local sea anglers

[bobbydarg]

That photo reminds me of a survey that was carried out in Ardrossan. 100 members of the public were asked to name a fish starting with the letter S. 99 of them said "SINGLE" That will teach Rowanside to call us cavemen.

[little plum]

A few more photos I came across of my trip to Cove in Aberdeen.


The last image features my B.I.L.

[Scaussie]

i also spent loads of time in the 70s as a youngster fishing around local venues with the ardrossan fishign club and remember ward Graham well.
He used to fish with my dad seamus cunningham and my uncle matt benson.
I was there the night at eglinton pier ardrossan when bud mclymont hauled in a 23 pound cod - you won't see that too often now at ardrossan.
My favourite place was portencross though, great fishing spot.
another few anglers of fame i remember from that time were donald arnott and campbell scott..always caught a few decent fish.
At the ardrossan boat fishing competitions we used to have to draw a coloured button before the start of the competition to see which boat we would go on the one's i remember were the Fulmar and the Ibis among others - my favourite was always the Fulmar and it was a bloke called Dougie something i forget his name but can picture his face.
It's sad to see the lighthouse looking more like something outta barlinnie now with it all being caged off.

[little plum]

i also spent loads of time in the 70s as a youngster fishing around local venues with the ardrossan fishign club and remember ward Graham well.
He used to fish with my dad seamus cunningham and my uncle matt benson.

Hi Scaussie, I remember Matt Benson, if it's the same one he originally came from Ardoch Cres. Stevenston.
When you mention the boat skippers, the Stevenston club used Jeff ( juke ) Millar out of Ardrossan.

[Alexmac442]

Scaussie., I fished alongside your father many times and Ward was my very good friend. Donald Arnott was secretary of the Ardrossan club and there were many good guys.
Plum., I went to school with Jeff and have many happy memories of his great humour. Way back he bought a yacht called the "four winds". It was an 8 metre carvel (I think) built yacht and had a terrible reputation for killing it's last two owners. Jeff took me out in it and it handled really well and of course he laid the ghost so to speak. He sold it for a great profit but kept the name which he then gave to his next boat, a 26 foot fishing cruiser. My good friend Matt Barry bought it later and we had many good trips on it over the years.
Last time I saw Jeff must have been in the 80's before I left Scotland.

Alex

[little plum]

Hi Alex, Jeff is a bit of a character. He was doing the fishing parties at that time, a bit of lobster potting and managing to get his hands on a few Salmon that were returning to the river Garnock/Irvine. Later he had a car paint spraying business in the lane behind Ardrossan Rd. It was in Montgomerie Rd I think, the one opposite Park Rd. The last I heard of him was, he had started a marine repair business at the then new Largs marina but this folded, I believe he had problems getting the owners of very large yachts to pay their bill in time. Don't know what he is doing now, its no surprise where the tag "Jeff Juke" came from.

[frank quinn]

Hullo LIttle plum,
matt benson rang a bell with me.He lived over the back
from our house on Trelawney.I can remember they kept pigeons & the Breens
lived next door.
Am I right or wot?
did you say there was any sea fishing nowadays??
I want to take my grandsons in August !!

[little plum]

Hullo LIttle plum,
matt benson rang a bell with me.He lived over the back
from our house on Trelawney.I can remember they kept pigeons & the Breens
lived next door.

Frank, I seem to remember 3 brothers, they worked on the coal lorry (Cherry) and the butchering trade. Not sure who done what . The Breens house was on the end of the row, am I right or wot. You mentioned that the Bensons kept pigeons, now here's the strange thing, I had a wee flash back and recall a name from years ago " Dove Breen"
You must have lived a few doors down from the " Gracies" they also had pigeons if my memory serves me right.
Back to the fishing, if you let me know what you are looking for I will do my best to point you in right direction.



2 Flounders from the "wee bay".

Frank, are you related to Gavin from the tap end ?

[chriso]

2 Flounders from the "wee bay".


Neil, are you sure the flounders didn't come from e-bay?

[frank quinn]

Hello Little Plum,
I just want to take my Grandson's fishing
just to let them try it(being city kids) on the beach or
from a pier. !!
I caught flounders in the wee bay many years ago, that
was leaving a line out with lots of hooks when the tide was out &
going back the next day.Only thing was--dogfish had usually eaten them
when we took it in,!!
This time I will let them try "rods".
I do not know Gavin, oor brenda still lives the top end, Moira
lives in Saltcoats

[little plum]

I caught flounders in the wee bay many years ago, that
was leaving a line out with lots of hooks when the tide was out

Frank, I also put out long lines in the wee bay, 20 - 30 hooks. In the good weather I would wear shorts, this helped to reset the line 2 or 3 times per tide, then fish with a hand line purchased from Armours at the station. This was a brown cord/string that we would spin round our head before launching in the direction of the horizon. . My long line was made up of trawlers nets ( it was orange nylon) washed up on the beach and painstakingly unravelled .
I would presume that your grandsons are novices, this rules out areas of rough ground that can provide some sport. I would suggest fishing the wee bay if there is a decent sea running, that is , if there is 3 or 4 breakers on the beach. Portencross pier can provide a good few hours of pleasure, this might be your best option. You can put out a bait and use Mackerel feathers while watching the bait rod.

[Penny Tray]

And Portencross retains that wee bit of magic and mystery that city weans would love - fishing aff a pier - a castle tae explore - an unsolved murder - the 700 AD brooch found by two locals without the assistance of a metal detector - no' tae mention the scenery: