A New Chapter Begins – Buying Our First Fishing Boat

There comes a point in every angler's journey when standing on the shore just isn't enough anymore.

For years, I've spent countless hours fishing rivers, lakes, reservoirs and coastlines across the UK. Some trips were successful, some less so, but every one of them added to the adventure. Recently though, my attention had started to drift offshore. Looking out across Cardigan Bay from New Quay and Aberaeron, I couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond casting distance.

That thought eventually led us to one of the biggest purchases we've made for our fishing adventures – our first boat.

Finding the Right Boat

The search wasn't straightforward.

I spent weeks researching different boats, engines and setups. The aim was simple: find something affordable, safe, easy to launch and recover, and capable of getting two anglers out onto the inshore reefs and fishing grounds of West Wales.

After looking at countless adverts, comparing specifications and asking plenty of questions, we finally settled on a Dell Quay Dory 13ft.

What attracted me to the dory design was its reputation. They're known for being incredibly stable, practical and seaworthy for their size. The open layout provides plenty of fishing space while keeping things simple and easy to maintain.

It wasn't the biggest boat on the market, nor the fastest, but it felt like the perfect boat to learn with and begin our sea fishing journey.

Choosing the Engine

Once the boat was sorted, the next challenge was deciding on an outboard.

There were plenty of tempting second-hand options available, but reliability was high on the priority list. The last thing I wanted was to be drifting around Cardigan Bay with an engine that refused to start.

After much deliberation, we decided to invest in a brand-new Suzuki 15hp four-stroke long shaft with electric start. https://www.cambrianmarinecentre.co.uk

It was more money than we'd originally planned to spend, but having the reassurance of a new engine, warranty and modern fuel efficiency felt like the right decision.

Looking back, it was absolutely the right choice.

First Launch Day – Aberaeron

There is always a mixture of excitement and nerves when launching a boat for the first time.

Questions run through your mind:

• Have I forgotten anything?

• Will the engine start?

• Have I tied everything down properly?

• Will I remember what I'm doing when backing down the slipway?

Fortunately, launch day went smoothly.

The Suzuki fired up immediately, the boat slipped off the trailer without drama and before long we were heading out from Aberaeron Harbour into Cardigan Bay.

The weather was kind, with relatively calm conditions and enough sunshine to make it feel like the start of summer.

For the first time, we weren't limited to fishing from the shore.

We had the freedom to explore.

Like most maiden voyages, the day was as much about learning the boat as it was about catching fish. We spent our time becoming familiar with how the Dell Quay Dory handled, practicing maneuver's and generally enjoying the experience of being afloat in our own boat.

The reward for our efforts came in the form of two small whiting. They certainly weren't record breakers, but they will always be remembered as the first fish caught from our own boat.

Trip Number Two – New Quay

Our second trip took us to New Quay, where we explored the beautiful waters of New Quay Bay and drifted over some of the reefs around Cei Bach.

By now we were starting to feel more comfortable with the boat and spent more time focusing on fishing rather than simply learning how everything worked.

The reefs and rocky ground looked promising, and after a few drifts we managed to land two small bass.

Again, they weren't large fish, but catching our first bass from the boat felt like another significant milestone. Every fish seemed to confirm that buying the boat had been the right decision.

Trip Number Three – Back to Aberaeron

For our third outing we returned to Aberaeron, but this trip was different for one important reason.

Before heading out, we had invested in a fish finder.

Until then, we'd largely been fishing by instinct, charts and local knowledge. Now we had the opportunity to see what was actually happening beneath the boat.

The day became less about catching fish and more about learning how to use the new technology. We spent hours watching the screen, trying to understand bottom contours, identifying patches of rough ground and beginning to make sense of the sonar returns.

Ironically, despite having the most advanced piece of equipment we'd taken to sea so far, we didn't catch a single fish.

Yet it didn't feel like a wasted trip.

Far from it.

We came home with a better understanding of both the boat and the fish finder, knowledge that will undoubtedly help us on future adventures. Sometimes the most valuable days on the water aren't measured by the fish you catch, but by what you learn.