Vectis Boating and Fishing club

6 weeks to go 😊

The 26th junior fishing frenzy dates are as follows providing Wightlink are happy to allow us to use the pier .

Round 1 19th of July 2pm till 5pm

Round 2 26th if July 9am till 12 noon

Round 3 2nd of August 1pm till 4pm

Round 4 16th of August 1pm to 4pm

🌊 Colour Theory Underwater – Does Colour Really Matter in Sea Fishing?
Written by Mackie – Weymouth Angling Centre

It’s one of those subjects every angler has an opinion on.

What colour lure?
What colour beads?
What colour line?

And somewhere along the line…

We’ve all wondered the same thing:

👉 Do fish actually care about colour underwater?

For me…

Yes and no.

🌅 Water Changes Everything

The biggest thing people forget is that colour on land…

isn’t the same colour underwater.

Once light enters the sea, colours start to disappear at different depths.

Generally:

• Red fades first
• Then orange
• Then yellow
• Blues and greens hold visibility longer

So that bright red lure in your hand…

Might look far darker or almost black deeper down.

🌊 Depth, Clarity & Light

Colour isn’t just about the lure itself.

It depends on:

• Water clarity
• Depth
• Sunlight
• Cloud cover
• Time of day
• Bottom colour

Clear shallow water in sunshine is completely different to coloured water on an overcast day.

That’s why one colour can smash it one session…

and do nothing the next.

🎣 Contrast Can Matter More Than Colour

Something I’ve found over time…

Fish often react more to contrast than actual colour.

A dark lure against a bright sky.
A white lure in murky water.
A shiny jig flashing on the drop.

Sometimes it’s less about “green vs pink”…

and more about what stands out naturally.

🐟 Species Matter Too

Different fish feed differently.

• Bass often react to movement and profile first
• Wrasse can be curious and aggressive
• Mackerel love flash
• Gilthead & bream often care more about bait presentation than colour

So again…

There’s no one answer.

⚡ Confidence Catches Fish Too

This is the bit people ignore.

If you believe in a colour…

You fish it better.

You’ll keep it in the water longer.
Work it properly.
Stay focused.

And that alone catches fish.

Confidence is a massive part of fishing.

🎯 My View

I think colour matters…

But not as much as:

• Location
• Presentation
• Tide
• Timing
• Movement
• Bait quality

Get those wrong…

and colour won’t save you.

Get those right…

and loads of colours will work.

🌙 Keep It Simple

If I was choosing:

• Clear water / bright day – natural colours
• Low light / coloured water – brighter or darker contrast colours
• Unsure – silver, white, or baitfish patterns rarely let you down

Then adjust from there.

💬 So what do you reckon?

Do fish really key in on colour…

or are anglers more obsessed with it than fish are?

And what colour has caught you the most over the years?

Let’s hear it 👇

— Mackie
Weymouth Angling Centre

🎣 Know Your Catch 🎣

First up in the new series… the mighty Bass 👑🌊

Fast, powerful, and one of the UK’s most prized coastal predators, seabass are built for ambushing prey in surf, estuaries, reefs and rough ground.

Recognised by their silver flanks, dark back, sharp spiny dorsal fin and that bucket mouth built for feeding.

Loved by lure anglers, bait anglers, and anyone who enjoys a proper scrap on light gear.

Have you caught your first bass yet this year? Drop your photos below 👇🐟

🐟 MACKEREL... fast, smart, vital and under pressure.

They are one of the most important fish in our seas. Feeding bass, tuna, dolphins, seabirds and us anglers too. But numbers in many areas are under real pressure, and it is not looking great if things carry on the same road.

For many of us, mackerel are summer memories. Feathers flying, kids smiling, buckets rattling on the harbour wall, fresh bait for the next trip. But they are also a key part of the whole food chain, and when mackerel struggle, plenty else feels it too.

Healthy mackerel stocks mean healthy seas.

🎣 Take what you need
🐟 Respect size and numbers
🌊 Support sustainable fishing
📍 Appreciate every one you catch

Less mackerel today... fewer tomorrow.

🐟 BLACK BREAM... one of the true gems of our coastline.

Powerful, hard fighting and seriously underrated, black bream are a fish that earn respect from anyone who has hooked one. Pound for pound they scrap all the way to the net and are a proper favourite for many local anglers each spring and summer.

Recognisable by their deep bronze black flanks and spiny dorsal fin, they love rough ground, reefs, mussel beds and structure. Feed them a crab, mussel, worm or squid in the right area and hang on.

They are also a sign of healthy inshore waters and a species many of us look forward to each season.

New buoyancy aids all hung up nicely in the club house thank you to the Wightaid Foundation for their generous grant to help buy these! Also pictured are some of our older buoyancy aids which will be up for grabs for a small donation to the club funds! If any body knows of a community group that could use these well worn older buoyancy aids please get in touch.