Get Something...12/10/2013

Get Something...12/10/2013 I was somewhat frustrated. All week the water had been big but not forming into rideable waves. I was on shift so had only limited time and the only waves worth getting wet for occurred on the last check of the second day; Steve went out after work and reported it as a crappy mess. Five times I looked that day, five the day before and five the day after. Not impressed. The reason for the waves were of course because the wind was howling and even the kayak on the car roof was weeded out! Too much westerly was the problem. Now the family were home and time was limited. Nothing else for it. I grabbed some brandlings from the compost and headed down to the harbour for an hour after dropping the girls at my parents; they were going out and we were staying in, with friends who'd also disposed of theirs for a while. I took the tetra out, I wanted a goby and a smelt. I already had them for the anglersafloat species hunt but I'd decided to see what I could manage on the world sea fishing monthly hunt so I was back again. The mullet were back again too but I ignored them completely. I go fishing to get rid of stress after all...anyway, I had that hour and paddled out with the spare camera as my main one was missing. Searching out a likely spot I dropped the size 24 down with 2 bb shot and touch-legered it. I could feel the knocks and struck when I was sure it had hold; up came a common goby. That's when I discovered that the camera battery was dead. So I used the phone; hence no more pictures. The smelt were next and they just acted like mullet. I could get them around the bait, attracting them easily enough but only one made a pass at the worm and promptly spat it out. Granted, at 5cm it wasn't going to swallow it whole, hence the tiny baits and hooks, but it could at least have played the game! In the end I just gave up and retreated with my tail between my legs - I had to cook after all. Ha! Bass for four - roasted on a bed of red pepper and cherry plum tomatoes, drizzled with a melted red pepper, parsley and sundried tomato butter and served with sautéed potatoes, the red stuff and almost with the asparagus tips that I stupidly forgot about in the microwave. This followed the last minute 'what the hell starter will I do because I went fishing and forgot to get a bag of mussels'. Just for the sake of completeness I'll mention it; Steve had given me two ducks which were hanging in the conservatory and needed dealing with - now was the time! breasted, breasts filleted, flash fried in a pan of melted butter and 43 orange liqueur served on a bed of pan fried and slightly caramelised orange slices and topped with the chilli and citrus marmalade I'd made that morning. It was even better than the bass! The crowning glory of course was Vienetta - I don't do dessert. Of course we drank a bit too much which is why the 13th wasn't going to be much of a fishing day...