Brim: Scarce fish on Westfjords grounds

‘This was a poor trip, although we managed to pull it off. The fishing started well, and then it dried up completely. There’s not much to be had on Westfjords fishing grounds at the moment so we’ll have to search elsewhere,’ said Friðleifur Einarsson, skipper of fresher trawler Helga María.

Helga María’s catch was discharged this morning in Sauðárkrókur and Friðleifur Einarsson was already heading for fishing grounds off the east coast when we caught up with him. He said that the last trip had been intended to concentrate on cod, which seems scarce for the moment on the Hali and other fishing grounds in the region.

‘There was a showing of saithe there, but we were after cod. We tried the Thverálshorn area as well, but fishing there was just as thin. There hasn’t been much capelin to be seen, apart from the occasional haul with a few gilled fish.’

According to Friðleifur Einarsson, fishing off the north coast has been patchy over the last few weeks. The fish show up at intervals, but these appearances don’t last long.

‘There are reports of decent fishing off the east coast over the last four or five days, so we’ll see how long it lasts. The fishing has been in the Seyðisfjörður Deep, but has now shifted southwards,’ he said.