Holyhead - Monday

[steveh]

Launched from the stony/boulder 'beach' just to the left of Holyhead breakwater for the first time yesterday. Parking is in the marked bays on the lane to the Country Park, just by the old Stenna building. From there, through the yard and down a path which could have made for kayak trolleys, to the beach. The last few yards over the larger weed covered stones were easy as the yak launched itself, once off the trolley.
The idea of the day was to get to the Parliament House area of North Stack to try some of the hard rock climbing routes that we're no where near good enough to do!
Paddling in from Porth Dafarch would mean dealing with the tide races and overfalls around the Fangs and South Stack, even on this weekends neap tide. Abseiling in would mean we would probably never make it out again!
Of course, I couldn't resist taking a rod along - just in case. As it happens, it was too windy to get all the way to and around North Stack - so we paddled around the bays next to the country park and dangled a few lures with no luck - another blank
Whilst we were out both the Stenna and Irish ferries came in and the Jonathon Swift (fast cat) went out. We had no problems with the bow waves that there are signs warning you of.
Next time.......

Steve

[dorado]

The warnings of the bow waves can be useful - if there is already a swell running and you are close to the cliffs or breakwater - the resultant clapotis has to be seen to be blieved - I've seen peaks leap up higher than the breakwater!!
This is when the swells reflecting from the breakwater or cliffs meet the incoming wash from the ferries.......up she goes!

[moniar]

Some nice wrasse fishing along that bit of coastline - I used to fish from the rocks there as a teenager. Rag worm is by far the best bait for the section of coast, but the lures should also be good for the plentiful pollack if you hit the right marks.

Watch yourselves climbing around north stack - I used to do a fair bit there and some of the routes involve long traverses (Dream of white horses for one) over the cave, meaning a serious undertaking for both the second and the lead climber. Thats still a longish paddle from the breakwater beach tho!

Iv'e seen the big waves hit the breakwater and come over at times, and also know of people who have had near misses fishing the rocks near the breakwater quarry - you have to be on your guard all of the time.

I do fancy launching from the breakwater beach sometime this summer and fishing along the back of the breakwater itself - theres at least one decent wreck to fish over a few hundred yards off the back near the end, and there's good size pollack to be had lower down the break, as well as some nice huss marks.

[dorado]

There is no such thing as a nice huss mark......huss - uurgh. Bloody doggies.

[moniar]

Agreed - ugly things, but i need at least one for this years species list and something around the 6lb mark will be finding its way into the pot as the wife loves eating huss! = one less in the sea to pester you :-)

[dorado]

I nearly choked on my beer then - I THOUGHT you had written,

"my wife likes eating puss"

Oh well, we can dream can't we!

[SEAJUNKY]

Hey Moniar

By chance is your wife from down south, Eating huss seems to be a southern thing, along with eating "Rays" (skate wings) Mmmm Yummy

Steve

[moniar]

Hi Steve
No she is from Llangefni LOL! just likes Huss and it grieves me terribly when she pays Mr Tescos for a small steak of it!!!

[SEAJUNKY]

Down south its called, either Huss in the chippies, or rock salmon. No bones in it, its just all meat, very tasty mate. You should try it sometime, You might change your mind about catching them. Just lightly flower it and shallow fry untill a nice golden brown. ( cor I'm getting hungry now) ;D

Happy yakking

Steve