Going Potty...30/06/07

A couple of nights ago I went out and dropped a couple of nets inside the harbour baited with heads and bones from the fishmonger and weighted down with a couple of decent stones. Last night I went out to haul them up and have a look:





Hoisted aboard, they fit nicely across the lap on a yak, and access to the catch is easy.



First out was this fella. A one-armed bandit, he was too small at 60mm carapace length to keep so after being admired went back in.



His cellmate, a velvet swimmer, got a well-deserved CRABSBO before following him back in the water.



Star prize went to this guy, who amazed me at being able to get in



Some blatant gratuitous prawn now, I would have expected a lot more of these and would have had a pint or two on the seaward side of the harbour wall, these being the length of my finger:



I only had eight in total that were decent size so only a small snack – but boiled up with salt they tasted absolutely spot-on, firmer and sweeter than any you’ll buy anywhere. I’m out drop-netting on Sunday subject to conditions.



Next net yielded another lobster, again undersized but with both claws his time. Another pair of pics because I just find them so beautiful:





I also had edible and shore crabs, all of which went back due to being undersized or in small quantity (shore crab are cooked up for a smashing bisque and are a delicacy in France where my wife is from. I haven’t tried it yet but will do sometime if I get a decent haul of them).

A sealouse also made an appearance. Weird looking things. Reminds me of my ex.



Last catch, on the rod on the way in, was another shore crab. He just didn’t want to let go! Roll on the fish taking a bite though, still no joy there.



A good night out again. If the wind drops I’ll check again tonight, perhaps dinner will be awaiting?

Me. Just went out again and I'd got another lobster, undersized and missing a claw again, edible, shore and swimmer crabs, a few more prawns and a little baby squid. Ah, all these species.







Popped the lobster back and he went off - sank about a foot then flicked his tail up to his belly and shot off backwards. the squid got back in, squirted a couple of puffs of ink and was gone. Couldn't get the edibles out as they were holding on for dear life and I didn't want to hurt them unnecesarily but shook out the others.

Lovely still night, no real wind to speak of, gentle shore break and 2ft swell, current not doing a lot. I wanted to stay out for a while longer really but with no fish biting here at the moment (and it's not just me apparently) I came back in. Might try for the mullet next week, they're around.

Two more types of critter today - snake pipefish and spider crab.



Had 3 lobsters in the nets yesterday, all fairly small. I left them in and this afternoon there was only one - either someone nabbed them or they have found a way out.

Start of the 2007 Season...16/06/07

Today marked the beginning of the 2007 Coarse Fishing Season, and children duly deposited at my parents I took the opportunity of heading out on the kayak with a friend in my wife’s yak (his first time kayak angling) for a spot of piking.

The original plan had been to paddle from the nearby Broad up the connecting dyke onto the river, and up to an old pub that serves superb beer – an all-day 15 mile troll. Sadly this wasn’t to be as I was feeling a bit rough from a bout of short-term flu so instead we stuck to the broad itself and a short excursion up the dyke.

Launching at about 9:30 we paddled around the bottom edge before heading up towards the top end where the dyke leads out to the river. About a quarter of the way up I was reminded of the thrill of a run when my starboard reel began to screech out against the ratchet. This line carried a Shakespeare Big S lure in blue mackerel pattern which has proved time and again to work well on this water.



In came Jack Pike, no doubt annoyed at not having a square meal!



The wind was pretty strong and I drifted into the moorings at the side, crossing my other line and making a right balls-up of things. While the pike was in closer it further complicated matters by getting the lure across his mouth, putting hooks in both sides of his mouth and limiting the room I would have to remove them. Still, I got it sorted out, weighed it in at 4lb 2oz and had a quick photo taken by my mate



All done, I placed it back in the water alongside the yak and held it until it was recovered from its ordeal and swam off under its own steam. First fish of the new season and a nice fight.

Having sorted my tackle out again I carried on trolling for the next 3 hours but apart from catching a lost keepnet (that weighed a ton) off the bottom, an overhanging tree or two, some reeds and a cruiser I had no more runs. Nor did my mate sadly. A cracking mornings yakking though, and great to be back after my favourite fish.