JSYK - Just so you know

30 June 2020

Today's update.... In a meeting this morning our Harbour Authority asked us to prepare plans to start running our fishing trips from New Quay once again - yippee 😊 We will spend the next short while developing our Covid-19 Safety Plan. We now hope to be able to start operating soon and as always we commit to keeping you fully informed as we cruise towards some family fishy fun 🐟🐟🐟 Bookings are not being taken yet but please keep an eye out on our social media facebook.com/epicfishingtrips and @epicfishingtrips for further updates.

20 June 2020

Yesterday the Welsh Government made their scheduled three week announcement on the lifting of some of Wales's lock down measures. As we write we are still distilling their update and trying to evaluate our next steps. To be honest we are not yet totally clear as to how or when we might be able to operate our famous fishing trips. It looks likely that as of the 6th July travel restrictions will be lifted and holiday makers will be welcomed back to Wales on 13th July. The Government has also stated that outdoor tourist attractions should prepare to open. We are hoping this applies to us but must continue to wait until clear guidance is provided by Government and our local Harbour Authority (Ceredigion County Council) opens New Quay harbour to boating, however we are at least moving in the right direction😊🤞 . Stay safe, Tim & Corrine

2 June 2020

Tuesday 2nd June update. As this dreadful Covid-19 pandemic continues, we all face a myriad of decisions. As business people one of the most complex we face is; when should we start running trips again? To answer this we are applying two tests; Firstly, are we allowed to operate? Today this is answered relatively easily as neither the Welsh Government or our local Harbour Authority has given permission for trips to start. The next Welsh Government review is on Thursday 18th June. And secondly; would we be socially responsible to do so? As New Quay remains in lockdown, with no shops or accommodation open, it would be wrong of us to encourage travel into the village. The firm (and legal) message from the Welsh Government is Stay Local - within 5 miles of your home. The time is simply not right.... yet. Our commitment to you is that we will actively review this position daily and as soon as we are able to do so we will get back on the water and start running epic fishing trips. For now stay local and stay safe.

11 May 2020

On Friday 8th May 2020 Mark Drakeford MS, The First Minister of Wales, announced three further weeks of lockdown. His only concessions were to allow exercise to take place more than once a day and then, only locally to your home and that some Garden Centres may reopen. This is the Law in Wales. The next review of lockdown measures in Wales will take place on or around 1st June 2020. So for now we are still unable to run our boat trips. Currently we do not know exactly when and if we will be able to operate this year but our commitment to you is that we will continue to review the situation and canvas for clarity from both Governments. You can be reassured that as soon as we have further news we will let you know immediately both here on our website, here on Facebook and here on Instagram.

24 April 2020

As Covid-19 continues to cause so much pain and suffering worldwide there is clearly no room for fishing fun. We know that we will be out there catching fish with everyone again but for the foreseeable future we will not be running any of our epic fishing trips 😢. On the bright side it may well be Mackerel time when we get to go fishing again and we can all look forward to fresh mackerel on the BBQ - just like in this picture😊😊😊. In the meantime our firm commitment to you is that we will keep watch on the developing situation and as soon as we are allowed to do so we will resume our trips. Our online booking system is poised and ready to run. The 'Book Now' button will be live from the moment the Government gives us the go ahead. Please stay safe, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Our very best Tim and Corrine

12 April 2020

We catch Lobsters too! We've just posted an Easter greetings video here on Facebook and also here on Instagram. As Covid 19 continues to cause so much pain and suffering worldwide there is clearly no room for fishing fun. We know that we will be out there catching fish with everyone again but for the foreseeable future we will not be running any of our epic fishing trips 😢. Our firm commitment to you is that we will keep watch on the developing situation and as soon as we are allowed to do so we will resume our trips. Our online booking system is poised and ready to run. The 'Book Now' button will be live from the moment the Government gives us the go ahead. Please stay safe, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Our very best Tim and Corrine

5 April 2020

As west Wales's favourite family friendly fishing trip it's our role to ensure that all of our customers, no matter their age, have a safe fun trip. As Covid 19 continues to cause so much pain and suffering worldwide there is clearly no room for fishing fun. We know that we will be out there catching fish with everyone again but for the foreseeable future we will not be running any of our epic fishing trips 😢. Our firm commitment to you is that we will keep watch on the developing situation and as soon as we are allowed to do so we will resume our trips. Online booking is currently available from 1st July but this may change at anytime. We will of course keep you posted. Please stay safe, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. Our very best Tim and Corrine

26 March 2020

Before we get into the detail of this news post can we wish you all a safe and secure time as we progress through the Covid-19 pandemic. Our hearts and thoughts are with you... As business people we are faced with ever changing and complicated decisions on a daily basis. Today our online booking system has gone live and we have taken the decision to only offer trips as of 1st June this year. We are hopeful that by then this terrible time will be over but we can't be certain. If you would like to book then please feel free to do so. We will of course refund you should we be unable to run. As for May, it is currently unlikely we will be running any trips. However that decision is not yet cast in stone and we will continue to monitor the situation. April remains cancelled.

21 March 2020

We take our social responsibility and safety very seriously and following Government Advice regarding Covid-19 we have taken the decision to temporarily postpone all Epic fishing trip bookings from now until the end of April. For customers with bookings from May onwards we are not postponing trips. We will be in touch closer to the time. We are continuously reviewing this situation and will keep you updated as we know more. Our online booking will be open presently for trips from and during May. Keep safe and keep in touch, our best Team Epic.

10 March 2020

It's the final countdown... Will there be any big fish waiting for us when we get out there? We certainly hope so but there is only one way to know for sure and that is to get out and fish. Current plan is to bring 'Legend of New Quay' back to home in Mid March and from then on its very much a case of get out there and try. Keep an eye out here for news of her arrival back at home and also the launch of our new online booking system. Its all coming together for season 2020 and we can not wait!

6 February 2020

Q. When does season 2020 start? A. As soon as the weather in late March allows. Last year we were catching wonderful fish, such as this Spurdog Shark caught on 28th March 2019, before the 1st April. It is hard to believe when you look at the sea state, blue sky and the T shirts but its a fact. Well we all know that the sun always shines in New Quay! Given the right sea conditions we will move 'Legend of New Quay' home from Aberystwyth to New Quay well before 1st April and then its full fishing trip mode for the summer. This year we are introducing Online Booking for the first time and you will be able to hit the book now tab, to choose and purchase your trip. We are expecting Online Booking to go live at around the same time that we start fishing in late March and we will make lots of noise about it then both here at epicfishingtrips.co.uk and on facebook.com/epicfishingtrips and instagram.com/epicfishingtrips.

17 January 2020

Warning, warning, warning .... Great holiday memories are made here!

How many activities are available to families across all ages groups - whether its Mums and sons or Dads and daughters - and across all abilities, where everyone can participate. With fun guaranteed and holiday memories a certainty? Only one and that is an Epic fishing trip! Not only will we ensure that you have a superb family fun time but you'll also be able to take your catch home. What could be better than a family BBQ with your own fresh caught fish? It is healthy, has little environmental impact and is a sustainable fishery. Perfect! Oh and we nearly forgot. Don't forget that you are more likely to see dolphins and marine wildlife on one of our fishing trips than you are on any other boat trip.

3 January 2020

It's January 2020! Are you planning a holiday to west Wales and in particular New Quay, Cardigan Bay? Great choice if you are! This part of the world is beautiful, full of surprises and largely unexplored. Many say its just like Cornwall without the crowds. Certainly the ambient daily temperatures are much the same as down south, the sea is just as blue and we have many more fish to be caught and slapped onto a family BBQ. So if now is your time to make holiday plans don't forget to include some time at sea aboard 'Legend of New Quay' on an Epic fishing trip with us. Bring the whole family along as we are very family friendly, pride ourselves on being inclusive for all and fact; you are just as likely to see Dolphins with us as on any other boat trip in Wales. Make an Epic fishing trip a firm 'to do' whilst you are in the area and book yourselves a family adventure that you will all remember.

23 December 2019

Seasonal Greetings. We can not believe that it is Christmas holidays already; gosh they come around quickly these days! They herald a quiet time here at Epic Fishing Trips as customers are largely focused on their own festivities. This changes quickly once the New Year dawns as us Brits traditionally like to start thinking about summer holidays in January. Experience tells us that the first weeks of the new year can be busy with summer bookings flooding in as the 'early birds' get themselves sorted for the very best of British outdoor activities - a sea side fishing trip. In 2020 we will have a new online booking system in place so you can get a trip booked for the days that suit you best. This should be up and running by 1st April and we will be keeping everyone informed of its development. In the meantime may we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year. Our very best Tim and Corrine.

28 November 2019

'Legend of New Quay' floats quietly in her winter berth. Winter is always a quiet time of year for boating on this coast. The sea state is often poor with a our predominant south westerly air-stream sending Atlantic low pressure after Atlantic low pressure to batter Cardigan Bay. So now is the time to prepare for next year and we are busy working on new fishing equipment for Legend. Our order of new fishing reels arrived yesterday and we are delighted with them. Penn have long made some of the best fishing reels available in the UK and we know that you deserve the best! Bookings are already coming in for 2020; if you are a charter group and you want to grab a choice date in the Tope and Bream season now is the time to get in touch! Our new contact us page is up and running. So why not give that a whirl?

3 October 2019

A first AWARD NOMINATION for Epic Fishing Trips. This is a huge thank you to all of our customers and our friends for your support in our nomination for best activity/experience in Mid Wales 2019 by Mid Wales Tourism. Chosen from one hundred and thirty businesses, Epic Fishing Trips is nominated in a short list of three, as the only activity/experience from our County of Ceredigion. Now we think that is an epic achievement worth celebrating! We have been nominated because of our passion for our local community, the environment and our commitment to providing the best customer experience whilst always demonstrating top business performance.

Tim and Corrine are delighted with the news of the nomination. ‘To have this level of recognition come to Epic Fishing Trips is very special indeed. Our enthusiasm and commitment to running modern, clean, professional and fishy fun filled fishing trips have brought this award nomination and we thank MWT Cymru for recognising our efforts. We would also like to say a special thank you to all of our customers and friends who have shared in our vision and enjoyed family fun fishing time with Epic Fishing Trips aboard our wonderful boat ‘Legend of New Quay’.

6 September 2019

We are in September and its the time for the autumnal equinox, the first cod to appear and the pleasure of catching and cooking prime fit seasonal crabs. The equinox and cod are closely linked because with the coming of the first winds of autumn the waters on this coast begin to colour and this in turn, heralds the murky darkness that the cod loves to prowl. Its a lovely time to be fishing here as the water is warm (at its warmest, around 18 degrees centigrade) and the warm water increases the metabolic rate of all fish making them lively and good news for us; very hungry! If we find the water clear then we will target sea bass with lures. And if as expected the water remains wind blown, rough and therefore coloured then we will be out targeting the first plump cod of the season. Our mushy peas are ready; really hope we catch one first!

24 August 2019

August bank holiday is finally here and everyone is enjoying the good weather and a nice family holiday time together.
What's nicer than some freshly caught mackerel straight from the sea onto the BBQ and onto your plate? This is what family holidays memories are made of. Our Epic Fishing Trips are perfect for families and children of all ages and we provide free and easy to use fishing tackle. There is a fishing demonstration before you start to show you how it's done and there is plenty of help for beginners and novices too.
A seaside family holiday here is not complete without that mackerel BBQ... Yummy, nothing tastier than freshly caught mackerel!

15 August 2019

What can be better than going sea fishing whilst on a family holiday, catching your own fish and taking it home and cooking it. For many families a sea side holiday would be incomplete without it. We understand this and make sure that not only is your trip a fun filled fishy experience but we also advise you about the messy bits of gutting and preparation. We are more than happy to show you how to prepare your fish and if you ask him to do so, our expert crew Wez will willingly show you how to gut and fillet. Although as is the case with this young lady in the photo, no help is required from us! One perfectly filleted Mackerel frying pan ready.

6 August 2019

Every once in a while something extraordinary comes up. This wonderful fish is a John Dory. It suddenly made an appearance on an Epic Fishing Trip and what a great surprise it was when it appeared out of the depths. These are rare fish here in Cardigan Bay. Indeed its the very first we have ever caught. What a beauty! The customer that caught it was so fascinated by his catch that he returned it to the ocean. So it is still out there, somewhere, swimming and feeding. And hopefully making more John Dory's! Will you be the next person aboard Legend of New Quay to catch one?

30 July 2019

With the sea seemingly alive with Mackerel at the moment its important for us all to take a moment to think of our fish stocks. Sustainable fishing is the 'band wagon' that we are all supposed to jump on. We agree but we go further and try to place more meaning behind our point of view by stating that we take a 'Generational Approach' to protecting our fish stocks. Its not about us, its about these guys having fun, catching fish with their own children in the years to come. We ensure that all of our customers enjoy catching fish but we do so by taking only the fish that we will eat. There are no buckets of dead fish going to waste aboard Legend of New Quay.

20 July 2019

Exciting News! James Fair (Wildlife journalist, writer and photographer) has written a new book called '100 Great Wildlife Experiences - what to see and where' and Epic Fishing Trips are in it! We are of course very proud to have been included in this book and would like to say a massive 'ThankYou' to James for doing so... James is an experienced journalist with a longstanding passion for wildlife and the environment. He spent 18 years as a writer and commissioning editor at BBC Wildlife Magazine.

James' new book is out now so make sure you get your copy! Oh yes and come and join us on an Epic Fishing Trip to see what it is all about.... we look forward to welcoming you aboard 'Legend of New Quay' soon!

10 July 2019

Hurray! The summer holidays have arrived... bring on the sun and dust off those BBQ's! If you are here on holiday and fancy an epic fishing trip aboard our fabulous boat 'Legend of New Quay' to catch your own mackerel supper then please do get in touch. What's nicer than some freshly caught mackerel straight from the sea onto the BBQ and onto your plate? This is what family holidays memories are made of. Our trips are perfect for families and children of all ages and we provide free and easy to use fishing tackle. There is a fishing demonstration before you start to show you how it's done and there is plenty of help for beginners and novices too. We look forward to hearing from you soon and welcoming you aboard 'Legend of New Quay'!

25 June 2019

June is the month when we fish for tope sharks. Normally an all day 8 hour trip this is a very exciting and great fun shark fishing trip. We do need to have calm sea conditions though because we travel about an hour offshore to the fishing grounds. Once there we fish for mackerel first which we use as bait (tope can't resist a nice tasty fresh mackerel!). Then it's rods out and wait for the sharks to bite. Hang on tight because they give a very good fight and certainly make you work for it! If you would like to give this shark fishing a go then get a date in the diary for June 2020. We look forward to hearing from you!