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Deepsea Fishing ... from a rig

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Everything Mac

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
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Scotland
Some of you may know my day job is in the offshore oil and gas industry. (Meh, pays the bills) And generally speaking I've little love for the industry or the job but as I say it pays the bills.

However, in a rare and convoluted twist of fate I find myself working on a rig in the Norwegian sector of the north sea.

Imagine my delight when I discovered that you're actually allowed to fish from the rig here. :) (We're not allowed to fish from the rigs in the UK)

IT's definitely a bit different. The reels are large drums basically and there's no rod, just a bit of metal with some runners.

Lures are extremely basic as well, just a coloured rubber sleeve over the hooks but so far I've landed a handful of decent sized coalfish, two 8-8.5kg Pollack and a 9.8kg Cod.
They also have a station for filleting, then you vacuum pack and freeze the fillets so you can take them home.

Well chuffed.

I'll see if I can get some pics.

Cheers
Andy
 
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Ha Ha,. definitely not allowed on UK Rigs, all sorts of perceived issues. Not least it's normally only possible from the lowest Texas deck.
The guys played a trick on the OIM once, by hiding a scuba suit in their luggage and then laying it out on the texas deck. OIM went spare searching the rig for an intruder/terrorist etc etc. Eventually told him when they realised it was getting serious.
We also had a lawnmower, painted green, fixed to the edge of the Production rig helideck, an example of nobody sense-checking the outbound manifest. The OIM allowed that.
 
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Falstaff said:
Ha Ha,. definitely not allowed on UK Rigs, all sorts of perceived issues. Not least it's normally only possible from the lowest Texas deck.
The guys played a trick on the OIM once, by hiding a scuba suit in their luggage and then laying it out on the texas deck. OIM went spare searching the rig for an intruder/terrorist etc etc. Eventually told him when they realised it was getting serious.
We also had a lawnmower, painted green, fixed to the edge of the Production rig helideck, an example of nobody sense-checking the outbound manifest. The OIM allowed that.
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HA! Gotta love a bit of offshore humour. :lmao:


I'll try and get a few pics up. Actually getting pictures is problematic as you're not allowed your phone outside but I might be getting one I can use out here shortly.
 
These are the reels. Note the "Rod" part.
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Naff pic but these are the fillets from one side of the Pollock I got. They're really thick slabs of meat. :O
But it must be said I am apparently terrible at filleting.
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It’s crazy, as an island nation, that we really only eat fish and chips, and hardly anyone goes fishing. And when you do need a bit of relief or a hobby because you’re stuck on a rig for weeks, you can’t fish.

Nice one Andy, any pics of the cod?
 
Nice65 said:
It’s crazy, as an island nation, that we really only eat fish and chips, and hardly anyone goes fishing. And when you do need a bit of relief or a hobby because you’re stuck on a rig for weeks, you can’t fish.

Nice one Andy, any pics of the cod?
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Yeah it's a real shame we aren't better at cooking fish as a nation. Particularly when you compare it to the likes of Portugal etc.

No pics of the cod sadly. We've got some issues here now so I reckon I'll manage another crack at them. Will do my best.

Andy
 
Everything Mac said:
Yeah it's a real shame we aren't better at cooking fish as a nation. Particularly when you compare it to the likes of Portugal etc.

No pics of the cod sadly. We've got some issues here now so I reckon I'll manage another crack at them. Will do my best.

Andy
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Knowing you’re on a rig it doesn’t pay to skim read “issues” and “manage a crack” a bit too fast ;) :D
 
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I can get fishing for food to eat, all for it, but don't think I'd get much enjoyment from the fishing itself with a set up like that. I used to coarse fish, enjoyed the challenge/skills needed. Each to their own, but sea fishing just seems to be waiting for the fish to come along and take the bait, then hauling it out. I have tried it a little bit but no fun for me.
 
Nice65 said:
It’s crazy, as an island nation, that we really only eat fish and chips, and hardly anyone goes fishing. And when you do need a bit of relief or a hobby because you’re stuck on a rig for weeks, you can’t fish.

Nice one Andy, any pics of the cod?
Click to expand...
Speak for yourself...

My mum used to cook fish for us at least twice a week when I was a kid. Nowadays, she eats more fish than meat. Every month or two she takes a trip up to Sunderland to spend a weekend with a cousin and then comes back home with a coolbox full of fish. And this is Sheffield, not on the coast.
 
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Keith_Beef said:
Speak for yourself...

My mum used to cook fish for us at least twice a week when I was a kid. Nowadays, she eats more fish than meat. Every month or two she takes a trip up to Sunderland to spend a weekend with a cousin and then comes back home with a coolbox full of fish. And this is Sheffield, not on the coast.
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That’s not the norm though, which was my point. Give your average person a bucket of mackerel and they wouldn’t know what to do with them. Crabs…forget it.

We fry fish in batter, and that’s about it. Go to Thailand or any of the SE Asian countries and if there’s a bit of water, it’ll have a fisherman in it. As a kid I went out every morning to empty the lobster pots off Bognor, hauling in mackerel on feathers on the way in and out, but it doesn’t happen anymore.

Actually speaking for myself, we have a local pub here, The Star and Garter, and every Thursday night, the Irish landlord drives up to Billingsgate and brings back some of the nights catch. He supplies his pub and also runs a fish stall throughout Friday, it’s market cheap and fresh caught. He also bakes a dozen loaves each day and sells organic eggs. Organic milk is available from The Milk Hut up the road. None of it is priced for “down from Londons” either. £2 for a small white loaf.
 
I live as nearly as far from the sea as you can get. Our local Morrisons sells wet fish and it’s always bright eyed.
My wife doesn’t like “food with a face“ but a salmon meal is almost weekly whether a steak or in a fish pie. Left to my own meal prep I’ll happily gut mackerel, bass and sole. As well as those there can be herring, sardines and snapper in the freezer.
Like the OP I’m crap at filleting but I’ve taken on Tilapia.
I presume that all the other Morrisons customers here in the Midlands are equally content.

Winching a decent cod out of the North Sea must be very satisfying.
 
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