The Channel Islands are situated at the south west end of the English Channel. Jersey is the largest, and most southerly of these islands and is approximately 100 miles south south west of the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Alderney being the most Northerly island is only some 55 miles south of the Needles.
Being so far south the waters around Jersey are some degrees warmer and are classed as Temperate i.e. between 10 and 20 degrees centigrade (Great White Shark Live in temperate seas). Obviously in some winters this has dropped to 7 or 8 degrees and at the other end of the scale has been known to reach 21 - 22 degrees.This year it rarely dropped below 9 and at the present is 18.5 degrees centigrade. Add to this the great variety of 'terrain' and you have a recipe for a rich and abundant variety of wet and shell fish alike.
From an Anglers view the inshore fishing (up to 5/6 miles off shore) is virtually untapped and the vast majority is totally untouched. There are sandbanks, both deep and shallow, some in 160 feet and others in 50-60 feet. Many reefs and hard ground banks from 80' to 180', mixed broken ground of varying depths and much much more.
The angling is equally diverse from heavy duty downtide through uptide angling to light downtide depending on the tide, the depth of water and the species sort after. Most of the angling is done at anchor but at certain times of the year and for certain species drift fishing is more productive.
The species of fish caught here are similar to mainland Britain. Jersey is not quite far enough south for game fish but then again no one ever tries fishing for them. Likewise not many people, if any, fish for shark, but there are very large porbeagles in these waters. At one time Jersey held the WORLD RECORD for porbeagle which stood at 430lb for quite a number of years. Every year there are sightings of these awesome creatures with hooked fish often being chewed in half. We have actually hooked them on pirks while wreck fishing and had the fish to the surface. They just look at you then glide off into the deep not even knowing that they are hooked! However when you can catch over 100 bream all in excess of 3lb and up to 6lb, up to 20 or more mixed rays including blondes up to 35lb, 10 or more turbot & brill with the same amount of bass in one session, 20 - 30 tope between 25 & 45lb per session, reef conger up to 50-60 lb, not too mention Undulate Ray up to 18lb and the many other species like ballan wrasse (the current British Record came from Jersey), cuckoo wrasse, pollock, smoothound etc.etc., you can see why Jersey is just a bit special. Dont forget this is all within 5 miles of the shore.
Wreck fishing, of course, means a bit more taveling. Sometimes up to 30 or more miles, but the rewards can be worth it with 40-50 pollock between 12 & 21lb , 6-800lb of ling, 48-50 eels between 25 & 70lb (there are always much larger fish hooked but we just can't seem to get them out), cod up to 34lb and big black bream. One wreck in particular produces quantities of huge bream - many over 5lb - especially in the winter months. One party came in early February this year and caught over 200 fish from 2.75lb to 5lb. 12 oz. Needless to say they have booked to come again, this time in November.
Once you have sampled the angling in Jersey you too will want to return as every party we have had so far has done. Dont forget we have duty free, no V.A.T., cheaper beer and many very good reasonably priced hotels and guest houses especially early and late season when the fishing it at its best, also good food and some excellent restraunts that are not over the top on price.
If you fancy a go at some new ground telephone Tony Heart on 01534 888552 or e mail hearty@localdial.com His boat "Anna II", a fast 33' Aquastar, can boast no less than 9 record fish which includes 2 C.I. records and one British Record.