Fishing Felixstowe…10.04.2010

Felixstowe was producing the goods and I’d not seen Pete for a couple of years so when he posted up an invite I decided to head south for a session on a venue new to me. As much as I love Hopton a new venue is always exciting and so Friday night saw me getting my head down at 11am for a 4am alarm.

2am. I awake with toothache.

3am. I awake with toothache. I neck some Ibuprofen.

3.15am I decide what the hell, get up, dress, pour coffee and get into the van for the 50 mile trip south.

I pulled up on the roadside and went for a look at the sea - flat calm with little wind. What a fantastic morning for it. It was 4:25, a bit early for a 6am launch so I unloaded, kitted up, took the Scupper down to the water’s edge, parked the van in a side road and went and woke Amos up.

Pete soon turned up and as we prepared to launch Tangleweed and Banglemouse joined us, following us out a bit later.

Anchoring up a mile out on the ledge Amos was first to draw blood with a whiting.

Another soon followed and then Pete had one. I hadn’t had so much as a sniff. The others joined us and Tangleweed started his ball rolling with a small codling soon followed by a keeper.

Still nothing and then I noticed my anchor buoy passing me, no longer attached to my anchor line which had parted and was no longer attached to me. Bugger! Pete kindly let me tie off from his bow and I settled back down again to fish.

Pete continued to bring in good whiting while I failed to get a touch until finally a rattle was struck and a plump whiting came aboard – I was off!

The next knock was even better and as I wound down it was clear that I had a better fish on. It took a bit of line, it thumped all the way up and it bent the rod somewhat…finally in came a 5lb codling. That’s what we were here for!

Peeler joined us soon after, having finished his night shift.

Another codling and a whiting followed and then it started to quieten down again.

I had no squid so was fishing frozen black lug, herring (for Thornies) and had a handful of frozen soft and peeler crabs from last summer. On went a peeled and down went my rod. It knocked soon after and I was surprised and rewarded with my first shark of the year – a beautiful 12 inch Starry Smoothound! Lovely. Quickly unhooked, snapped and kissed on the nose it went back to grow big.

I couldn’t tempt anything else and with slack water it was time for me to head in. Peeler noticed some cord and hauled up my missing anchor. The reel had disappeared but at least I had something back!

After a quick photo shoot I hoisted my PA sail and set course for home.

 It was a very light wind so a gentle crosswind journey began until I came close to the shingle beach. I decided to sail right in and seemed to be heading for Pete who, cleaning fish, had failed to notice me. Oh to have the clear panel of the original sheet as he jumped out of his skin ;D

The wind started to pick up and with the fish coming on the bite as soon as the current started to run again the others reluctantly headed back in as the lumps started to appear. Between us we’d had cod, whiting, pout, dogfish, smoothound and whelks, with Tangleweed showing us all up for the amateurs we must be with FIVE keeper codling!

A brilliant morning’s fishing that had me excited beforehand and certainly not disappointed afterwards! I think I’ll add Felixstowe to my regular to-do list! Thanks Pete.