The Channel Islands

A dream for sea anglers

Sonnenuntergang auf der Kanalinsel Guernsey

The Channel Islands between England and France have long been regarded as excellent fishing grounds. Especially the diversity of species and different fishing techniques make Jersey a dream come true for sea anglers. Not far from the coast, dozens of fish species can be found in front of the beautiful Channel Island.

Varied fishing

Depending on the time of year, dogfish, cod, ling, conger, pollack, various rays, sea bass, turbot, brill and black sea bream can hook up. Charter skipper Tony Heart, who has been sailing with his "Anna II" from the main port of St. Helier for 12 years, has equipped his 11-metre boat perfectly for fishing. Ten sea anglers find enough space on the generously sized ship to go on a prey run with the fishing enthusiast Tony. The waters around Jersey offer very varied fishing: Whether wrecks, reefs, sandbanks or stony ground - the possibilities are endless. The tide changes constantly and the water level can be dramatic. But Tony and his son Oliver help everyone to make the day a success even for the untrained.

At the turn of the year

In winter the wrecks are stuffed with many thick pollacks - some with more than 15 pounds. Hundreds of black seabreams around five pounds, which is a proud size for this species, also bite the hooks over the wrecks in winter. By the way, the bream are extremely tasty and much sought after in the kitchen. Despite their size, they are also amazing fighters who make a lot of noise at the equipment. In the spring, the species-richness increases. Rays are also caught now. A 20-pound ray that turns against the current puts the equipment to an extremely hard test. Bream now migrate in large swarms near the coast. Conger can be found all year round, especially in wrecks.

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In early summer many ling bite over the sunken ships. In addition there are stray dogfish, which perform spectacular fights on medium heavy equipment. Now it's really versatile off the island: cod, turbot, brill and sea bass attack the bait. During the summer and well into autumn, you can also count on large rays. Actually, you never know what's going to catch the bait next - and that's what makes fishing there so exciting. For example, I had put a small bream lure on the light equipment when a 30 pound dogfish got on it! It took me a quarter of an hour to land the unexpected chunk on this device. My arms hurt, but finally I had to put the rod and reel aside to get the camera in position and take some pictures. In summer it is naturally quite crowded - both on the island and on the boats. Better: plan your trip into the low season when everything is a bit quieter and cheaper.

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The right equipment

If you want to bring your own gear, you should pack a 15-pound rod for fishing at low tide and an uptide rod with a casting weight of up to 270 grams for fishing at rising tide. If you want to go wreck-conger, you can bring a 30 pound boat rod with you. Multi-reels with 0.40 monofilament and 15 kilo braid should not be missing in your luggage. Especially with strong tidal currents, the braid helps not to lose the basic contact - which is crucial for success off Jersey.

Island in a warm stream

Jersey is only 116 square kilometres in size and has about 85,000 inhabitants. The island, 20 kilometres off the French coast, is neither part of Great Britain nor a member of the European Union. But it belongs to the British Isles, has its own legislation and tax sovereignty, but feels loyal to the English royal family. The Gulf Stream warms the Channel Islands and ensures mild winters and temperate summers. From December to February the average temperature during the day is 10 degrees Celsius, from May to September just over 20 degrees. Jersey is a peaceful, warm place with friendly and open people. Those who can't get enough of boat fishing can rely on excellent coastal fishing. But also for walks along the impressive coast, where bizarre cliffs alternate with fine sandy beaches, you should plan some time.

Source: Rute & Rolle