Foillan Beg - Boat Charter from Peel - Isle of Man 30th. July Sorry I have been slack not updating the blog but for a change we have been having good weather and been very busy.Plenty of sharks around now and we also saw a humpback whale breach lat week. The sharks were well spread in the early part of last week from Jurby to the Sound but now seem to be concentrating around Peel again. Fishing has also picked up with plenty of mackerel around, some pollack an odd codling and coley. One fishing trip for tope produced only sand dogs and mackerel.A Sun fish was also spotted off Contrary Head although we did not have the good fortune to see it. 8th.July Well wind ,wind and more wind.It really is starting to get me down and not a lot of improvement over the next few days. We were due to have BBC NW on board on Wednesday but they are going to try again next week. Fingers crossed we have a busy few weeks coming up and could really do with some calm weather. 1st. July Well sharks around all week and usually the same group including one with a distinctive nick out of the dorsal. Weather is stopping us this weekend with strong South to South Westerly winds. Fishing the other day was abysmal after three hours only two small Coley and a small Pollack. Not even a mackerel to be had for tope fishing. Things can only get better 28th. June At last we have had some decent weather and some sharks at the same time. Over the past week we have had regular sightings of groups up to 12/14 sharks. One in particular with a square nick in the dorsal fin, who we originaaly called "Nick" only to find out from Jackie and Graham of The Basking Shark Watch that he is actually a she so will have to be renamed "Nicola". Only one fishing trip over the wekend with big fish hard to find but the Summer mackerel are here. After our recent rescue of a Gannet the other week we untangled a Fulmar from a fishing line at the end of the breakwater the other day a new career rescuing birds. 24th. June Apologies for the lack of updates the days seem to be flying by. After over two weeks without sharks because of the Northerly winds they are now back. It is most perculiar that as soon as the wind direction changed to Southerly the sharks re-appeared. We have had several sightings over the past couple of days with the first group of Whitestrand being young sharks about 15feet in length. Yesterday we had five off Contrary Head again with one or two small ones but also some bigger sharks. Lets hope that they are here now for the Summer. We did have a couple of weeks last year about the same time when the sharks vanished for a couple of weeks. Maybe a change in groups. Fishing is steadily picking up with good shows of mackerel and pollack. 9th.June Back to normal today with strong North Easterlies so no trips and already I am cancelling trips for tomorrow. Maybe I will get to see a couple of laps before the TT finishes. 8th. June Wet,Wet,Wet this morning but out looking for the sharks.But no where to be found not even where they were yesterday. However on a fishing trip later in the day we stumbled on a medium sized one just 50 metres off the back of Peel breakwater. Fishing today was reasonable with quite a haul of good mackerel and one or two decent Pollack, most of which went of for a TT BBQ. Grandson Ethan has now started crewing on a few trips and is settling in well but finding some of the trips a little long. 7th.June The sharks are back but very skittish, they are not settling at all.Up to 9 this morning but two miles out from Contrary Head. Reports are on the Basking Shark web site. Fishing is still very patchy but does seem to be picking up slowly.Birdlife is now abundent along the cliffs with Kittiwakes,Guillimots, Black Guillimots,Razorbills and Puffins to name just a few. 3rd.June Well my forecast was right nearly a week without a trip but busy this week now the weather has picked up. The sharks have stayed down after the North wind and only showed up this evening despite us covering lots of miles. Fishing seems to be picking up a little with some decent Pollack starting to show.One interesting thing today was the capture of a Gannett in the fish net to untie its beak,leg and wing which were tied up with discarded twine. It would undoubtedly have died if we had not intervened. It went away a little shaken but none the worst for his experience. Only casualty was my fingers from his bites. 24th. May Well here we go with the bad weather again and it looks like another week of Northerlies, A cancelled trip today which I am sure will not be the last cancellation this week. 23rd. May An early start this morning with some guests from the Wildlife Trust fortunately we were able to find three sharks for them and a lone Harbour Porpoise, it was good to show off the Isle of Man on a beutiful morning. In the afternoon we had two trips but alas only one shark. 22nd.May Things slightly slower on the shark front today although half the day was with a fishing party. Fishing was slow despite fishing offshore on a wreck and several other marks. Whiting,Pout Whiting,Gurnard and a small Haddock together with one or two small pollack were the order of the day. It was good to see a haddock as we used to have a big fishery until the commercial boats wiped it out. Possibly the start of the return of this species. On the shark front we were lucky to see a Minke whale on the fishing trip as well as a basker. In the morning we saw a Harbour porpoise. 20th.May Well they are here big style! lots of sharks and here in high numbers for so early in the season. Between 9 and 12 today, it is difficult to know when we are reporting the same shark which we try not to do. The big news today is that on an evening cruise Chris Kelly proposed to Ellan Christian and she accepted. Whils't drifting just off the Niarbyl Chris went down on one knee and to end a perfect day the weather calmed away for a nice romantic cruise back to Peel. 16th.May At long last we have a fine weekend so we can get to sea. Yesterday a fishing trip which landed something like 120 fish, most of which were returned to the sea. A mixture of Coley, Pollack,sand eels and mackerel. Good just to be at sea again. Today we had our first two basking shark trips and we found two fairly big sharks this afternoon,much to our relief as we had Fiona Gell from Wildlife Dept. with us. One shark gave a wonderful display coming almost up to the side of the boat. 25th.April 2010 Well here we go for another season,a week or two yet before the sharks return. The water temperature is creeping up 8.5c last week and up to 9.9c this week. It has to be up towards 11c before we get much increase in plankton growth to encourage our friends back. We have done a couple of fishing trips and although it is only early season we have had coley,and huge winter mackerel along with big big sand eels.We already have quite a few bookings as far ahead as July so don't leave booking until the last minute. 26th.January. Happy New year to all our old and new customers.WE are now taking bookings for 2010. Because of increasing costs we have had to increase our rates to £15 per shark trip or short fishing trip. Half price for children under 14. You can hire the whole boat for a maximum of six people for £60. Vouchers are available for birthdays etc. 30th.November Well holiday over now back to get the boat ready for next season. Already a second radio fitted for extra safety and also an extra battery for extra reliability. The holiday took the form of cruise from Montreal, Canada to New York with lots of stops on the way. A busmans holiday, but we did manage to see Fin whales on route. Many thanks to you all for your custom over the past year and we look forward to seeing you again in 2010. From myself Mal, Andy and Callum can we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year. News 23rd.September Reports today of sharks still about at The Niarbyl, why are they staying so late this year? A month longer than usual. 19th.September Andy had a fishing trip today with mixed results. Big mackerel and an odd Pollack. 13th. September Two trips today, first one fishing with a few nice Pollack. Second trip just a cruise down to the Niarbyl and back nice cruise but no sightings. 12th. September Beautiful day flat calm. Just fishing with a friend, a few Pollack and Mackerel but in general fish hard to find. Still one shark about, they really are late this year. 10th.September Well what a surprise two days of fine weather. Just a quick spin yesterday and a quick troll but not many fish about. Today three hours of Tope fishing and not a bite. A few decent Coley on Craig Rock. Also what a surprise two basking sharks. Why are they staying so late this year? 29TH.August Still more wind and ourseason is all but over. Still reports of sharks about with the most recent on Thursday with reports of up to 20 between Glen Maye and Contrary Head. 25th.August Fishing this morning out at Craig Rock (2.5 Miles NE Peel) lots of fish on the sounder but only a few mackerel on the take.The weather sent us for shelter at the back of Peel Hill where again lots of marks but few takes. Just in the last five minutes mackerel came on the feed. Two sharks at the back of the breakwater at 1330, they are hanging about this year. 22nd. August Well I was wrong sharks are still here two spotted today whilst out fishing. Plenty of mackerel about and one decent Pollack.Surprise surprise wind again tomorrow. 19th. August Well it looks like a week ashore with strong winds so far this week and forecast for similar the remainder of the week. One of my spotters saw 2 sharks Monday but they really must be ready for off. I will be surprised if they are still here when we get back to sea. 15th. August A weekend off with strong winds. Sharks maybe gone by the time we get back to sea. 13th.August A fine day with first trip this afternoon and sharks still about from Contrary Head to Glen Maye. Still about on the next trip but hard to find on the evening trip.Can't be long to go now and they may vanish with the wind over the weekend. 12th. August First trip at 0800 and a fine morning for a change.10 sharks down by Elby despite me expecting them all to be gone. 11 sharks on the second trip some nearer Peel.Sharks continued all day until evening although weather only moderate. 11th. August Same routine, one trip and pack up. Am I fed up of this weather. No sharks but plenty of mackerel. 10th.August A fresh start to the day with a fishing and shark trip combined. Not as many sharks as yesterday but still a good number swimming around as we were fishing, as an added bonus the Minke whale was about as yeterday. Fishing quite good with Coley,Pollack and mackerel. In the afternoon more sharks about with up to 16 at one time. Wind freshened at tea time from NW stopping us once again. 9th. August What a day started at 0900 and got better, I reckon there was at least 40 sharks in the area to the back off Peel Hill and Contary Head. I think this maybe the start of the departure from Manx waters. It was good to see Darren and his Son from Wales again they have been over for six years to see the sharks and mostly been unlucky. But today it came good and they even saw a breach. Later in the day we had a visit from a big Minke whale who surfaced several times about 50m from the boat. Callum my first mate away on holiday so Charlie my next door neighbours son is filling in and doing an excellent job. 8th. August Andy in command today and had out the film crew again for their last session. About 15 sharks between Contrary Head and Glen Maye which stayed about most of the day. 7th.August Two nice days in a row!!! Out with Clarita Berger, Nick Caloyianis who were filming both in the water and topsides, also in the water scientist Greg Skomal all from the States. Plenty of sharks and a long day filming. Ending up in conjunction with Happy Jack the basking shark boat filming both on board them and underwater. An interesting day. 6th.August What a pleasant day and little wind. Busy with five trips for the delegates of the Basking Shark Conference. Lots of sharks all day starting off at Glen Maye this morning and gradually moving towards Peel over the day,eventually ending up at the back of Peel Hill.Probable total numbers in the teens. 5th.August After two days ashore because of even more wind we eventually got back to sea for two trips this morning before again being stopped by a strong SW wind. Three sharks on the first trip and two the second,one shark gave us a really good show on this one.Better forecast tomorrow so lets hope we can get the rest of the shark conference delegates out for a trip. 2nd. August Two shark trips this morning but still more wind.No sharks seen.Callum and I gave a presentation this evening at the World Basking Shark Conference at Port Erin. Not bad for a couple of Peel natives to speak in front of such an array of scientists from all over the world. 1st. August Still more wind but Andy had a fishing trip out this morning,succesful with mackerel, gurnard ,coley,pollack and two big tope one around 45pounds. Poor day for the sharks as the weather forced us to cancel two trips this afternoon. 31st. July Rough today Southerly 6 but we made a special effort for Paul from Manchester who had flown in especially for the day. About 9 sharks but difficult to count in the conditions. Had to give up at lunchtime because of the weather. 30th. July Wind again! but we did get out for a couple of fishing trips. Close in behind the breakwater, up to half a mile off. Big swell making things uncomfortable. Quite few mackerel about, better size than have been lately. No sharks sighted. 29th. July A surprising day of work all day until 1930. Forecast was poor but wrong thankfully. 4 trips through the day and sharks on every trip. We did miss a breach unfortunately. Back up the harbour tonight strong NW wind forecast. 28th. July Another day of wind, forecast up to SW 6/7 so up the harbour for shelter this afternoon. Forecast for the rest of the week does not look good. 27th. July Two fishing trips today but still quite fresh so only close to land.Mixed bag, plenty of mackerel plus odd Coley and Pollack. 26th.July Wind today,all trips cancelled. 25th July A busy day with better weather. 8 sharks in the morning and 6 in the afternoon. Loads of jellies in the water but very little Gannet activity. Most of the nesting birds have now left the cliffs but still a few about to look at. 24th.July A slow start again today but two sharks early on near Contrary Head and then two close to The Niarbyl. After lunch a group of about 15 swam close by all afternoon near to the Oven .Our foreign visitors got some good footage again today. Two or three really big sharks amongst this group around 8 metres. 23rd.July A long but rewarding day today. Only 2 sharks this morning but up to 15 this afternoon just off Glen Maye. Our Czeck guests were in the water for two hours and got some good pictures. It would a long journey to the IOM if they ended up with nothing. 1 shark breached just off Contrary Head. 22nd.July Nothing fresh to report but the wind, not been out now for five days although we did miss a day at the weekend because the forecast gave bad weather which didn't come. We have some people from the Czeck Republic over at the moment waiting to get out. It will be dissappointing for them if the weather does not improve. Here's hoping! 16th. July Just one shark trip today at 3pm. two sharks just behind Peel Hill one about 20 foot the other bigger at 26foot. Plenty of wind on the way I don't think we will be out now until about Tuesday. 15th. July Despite not going to sea, go to sea we did later in the day. Two trips one in the afternoon with no sharks, one in the evening with a very fresh wind when we spotted two sharks close behind Peel breakwater. 14th.July Busy day today with the last trips of our French guests,a visit by Mel Barham from Granada reports plus Fiona from DAFF and two gents involved in Marine Conservation areas. Happy to report all spotted sharks and Foillan Beg should appear on Granada 6pm. Thursday. A couple of days ashore now for a few jobs,back at the weekend weather permitting. 13th. July Fresh winds but sharks about today. 2 off Glen Maye this morning and up to 10 off Peel late morning and afternoon. 12th. July Weather very fresh from the SW so no shark trips today. 1 fishing trip in the shelter behind the breakwater produced plenty of mackerel and some pollack. 11th. July Despite a lot of coverage from Kirk Michael to the Big Bay no sharks spotted today. Probably still here but surface will be cooled after the Northerly wind, sending the plankton down and the sharks with it. 10th. July 3 days of Northerly winds have stopped us getting to sea until today. No sharks spotted but nesting birds are still about plus one or two seals. 6th.July No public holiday for us but a busy day on the sharks which were about in numbers all day. One couple from London up to the Island especially to see the sharks were not disappointed. One shark very agitated but no partner seen close by,could of course be under out of our sight. Very reminiscent of mating behaviour. 5th.July Fishing this morning but fishing did not live up to expectations tried same place as Andy previous day but only a few mackerel and small Coley. Moved on to try for Tope and despite heavy ground baiting at anchor no Tope showed even after 1.25 hours of trying. Wind freshened at lunchtime meaning a short day and some dissappointed people not getting out to see the sharks. 4th. July Back in harness now 5 enormous sharks today, it looks like the big guys have moved in this week. Fishing has also picked up Andy and Callum had a fishing trip this morning picking up codling,coley,pollack and mackerel. 1st. July 2009 Sharks and Porpoise all over this morning, probably as many as 12 or 14 sharks and 14 Porpoise in different groups. This is more like it. Sorry off to a wedding for a couple of days so no reports until Sunday. 30th. June 2009 Beautiful evening 5 sharks, 1 NW Peel the others West off Contrary Head. 1 very small shark maybe less than two years old and one very large one 30foot plus with very floppy dorsal. 29th.June 2009 Maintainance day 28th.June 2009 6 small sharks this morning and then no more during the day. A Risso,s Dolphin breached right in front of the boat in the entrance to the Sound.No fishing today. 27th. June 2009 Hooray, sharks are back! Lots of sharks today, picked up early thanks to John on New Dawn. They were about all day. As many as 20 in different areas. 26th.June 2009 Fine day some nice Pollack(Callig) today still no sharks. 25th. June Sharks are hard to find currently but birds and seals are a delight to watch. Two baby seals playing off Contrary Head this evening really enjoying themselves. Busy with radio interviews this week, 3fm, BBC Natural History Unit and BBC World Service with Howard Stableford of Tomorrows World fame. 23rd. June 2009 Fishing today a few Coley and plenty of mackerel. Two sharks off Contrary Head after ten days without seeing a fin. 22nd. June 2009 Sharks have been missing now for about ten days, maybe due to North winds coolng the surface layers and plankton going lower in water. 12th. June 2009 Five Minke whales off Peel today. 10th. June 2009 Six Minke whales amongst dozens of Gannets, good view of these beasts feeding. 4th. June 2009 Six sharks today North off Peel. 2nd. June 2009 11 Sharks today further South by Contrary Head. Fantastic sight with seven sharks right under the boat for about ten minutes 1st. June 2209 3 Sharks today off Lynague 29th May 2009 At Last some decent weather. Nine sharks today. Some showing courtship behaviour 28th May 2009 2 sharks today although weather still poor. 24th May 2009 Poor weather for most of May and fishing really hasn't picked up as yet Still only a few mackerel. 21st May 2009 Our first three sharks today. 2 close to Peel and one near Elby Point. 2nd May 2009 Fresh Westerly wind today, so restricted to West Corner off the Castle. Plenty of big mackerel and one herring 30th April 2009 Nice run of Coley at Craig Rock today, things look to be slowly improving. 26th April 2009 North today, Craig Rock and Jurby. Fishing very poor and freshening wind made us depart Jurby early for inshore marks at Lyngague. A poor day all round. 24th April 2009 More big mackerel about today and just one or two Coley. 1 porpoise spotted off Contrary Head. 13th April. 2009 One or two fish now starting to show with a few decent Coley and a decent Pollack. 5th April 2009 Fishing still very quiet on the fishing front with only large sand eels and mackerel after two hours fishing. The nesting birds are starting to show up along the cliffs with large numbers of Eider ducks. The first Puffin of the season was spotted close to the back of Peel Hill along with a lot of Black Guillemots who are also showing signs of nesting in holes in the breakwater and harbour walls as in previous years. 14th February 2009 Fishing last Saturday but very quiet, with only a small Whiting and a huge mackerel. Also 5 Porpoise close to the breakwater on Wednesday afternoon.