tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53380187162718443342023-11-24T23:30:43.444+00:00Kayaking AnglerSnapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.comBlogger544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-1960526265665129692020-07-10T20:34:00.001+01:002020-07-10T20:38:34.124+01:00Hey all! I don't write so much these days but I still have some good stuff on youtube - enjoy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBe58wMUQrS-Wkbsxjw-R9eR9ynHAUyRG"></a><br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/view_all_playlists?nv=1<br />
<br />
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBe58wMUQrS-Wkbsxjw-R9eR9ynHAUyRGSnapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-65195939519676149042014-08-14T23:11:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:12:38.186+01:00Emptying Out...Emptying Out...<br />
<br />
My wife’s sister has come to stay with her son and I’m off on holiday for much of the summer. This means we have lunch and therefore I’m doing a lot of the cooking. Being a bit short this month with no overtime this means fish is on the menu and I’m cooking. So, first things first, six fillets of recent local bass come out of the freezer and get served up panfried, skin side down, with a prawn, red pepper and sundried tomato butter. Nice. Trouble is I’m now completely out of bass for the first time since, oooh, 2010? I can barely believe it, how did this happen? Thinking back and there’s family dinners, barbecue with my cousin, some to a mate as a thank you for giving me a couple of boxes of dvd’s he wanted shot of...and I’ve not been fishing for them of late. Something had to be done though, I was breaking out in cold sweats...<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8160280.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Next morning, up at dawn, coffee and I’m out of the door. I take the Tempo down to the beach, stick two nano rods aboard with the usual LP Magnet baitcasters and set off, dragging a Warbird Minnow 12 on one rod and a Jointed Minnow 13 on the other. Up I go, up past the harbour and across, along to Jackaman’s, twice, around the jetty and along the rocks past Gulliver, up to the Ness and back again. Nothing doing. Very coloured water, swelly too. Not a lot of expectation...but?<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8160281.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
But! I stop for a few minutes then cast out the Jointed Minnow and set off; fifty yards and the rod bangs over with a powerful take. A spirited scrap follows and then it comes alongside. I lift it out, 44cm of fresh line-caught silver-scaled fish to make me feel less anxious. I paddle home and put the coffee on for whoever might get up soon!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8160282.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-41198842572189489152014-08-07T23:08:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:08:58.297+01:00The End of the Land…07/08/2014The End of the Land…07/08/2014<br />
<br />
What do you call a competition that isn’t? A good excuse for a holiday anyway. That was my feeling as I arrived at Penzance at eight on the Tuesday night to discover that the weekend’s competition was probably off, after spending all day in the car with my wife and kids bar a couple of stops and a wander around Oxford en-route. I was happy anyway and having not had a holiday together for many years, having fine weather at the site and seeing Si, Juliette and Amy also there with the knowledge that we had a bit of time things were fine. We pitched camp, got the beers open and the barbie going and relaxed…Si’s kayak was on the ground, it was Cam’s one, used briefly and now with his good mate. I gave Si an open beer; we did the cheers bit and then the same to our absent friend with a splash onto the yak. Funny thing, but we had a two-second shower straight after…<br />
<br />
Thursday morning dawned fine and dandy, hot as Hades and cloudless. Facebook notification was that I had been spotted in Hayle, black Tempo atop the car!!! And I thought Suffolk was inbred. We moved the tents away from the uphill acceleration part of the A30 and headed off for Land’s End after bacon and coffee. Now I’ve been to Cornwall before, briefly, but it’s largely unknown to me and visiting Land’s End was a must; I live by and fish England’s most easterly point so to visit the most westerly was a must. To be honest I expected a rip-off and tackiness but instead any of that was easy to filter out and ignore as it was just such a stunning bit of geography. Well, our side has a wind turbine and a gasometer and lumps of jumbled rock…but this place, like home, also said bass to me…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8060023.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8060040.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
That evening Liam popped over. The first person I invited to join the RTM fishing team (so impressed by what I saw on his blog) we’d still not met in the flesh and between he, Si and I we bored the girls into leaving us in peace as we talked fish and hatched our plan. Liam had organised the now-postponed comp but was off anyway and up for taking us fishing. His idea of Sennen Cove, where I’d briefly been that day was ideal as Si and I had made our minds up that if we were only to get out once it’d be Land’s End. No matter if it was good or bad to fish it was an icon. Liam was up for that too as was Richi, who was travelling down and Steve who’d meet us there. We talked into the night over beer and barbecue and then got our heads down.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next morning Richi and Liam arrived to fetch us (leaving the cars for the ladies) and we headed off to the car park. Another beautiful day with hardly any wind. Twenty minutes and we were at Sennen and ready to unload. Well, Liam and I were, God knows where Richi and Si ended up…Steve was here already and had been for hours. We dumped our kit in the car park at the top of the slope.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070067.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Then hung about while they did the same eventually.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070068.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It was pretty quiet right now…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070069.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
What really struck me though was the water clarity – this was better than my aquarium and totally different to what I was snorkelling in the night before at Penzance, after which I found a tuppence in the stream we walked up back to the campsite, the lucky tuppence safely stowed in my front hatch!. And when I think of the soup at home…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070070.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Just about there…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070072.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
And they’re off; I was first afloat but the rest headed out quicker as I was trolling, a lure on one rod and a wedge with tinsels on the other so going a lot slower, in hope of a fluke fish. It came to nothing but it’s always a possibility. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070073.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I got close to the reef of the end of the breakwater, which was fun, but not a sniff. Like a fool I’d left the top section of my Nano 10-20lb rod in the tent so had to rely purely on my 7-25g Nano rods…could they stand this sort of fishing? They needed a test; as ever they were matched to the LP Magnet baitcasters I love so much – I have to say that baitcasters are my favourite reels and have been for many years. I don’t think they’re suited to my winter baited codding but I should try them I suppose. The thing with baitcasters is the low profile, absolutely ideal for a kayak where space is a premium, and being able to flick out lures or pirks or leads makes them so appealing…but cranking cod up mid-flow in tide? <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070074.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I digress; Si was first in once we got out into the deeper water with a mackerel. I was starting to panic, I’d been here over ten minutes now without a fish – in Cornwall! The promised land! Gulf Stream, Atlantic/Channel mixing, clear water, rough and sand…what’s this? <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070079.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I was over the moon. Liam had said they were here and I’ve never had one. It was a good one too; wrasse species number 4 was the beautiful cuckoo. Liam did the honours with a photo:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/fishermanfaisey/P8070361.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
He was still nearby when I hooped the rod over again! This was a good scrap but what the hell was it?<br />
<br />
[url href="http://s727.photobucket.com/user/fishermanfaisey/media/P8070363.jpg.html"][img src="http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/fishermanfaisey/P8070363.jpg"][/url]<br />
<br />
I could barely believe it. Years ago some of the Welsh fellas were telling me they envied my cod fishing as they didn’t get them there – yet all I caught in the Oxwich Comp that year were cod. Now, in Cornwall where Liam said they didn’t get cod I caught, under his very nose and on a hot August day, two of them and both in size too!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070082.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Liam really couldn’t believe it…until his rod hooped over!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070083.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070088.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
All of these were sizeable, Liam’s being 42cm I think. He kept it as he’d promised it to someone but I slipped mine back as it was too early to start keeping anything for me – Barbie-fodder would come later. I hoped. I dropped a set of hokkais down with a Fladen Portland Eel on a flowing trace, I wanted some bait amongst whatever was down there and while Si had a cod of his own I pulled up one on the eel with a launce on the top!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070085.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
First of the year, can’t be bad! Teaching an old dog new tricks? The cod was caught Runswick style, drop, wind up a few turns then drop again. Learnt everywhere I’ve been this year. Anyway, I dropped down again further inshore a bit later, wound up…and a pollack hit the hokkais.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070089.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I love pollack. They look good, fight great and taste sublime…but still too early. I was on four species and ahead of the others for now. Si was still on two.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070090.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I asked if he had stopped grinning yet as I hadn’t; course not. We paddled out with Liam into deeper water in the hope of a haddock, another on my never-caught hit list! Chatting away I dropped down and the rod banged immediately it touched bottom; full string of mackerel on the first drop of my beloved Fladen coloured feathers – I’ve been using these as my principal feather rigs since 2006 when I bought twenty packs cheap. If you watch them in the water you can see why they work. Cheap as chips too.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070091.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Well we’re sitting there enjoying ourselves. I’ve got bits of mackerel on and miss every bite while Liam gets a tub gurnard, which I really want and Si gets a grey which I love but had at Runswick. I’ll be happy with either but really want a red gurnard. But no, straight after the others I get a dogfish as well.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070094.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Richi arrives back from having a quick pastrami bagel in New York and we all happily drift around. Soon Liam and I are kind of paired off, the others having drifted away a bit; Liam calls out something…he points…Dolphins! This is a first for me from the kayak. I see porpoises often enough and have seen dolphins from my aunt’s boats abroad but British dolphins no…and here they come, towards me, and they’re fantastic! Bottlenoses playing as they pass.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/fishermanfaisey/P8070390.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Liam catches one at the right time and I get my shot on the hoof as it comes out – perfect!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070095.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Oh man, that was special! Then Liam catches a red gurnard and a cuckoo wrasse while I’m still stuck on the dog from a while back. A bit of excitement occurs when I hear a splash being and to my right, Liam says mackerel and I flick out some hokkais and a lead with a piece of mackerel still attached to the bottom hook…I let it sink then start reeling, stopping and starting and then, not too far away but down in the water I spot a shark following it; small and probably tope but it turns away when I stop the retrieve in the hope it’ll take. Damn! Oh well, we’re starting to head away from Land’s End though so I call over that I think we should head there now and we all head off.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070098.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww278/fishermanfaisey/P8070410.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070102.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070103.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g269/reggaelover/reggaelover056/DSCF4817_zpseb475b35.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g269/reggaelover/reggaelover056/DSCF4819_zpse6e5661a.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070109.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070110.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070111.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070115.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070116.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070119.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070120.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Well I fished and paddled and fished and paddled and couldn’t get a fish in here but I was with good friends, it was special! Then the lifeboat turned up…I thought it was to check on us but they were practicing and putting on a display – a great idea that may have got a few quid donated up top.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070122.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g269/reggaelover/reggaelover056/DSCF4820_zps4935ab30.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I kept thinking we’d be asked to leave but they just ignored us and carried on doing what they were doing, happy to share the water with us. So we carried on pootling about and fishing and Si managed a pollack.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070124.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070123.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070125.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070126.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We toasted this fish and we toasted Cam because he’d have approved greatly of us pairing up, the day we were having and the fun his Dorado was getting.<br />
<br />
We watched the show too of course.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070132.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070134.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070135.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070136.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…and we didn’t mean to get as close…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070131.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…or show them how fast we were!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g269/reggaelover/reggaelover056/DSCF4843_zps11b06ca9.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Anyway, the others had gone and the SAR guys had gone so off we went. The flow was strong here now anyway, it was a battle to stay in one place so we went back towards the cove. Of course Richi saw some fun stuff and had to go through it. I saw it as a shortcut so had to go through it too. Dr Syntax’s Head is kind of the last bit and we cut the corner on the way back! I wondered why Richi was going so slow through it but realised once I went – the confusion of the eddies, swells, rebounds and overfalls coupled with depths and rocks were quite something and speed just wasn’t possible. Quite moist it got. Still, needs must.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070138.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
So, we get through, catch up with the others straight out from the remains of RMS Mulheim and start to drift fish; Richi and I with drogues out. The others keep heading back uptide and drifting down and eventually disappear for slower water. However, the drogue isn’t deployed until after I’ve raced over to Richi who has shouted over that he’s spotted sunfish! Wow! This I had to see…but it dived before I got there. I stuck the drogue out, baited some hokkais and dropped straight onto that much desired Red Gurnard!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070140.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It made up for it.<br />
<br />
We fished a bit longer, no new species and then started to head in. I stopped here and there for a quick drift to no avail and then…flip-flap, flip-flap…there was another! I scooted around with the camera for a good few minutes and it was quite happy. I couldn’t catch it underwater though sadly.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070143.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070145.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070147.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I was well happy! On the way back I landed a nice pollack that was kept for dinner with my remaining mackerel during one of my jigging stops and then I began the paddle in again and approached the reef where Si, Liam and Steve were fishing near; unable to see them I came in to land a few minutes behind Richi to find they were still out. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070152.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
A quick call on the radio followed and we spotted them but elected to take the kayaks up top anyway and start getting things sorted.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070153.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Si is next in, soon followed by Steve and Liam.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070154.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070157.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070156.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We load up, chat, laugh and tell our stories of the day, commenting on this and that and then head back to the campsite where I’m on cooking duty. The barbecue gets fired up for the mackerel first of all, the surplus given away to another camper…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070155.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…and then it’s onto the pollack. This receives the full filleting treatment and I heat up a large lump of butter on the gas stove. This will be panned with lemon pepper, bought from Tesco, and a glug or two of San Miguel to stop the butter burning and keep some moisture in. Nice and simple.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8070158.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We sit down to eat. The verdict? Ain’t no cat getting pollack from us again!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/x25.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
That’s it really in regards to the kayak adventures but there’s an appendix or two.<br />
<br />
Next morning it’s family time and we head to St Michael’s Mount by way of the rockpools. Great fun with my nets and I love it. Smelt, tiny ballan, shrimps, gobies, prawns and mullet and what looked to me like sea trout fry but surely not?<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/x27.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080171.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080164.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080166.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080169.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080170.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080168.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080172.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080177.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080178.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080174.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/x30.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Apart from feeding a few mullet in the harbour while waiting for the boat back after the causeway covered up that was all the fishiness for the first part of the day but then…Si and I got released for a couple of hours to go and play down at the harbour! Sort of LRF, we started by dropshotting a size 8 with a bit of isome worm from the bridge to no avail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080180.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
So, moving over to the harbour slipway, having blagged some manky mackerel off some other people doing the same, we set about with a sabikis hook and a small lead each, cut from one of my packs. We didn’t have the best gear for the job really! Try as I might I couldn’t connect with my bites at first and with a penny riding on the first, the biggest and the most species it was a race of great seriousness…and then Si beat me to penny one!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080181.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
He’d poached the swim of the kid on the left who’d managed a shanny in his dropnet and who’d agreed to move along after we’d threatened to throw him in for showing us up…but what did Si have? Another shanny and a good one at that!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080183.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I soon had my own though!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080184.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We carried on for a bit and then Si started to yelp some more. I thought he was playing the fool but no, he’d spotted and gone for – on the ad-hoc tackle and offerings we had – a nosy bass. It makes you cry really, all the effort put in to fish for them properly and he catches a 3lb dinner on a sliver of mackerel, a size 8 thin sabikis hook and visible line! It was brilliant bit of angling, with the drag used properly, the slipway used as a beaching aid and the help of our amazed fellow fisherman!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080186.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
See the action!<br />
<br />
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEZalOTMFwA[/video]<br />
<br />
I wasn’t to be outdone though; I landed a personal best Shanny! He’d still won the second penny though.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080188.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We moved off on the arrival of one of the tourist mackerel boats, impressing the crew and passengers with our bass landed where they tie up! Great kudos. The lad who’d helped us left too and gave us his salted, manky mackerel crab bait from the tourist shop – this actually turned out to be really good bait!<br />
<br />
Liam was going to arrive sometimeish but first we dropped down by the dry dock, a dirty, smelly, tight little place that saw me first in with a new species, a black goby!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080189.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Followed by a personal best common goby!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080194.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Si also managed the same and between us we could have filled my aquarium up in no time!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080196.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080192.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Liam soon arrived with his girlfriend Holly and failed to catch anything there, trying some isome for the little wrasse we occasionally saw or anything else. So we moved onto the inner harbour proper and we all missed every bit we had while getting thoroughly cold from wind and the dusk that was arriving.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080197.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We moved back to our corner, had a few more gobies and finally Liam was in with a tiny poor cod and then a baby pollack, neither witnessed by Holly who’d gone to check something out.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080198.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8080199.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
With the temperature no longer doable we headed off for beer, fishy tales and campfire bass, our Cornish fishing adventure over until next time. And with that bass Si had beaten me on the species count as well…I had to pay up with lucky pennies!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8090208.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-3974532973272457552014-08-02T23:07:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:08:32.931+01:00Barbie from the Beach...01-02/08/2014Barbie from the Beach...01-02/08/2014<br />
<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks back we went over to Norwich as a family plus Amos to do some shopping for the Penzance competition. We never do such things and it's the first time we’ve been into a Go Outdoors but the main thrust of this was that I walked in and bumped into my cousin Kate who I'd not seen in many years. We promised to meet up and I'd suggested coming to ours, chilling on the beach and having a barbie which we both rather fancied and promptly forgot about. As you do.<br />
<br />
I remembered on Thursday though, a few weeks down the line and sent a text...no can do was the gist as they were camping in north Norfolk but we were welcome to drive up for a barbie there, my brother was going as well. No need to ask twice and of course no summer barbie is complete in my family (apart from the one we had for lunch) without fresh-caught bass. This formed the basis of my plan. Now, I'd not been out much as it was the holidays as I had a daughter to amuse. This of course took the form of some fishing, the best being our one hour salt and fresh combo which saw her first bass and roach...amongst the theme-parking, shopping, sweet eating, swimming and assorted dad stuff. This hour culminated in something I found remarkable in that I've never witnessed it before in my life. As we walked back across the lock bridge at Oulton Broad I spotted large eels on the surface feeding on whatever washed through. I'd never caught them this size and I was fascinated. I watched for ten minutes, seeing bass of 3lb or so also coming to the surface to feed on fry. So engrossed was I that I only thought to get some video right at the end and that wasn't anywhere near as good as what I'd watched. They lifted the lock gates soon after too so that put the end to that. Anyway, I let Paul know because I knew he'd love to witness it and we discussed a bass session.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7311039.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7311044.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG6zvWp4cvY[/video]<br />
<br />
Anyway, Friday saw me free for a couple of hours and so I headed out for a quick troll up the harbour wall which resulted in a blank in the dirty water. I really wanted to go hounding but I had to be elsewhere just before high water so the session would be short and unproductive if doing that. A survey boat running close-by on a reciprocal heading on the way back being the most exciting part of the session but a pleasant paddle all the same. Paul wasn't free until the Saturday anyway so we made our plans for 7am...<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8011071.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Yarmouth. Pleasure Beach. that was the plan - southerly wind and ebb tide would give clarity and smooth water. Hit the outfall and outer harbour wall. I don't fish here often as it doesn't throw much up, they're never all that large and it's half an hour each way but I needed to get some sausages from a place nearby anyway, two barbies with one stone and all that. Great news, the bollards have been 'edited'. This meant I could drive down to the bottom of the ramp, removing 2/3 of my portage. Nice! We dropped the yaks and I parked.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021072.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Straight out and down to the outfall. Paul was still faffing about as I did my first pass with the tide. Nothing? Really? Oh. Nice and calm and clear and bassy...I turned and headed back. Paul was almost up to me, just a few hundred yards away when the rod pulled down. Nice!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021073.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
he was amazed! I wasn't. All that amazed me was that I couldn't find a second. This place doesn't hold many but I'd only been a couple of times this year so I thought a brace would come up. We gave it a few passes and a few casts at the corners then headed all the way up the outer harbour, trying to decide whether it was a bomb or a bottle near the end and then headed back. As I returned to the outfall I left Paul well behind faffing about. Seem's he'd snagged something:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021081.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
He cleared it though! We had a few passes and then headed in to the landing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021082.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021083.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Funny thing, the bass were the same length yet mine was plump and full-bellied while Paul's was slimmer...0.975 and 0.75g bled, a 25% difference (both around 42cm). Anyway, that was the barbie sorted and we headed off.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8021085.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-36806269464224083262014-07-27T23:06:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:06:40.335+01:00Dropshotting with Dan...27/07/2014Dropshotting with Dan...27/07/2014<br />
<br />
Dan was itching to get on the freshwater having done no coarse fishing for years and having got the day free for getting out I was more than happy to help. Okay, so he lives four hours away but he didn't mind that and I figured we'd go out for a special day, off to the upper Waveney to come down the five mile or so route winding through farmland to Bungay. A special bit of river this, largely unused and filled with fish large and small. There are good chub, perch, pike, roach, dace and rudd in there plus millions of smaller ones. A quick tackle shop stop for dropshot hooks and maggots and we were away again to unload and walk down to the launch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7300994.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Last time I fished with Dan was at the Swanage comp and the last time I fished here was with Amos. I figured our first stop was in the deep bit beneath some overhanging trees where he'd done well on the perch, dropshotting, and I'd pulled dace and other silvers on the float. We pulled up, slung our paddles into the reeds and started to fish. First drop and I was in...a fine perch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7300995.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7300998.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Second fish, second species, surprise surprise, a nice rudd on a hook way too large for it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7300999.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Dan managed a gudgeon and I was jealous, I've not had one yet this year. Then, a big pull on my dropshot rig, five maggots on the hook and clear water and a pike grabbed it! I was using 2lb line and it had engulfed the whole lot so we parted company in seconds. Right then...on with one of my new Fladen rattle shads that I'd ordered in for the Swanage comp...this being on my pike set-up. I lobbed it in, worked it slowly up and saw the pike whirling around it eight feet down. Could he get it? No. Practically under me I jigged it up and down with slight sideways movements and eventually it managed to grab hold. Pike on!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301000.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
It was no monster but it had nowhere to run and being on a short line it gave a really good account of itself before I lifted it in.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301006.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301005.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
It was a bit quiet now and all I managed was some tiny dace - had to be quick on these!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301010.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Time to move on, let Dan really see the beauty of this river.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301011.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301012.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We stopped, I floatfished a single red maggot for the first chub of the day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301014.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
It was one of those golden days and I made the most of it with my gold-banded Nano 7-25g rods and the Maxximus 8 and 11 bb spinning reels.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301016.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The day pretty much went like this for the first few hours - stop, fish for ten minutes, move a few hundred yards downstream, fish for ten minutes and so on. I'd caught a small dace again - had loads of them - and decided to re-rig with it on a dropshot in the hope of a good perch. I moved off and found a very promising downed tree. As I rounded it I saw some decent chub up to about thee pound and thought this worth a try; down went the dropshot and I watched and waited. A couple of minutes passed when I saw a half-pounder move in, circle the dace and grab it! My first livebaited chub and a terrific bite. It shot off and I fought it on the light line, pulling it away from reeds until tiring it enough to bring aboard. Perfect fish!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301017.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
It was actually bigger than Dan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301018.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike the river...<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301020.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Dan pulled up behind and fished for a bit. He had a chub near the surface when he got a thrill; a pike came out of nowhere to grab it but Dan got the chub in then tried to tempt it with a lure. It wouldn't take so I passed over my rod with the shad, still no joy and with it spooked and gone we carried on down to a favourite place of mine, where the fish shoal over a shallow, fast-running gravel bar. They weren't in place today so we stood there instead, having a rather jolly wheeze and enjoying a cigar together as we waded in the manner of toffs with their fly rods. It was a wizard prang and resulted in a fish or two to boot before we headed on again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301022.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We stopped in a few pools of course and Dan managed a nice little chub again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301023.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Then things got a bit tight...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301024.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301025.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
As we approached the sluice I tried the dropshot again in a nice deep bit with an overhanging tree that had plenty of snags trapped beneath it; five maggots and my best chub of the day at a pound or so.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301026.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And thence to the portage point above the sluice...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301027.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Dan is a, shall we say, portly fellow and his graceful exit was a joy to behold:<br />
<br />
<br />
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d3fZCPL2_w[/video]<br />
<br />
<br />
Hmm. We walked down to the sluice and there, with his daughter, was Andy, enjoying some bank fishing for the good chub that sit there. His daughter had a fine specimen as we launched but for us there was nothing other than small bits and pieces though it was only a brief stop.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301029.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
And on again, down the last stage, narrow and quiet, with pike seen finning below the surface and dace darting around. A large overhanging tree disguised the right direction and we went the wrong way until it became clear that any further and we would be too wide for the river. It didn't look familiar so we back paddled and took the right fork, heading the last half a mile to the less-than-easy exit at the bottom of the lane near Dan's truck. It's fair to say that this exit is somewhat tricky, being high-sided and overgrown, inside a bunch of trees. The trick is to go side-on, hold a branch and put your feet on the drier clumps of earth then pull yourself up. This works and I got ashore, pulled the kayak back then grabbed the bow toggle before pulling it up. Dan followed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7301030.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The branch I mentioned is rated less than Dan's weight but as an assist he could have used it. Instead he asked me how deep it was. A foot or so I replied and he tested with his paddle, sure enough...so he stepped in and promptly sank up to his thighs in the soft mud. Granted it was under duress as I was being horrible to him at the time but it was still pretty dumb. I had to help him in the end but at least I got some video...<br />
<br />
<br />
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9A0Kx38OnY[/video]<br />
<br />
<br />
Well, back on dry land it was time to fetch his truck and partake in some off-roading, good fun it was and loaded up we set off back to the start point to swap things across to mine before we both headed to our respective homes after a rather wonderful day out.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-61617243930735280362014-07-26T23:04:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:04:53.963+01:00Pre-brekkie...26/07/2014Pre-brekkie...26/07/2014<br />
<br />
Awake at 05:20 I decided that was silly so went back to sleep. Awake again an hour later it was still silly but I thought coffee sounded good. I took my time over it and with no-one else up yet decided to have a quick fish so off I went to the beach and headed north. I sat for ten minutes while everyone left port for fishing and wind farming then crossed the mouth of the harbour and set the lines. Very dirty water again and I wasn't confident as I went most of the way up to Ness Point against the flood tide, no fish of course. I turned and headed back again. I needed photos for a guide which was the main reason for going anyway...<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260005.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260006.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260007.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260009.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260010.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260011.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260012.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260013.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260014.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260016.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260017.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260018.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260019.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260021.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260024.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260026.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260028.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260029.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260033.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260035.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260036.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Back I came, found my hotspot and the rod started to bang away with a 39cm bass that came aboard after a feisty scrap on my new 7-25g Nano rods.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260037.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I set the lines out again, moved off and a few minutes later had a 45cm aboard - two on a different coloured Warbird Minnow 12 to normal! Good stuff. I headed home, snapping the res.<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260039.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260040.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260041.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260043.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260044.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260047.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7260099.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
There was I putting the kettle on an hour after leaving. Nice.<br />
<br />
Postscript. I went and fetched the Kea later.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_3364.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_3346.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-50175547672709296692014-07-26T23:03:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:04:32.088+01:00After Tea...26/07/2014After Tea...26/07/2014<br />
<br />
I'd been doing random stuff around the house and with my family all day, some of which required the roof rack so I was outside putting the Tempo back on when an old friend sauntered up to ask how much they cost. He's an old mate I was in the TA with before he left to join the paras and now lives a couple of roads away. I'd not managed to arrange something with Heroes on the Water for him yet but he was fed up with the lack of fish falling to beach gear and knew I did alright...well, long story short I sent him home to get some other clothes, dug out some spare paddle kit and twenty minutes later we were on the beach at dusk!<br />
<br />
A sea mist had come in, it'd been a scorching day, and the sea was flat so we headed up the Ness with the bass rods out. A fast paddle up to the heads before streaming the lures out and we were off, me tucked in tight and Heath just offshore working three Minnow 12's between us. The water was coloured but we were hopeful that the fish would be actively hunting by vibration at this time; I'd done okay in the morning anyway.<br />
<br />
He was loving it, better than beasting himself for ten miles as per his original plan! The foghorn was blasting out as we passed it and it could be felt hitting us and travelling through the water into the kayaks too, a strange sensation I must say! Visibility was okay though, we spotted a yacht coming into port from 300 yards plus and being tight to the sea defences we had no worries anyway. Up we went, a mile or so, before turning and trying with the flow this time on the return. None of the usual places produced any fish though and so our hour's paddle was fishless but it mattered not one iota, he's hooked even if my spare kit is worn out and he got somewhat moist. No real surprise he enjoyed it as it was a beautiful and serene evening. And so to bed.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-82156042499526101712014-07-25T23:05:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:05:39.142+01:00Training...25/07/2014Training...25/07/2014<br />
<br />
I was so tired I didn't set my alarm after work, figuring I'd sleep until I woke up and be in a good frame for starting my holiday. My wife would be home anyway so the fact I forgot that George was coming over from twelve onwards shouldn't have been an issue and I usually wake by eleven at the latest anyway. I woke at one to see some missed messages and didn't see him out there when I looked...so he stayed another half an hour before I had another check. Ooops, sorry!<br />
<br />
I invited him in, we drank coffee then went down to the beach so he could try his new paddle and do some anchor and self-rescue practice about tree hundred yards off in his new Ultra that he'd picked up from Garry.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7250944.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We started off with me showing him how I drop and haul anchor before he did the same, his new, longer anchor warp proving to be no trouble. Easy as! Next up was self-rescue. I'd gone out in wetsuit and tentatively slipped into the water, still a bit cold for me to swim to be honest. I talked it through and then climbed aboard. George was next, dropped into the water and had a go himself with no problem. And again. And again. I got him leaning it over as far as he could until it went, clambering up front, showed an assisted rescue and so on before attaching his kayak to mine as a tow and talking him through approaching a person in the water and getting them calmly wrapped around the bow before I paddled him in for a while before another self-rescue. By this time he was getting more tired and more cold which was a good emulation of reality. One final thing...we dropped the anchor and I pulled the kayak, paddling hard, to make his self-rescue even more difficult. Flying colours!<br />
<br />
As we paddled in I heard a shout and ended up carrying my wife on the bow and my daughter in the tankwell as they'd got home and headed straight to the beach, swimming out to join us. A most enjoyable and productive session! Wish my camera had lasted more than one shot though.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-41907881222509767242014-07-23T00:52:00.001+01:002014-07-23T00:52:08.454+01:00Oxwich Bay Toping...20/07/2014Oxwich Bay Toping...20/07/2014<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The competition now over we had a plan to go for quality fish. I woke up around six and joined John, Martin and Chicky up by the marquee, the last two standing from the night before and set to work barbecuing some pork burgers for my breakfast while drinking three strong mugs of Azeera that John handed me. Result! I had slept well and was raring to go but the rest were still sleeping and we couldn’t get parked up before eight. The others appeared eventually and then we set about tying rigs. Five of us gathered around Mark who had the 8/0's out and while he, Martin and Amos crimped up wire and tied on rubbing leaders I replaced my semi-circle thick gage 10/0s with some of Mark's finer, shinier 8/0's onto my 1mm 80lb clear mono leader, a five foot trace with a large swivel being my favoured route before a bead and zip slider on the 40lb braid. This would remove the weak point of braid to mono leader knot (it can cut through) and combine both in one. This was fitted to my 7ft Maxximus Nano 10-20lb rod and LD15 Lever drag reel; Lever drag is brilliant when going for larger fish as you can have it freespooling one minute then flick the drag on to the max for the strike to set the hook deeply then slacken it own to the right level so the fish can take line without the imprecision of fiddling two handed with a star drag. I tied up five rigs, handing two to Shaun and keeping the other two in reserve. Mine were on 80lb 1mm mono with hooks nicked off Mark, he, Martin and Amos used wire. Then we set off for the beach. Yaks off, game on!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200874.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I had enough waiting around for the others and set off first trolling a string of ten sabikis on a large wedge with the Nano 7-25g / LP Magnet set up in the hope of some mackerel - I had no bait otherwise. I stopped to jig a couple of times for no result then, on my third stop, while winding it in across the surface I had my first ever English garfish! I was made up, it was one of those species that has been on the hit list for years. I’d had a metre-long one off the Dominican Republic from the side of the ship I worked on the night after I turned twenty one so it was a great result. Great bait too. Beautiful little thing.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200879.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I headed out deeper, jigged for a while, Shaun joining me. Finally a pollack jumped on the hook. "Where the hell were you yesterday when I was looking for you eh?" Didn't escape this time id it, oh no. In the tank well for bait and two more followed in the next ten minutes. Perfect size for bait. Shaun was struggling so I gave him one. Inshore, Mark had Gurnard, launce and mackerel, one of each. No-one else had caught at this point.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200881.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We paddled out past the point looking for somewhere likely, devoid of marks or electronics, just a vague idea from a second-hand conversation. A radio conversation sporadically between us to report what we'd found bait-wise. Mark said Pikey was heading out and he'd managed one yesterday so knew where we needed to go. Then Shaun pulled up a string of four mackerel with me getting one straight after. We had good bait and we stuck the tope rods down while we drifted slowly around, with mine cut as a flapper once it had died after half an hour drifting as a livebait.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200883.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Then, whistling. A couple of kayaks were out a few hundred yards away. We called the Oxwich boats for no reply and went out to investigate. No, they weren't in trouble, there was a comp running and the whistles were to call in the rib to weigh the catch. Oh, they'd had four tope! Shaun told me this...should we drop here? "No, Pikey's nearly here and he knows the mark...sod it, they're here, yes!"<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200884.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
The anchor went straight down, a 2kg borrowed off John after mine had been left in the wreck the day before. I dropped the bait down, mackerel head and one remaining fillet on it, the other ripped off in the snags from drifting it. Shaun moved around to get position...tap tap tap...tap tap tap...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Rod in hand, thumb on the lever drag, wait, two seconds, five seconds...don't miss it...ten seconds (might well have been two!!!) lever right up to the gate, rod up, strike! Strike! Hook up! The rod arches down and it goes mental, banging and runs, good weight, good fish..."Tope on Shaun, don't drop yet, don't know where he's going or where the anchor's laying and I want pictures!" He circles, the fish goes uptide a bit, around, crosses the bow a few times, I pump it up, the drag lightened off to just the right amount so it can pull line every time it dives. I'm not going to bully it. It comes up, we get a sight of it - twenty five I reckon, decent fish, the size of the only other one I had, up in Scotland a few years back, we've done it! It fights hard, comes up close, Shaun is filming and snapping, I get a couple of it in the water and then it's alongside, still quite fresh, the hook in the scissors, perfect hook-up. I grab the leader, disengage the drag, stick the rod in the flushmount, get it close to hand, can't grab it...it pulls, takes line, the leader goes through my hand, I'm holding the braid, it rubs the braid on the side of the yak as it goes under, runs it over something and it parts. Damn, no trophy shot! I call Martin and Mark up, they've just got to Pikey's mark, going to try there.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200887.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Shaun drops anchor. I put down half one of Shaun's mackerel, head half, hook going up through the head from the bottom as per the mackerel. Down it goes. Shaun is setting his anchor and it's tap, tap, tap...take it...tap, tap, tap...come on....tap, tap, tap "here fishy fishy, come on fishy fishy..." it goes quiet. Teasing does nothing, I wind up. Bait gone. Tail end and down...two minutes, tap, tap, tap...I call Mark and Martin, they're coming now!...tap, tap, tap...goes quiet, bait gone. Half a pollack, head half...<br />
<br />
...tap, tap, tap....wait for it...tap, tap, tap...here fishy fishy...tap tap tap...quiet, bait gone.<br />
<br />
Mark and Martin drop anchor. tap, tap, tap a few times then quiet. Five minutes later I pull up a good brown crab, he drops off at the bow. I replace the bait.<br />
<br />
Shaun's drifted out further, he's into a tope. It snaps him as he's landing it, a good fish too. We're fishing like amateurs.<br />
<br />
Amos drops anchor nearby. Martin and Mark are getting taps but no hook ups. Me? Tap, tap, tap...I stroke my lucky hat, here fishy fishy, come on fishy fishy...tap, tap, tap. I have a pollack head on with guts. Crushed a bit and slashed a bit. Tap, tap, tap...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's off, I leave it, leave it, leave it, thumb the drag and hit it...Bang! Bang! Tope on! Off it goes, doesn't like this one bit! The drag is reset, line is being taken the fish is being pumped up two to one, it heads uptide, downtide, across...Amos moves over to take video and stills, I play it, take my time, don't bully it, tire it out for landing but not too much...it breaks the surface GODD FISH! A PB, UK PB too, looks 35-40lb, a belting fish, a nice fat-bellied male in prime condition. I get it alongside, can't reach the tail with the dorsal at my hip, good length...but you don't want to grab the tail anyway, shark's tails are ticklish and they go ape if you grab them there...the hook looks like it's working loose...I grab the pectoral and get a soaking from the tail, it's fighting me hand to hand now...I lift him in and onto my lap. I've done it! YES! I was happy enough with my weekend yesterday, now I'm ecstatic! Amos comes and hooks onto my bow, starts snapping. Camera vertical, getting a nice shot of my bow, me, the tope, the sea, the point...I want some close-ups too but that's not going to happen. I take some from my own camera, camera overhead and far back, the bow mount video steamed up (turns out it does harm and the file is unreadable as it wouldn't go off until the battery died. Gutted.) Job done I reposition it to remove the hook, it's dropped out. I put the fish over the side, holding the tail to let it recover. It gets a breather and then goes for it, splashing me a goodbye. Fantastic!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200889.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200890.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200893.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200897.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/DSC_0674.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/DSC_0671.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/Tope.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200899.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Right, I have two choices. The first is to bait up again and catch another. I could have, I would have but we're all really tight on bait. Mark and Martin made it out here with a single mackerel. Amos has a couple of gurnard. The fish are under me, I give Amos my spot and go to share my bait out with the others. Pikey is out here now, his anchor is lost so I tell him the fish are here, he can clip to Amos' anchor set-up. I go off to Martin, give him half my remaining bait, move over to Mark, give him the rest - it's a bit of a mess after some tope nibbling but times are hard...I paddle over to see Shaun...that's when his second hits, he's just managed a fresh mackerel, it's gone down whole and live and been picked up immediately. His Fladen Powerstick arches south and he's in the money<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200903.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200906.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…I stick close but far enough to film him without being in the way. He's being spun around, he's laughing and swearing, his feather rod gets in the way o I move in and retrieve it from his yak. The tope picks up the line before I retrieve it from the bottom so we have to cut it off lest the braid slice through his mono. It's up, dives again, looks twenty five, comes back to the top, it's alongside. "Grab the pectoral" I tell him and he grabs the tail getting a soaking and a battering..."get him in"..."he's in the bag!"<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200918.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200924.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Shaun is over the moon, there's one angry fish aboard and his toes are its target again, as they were in the water...it's bleeding from the mouth and spits the hook while in his lap. Maybe we want a wider gape next time? No matter, our job is easier now and we've got our fish in. I move in for photos and then he's ready to release it...I switch to video after he gives her a kiss for luck!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200923.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
"Hold her tail and when it's ready it'll go"<br />
<br />
It was already ready and with its pectorals in the water it goes for it giving us both a soaking. We're laughing and head for the others. <br />
<br />
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIvdHoGjl8c[/video]<br />
<br />
I go to pick up Amos' anchor as Pikey has tied on his spare and dropped it but the tide has picked up now and from leaving getting to Mark and passing him the buoy has been dragged under with not enough warp. I circle for twenty minutes but can't find it. It'll have to drop in height and strength before it resurfaces but no, Amos is going to come in with us. He unhooks and I get the reel but on the wrong side; Shaun comes in and clips to it and starts to haul. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200930.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
The tide is ripping but we can't drag it out even through the weak link is felt to snap. Two of us are on it as Shaun has water coming over the gunwhales, we get up as much warp as we can, we're straight above but it's got to go; I cut free. Mark, Martin and Pikey haul up and follow the three of us in; they've been unlucky not to connect with anything other than dogfish while Shaun and I have had a field day.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200931.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200933.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We land, say our au revoirs and head the seven hours home, trying all the way to get James on the phone, James, our usual fishing buddy who couldn't escape work. I send him a text eventually..."You know when you get a tope on the kayak? Oh, no, sorry. I'll ask Shaun instead. Ignore this text" I hit send and we wait for a bite...two minutes. <br />
<br />
Home for half ten, I'm going to bed.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-17015623611271663752014-07-20T23:09:00.000+01:002014-10-08T23:11:18.701+01:00Who were we trying to kid?Who were we trying to kid?<br />
<br />
With the school holidays upon us and my children here this year instead of France it had been difficult to get away. Abigail, my youngest, was a bit perturbed at not having been able to go to a competition like Eloise had a couple of years back so we decided to arrange one of our own; nothing serious but a bit of fun all the same and an excuse to get to the beach. Hopefully we’d find a few mackerel or sandeel, perhaps even a bass or two between us...<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031086.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
...Except the wind was looking pretty strong. Nothing we couldn’t handle ourselves but the children might struggle. Beautiful sunny weather though. A bit warm to drag four kayaks over Mount Steve but I was lucky to have help from some of the bunch that joined us; usual faces and various offspring even Martin’s wife.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031087.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Within minutes my girls were in the water enjoying the shore dump with some of the others, just playing in the waves at first while I chatted. Entry fee was sweets and I’d ran around trying to find some on a sunday morning, not the easiest thing while the shops were still shut and so we’d all ended up with larger bags than originally intended. Except it didn’t look like the kids could compete.<br />
<br />
Andy landed then, had been out all morning with Ian and Gilly was out there somewhere as well. Reports were conclusive, there weren’t any bass playing. I had a quick troll to see if I could find anything and see how it was for the girls but the tide and wind were too much for the little folk out on the reefs. With that ascertained I decided to get mine on the water to see how they could cope if we drifted with feathers.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031088.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Abigail took her rigged Kea, Eloise my Tempo while I hopped into the Midway. Off we went and they were beaming. Alex and his daughter were on the water, Martin with his son in the tankwell and others here and there. We were soon downtide and downwind and paddling back, the odd seal popping up nearby.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031089.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031090.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031091.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031092.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031093.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
With Abigail back on the beach Eloise wanted to practice re-entries and have a go on the Midway. She’s outgrown the Kea now and the Tetra isn’t the right boat for her so I was pleased she was coping alright with the Tempo. Kev was trialling his too and practising his own self-rescues so a race was proposed! Kev was quickest to get up and on but going straight back over the other side lost him the lead and Eloise was declared the winner! So pleased was she she jumped off and had a few more goes before we swapped kayaks.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031094.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031095.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031096.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031099.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031100.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031101.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031102.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Now, I tend to say that the Midway is a kayak for the more advanced paddler but it would appear that this isn’t quite accurate. Advanced paddlers and little girls. She had no problem whatsoever and both paddling and re-entries were easy enough. She even surfed it in on a straighter line than me on the Tempo!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031097.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031098.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031103.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Well, we tried fishing a few more times but it wasn’t suitable so the kids all played, we got some meat barbecuing, my cousin pitched up with her kids and eventually the sweets got shared out before we all headed back home after a long, hot and sunny day on the beach chilling out. Marvellous it was, even if we didn’t do any fishing.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031104.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P8031105.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-39577150464605301052014-07-19T00:50:00.000+01:002014-07-23T00:51:27.231+01:00Oxwich Bay: Competing...19/07/2014Oxwich Bay: Competing...19/07/2014<br />
<br />
Having got released after a week of doing nothing on Jury service (straight after Runswick) at the cost of 1/3 or my months shifts (and pay) for minimal recompense from the court I was suddenly stuck. I had to go back to work but wouldn't finish until the Friday morning. This meant that I was now skinted and unable to pre-fish the bay. With the event planned as soon as it was announced I was gutted. However, I got a request to do some video stuff up there if I was going and with the promise of the free barbecue on the Saturday night, a huge prize table and a couple of small Premium Bonds coming through I reckoned I could justify dipping into the savings, especially as Shaun was still home and very willing to do the driving and split the costs as he fancied the weekend too. That was decided then!<br />
<br />
We'd managed a bass on the Wednesday but things at home weren't looking all that great so Thursday saw us messing around with very light gear at Lake Lothing, from the shore, hoping for mullet and trying to identify a shoal that keeps feeding right at the water's edge in inches of water. I'd had some small smelt in my kiddies net - and a stickleback - so we went armed with some isome worm and had a play.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7170779.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It was hard to get them, both of us missing our first bite and getting no more for ages. Twitching worked if you could land on the fish and finally one took the size 16...so they were bass then! I managed two and finally Shaun got his. We spotted some small mullet to but they were having none of it. Back home, sort gear out and get ready for the off!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7170780.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7170784.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I finished work, headed home and got a couple of hour’s kip. I was very nice to my wife, who had the day off which meant I could leave the house without worrying too much. Nice! Shaun arrived, we filled the van with fishing and camping gear and loaded the MidWay onto the roof as Ian had picked up the Tempo for Johnnie's brother to use as I didn't think I was going. So...I'd have no electronics. No matter, it was going to be good fun anyway; I wasn't too expectant as I'd only managed one species when I went five years ago.<br />
<br />
Off we went, the first tractor hold-up within ten miles. We should have gone Diss-Bury-Duxford-Royston but took a punt on Norwich - Thetford only to find a road closure and then a jam on the alternative route. This put us in traffic at London too and the 7 hour drive ended up as 9 and we pulled in after a quick Chinese in a very scary Port Talbot at around 10:30 at night. That was the first nourishment since Cambridgeshire where we'd managed a quick thickshake and cheeseburger, the jelly babies having not made it out of Suffolk! It was a sweltering day and we roasted all the way to the £12:80 fine for using the Severn bridge; what a bore. We were tired and people were drifting off to bed so it was a short meet and greet before I jumped into Steve's spare tent (thanks mate!). Within ten minutes of getting my head down my cold required a nose blow which became a nose bleed of epic precautions following a week of paracetomol. All I had to hand was one of tomorrow's clean socks...<br />
<br />
Awake too early I went and mugged someone for coffee and a bacon roll, as you do, before we headed for the queue at the car park. I found one, I found a lucky coin! Into the front hatch it went, it'd be a good day, Shaun was jealous, we weren't too far from the front and once the fella arrived we were in and unloading, grabbing sabikis and hokkais and lures and wedges and rods and reels and leads and shads and sandeels and rigs and and and. Then it was off to the tent to register before picking up the bait; mud rag and king rag.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190787.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190789.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Down on the beach at the start with Shaun, Martin, Mark, Jeff, Steve and Amos, an interloping Cuda and Scupper amongst the Tempos, Abaco and MidWay! Around us the beach filled up and then it was time for the briefing before an unhurried launch to get out and put the rigs on ready for fishing. I put my lucky pink/silver Warbird Minnow 12 on one rod as I planned a quick troll up the rocks first of all in the hope of bass and pollack and a size 6 sabiki rig on the other ready to drop down here and there.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190791.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190792.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190793.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
In terms of gear I decided to fish light with a matched pair. My brand new Fladen Maxximus Nano Plus 7-25g 7ft spinning rods would give me power where needed and sensitivity for the smaller stuff. The 6bb Maxximus LP Magnet baitcasters and 40lb braid would supply the strength for cranking and would hold enough line while being low profile. The balance of these two is perfect and my favourite set up for summer use.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190797.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I found some sub-surface rocks and had a go down the side of them hoping to scratch something out. Nothing. I tried trolling, nothing. I tried getting tight into the little bays on the rocks; nothing. I got up near the point and decided to head deeper. Dave was there on his hobie and had caught two species so I dropped down...five minutes and first fish in the bag, a pollack! I unhooked it and went to take a photo - the camera strap was twisted around something and then while I waited for it to turn on my little yellow buddy decided to leap about and make a dash for freedom...an hour had passed and I'd lost a point like a fool, I could have cried!<br />
<br />
This is what should have could have would have been:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7200881.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I tried for pollack again for a while, drifting around near the deeper rocks but no joy. It was time for a move and a change of tactics. Out towards the centre but in the deeper water. There was a bit of tide here, could I get a gurnard? Hound ray or dog? Sabikis drifted down on a 4oz lead to the bottom on the left hand rod, a wishbone pinned down on the other with half a king rag and a squid head on one hook, half a king and a peeler on the other...I waited.<br />
<br />
Tim and Pete turned up in a canoe with Pete filming and taking photos while Tim paddled and held station. They'd just moved off when I called them back, fish on! Point one came with a dogfish photographed and returned. I was off my marks! I showed them how I was fishing and baited up, cast the rod, badly, and the lead plopped down 2ft off the bow. It'll at least look like accurate casting on cue for the camera I'm sure but I thought I had almost killed him!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190800.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Then the Raymarine Hobie paddled up for a chat, told me there was a shoal of fish around me and as he said that my sabiki rod started bucking; Mackerel, full string of four! Job's a good 'un. Two points and fresh bait, down went a fillet for bass/tope/ray/whatever might take a shine to it but nothing did. Time was getting on; I decided to try a couple more drifts and then head for the wreck. I managed another mackerel before going, on a mud-rag baited sabiki.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190802.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190801.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Out on the wreck there was a cluster and a half but it was fishing well. I pulled up behind fellow RTM team member, AKA boy and Team M (me he and Mark for the day) Martin and started to fish. He was catching plenty and I was straight into point three, a pouting on mud rag and sabikis.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/oxwich099_zps95241875.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190806.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Point four in minutes, poor cod and very brightly coloured too!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190807.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Made me realise that I had them last year in the species hunt most legs…oops!<br />
<br />
Martin moved off with Mark after the fella in front, hauling bream and pollack, had left and we'd failed to connect with them. I couldn't catch a fish for love nor money and was getting few bites but enjoying the spectacle of Lozz trying so so hard to get an inch-long fish on what were probably 16/0 sabikis! He may not like or understand targeting stuff that doesn't bend an 80lb class et-up to the butt but I think he was enjoying himself really. It's just a different challenge! The determination was hilarious: "That little ****** I’ll ****** have you you *******. He's pinched my ******* bait again the *******" was the kind of conversation I was enjoying for half an hour!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/oxwich105_zpse8750ed5.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I decided that enough was enough, I wasn't catching, I'd pull up and try another bit of the wreck. I span myself, started to pull in and found the anchor was stuck fast. I decided to stay, locked off the anchor at the front six feet from where I'd been and dropped down. Straight in to poor cod after poor cod! It was so precise that I would put the line down, wait until it shifted about 2ft and then it'd go. Same on the other rod so I pulled one up, stuck on a string of 8 sabikis and fished one rod only for a while. These are too long though and a second disaster occurred when I had to fiddle to get a bream aboard; it dropped off. I cried again. Back to four and four. No more bream, still no Pollack though both were jumping onto hooks around me - and I'm talking feet away. Steve was into dragonets or pogge, which I would have loved but then my left rod rattled with the first wrasse, a corkwing. Yes! Number five.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190809.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Same rod, next drop, first ever rock goby! Six!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190811.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Five minutes and in comes my first ever Tompot Blenny, one of three...seven! And beautiful too, I could have had a lovely selection in my aquarium had I been closer.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190817.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Terry pitched up, he'd stopped fishing for a while to enjoy playing in the overfalls by the point, having a blast as he was off the usual freshwater. He was grinning!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190819.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Unlike some others who'd ventured too close and got sucked in. In fact, one of them was the guy on my Tempo...<br />
<br />
"Snapper this is Valleybuoy, we've just rescued your kayak"<br />
<br />
"Ain't me mate, leant it to a mate for his brother to use"<br />
<br />
"We've got him he's okay"<br />
<br />
"I don't care, he'll float, is my kayak okay?"<br />
<br />
Cue an eruption of laughter around me! It was light-hearted, I knew he'd already been sorted out and was paddling in. Got to have the occasional funny transmission in a comp!<br />
<br />
Gareth was with Terry, good to see him again and as we nattered I continued on the (numerous, constant) poor cod, tompots and wrasse with John the other side unable to scratch out a poor cod. Then came number eight, the first ballan! Brilliant!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190821.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190828.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Lozz returned, he'd been playing with the big hounds. Martin came back, said he was also on eight, John reckoned he was on that too, I was the only one telling the truth and they thought I was lying so told their own lies! <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190831.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
This is part and parcel of comps apparently but it was to have serious ramifications...with half an hour or so to go Martin decided to head in. He was 300 yards away by the time I'd sliced through my anchor warp and was chasing him to the beach!<br />
<br />
I get close, there's Pete filming my landing...my nose hits the beach, I've gained on Martin but he's still got a couple of hundred yards head start...Pete opens his mouth:<br />
<br />
"No time to talk, I've a competition to win!"<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/oxwich123_zpsb5fdcd8d.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/oxwich124_zps62987919.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
...and I'm legging it up the beach, across the sand, in boots, bib and brace, pfd and an empty belly, a screaming headache, dehydrated after someone ten years younger. I never could run either...I can see him smiling too! Behind me people are shouting encouragement, insults, laughing and I'm wasting oxygen shouting back and then I see Pete running behind me still filming; I'd better stop swearing then! I flag as I get to the top of the beach, start walking quick, he is too. He thinks he's lost me, I start to run again at the top and he runs too, I make it in behind me. "I thought you were lying, I'm on ten!" If I could breathe at that point I might have decked him!<br />
<br />
Checking in, I'm placed well by the look of things, how well time will tell; I'm currently fourth, could have been should have been 2nd after the marathon man pipping me to the post (though i'd have left before that). Registered, we headed back to the beach to look for our kayaks and dragged them up the ramp to the cars. I stole water from Amos and returned to the beach. John had made it in with three minutes to spare on 10 or 11, would he take Martin? Yes, they gave him 11. I looked through; I was joint fourth in numbers on 8, seventh on the board after the time factor. Mark was on fifth having got in twenty minutes earlier but result! I'd got the same species count as him which to me, after chasing him all last year and knowing he was the specialist at this, was a real success. Earlier when asked I'd said I wanted seven, to hold my own and I'd managed to beat that too and also get on the prize table to boot so my weekend in terms of the competition was justified.<br />
<br />
Well, Prize giving. Mingling around chatting with all my old mates, some met for the first time but known online, some new and the team from Palm and then it was into the prizes. Wooden spoon for a local (no idea why) …<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190837.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
…then 11th, 10th, ninth, 8th, Snapper...a Werner Tybee from System X (thank you very much gentlemen) handed over by Ed with a word of thanks as well as he knew how close I'd come to not being there…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190841.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
...6th Keith, 5th Mark, 4th Tim Morgan, the first of the nine species, 3rd Cyril Cross, then Martin as runner up, holding up the AKA banner…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190847.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190849.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…to John on his eleven species, his poor cod coming after I left and right at the end, worth the gamble! Not convinced he wanted to win when he chucked his trophy at the ground!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190850.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190853.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Then onto the teams...stuck for a name I'd put 'M' on the sheet, our shared first initial. Somehow - and I deny any responsibility - this got written on the board as Team RTM, much to Mark's panicked dismay, being a Jackson boy! I figured it was Jeff, Amos and Shaun so hadn't twigged. I'm not certain but I think all three teams had the same points (it was combined species count rather than totals each added) with it decided again on time. Team OK came third, we were second - twenty quid apiece - and I’ve forgotten the name of the first placed team, sorry!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190862.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190863.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
The Anglian boys had held their ground across the country!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7190872.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Great stuff, now back to the campsite, the camera left to one side for tomorrow's fishing.<br />
<br />
Out comes the San Miguel. Martin's off to the shower. Shaun looks at me, looks at him and says "What?" "I'm going for a shower" says Martin. Shaun looks again at me, his lower face red, the rest, covered with shades and hat being white, and, still confused, asks what he'd said. "He's from Essex". Shaun, satisfied, hands me another beer and we go for a mingle. Johnnie’s tent, my kayak is fine. His brother has dried out too. I ponce some cheesy biscuity nibbles then remember that Andy and Nick have invited me for cheese and wine...we make our excuses and leave. There they are, brie, dolcelatte and caerphilly, crackers, estrella (I don't do wine) grapes, olives and feta..."Tuck in, we aren't taking it back". Shaun's from Gorleston, he's almost as confused with Devon camping habits as he is with the Essex ones, but we tuck in all the same and while he turns his back I pounce on the dolcellate (he loves blue cheese) and eat the lot. The brie and caerphilly disappears rapidly too and then we're done. Like a smoothound pack on a crabby bank we empty the area and move on; we can smell that the barbecue is about ready and go a-grazing on absolutely top notch beef burgers followed by amazing pork burgers all washed down with more San Miguels. I was falling asleep, my night-shift timezone rebelling and forced myself to stay on my feet for the raffle by eating more pork burgers - no thanks, I don't want a roll thanks, that's carbs and they’re fattening, I'm Snapper and if you don't have to kill it you probably shouldn't eat it! Scalded fingers are a small price to pay for the body I had at twenty having kicked middle age spread into touch a couple of years back. I wish I'd not waited for the raffle though, my lucky coin had run out of power. I went to bed, leaving Shaun with the keg of ale in the tent!<br />
<br />
<br />
A huge thank you to Ed and all the SWKA team for organising the best event I've been to, it really was great and I'm a definite for next year! Also a huge thanks to Palm, Escape, System X and all the other sponsors of the event and barbecue, it really was a fantastic input from you all.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-28869335571300227452014-07-15T23:25:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:26:04.287+01:00Out To Lunch…15/07/2014Out To Lunch…15/07/2014<br />
<br />
Shaun sent me a text to see if I was around the next day and so I invited him for lunch, the proviso being that we caught the ingredients! I could have defrosted yesterday’s catch but that would have been a step backwards so I waited for him to arrive before we headed down to the beach. I needed to add to my stock of photographs anyway and wanted to get some while my new rods weren’t caked in blood and guts! Besides, we had two black Tempos on the water (there would have been three but James decided to go north today)<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150746.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150747.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150750.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I still had things set up from yesterday when I launched, the pink/silver and mackerel Minnow 12’s, the former having now sold out on Amazon due to Amos! I headed out and then waited around for Shaun.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150752.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I looked at my selection of them and thought about it…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150753.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I swapped the mackerel over for orange, perhaps the brightness would help in this dirty water, even worse than yesterday.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150757.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I took the lead and ran up the wall.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150759.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We rounded the point and headed up without a touch. I sat and waited for Shaun to finish his run before turning and heading back the way we’d come.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150762.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150763.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Down to the place I had the brace yesterday and whack!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150768.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
A marvellous scrap once again, I really do like trolling with light rods! Shaun was shouting at me such things as “Who would have though it?” as I played the fish in, 45cm and a shade over 2lb bled.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150769.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150772.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
You can’t really see the tears…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150775.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We paddled back home and beached neatly, the sea nice and flat. I love these easy summer sessions!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7150776.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I forgot about the chips until too late but both of us are trying to drop a few pounds so a greased pan, bass fillets skin side down with a sprinkling of salt, full blast on the hob and covered for a few minutes then briefly flipped and half an hour dead organic bass went onto the plate. Very fresh, very simple and very tasty.<br />
<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-58491037433390230742014-07-14T23:26:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:26:44.606+01:00Christening My Nanos…14/07/2014Christening My Nanos…14/07/2014<br />
<br />
My new spinning rods arrived during the week and I was itching to try them as soon as I could. The Fladen Maxximus Nano 210cm 2 piece 7-25g had only arrived in the UK a week or so earlier so it could be that I was christening them for the whole country; no pressure there then!<br />
<br />
Amos arrived on Friday night too late to launch the kayaks and with Saturday planned as a visit to Duxford for the Flying Legends airshow we were left with the option of trying them for a spot of LRF off the small part of Lowestoft harbour that was still accessible. I had no idea how suitable they’d be with a small jighead and a piece of isome worm and, to be honest, I had no idea if I knew how to fish like this anyway! I’ve never done it before you see but with the sensitive tips and the possibility of a few mini species it had to be worth a go. Amos was going to try dropshotting at the same time and so we headed out in the darkness to see what we could find.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7110724.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It was dark, like I say, but with some light spilling from the various buildings and streetlights around and the moon of course so we gave it a go.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7110726.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I had a go in a few spots for half an hour before I decided to jerk the jighead fast near the rocks where I’d seen a surface swirl that might have been a fish…five minutes passed, ten minutes…and then my rod tip started to pull against me – I was in! This was no shanny or sea scorpion and as it came up and I saw the reflection of the lights on its silver scales I knew it was a small bass. I played it until it quietened down and then, hoping the 4.4lb line on the small DX2000 reel would hold, I brought it up and into my hand. Success! With accusations of being spawny Amos took the all-important catch photo before I returned it.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7110723.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
With nothing else showing up we called it a day soon after and headed back to sleep before the drive to Cambrdigeshire and the promise of a squadron of Spitfires hammering through the air at low level…<br />
<br />
Come Sunday and I was feeling decidedly rough. I had felt the onset of a cold on Friday and this had developed over the weekend leaving me on land again; I’d not been out since the competition at Runswick Bay the week before. Amos was relegated to being Uncle Fester while we did family stuff before leaving after dinner to be home for work on Monday.<br />
<br />
Monday. Well, it seemed like it was going to be a nice day. Though fortified with coffee and tablets I wasn’t convinced I’d have the strength to haul the kayak around or paddle for long but I was sure I’d be able to struggle through and collapse later if need be! I drove down to the end of the road, took my Tempo off the roof and down to the shoreline then went and parked, returning with my paddle in one hand and a pair of the Nano’s fitted with my LP Magnet baitcasters in the other. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140734.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I’d also got a fistful of Warbird Minnow 12 lures in different colours and tied a mackerel pattern to one rod with my productive pink one onto the other.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140735.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I set off to the pier wall, setting the drag lighter than normal to protect the rods from the shock of hooking up on a rock.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140731.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I paddled across the harbour mouth and around the point, the water was right up as high as I’ve ever seen it. I continued on, past the nesting birds and along to the wind turbine without a sniff. I wasn’t surprised as the water was the colour of tea even though it was calm – I guess the big tides have pushed all the sand up into the water.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140733.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I turned and headed back, expecting nothing. That’s when the first fish hit, bucking the rod in the flushmount by my hip. Yes! Colour was immaterial I deduced as there was, at best, six inches visibility. Movement and rattles, that’s what brought this bass to me. It pulled line, fought gamely on the light rod and took its time bringing its 57cm and 3.5lb bulk alongside where I handed it in. Bonus!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140736.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I decided not to make another pass as I wasn’t feeling great so rounded the point and headed towards the harbour mouth. Straight through one of this year’s hotspots; 51cm and 3lb of spiky silver slammed into the pink and silver again!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140737.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I drifted north while dealing with it and set off back through that spot. At which point the third bass hit, 2.25lb and 47cm this time, a lovely plump fish on the mackerel coloured lure. I was now decidedly happy but enough was enough; even though the fish had come on the feed I wasn’t going to fish any longer, I had enough.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140738.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
As I approached the harbour Paul came through on Cleveland Princess then turned around towards the beach to pull his pots. I popped alongside to say hi and he asked if I was then going out; I replied I was heading home and when asked if I was setting the world alight again I held the fish up one by one…a big difference from my repeated failure bait fishing for them on the boat!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140739.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Socialising done in a large patch of sea I left them to it and headed for shore with my catch which was filleted and in the freezer an hour later, the evidence of my break from convalescence hidden from view and my wife none the wiser! Yep, I like my new rods.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7140743.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-77994447612680893772014-07-05T23:23:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:23:47.405+01:00Running to Runswick: Competing…05/07/2014Running to Runswick: Competing…05/07/2014<br />
<br />
It was hammering down when we got up; early to get a parking spot. Normally in this weather I’d have rolled over and sworn before sleeping again but we’d not travelled this far for nothing. Straight down to the bay again with no food and we sat under cover chatting to the other early risers, Mark and Ian (Tanglefoot) amongst them before getting things prepared. Two rods today, both 10-20lb Maxximus Nano boat rods with the LD15 lever drags (spot on for jigging shads, pirks and hokkais) with my Xtraflexx and LP Mgnet baitcaster rod left in the van. Only able to fish one rod at a time I figured the likelihood of snagging up and possibility of breaking a rod in the wind-driven swell was reasonably high (though I’ve yet to bust any of the Maxximus rods) and I didn’t want to carry three with me. I rigged one with jumbo Fladen hokkais and one of the large leadheads that fellow RTM team member Jeff had given me and the other with a large cannonball weight and a luminous Fladen Portland Eel on a flying collar rig on the other, allowing me to swap between them at will (or when I snagged and lost them on a good drift).<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050620.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Now, AndyM is someone I consider a mate though we’ve never met so when I jumped into him and his son Jack I decided plenty of pictures were needed. After all, Jack is an angler on the rise. They’ll keep popping up…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050623.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Eventually the café opened and coffee was bought before the rules and safety briefing was carried out after the usual milling around…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050626.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050627.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050632.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050633.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050634.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050635.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Of course I was in my usual bored state and had only a thin top under my Palm Ion bib and Oceana cag (I’d changed my mind about the Aleutian drysuit as I would be paddling a lot and wanted an unrestricted throat) and in need of a warm up so I grabbed Fi’s demo RTM Disco for my first go in one in maybe five years. I’d forgotten just how nippy they are! I’ll stick to the Tempo and MidWay for fishing I think but I might decide to add one for playing now and again maybe. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/10453347_10204482295804191_5209346025588958395_n.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
… and then we were off. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050636.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Jeff and Martin headed out south and centrally while I headed straight for the north side of the bay to try around the kelp while the water was still up over the rocks. Padlding out I figured my chances of an early fish were reasonable as I saw a couple of good-sized silver shapes leaping a couple of feet straight up and clear out of the water – bass or sea trout? No idea. Feeding or playing? No idea. I swapped to a wedge for no result then started on the Portland Eel over loads of marks on the fishfinder.<br />
<br />
Half an hour bitlesss I let the wind push me across the bay over the clean ground working the hokkais for no result. I was fishing in swells of three to four feet, the odd one cresting, when the safety boat announced it was better further out and the initial boundary could be lifted the exact words were “Set them loose” which seems to sum up kayak anglers rather succinctly! So out I went. I caught sight of Jason and asked if he was getting any joy (it’s not as secretly competitive as most fishing disciplines) and then assisted him with an anchor warp that had found its way between hull and rudder on his Stealth. Pretty tricky in the swell and I had my Tempo leaning right over on its side to a line almost up to the gunwhales for a few minutes before I finally freed it and then headed out and north and found Jeff in the Tempo that ‘d originally ordered; I like the standard Grey Storm. You get a good idea of the sea conditions in these too:<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050637.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050638.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050639.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050640.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050641.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050642.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050643.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Jeff was doing alright – nothing large but plenty of fish and was soon up to five species though none would put him up in the leaderboard just yet. Still, he at least had some experience fishing this style and was our best hope! Not that we couldn’t do better than yesterday now we had been given some pointers and gear out of his boot beforehand! I carried on into deeper water and towards the point, jigging all the way. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050645.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Three hours had passed by the time I found Martin and joined him. He’d not done well as yet and had in fact only found his first fish a few minutes prior – small Pollack. He was in around 30ft over some rough ground that was up and down and working his rigs on the drift with his new drogue slowing him well. I put mine out – a heavy duty carrier bag that his clothes had been in, tied up with string as I’d left my drogue at home – and sat there twenty yards away, chatting.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050648.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050647.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050649.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I changed rigs…a Fladen sandeel rig that I always thought looked fishy and which my mate Jon did alright with up this way off charter boats when he came. Two minutes and it was me off the starting blocks! A cod of a couple of pounds tops/, a good pan-sized fish but I looked at it and figured that it wouldn’t put me in the money and I wouldn’t be eating it while it was at its best so I returned it after a photo.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050651.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Then Martin was in with his first cod of the day, a similar sort of size, and we hauled in the drogues for another pass.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050655.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
A couple of minutes and the rod slammed down again, a better fish this time. It looked somewhere in the three and a half to four pound bracket for now, though it would sit drying out and emptying itself of digested food in the back of my boat for the next few hours so would drop a bit of weight; we were all in the same boat though and it could get me placed somewhere.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050653.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
No more came over the next hour so I paddle doff again, stopping now and again and jigging or drifting shads, eels or hokkais, losing them regularly. I passed Mark and got the camera out; he was getting fish but nothing special.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050662.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I tried a drift and had a different hit; Pollack. Not big but enough to give a bit of sport.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050661.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I started heading back into the bay, drifting and jigging here and there until I was down to an hour or so left. My large stuff had all gone by now on the hokkai front so I had 2/0 Fladen hokkais on. Then I found a cracking fish! The rod lunged down and started to bang away in my hands. This was a definite cod and a good one at that, an easy six to eight but probably bigger and perhaps my first double cod and potentially even a winner…it fought strongly and I had to crank while raising and lowering the rod – it was pulling some line off against the drag – and I started to feel more confident with my standing. Then it bumped itself off the small hook, now bent a bit and was gone. Outgunned I decided to just get myself some mackerel to take home.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/10525829_10204482293524134_145137371329667579_n.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I spied Andy and Jack on the Stealth Duo and called him up:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050668.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
“I’m bored ‘witless’ with this cod-jigging malarkey, are there any mackerel about?”<br />
<br />
He’d not found them but he was getting coalies, should try a hundred yards back from where he was…and I had the coalfish I wanted from here in minutes. No biggie and not a PB but a beautifully proportioned fish that I was happy to look at. I thought about live baiting it but with so little time left I figured I’d be benevolent instead. Meanwhile jack was pulling coalies, cod and Pollack on a diving lure and Andy passed one over for me to borrow as I’d taken mine out of the box after yesterday as I didn’t think I’d get a winner on them.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050671.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I trolled for a few minutes when I got a good slam and the fish dived. I know that’s a Pollack. I’d found it just above the kelp and it went straight down into it and snagged me up. I spent a couple of minutes trying to pull it free to no avail then pulled harder and at least got the lure back. I tried again, a few hundred yards and it banged down hard a second time…same thing, into the kelp and drag the lure out. How could I do this? I may still land a cracker yet…<br />
<br />
The next hit I was ready and waiting for with a plan…it hit, the rod whipped around – 10-20lb remember and halfway down the length so not a baby bite! Harder than any bass or pike hit I’ve had. I dug in and paddled hard, hitting six in seconds and going for ten or so…see if I could tire it by dragging it through the water and keep it up top and then while still gliding I grabbed the rod, held it high and wound like a dervish. YES! I had it in the boat and it was a PB Pollack (we don’’t get them at home). I was amazed at how small it was compared to its strength but it was in the bag and my first of the species on a lure.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050672.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Well, that worked so let’s do it all again! And yep, the rod banged around in no time – great nod from Andy and Jack – and I paddled a bit then grabbed the rod as it bore straight down into the kelp….and so did the next…time to be getting in now so off I went, being joined by Pete (Bigcod) and Buzz (don’’t trust me on the names, I spoke to so many people but I think that’s right) and chatting all the way in to a beach filled with kayaks.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050673.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I landed and there was the winning fish…what a belter!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050679.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
As for me…well…we’d see on the weigh in. from third place down it was going to be ounces.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050687.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We loaded up, dragged things the long haul up the slope smelling the clutch of one car that preceded us, loaded up and headed to the campsite for the weigh in, my fish drying out in the sun. I should have taken more care of it.<br />
<br />
The weigh in, my cod went three and a quarter but would it be in the finals? Sadly not but it was respectable at least. The great news was that Jack took eleventh place out of seventy five or so anglers at 3lb 10oz for a Pollack and got himself a nice little bit of pocket money:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050692.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Heaviest flatfish went to one of the Heroes on the Water guys, Liam, his first time too and a half pound dab took the prize.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050698.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
The winner? Brian Welch again with his cod at 11lb 2 5/8 oz and the Raymarine Dragonfly he won looked a cracking bit of kit when I looked at the demo version.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7050697.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Well…time to drink and eat after giving my fish to Bill who’d been doing the safety course and was looking forward to coming out with me back at home. So off went Martin, Ed, Chicky and I for Whitby cod, chips and mushy peas…because it’s the law…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140705_193410122.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
…unless you’re an Essex boy with a flip-top head!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140705_194249112_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Back to the site and I sat chatting with the ECKA lads, a cracking bunch, before the midges scared me inside where we sat around talking until work called and asked what time I’d be there as I was late…unaware that I had booked holiday and was seven hours away. Not my problem; I opened another can before another night in the bivvy bag next to the van, sleeping through the rain and setting off early with martin for the long drag home.<br />
<br />
Cracking weekend, so much fun with all those mentioned and not; it made no difference if you were Mark from the Jackson team, Ian, Keith or Sam from OK, us from RTM, whether you’d met before or not, whether you were from north, south, east or west, things were as good as always so thank you all for making my weekend great. Thanks also, of course, to the organisers and sponsors, especially Fi at 1st Wet and Wild who’s always a delight and special thanks to Jeff for his help and bits and my two chauffeurs Ed and Martin.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-14671074468021119242014-07-04T23:22:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:22:53.902+01:00Running To Runswick: Practicing…04/07/2014Running To Runswick: Practicing…04/07/2014<br />
<br />
I’ve always regretted that I haven’t fished one of the northern events almost as much as I regret having not fished up here for the sake of it, partly because of the quality of the fishing and partly because of the hardcore kayak anglers up here. The North Sea is a serious business and a lot of the fellas I’ve got to know on the forums over the years I’ve never met so this event already held a huge attraction for me. <br />
<br />
Martin (Collison) was also coming and would pick me up en-route, a cost-sharing exercise which makes things more affordable for those of us who have to trek halfway around the country to attend anything. Supposedly coming in the evening he worked late and was around mine for midday. Coffee was followed by loading up and we set off for The North by way of fast food. An offer of a sofa near Hull was decided against and we continued direct to the bay where we were greeted by a fine sunset over cliffs unlike home and a flat sea. Should we fish or should we get a drink? You try a seven hour drive and turning down a shandy in surroundings like that! <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140703_205945452_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It’s a funny thing but we passed a sign to Goathland just before arrival and it’s almost exactly twenty years since I went there to rescue my fiancee from a family holiday there, the only time I’d been in this part of the world. The intervening two decades seemingly erasing the arduous journey in my beaten up old wreck of a Mini from my mind. Soon after we descended a ski slope and parked up. George (Spud) turned up ten minutes later and joined us, the first time we’ve met though we’re not unfamiliar with each other. Two shandies and a load of packets of crisps (no point trying to get back up that slope and then looking for somewhere for a proper meal) followed while the midges constantly harassed us and then it was time to wet a line from the shore in a flat sea with barely a ripple on it. Luminous Fladen Portland Eel for me on a spinning rod and a lumi eel for Martin on his. We both had good catches of kelp before giving up and heading for the van to try and sleep…him upright in the van and me on the ground next to it wrapped up in a bivvy bag that the midges still made their way into. Bad night number one!<br />
<br />
Up early and into Whitby with George. Apparently the cafes open early for the charter skippers and you can earwig to find stuff out. So, after going into Whitby Fishing and buying a couple of bits – and Martin calling them Whitby Angling – and Whitby Angling – and Martin asking them if they could bring him bait to an event they weren’t attending – we found a greasy spoon that grilled everything and listened in to the skippers over a full English. I learnt that brown sauce was the top bait for skippers and crew and deduced that should I use red sauce I’d be straight away identified as a soft southerner. I reached for the Lea and Perrins and Colmans Mustard and got an extra spoon of coffee in my mug; I’d show them!<br />
<br />
Shall we get on with the fishing? I’m sure you’d prefer it if I did. Back to Runswick and a strong wind. Two black Tempos off the roof and kit out of the van. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040578.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
At home it’d be a choice of two spinning rods with lures or two boat rods with baits. Not here. I went for one spinning rod with sabikis and one boat rod with a Portland Eel. Mark (Mark8) turned up around this time and George went back to bed. I left them to get on with it and trolleyed myself down to the slip and launched.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040579.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040580.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Where to fish? We had no choice but to stay in the bay with this wind – apparently it got up to almost thirty knots at times – which would leave tomorrow’s hoped for area uncharted but we’d at least have a chance to recce the inner area which weather could restrict us to. Should I begin near the rocks or…? Easy answer, head for the birds.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040581.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I paddled up-wind of them, unclipped the sabikis and dropped down for a drift. Straight through and under the birds with nothing and then a few hundred yards past the shoal hammered into me and the rod arched down greatly. It’s a 10-30g Xtraflexx and you feel the lot on that, especially with braid on a small fixed spool spinning reel (I had the FS-30 out, all oiled up and ready for action rather than the LP Magnet baitcaster as I didn’t intend trolling). Now I’ve been getting decent bass of late but this was something else. A steam train. I finally knew what people meant about the hit from a Pollack and worked the rod around the kayak until I subdued my catch and got it to the surface. Four PB mackerel were attached, not Pollack at all and they were almost double the size of any I’ve caught before. That was a marvellous start and I now had bait.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040583.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040587.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040584.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
I’d landed a dozen and shook more off by the time the others launched, trying to get one at a time, and was now on larger hokkais and the eel, drifting, to try and avoid more of these mini-tuna. Had I had a freezer to return to I’d have not moved from that spot all day, the sport and the marvellous food and bait section of mine and my friend’s freezers would have all been satisfied but I had no choice but to leave them alone. I was across the bay now and quarter of a mile further out than the start of my drift and lost my rig and one of my Fladen Portland Pirks, baited with mackerel strip, so I headed straight back across for another drift on the new line.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040588.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040589.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I found Mark and Martin who’d yet to catch (they were on hokkais and the mackerel only seemed to want the smaller rigs) and started another drift, a couple more mackerel which I managed to shake off but mostly blanking on the eel and large hokkais with jigging and then, a further quarter mile out and across the bay again I paddled back for another drift. Two rigs hooked up and lost on this second drift.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040595.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040592.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I changed again, I’d go for some species; small pieces of mackerel trailed across the clear sandy ground in the centre of the bay, on sabikis, and I avoided the mackerel, picking up my first gurnard of the year, a stunning grey! Back in the sea and I dropped down again. A few minutes passed and I had a lovely small one that would have been a star in my aquarium at home. I’ve only had one before as they’re not present at home as far as I know and after marvelling at it I popped it back to swim away. Then I found the rough ground and lost the rig.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040597.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040601.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Back across the bay once more and I hooked up with Martin. The wind had increased so I stuck two leads down with the giant Fladen hokkais I’d bought in town (all mine are smaller) and I started to drift. A snag within seconds saw me trying for ages before it broke off. I watched a potter come past lifting pots and then spied the lost gear on their rope…<br />
<br />
“Excuse me mister, can I have my ball back please?” Of course I could and they handed it over as I paddled alongside. Then a thought, they could make good use of my mackerel and I asked them if they wanted them…”Have you got some? Yes please!” Passing them up I then felt something and turned around…”Hell, I’ve got some more!” and three more were passed up still thrashing! They were loving it. We chatted, I told them about the comp the next day and they said they’d move their gear, more for their benefit than ours I suppose but a good result.<br />
<br />
Ten minutes later I lost that rig for good.<br />
<br />
I sat with martin a while and watched him catch a cod, he’d done what we’d set out for. A nice fish but no monster it went back again.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040610.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040602.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I headed over to the south side again and tried the shadding again with a red Portland Eel on a flying collar trace. That was my first codling caught in Yorkie style; a small fish so no regrets at returning it and I’d managed to get the technique I supposed. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040612.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I headed over to some breaking waves near the point and tried trolling a Fladen wedge in the hope of bass but in a couple of feet depth I just kept snagging. Well, why not land and study the ground? The Tempo was pulled up out of the water and I went for a wander, looking around the rockpools, such as they were. It was all flat rock below the cliffs and apart from enough anenomes to have stocked my tank at home (I only have two so far) it was devoid of anything, even crab. I did find a broken rod and a working reel though and after removing as much trapped line as I could I stowed it in the hatch to bin on my return to the shore proper and made my way back to the kayak, picking up a small jig on the way.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040606.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Another couple of drifts with and without bait on hokkais and eels and pirks followed with the net result of more lost gear and then I was over the kelp past the northern side of the bay. I beached and went wondering again.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040614.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I found some trapped fry and a small hermit amongst rock and metal and then spied a larger fish in a pool. I tried to tempt it with baited sabiki one hook) but it wasn’t having any of it and it looked pretty damaged by rock, fish or bird. I decided to try and hand catch it and a few minutes later I had a sprat in my hand. If only it had taken the hook it would have been species 22 for the year!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040615.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040616.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
No matter. I released it in open sea and started back, dragging a wedge over, through and into kelp for no result, landing back ashore after a good eight hours and fifteen or so miles on the water in strong winds, large chop and decent swells. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7040618.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Three species, great sport but nothing that would have got me placed in any competition. At least knew what the bay was like to fish though and it was definitely time well spent. Martin backed the van down, we loaded up and headed for East Barnby Outdoor Centre by way of a few missed turns.<br />
<br />
Once there we started bumping into old friends and new before hooking up with Ed (Floydyboy) and Chicky and heading into Whitby for a very enjoyable Indian meal before returning and partying a bit with the stopovers. With rain forecast another night on the ground was not appealing and we laid ourselves out on the sofa. Life’s great under the white rose.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140704_080323457_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-35064970680366451662014-07-02T23:25:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:25:30.082+01:00A Slight Delay…A Slight Delay…<br />
<br />
Mike and I were planning to fish a bit later when the tide was right but with a fine morning I figured I could make a start with a quick troll for bass. Conditions looked reasonable at first and I wandered down the beach, launched and paddled north. The water was coloured but not too lumpy as I drahged my lures up the wall and across the harbour mouth before heading around the point.<br />
<br />
The sea picked up here but I gave it a shot…nothing at all on the way up and coming back things started to build even more. Still no fish so I just carried on home, landed and reloaded the car. Lake Lothing mullet bash it would be then; I called Mike and arranged our meeting time.<br />
<br />
So, there we were, down harbour Road where the crystal clear water gives numerous sightings of large mullet. Normally. A few days of dredging near the bridge had coloured this right up though with a horrible brown slick and instead of taking he kayaks on the water we just tried from the jetty, using small spinners with a bit of isome worm mounted onto small trailing hooks and light line. This worked for Cam and Si and Ken down in Christchurch so it should work for us. In clear water. I was using my lovely, smooth Maxximus KM11000 on the 2-16g Highest Modulus, sill a nice set-up despite having removed the rod tip with my car window a few weeks prior.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300501.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Mike was also giving it a go.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300500.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It was only a few days before when I’d seen them right here and on a rising tide the fish would have been present, visible and feeding if it wasn’t for this soup. Still, I tried.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300502.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We wandered around looking for clear water and found nothing so headed off to the lock gate and, still murky, crossed the road to try at the moorings on Oulton Broad for pike or perch. The only interest I had was ducklings that chased my spinner immediately! It was easy to keep it away from them and they were fun to watch.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300503.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300505.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
No joy for Mike either and we packed in after a bit.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300507.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Back to the cars and then, with the day still young, we headed to ness Point to see whether the sea had improved at all. Well, trolling for bass was out and anchoring for hounds was out. Might as well grab a coffee instead.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300510.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300515.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6300516.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-25702448748346695312014-07-01T23:24:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:24:49.218+01:00Hounding TrampsHounding Tramps<br />
<br />
<br />
After yesterday’s failure we decided that even without perfect conditions we’d go to Tramps Alley for hounds. Fairly large tide, a bit of wind but pleasant enough weather, we launched two hours before high water and dropped anchor a few hundred yards out.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010520.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010521.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I was going heavy again, the Maxximus LD15 and Nano 10-20lb rods dropping 8oz leads down on braid with 4/0 pennels and whole squid baits – and still I had to let a lot of line out to keep the baits from bumping in this flow. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010523.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It was a bit lumpy for most of the session, to the degree that I couldn’t even tell when the wash from this came through…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010524.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Lots of little snatch bites and then finally a bit of a pull…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010525.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Ummm…okay. It at least illustrates the strength of the tide!!!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010527.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We carried on for a while and things began to ease slightly; loads of small taps and pinched squid tippings but finally the first houndlet arrived:<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010529.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Another whiting and another houndlet followed. The larger ones and the numbers are both late and reduced in quantity this year, at least as far as turning up on my hooks is concerned but things could all change next week. In fact they can all change next tide.<br />
<br />
The tide, easing now, changed the size of the water and with slack approaching and bites stopping it was time to head in. We weren’t really rewarded for our effort but then again being out is reward enough. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010530.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010532.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We headed home and I gave some of my leftover squid to my pets…and put the rest in a paella, my wife commenting on how nice the squid was; I hadn’t the heart to tell her that most of it had been tenderised by sitting on the bottom getting sandblasted, dragged over rock, washed by tide and nibbled by crabs. Need to know!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P7010535.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-69777202560567425682014-06-27T23:21:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:22:06.357+01:00Wet and Willing…27/06/2014Wet and Willing…27/06/2014<br />
<br />
It had been mentioned here and there over recent weeks but we only committed to such drastic action during a brief encounter at the supermarket the day before; she should come to mine. So, it was a date and after a brief nap following my last shift another man’s wife pitched up on the doorstep while my wife was out and promptly stripped in the hallway before squeezing into neoprene. Boy would James be jealous at not being there with us.<br />
<br />
I, meanwhile, was making coffee and averting my eyes like a gentleman. Damn this conscience of mine. Down went the coffee and I ran upstairs to grab the last bits required and we left to head down to the beach. You see Marisa likes eating fish. She also knows how to paddle and learnt to fish as a girl. Her PhD in fisheries science (specialised in Tench) wasn’t going to be much use to us as either of those skills but never mind. Ideal partner for a casual session then, up for a session and totally at ease with a rod in her hand.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270464.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Enough of the innuendo, James will be inconsolable especially as he has pink hotpants on his mind this week. We launched and headed straight to the pier. I’d intended being about 45 minutes earlier but this hadn’t worked out and even though we set a brisk pace north we missed the tide and by the time we got to the rocks the tide was going the same way as us. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270465.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Not a complete disaster, being quite slow still, but with the water coloured up with lots of suspended sand and clarity perhaps three inches the additional movement of the lures running against the tide and the slower speed possible would have really improved things.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270467.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Still, it was as much about going out for a paddle as seriously fishing. I’d even taken three fillets out for lunch for us and Flo, who would be back by then I guess. Anything caught was going home with Marisa anyway.<br />
<br />
Well, we chatted all the way up to Ness Point and she saw a part of Lowestoft she never has, in fact I don’t think she’s paddled on the sea and usually she’s in a canoe rather than a kayak. Not a problem as the sea was reasonably calm on the way north. Turning and sticking the lures back out I had one that wasn’t running straight so swapped with Marisa as I was staying in closer to the rocks, putting the other as an unused rod on her kayak. And off we went. Now the tide was in our favour, slowing the kayak nicely and making the lures vibrate beautifully. I got halfway and bang! I called her over and gave her the rod, the pair of us manoeuvring out from the rocks.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270470.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
A fabulous fight followed, Marisa was shrieking and laughing and really enjoying the whole thing, amazed at the power of her first bass. She did all the work until I moved in, grabbed the trace and landed it (tricky part without a net and I know where the sharp bits are).<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270473.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I unhooked it and handed her the fish for some pictures. She marvelled at it, the sheen, the whole look of it, everything. She’s seen ones I’ve caught that day but there’s nothing quite like one straight out of the water to appreciate a fresh run bass.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270476.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We carried on back down and the wind started to build along with the tide. Up ahead she spied a seal and moved closer, getting to thirty yards or so before it decided to stop eyeballing her and splashed away in a turning dive. A big bull seal, another new experience that was greatly enjoyed.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270477.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Yep. The waves were building.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270480.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Out came the Orca, dredging all night long across from my office, and seemed like a good photo op!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270484.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
By now we were approaching the harbour mouth and it was decidedly lumpy. Close in, where it was rebounding, I didn’t stand a hope though I carried on trying – I was being bounced up a couple or three feet in quick succession and being pushed laterally. Some concern for Marisa but she seemed to be coping…<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270485.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
This just left the worst bit of all. The southern end of the pier has shallow water that chops up at any excuse, the flood tide was now really hammering through at a couple of knots and being propelled up and out with the rip, chopping up in the shallows and bouncing back off the wall. The wind played a role too and we had sandbanks for a lot of the way in on a dropping tide too. What does this mean? This means that I was testing the MidWay in the nastiest conditions (though not the largest) I’ve taken her though so far, with that pointed bow burying while water was coming over both sides and the stern with waves hitting me from three directions, it was far more secure than I felt it was though and once I settled into it I enjoyed the sensation of a more agile ride. This also means that even a novice paddler in a Tempo can paddle against wind and tide and through a challenging sea upright and with a smile! She loved every minute of it and was buzzing for the half-mile plus that we had of this.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270488.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270491.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270492.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270493.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270495.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6270497.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
It flattened off a lot once we got within a couple of hundred yards of the beach and though it appeared flat the low waves rolling to the beach were moving fast and the pair of us surfed in.<br />
<br />
I fetched the car and Flo, loaded up and the three of us went back home to enjoy a fine lunch of panfried bass fillet with a chilli and balsamic dressed salad…and a San Miguel of course. There's nothing quite like like fooling around with a married woman.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-23739377324714943502014-06-25T23:21:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:21:18.616+01:00Returning to the River...25/06/2014Returning to the River...25/06/2014<br />
<br />
Amos stayed over following our smoothound session the day before and come morning I fried up a breakfast that would keep us going for the day while thinking what to go after. The decision was to fish an evening river mark in daytime, heading over to Ellingham for the first time this season to try for chub on sweetcorn and other fish on maggots. This of course neccesitated a brief stop at a tackle shop near Beccles, end result being Amos seventy quid poorer. <br />
<br />
There were cars and trailers filling up the parking spots by the weir so we made use of what space we could, unloaded and headed downstream to my usual spot.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250455.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
A size 12, legered with double sweetcorn and some freebies thrown in as an attractant brought only one little nibble. I could see chub and roach below me so changed over to maggots on a size 16 and started fishing for normal sized fish. The first chub followed in no time, followed by roach.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250456.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250457.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The fish shrunk as time went on until the average size of chub and roach was no more than a couple of inches in length so I moved a few hundred yards down and tried my luck in another likely spot by a fallen tree, having spotetd decent chub the other side of the river. Quite fruitful here, the first cast resulting in a nice river rudd.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250458.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Roach and chub followed and then a dace.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250461.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I moved again; nothing in the next spot, just upstream of another fallen tree so I went the other side, cast out into a gap in the weedbed and brought in a brace of nice half pound chub in subsequent casts.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250462.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6250463.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We moved down again, more of the same and then headed back up to the weir. I was hopeful of gudgeon and perch but this was not to be, just plentiful roach. I gave it an hour and then it was time to go so I could be home in time to sleep before my shift. Great weather, great company and easy fishing. A nice, sedate change from the last few days.<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-4658197808324441472014-06-24T23:19:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:19:48.444+01:00Home Turf Hounding...24/06/2014Home Turf Hounding...24/06/2014<br />
<br />
Amos was in the mood for a spot of fishing up this way and had a couple of days off; I was free as well and my wife was happy for him to stay the night which gave us plenty of options. A delay on the roads saw him arriving from London at nine, by which time I'd dropped the girls at school and checked the state of the sea at three different points. That was our day planned then!<br />
<br />
Coffee and chat followed before we rigged up and headed for the end of the road. A siple plan, paddle out and along to the harbour, troll the walls and then cross to troll the rocks up to Ness Point before shooting out half a mile and paddling up to Gunton to drop anchor off Links Road. Only a couple or three miles with an ebbing tide which should start to slow around the time we dropepd anchor. Meanwhile the word was good; Brian and Andrew were out on the three mile bank and having a good start; they ended with eight roker, a bass and a multitude of hounds.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240431.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240432.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Trolling wasn't too convincing. The water was coloured up and running with the tide doesn't help the lures vibrate all that much, nor do the signals transmit as nicely it seems. It also makes things a bit quick too and I'd guess at around a four to one ratio of success compared to running against the tide. But it's always worth a go when travelling past.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240434.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We got no takes at all and had to head out to avoid anglers on the rocks at times. I considered a run back but decided against it and headed for Holland instead, stopping half a mile off and drifting down to a point that'd put us out of the way of passing traffic. My rods, now changed over to 2/0 zip slider 2/0 pennels, were baited with squid and once I'd dropped anchor these went down with eight ounce breakaway leads on them. Amos pulled up nearby and started sorting his own rods out.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240435.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240437.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Straight off the bat! Once settled I called up the coastguard just to let them know we were here to avoid false alarms and had to talk while my rod was banging away inside the holder. It stayed on fortunately and with the brief handed over I reeled in smoothound number one! A small one, a couple of pounds but a decent pull in this tide.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240439.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Half an hour and a couple of missed bites later and I struck into another fish; not a hound this time, heavier with a different fight. I was surprised on bringing it in to find one of the small cod we were seeing a couple of months back; the mouth had created enough drag to make the fight seem like a better fish, a big mouth that had taken a whole squid!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240441.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I followed this with a whiting, third species of the day.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240442.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
What followed was nibbles, snatch bites, another two small hounds and a small cod and one thumping great bite that I missed while trying to use my phone. Amos finally had a fish, a three pound hound. Then, however, our wonderful day started to decline, the sky darkened, the wind built and it started to hammer down! For the second day running I regretted not bringing my cag and got wet. And cold.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240443.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Fortunately only another half an hour need follow before up-anchoring; I wanted to troll back against the last of the ebb once the bites stopped and try for a bass before landing at slack and the right time to get home for the family. Did the bass want to play? No. However we were treated, by the harbour mouth, to the sight of the Excelsior entering port. Built in 1921, this 77ft Lowestoft-built fishing smack is amongst the sixty most important historic vessels in the UK and a pleasure to see where she belongs. Once she'd gone in through the heads we crossed and headed back to the beach, landing and heading back to mine for the evening.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240448.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6240453.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-25840780968088097112014-06-23T23:20:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:20:51.930+01:00Not so Smooth hounding...23/06/2014Not so Smooth hounding...23/06/2014<br />
<br />
My nephew has been waiting a year to catch a shark, ever since he saw his first smoothound; either the wind, the swell, the tide or days free had conspired against it all last summer but with a low wind flat sea type forecast for today I sent him a text to invite him out with me. And so, at eight in the morning, he turned up and we headed north to fish Caister where James and Shun had had some fun last week.<br />
<br />
James was there when we arrived, Shaun turned up straihght after and we were joined by John who had a week off and had travelled up from Essex for a spot of fun. He'd asked for advice on where to go and ended up being invited to join us. He had a Jackson Big Tuna on the oof which was of interest as I'd not seen one in the flesh as yet.<br />
<br />
We got ourseleevs sorted ready to launch, taking our time as the tide would still be running hard and the old chaap who lives by the track oppped out to say heloo and we had a chat. He fished a bag of leads and booms out of his shed for us too which was really kind. I'd promised him a fish last time and was having a second attempt at it!<br />
<br />
Down on the shoreline we came across a bit of a shore dump. It had been flat at Lowestoft but the wind was at least double that predicted and was blowing across and onshore. Mie was aghast but I helped launch him and got my own kayak reay. I was on the MidWay again and he was on that fish-catching black Tempo. Shaun had his out also for the first time while James was still in his yellow Scupper for now rather than get his own Tempo dirty. I followed on out with John coming shortly after.<br />
<br />
A few hundred yards in a lumpy sea and James dropped anchor followed by Shaun. I got my anchor down and set and clipped Mie to it before finishing setting him up and dropping down on my much shorter reserve reel. The water was piling through. I drifted straight past Mike and ended up parralele with James who was also on the move. While Shaun was into his first hound...I hauled up and paddled uptide again to Mike, slowly. We were in 50-60ft and it was racing through at over three knots. Shaun was into a second...and Mike was in already too!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230409.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Hmm, how to do this. I came alongside twice before I was able to get in position and pulled up alongside him, attaching the two kayaks together. His rod was still thumping but then the combined yaks started to drag his anchor so I dropped mine as well. It didn't catch at first and got itelf the wrong side of Mike's line and fish...some manouevring was required before I cleared it.<br />
<br />
Mike was excited, this was fighting hard and stripping line, not the pike, perch or whiting he's experienced before by any means. He soon had it under control and alongside and then came the task of landing it. It wasn't having any of it and after a thrash at the side it dived again before being brought back alongside and hand-landed. A nice six pounder to start with. Promise fulfilled! A strange one this, star markings on one side and plain on the other.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230412.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
With the two kayaks next to each other we got a constant soaking with the flow and chop hammering up the middle before hitting the gunwhales and bouncing up, to shoulder height at times. We should have put cags on really...<br />
<br />
Another effect of being together was the noise and disturbance caused and while Shaun continued to catch and James headed inshore near John where the flow was easier to deal with and his anchor would hold we sat biteless for a good hour. Then my rod started tto twitch as something nibbled at the squid...not a hound though, my first Norfolk kayak thornback! I've had them over the border in Suffolk and in Essex too but it's still pleasing to get one in the county I grew up in. Only a small one though so a quick look and some photographs and it went back. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230416.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Another half an hour passed with a few nibbles before I got a better bite and struck into my own hound. Only a little one of a couple of pounds, nicely hooked in the mouth and it soon went back.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230420.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
And then Mike started to get some taps. He picked up the rod and waited...the bites continued and he struck. In came his second hound, again a couple of pounds and lightly hooked and back it went.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230425.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
We sat there for another half an hour through a few taps and rattles and then, with the tide easing enough to pull anchor I untied Mike and he moved away, leaving me to deal with the anchors.<br />
<br />
Oh boy! Hauling two anchors is not advisable! Pulling one put strain on the other and pulled the kayak sideways; there was still a good knot and a half of flow and I was left with no option but to cut the anchor trolley on the one side and deal with them seperately. With the remaining one under the boat on the other trolley things were a bit dicey as I turned backwards in a 360 before settling bow on and pulling the anchor in against the tide. With it onboard it was time to return to the other buoy and attach it to the free trolley and haul it in as well before heading back in, across and against the current.<br />
<br />
Mike landed safely with John while Shaun and I headed in further up the beach, nice and easy, and then carried the kayaks up to the car for the ridde home and a deepfried smoothie!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6230428.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-60915586389004554142014-06-21T23:19:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:19:09.349+01:00Catching The Worms...21/06/2014Catching The Worms...21/06/2014<br />
<br />
My clock was not reset after my shifts and so I woke at five. That's dumb. It was already light though and I knew that was it for me, I'd not get to sleep again and <br />
<br />
I'd had an early night anyway so I figured I may as well get up and have a coffee. I managed this without waking anyway.<br />
<br />
I also got dresssed without waking anyone.<br />
<br />
I also changed some trebles on some lures without waking anyone.<br />
<br />
Which led me to thinking i could jump in the car and get the kayak to the end of the road without waking anyone.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6210001.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
By six I was on the water and had my lures out = pink Minnow 12 and orange Minnow 11, both Fladen of course, inshore and offshore sides respectively. I paddled alog <br />
<br />
the rocks and up the harbour wall to no avail and then crossed the mouth; no-one was about and the only radio chatter were windfarm boats moving around to bunker fueld <br />
<br />
from various parts of the port. I ran up the iron work and around the point with nothing and figured that my dawn excursion was merely going to be an enjoyable start <br />
<br />
to the weekend. As it was the water was coloured up with a three to four foot swell, coming onshore and hitting the rocks. At least it was fairly high so I hadn't got <br />
<br />
to worry overly about the misplaced ones.<br />
<br />
Past the jetty with nothing and I headed up. The birder girder was passed and I headed for the Ness...I say passed but only just! There was a banging on the offsore <br />
<br />
rod and the orange minnow was in. I paddled out from the rocks to avouid being killed before breakfast and began the fight...beauty, a three pounder came into the boat. Happy days!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6210003.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I continued on most of the way up to the ness, past the spot I had the double (it often produces here) and then turned. I wa snow against the tide and more hopeful <br />
<br />
though the water was very dirty, maybe six inches visibility at most and it was pretty rough. I rounded the jetty without anything and got all the way to the iron <br />
<br />
work. Slow down, clear the weed, have a look to see if anyone's exiting, keep close and...bang!<br />
<br />
Here we go, lovely job. A favourite spot this and once again I was in with a feisty four punder that refused point blank to be grabbed, diving every time and pulingt <br />
<br />
he xtraflexx tip straight down. Poorly hooked too, I wasn't sure I'd land it...I did though, only for it to promptly slither back out again...fingers under that gill <br />
<br />
plate without slicing myself and it was in again. Hurrah! That would suffice, I made my way back, ambling along and smiling and texting a photo to James telling him to <br />
<br />
wake up. Back to the beach, car brought around, back home and start getting things together for a fried breakfast for four. It was now around 730.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6210004.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Flo came down. Now I avoid going out fishing on the weekends usually, it's not worth the aggro. She took one look at me in my underfleece and demanded to know where I <br />
<br />
was going.<br />
<br />
"Nowhere. I've been"<br />
<br />
And there in the sink lay a decent brace of bass.<br />
<br />
"Coffee?"<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/1403333927367.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
-----<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Postscript. I called Brian up to see if he was catching yet, about half-nine I guess. he wasn't going until two though but told me he'd got something for me and would <br />
<br />
be down at the boat at half eleven. So I duly wandered down witht he girls and my can and there, overnighting in a crayfish trap, was a new pet; a six inch dogfish to <br />
<br />
join the shanny and assorted other critters in my tank! Marvellous stuff and the kids were in love instantly. Then...did we want a ride? He was just going to check his <br />
<br />
pots with Andreew, it'd take about an hour and knowing the kids would love it we jumped aboard. It was such a glorious morning to be doing something like this and <br />
<br />
seeing the multitude of brown and shore crabs, shrimps, prawns and lobsters made their day, as did releasing all but two of the brown crabs and the prawns that would <br />
<br />
come home to join the tank inhabitants. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_104701535_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_111537364.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_111533177.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_112727245.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_113736344_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114303244_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114407750.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114647672.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114848183_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114910280_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_114923753_HDR.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/IMG_20140621_121903355.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-80830043041440072082014-06-19T23:17:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:18:28.335+01:00Too Late To Rate...19/06/2014Too Late To Rate...19/06/2014<br />
<br />
The bottom of the tide was soon and I was only just about to finish work; I pretty much ran to my car at the end of the shift, stoppe doff to pick up squid from my freeer and drove to Links Road, the closest spot I might find some smoothies. The sea, after a couple of days of rough northerlies, had some colour back in and looked fine - a large but gently rollings well wouldn't cause any issues as there was little wind. I set to work getting everything ready to launch while half conversing with someone in his car and then launched, paddling out three hundred yards and dropping anchor right at the very end of the ebb.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/P6190393.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
twenty minutes passed with one tiny bump that removed a squid head so I hauled up and moved another hundred ayrds out, finding a deeper patch. Down went the whole squid again, penneled on the end of flowing traces and 4oz breakaway leads that terminated at my end with Warbird 220's on Ice Pike rods. I'm 2cm short of James' hound on the warbird competition.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/P6190392.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
I waited right through the end of the ebb and slack water before changing my baits as the water started to flood. I rcekoned on half an hour, maybe an hour with luck, before it became unfishable and changed to six and then eight ounce leads as the tide picked up. Ten minutes after the first bunch of non-hooking knocks I had a heart-stopper as a huge bull seal popped his head up three feet from my bow, dead centre, and eyeballed me for twenty seconds. It was the only seal I saw today and I reckon he'd have battered me if he felt like it! A pity he didn't stay for a photo, just dived and hit both my lines on the way down.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/P6190396.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Lots of bites but the 2/0's never hooked a thing. Bates were getting trashed but even when I went to smaller pieces I still failed to hook anything and all the while the tide was building. Then the wind followed suit and the swells grew. By eleven or so, two hours after launching, the bites stopped, the leads staretd to bounce and the water was rushing past; I had no time left and had to up-anchor and head in for quite a bumpy landing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/P6190404.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/P6190403.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-48659086205407534282014-06-16T23:17:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:17:52.690+01:00Opening Up…16/06/2014Opening Up…16/06/2014<br />
<br />
Just because the sea has been fishing really well of late doesn’t mean I can’t get excited by the start of a new season on the rivers; the sixteenth June is a special day in the calendar and one that deserves a day’s fishing. Having been off the rivers for three months and with all the fish feeding more heavily than back in March and more confidently after not having had hooks to contend with for a while it always promises to be special. So plans were laid for the usual start of a paddle from Beccles to Geldeston with a group of us, joined this time by my nephew Mike.<br />
<br />
Disaster from the off; I slept through my alarm, had a blazing row and then lost my keys…I left with my spare car key and left the house locked on the latch. Over to Paul’s to pick him up but he’d gone with Shaun so then on to pick up Mike, turn and head back to the quay where everyone would be assembling. Although a big social I wasn’t feeling too sociable as my right ear was totally blocked and I couldn’t hear much through it. Oh well. All Paul’s fault of course.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160341.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Everything unloaded, set up and parked Mike and I set off behind Tim who turned left initially while we headed straight up towards the pub where a pie and a pint was the plan, Paul also with us. Out on opening day was also Cam’s bequeathed vintage Rapidex reel and so I’d be fishing this rod only for the time being; he could have first fish. Mike was on the Xtraflexx and I had a pair of Warbird 220’s on Ice Pike rods for later. Both of us were using the Eco Narrow lures that had been deadly last time out.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160343.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Weed was an issue. The water level was quite far down and every hundred yards or so I was having to wind in and clear my lure. Before I’d even managed a decent troll Mike was in with the first fish of the day!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160348.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160350.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160352.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160353.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
That was Paul and I put in our places then. We carried on…and ten minutes later he was in again, this time with a perch, his first ever. Obligingly it erected its fins for the photos before being released.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160354.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160357.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Hmm. We weren’t doing so well here. We were being shown up! Fortunately Paul was there to save the day with a monster pike of his own.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160362.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We were probably around a third of the way to Geldeston when excitement and disaster struck. Mike was ahead of us and got his lure weeded up. He turned, took the rod and started to wind in. As he did so there was a massive swirl and a splash and then, stunned, he sat there looking at his slack line leading from the disturbed water. As did we. He wound in and discovered that this pike, a double by the look of things (Paul saw head and flank clearly as it breached) had taken the lot and either scraped the braid mainline with its teeth or slammed into it so hard on a tight line that it had parted from the shock. Either way the fish was missed.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/Untitled-1-11.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
We kept on going, then I had one; a tiny jack around eight inches long which came off as it was lifted into the boat. I tried again and soon had another one a bit bigger for the photo, one for my mate.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160365.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
With Mike having had a third jack we arrived at the Locks and decided to stick some maggots out while we waited for everyone else. The fish weren’t playing ball and it took twenty minutes and a longer hooklength before my float finally dipped and I brought in a perch. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160366.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Then the others started to arrive one by one. Tim had had six fish and to celebrate took my Tempo out for a spin. Amos was next, then Shaun. John had driven down to join us too and we went inside for lunch and to rag Shaun for being the only blanker, on a run of poor, fishless luck since he got back from Holland.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160367.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Best laid plans eh? There’d been a disaster in the kitchen so food was off. Beer and crisps was the best that could be done. At least it’s good beer there, local real ales. <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160372.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160368.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Sufficiently rested after this and still struggling to hear properly Mike and I set off for home. I had a few hits that didn’t result in fish and then a 34cm jack on the Warbird finally came to say hello. Mike was surprisingly fishless though his bad luck was compounded with a decent fish running straight for a submerged branch and eventually freeing itself from the lure as I handlined it out<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160378.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Time was pressing as I needed to be home to leave at half four at the latest to take my daughters out and we were only a few hundred yards from the launch point when Mike called out that he was in again! <br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160382.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6160390.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
Brilliant, three pike and a perch each. That was it, with that fish landed we decided to end on the high note and with the kayaks and gear loaded in eight minutes flat we were off.<br />
<br />
Not a bad start at all…<br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5338018716271844334.post-30397018226117784302014-06-13T23:16:00.000+01:002014-07-17T23:16:42.653+01:00Ain't Nothing But One Hound Dog…13/06/2014Ain't Nothing But One Hound Dog…13/06/2014<br />
<br />
Yet another fantastic day beckoned but…it was Friday so my wife would be home, I was mid-shift and I’d slept badly the previous two days. But like I said, another fantastic day beckoned and I can always sleep when it rains in August. So, a quick text out to everyone, the plan being a hound hunt for another change. The bass fishing may be great and productive and sporting and all that but they need a rest and it’s too same-same to go more than one in three sessions and there’s more to life than bass in my world. Besides, I haven’t had a hound yet this year and I love them!<br />
<br />
So, eleven we’d meet. Then I checked the tides. That was no good. The only viable option was to go for nine which was straight after work. That’d be a struggle, I’d need coffee first…my wife was not happy, I had a list of stuff to do and it was a long list and it had to be done and…I said I’d do it after as I’d be back around twelve and not in bed until three. So I went home, did half of it in quarter of an hour and then grabbed bait and the pile of bits I would have put in my pot if it wasn’t stolen a few weeks back; might as well give the various critters some freebies.<br />
<br />
Hounds. Long fish. More entries for the Warbird 220 competition and they’d really be a giggle on those reels especially with the soft and short Ice Pike rods. Besides, Ken was starting to gain too much ground of late with his big undulate rays and I’d only come fourth last month! I grabbed the gear and headed across town to Corton with Hopton still closed for work on the beach defences; I think this is affecting the hound fishing at both these marks with the disturbance so perhaps we’d have enough distance down south. Shaun had picked up James whose car was in the garage and the pair of them pulled up behind me.<br />
<br />
Ten minutes and we were into a fine, flat sea. Low wind, bright sunshine and bit of tide. A fast paddle out around five hundred yards and we dropped anchor; the tide was ripping through at over three knots which was a surprise but I figured it out once the baits were in. Yes, I’d got luck on my side – with no electronics running I’d stuck myself slap bang onto a drop off, I could tell because the inshore rod went straight around to just past the centreline. I had a single 4/0 on a running leger on this rod with the last pack of frozen blacks being used in conjunction with squid heads on this. The wrong hook size and rig but it was the first that came to hand. A 3ft hooklength on a running leger and I banged it out around fifty yards.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130312.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
The offshore rod had my favoured 2/0 pennel, again 3ft hooklength and a zip slider. 8oz of lead was required because of the flow and with a whole squid on this one, hooked in the top with the bottom hook pushed down and the head and guts on here, hooked through the eyes. The squid was peeled as the water wasn’t too murky so a bit of visual attraction from the white flesh would be good. Then a quick call to Cleveland Princess to see what was occurring out on the three mile marks; dogs for now but the tide would slow soon and then things would turn on.<br />
<br />
We sat there for a hour through zero bites between the three of us. The next hour brought me a few small rattling dropped bites, baits too big for what was likely to be pin whiting. Then a couple of better bites that were dropped as the tide started to slow slightly and the water began to clear. One good one that I missed. So, I rebaited and bashed the body with the butt of my safety knife then raked it lightly with the serrated edge to get the juices flowing…and then the rod nodded. Felt light. Nodded again, felt light again. Nodded again – I’m moving it a foot or so at a time, could I induce a take?<br />
<br />
Yes I could!<br />
<br />
The tide had dropped off considerably now and the fish ran up towards me so I thought I’d lost the fish and the lead…but mo, I gained the slack line again and with the fish under me I started bringing her up. Not too much of a scrap as yet but that’s often the way here, they’re sedate until they catch sight of my jaws and then they go crackers! Up, up, beautiful in the clear water, good hound! The white stars very vivid on this one and I’d got what I came for and what I miss, I adore these fish, from the skin markings and the eyes to the slender body and solid muscle not to mention the searing runs and hard fight they give. Up, up, alongside, head by my hip and now I need to get her in. Normally a foot below the body and a quick lift does the trick but that wasn’t going to happen right now. So I went for the tail root with Shaun and James looking on…<br />
<br />
Ha! My aunt told me, never touch the tail as sharks are ticklish. The moment I grabbed it and started to try and lift her – reaching across the kayak from the other side – she went loopy, writhing and flailing and banging around, water flying everywhere and cooling me down as I got a soaking! The others were wetting themselves with no help from any fish and down she went before I pulled her back up to the surface for round two!<br />
<br />
I grabbed the tail again and lifted her in and then set about unhooking and photographing her, one hook in the mouth and the other outside, an easy release. This was when things went wrong. I had no intention of retaining her as although I love eating hound I’ve got enough fish for the time being and wouldn’t really have time to cook for a few day, plus it was a female. So she was going to go back. But no, a large quantity of crushed and semi-digested crab was deposited all over my leg and the kayak which is no issue, but then the stomach was ejected. So there’s a lovely fish with a bag hanging out of its mouth. I couldn’t get it to stay back down so rather than risk wasting her for nothing I decided to knock her on the head and avoid a second day of KFC with lunch for the three of us. James had wanted to try one anyway so my reluctance was tempered with the knowledge she wouldn’t go to waste. 91cm and nine pounds or so of solid muscle was duly deposited in the tankwell and another bait went down.<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130316.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130320.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130325.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well, from then on it was a few rattles, a few knocks and two definite hound pulls but with no hook ups and the tide stopped so quickly that the peak time was short lived, especially as hounds trace routes so tend to come along in bursts then return after a while for another round. With the yaks now starting to drift towards the anchors and the leads starting to snag it was time to head in.<br />
<br />
An easy landing and there ahead were forty kids from my daughter’s school. We dragged the kayaks up and then I heard “Excuse me mister can we look at your fish please?” and “Is that a shark?”. So yeah, I showed it to them…and then made the offer of an anatomy lesson, something I used to do on the beach years ago abroad whenever we brought sharks in. So, the different fins, the markings, the gills and ampoullae of lorenzini, the eyes and the teeth pads. Then, after warning the ones of lighter dispositions that it’d be messy, I slit her open and showed the stomach (sadly empty of curse) and digestive system, the eggs, the livers and so on. “Has it got a heart?” So, I cut up to the head and found the heart and showed them that and then they had to return to school. One asked me if I could cut the nose off; I did and then exposed the jelly in there and explained about that too. Then my daughter’s street cred went up (she wasn’t there) when I said that she went to that school and came ‘shark fishing’ with me sometimes. Some of them knew her and her geography teacher was one of the staff; she asked me if I worked for CEFAS too which was quite amusing, she must have been impressed!<br />
<br />
Right. Hot day, midday, a hound and close to home…we loaded up and shot back to mine; San Miguel into the freezer and within half an hour of pulling anchor the hound was finned, skinned, the spine removed and the flesh chunked, rinsed, tossed in salt and self raising flour and then deposited into the deep fat fryer in a couple of batches. Out came the chutney and a couple of different chilli sauces and after a few minutes the crispy nuggets were out and on the plate for the three of us to scoff, letting my wife and her friend have a taste. The verdict? Up there with cod and bass and very sustainable to boot, beating yesterday’s KFC. Not a bad result for Friday the thirteenth!<br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130335.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
<br />
<a href=“http://photobucket.com” target=“_blank”><img src=http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c24/609photos/2014%20Fishing/P6130334.jpg border=“0” alt=“Photobucket”></a><br />
Snapperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06346422887885706093noreply@blogger.com0