GOOD TRIP ON GOLDEN REDFISH WHILE SAITHE PLAY HARD TO GET

Fresher trawler Helga María AK docked in Reykjavík Yesterday morning after a five and a half day trip with a catch of 160 tonnes on board. According to skipper Heimir Guðbjörnsson, the bulk of the catch is golden redfish and saithe, and only five tonnes are other species, such as ling and haddock.

‘We were mostly fishing on the Mountains and around Eldeyjarbodi. We did well on redfish, but saithe fishing has been variable. Our allocation for each trip is around 80 tonnes of golden redfish and we can take as much saithe as we can catch. But it wasn’t until Thursday that we had a decent catch of saithe on the Mountains so we had this trip in the bag,’ he said.

He commented that there was lumpy weather on Thursday, but otherwise conditions have been perfect.

‘Last winter’s conditions were tough and March was an outright nightmare. But we still did well when we were able to fish. The spring has been fine, and we have at least done well fishing for golden redfish.’

Helga María was extensively refitted in Poland last year and converted from a factory vessel into a fresher trawler. Heimir Guðbjörnsson said that the refit was very successful and he is satisfied with the ship’s new role, not least with the equipment installed for chilling the catch that has performed very well.