Lands End and the Plaice I had off of Porthleven was a PB too. The best part was to fish with friends and to take things easy for a few days. Roll on Cornish Capers 2012.


Oh yes and my Scupper pro, did I mention I have a scupper pro as well as an Ultra now? Has been embellished with a nice NOR CAL sticker ...cheers Mooch 

cool, ncka is international,    i wanna know about the sail!!!!   great report and super pics,  now to google kayak sail

Bravo, once again! Multiple days on the water, multiple species, and gorgeous scenery...love it!

Your reports from across the pond are always great
Thanks for sharing your adventures and sporting the NCKA sticker
Tad
 

Such a cool report, thanks so much for sharing with us...and agreed, nice to see NCKA represented!  Tight lines!
beenfishin

Great post as always!

Wow what a great report. A greenling with a funny mouth and GIANT sand dab, it's all good over the pond. Love the sail too.  Thanks Muller!

another great report, that was a very scenic coast you guys were fishing, thanks again for sharing, cameron

The sails are really popular over here. They'd really help you guys get out to the salmon bite!

What a beautiful coastline, that surf spot looked clean.

Thanks for another great report and tons of fish porns TM.  I always enjoy reading your reports!

Wow!! Although all of your reports have been awesome, this one by far is the best I love the scenic pictures along with all buildings built on em, simply fantastic.

Oh of course all the various fish is also amazing lol!! Thanks for another report overseas 

Thanks for all the kind words guys.
I use a pacific action sail, a pretty good product IMO. Pacific Action
I have another meet to go to in September and just wait to see what I have planned for October

Wow!! Although all of your reports have been awesome, this one by far is the best I love the scenic pictures along with all buildings built on em, simply fantastic.

Oh of course all the various fish is also amazing lol!! Thanks for another report overseas 

I couldn't put it better myself, Super trip report with all the fixins,

Thanks a bunch for sharing it with us