“I’d hate to go without it” – Alan Dwan on using Catchwise

Kelly of Ladram. Image: Waterdance

In a recent interview with Hook & Net, Alan talks about using Catchwise aboard Waterdance's gillnetter Kelly of Ladram, working deep-water monkfish out of Newlyn — currently fishing around 180 miles south-west of Cornwall, in waters down to 200 fathoms.

He first noticed Norwegian boats using the system, uploaded three years of his own catch data, and worked with Catchwise when early tidal data needed tightening — Jonas added the fixes, and Alan says it is now spot on. After three months, he said he'd hate to go without it.

Historic catches, conditions and clear ground

Day to day, Catchwise helps him look back at his own hauls alongside seabed, tide and temperature — and check that he is not working ground that has already seen recent fishing activity.

As well as my own data, where I can look at historic catches linked to seabed sediment, state of the tide, water temperature and similar, I can also ensure that I'm working ground that hasn't seen other fishing activity for a few weeks beforehand.

Alan Dwan

Skipper on Kelly of Ladram

Built with skippers, for the fleet

For Alan, the value is not only the map layers — it is how quickly Catchwise can adjust the system based on what skippers need at sea.

Read more from the same Hook & Net series: Andrew Bremner on Boy Andrew, and UK skippers on Catchwise.