I was like a little kid at Christmas, there’s always excitement when something arrives at the door and yesterday was most definitely no exception. I’d gone through the new Fladen catalogue and chosen some bits for summer use, feathers and some coarse gear in the main but as I was running short on rigs I’d ordered in a bunch of new bits to tie some more…having had a load of hooks ‘in stock’ I’d not ordered any of the Fladen ones yet so they were the most pressing item along with some more swivels and beads. Well, they had turned up now so I spent a few hours on my shift tying up a new batch; being a fan of bronze uptide hooks I wanted something comparable and found them in the Maxximus range with the 2/0 and 4/0 Jig Hooks, a wide gape hook designed for crab and softbaits - ie ideally suited to squid, leaving the hook point clear. First thoughts were that they were easily as good in the main but also had micro barbs on the flank (to help keep the bait from slipping) and a stronger wire which in 2/0 had been a problem when unhooking dogs, ray and smoothounds lately with their hard mouths as I’d been bending them out of shape. Chemically etched and super sharp, as my fingers bear testimony, I was eager to try them.
So, running leger pennels and wishbones tied I was hopeful that the possible window for today was, indeed, possible. 11mph winds are fine, easy in fact but with them being onshore and the gusts being a bit stronger I’d need to check visually first. Wag had asked if I was still going and, on wandering home I said I’d confirm around ten after a quick nap and a visual check at the end of the road; good news, we were on, and I left the house shortly before noon with a recorded wind of force 2 at the yacht club.
Wag was parked and getting set up when I pulled up at Tramps. With two hours to high water we’d be getting on the mark at around the right time, as the tide started to ease and the hounds and ray started to move and come on the feed. That was the theory anyway as we headed down the ramp to launch.
The wind was already picking up, not by much just now but the sea wasn’t quite as smooth as it had been. Wag paddled out first as I rigged the cameras and stowed my trolley, high hopes for the second attempt with my new video camera and then, with it switched on, I headed out through a mild swell. A few hundred yards later we dropped anchor near mark 16, a patch of rough ground in 35ft or so. Of course I missed it hugely, thinking we were on the ebb rather than the flood and ended up just inshore of 23; no matter, it’s similar all along here. My Bruce went straight into the clay and wag, with his plastic one, dug in just as well, both of us staying static. The wind was holding us off the straight and the waves were short and coming off our quarter but other than that it was fine.
I baited up the wishbone first, herring strips tipped with squid to keep the points clear and flicked it out on the inshore side.
The offshore had a 2/0 pennel holding a whole squid and followed moments later.
Then we sat there for an hour as the wind picked up and the waves followed suit.
Tap tap tap…I picked up the wishbone rod…tap tap strike! Yep, finally a fish on; the first bite for either of us. It didn’t give much of a fight on the way up but on unhooking the smoothound pup and returning it he went mental, scooting about on the surface in a quite spirited display; great fun to watch before it dove back home.
Another hour passed before the next bite which I duly missed in my lethargy…it came again and I missed it again.
Ten minutes later and I pulled up a sizeable whiting on the same rod, the wishbone. Cleanly hooked and just the one with a lack of fish likely I popped it back for another time.
I got a fright soon after, nearly fell out of my kayak when I jumped…Wag was behind me and to my left, fifty yards or so away…”Come on fish!” boomed out behind me without warning. For crying out bloody loud!
It worked though, after a fashion, as he pulled in an undersized whiting. Nothing much happened over my way though and after another hour and the tide having still not turned (I’d hoped to fish the start of the ebb) but starting to slow and the wind and sea picking up even more I started to get bored and decided I’d had enough.
I called over to wag that I was pulling in, having only had a few slight taps that came to nothing and the constant bumping as the leads were dragged while the wind blew me around. He did the same. The pennel came up empty, was stripped, the lead removed and the rod stowed. Then I started to pull up the wishbone and it seemed as though it may have a fish on…
…and here it was, a real beauty! The most delightful little dogfish, a dog puppy, a perfect mini-shark! The hook, obviously sharp to take this on whole squid, dropped out easily and it curled up in my hand, wriggled a bit and tried to chew my palm as I took a few photos. I wanted to take it home with me for the girls as they’d have loved it but there was no way I could do it without harm so I had to bid it farewell with a kiss and haul anchor.
I’m afraid you’ll have to indulge me, I got snap happy…
The paddle in and landing was easy but the splash on the beach with the wave that followed me soaked my sleeve. It was only sunny at launch, the spitting and the spray had dampened my undersuit as I’d not put a cag on and now this. Could have been worse I suppose. It turned out it was soon after, still no joy on the video as I now had a file error but at least I’d had more fun than if I’d stayed at home.
No comments:
Post a Comment