People: Me&John
Duration:9am to 4pm
Tide:flood
Weather:overcast warm and sunny later
Spinners:
Every spinner, lure and feathers in the box, went through at least 30 items.
Rigs:
Pulley, Penhill, 3 hook clipped down and flappers
Results: Pollock, Codling, Reef Codling, wrasse
Catch and Release:: Yes
Moon Phase: Full Moon
Report:
After planning for this trip for the Friday it unfortunately fell through due to the terrible weather. After ordering 1½ lbs of rag for the Friday we decided to hit the sheepland’s. After the blow we had hoped that the previous weather had stirred up the bottom a little and in turn bringing in the bigger fish.
I set out around 8am and picked up John from his about 8.30 and we were quickly on our way and arrived at the disclosed mark around 9am. With this mark you need to be there early as it gets very busy during the day with a head count of 4 others fishing. Parking can be very tight and be considerate to the roaming farmer and his tractor attending to the cattle.
We initially set up to feather for the mackerel but the previous days weather we both knew that the mackerel would still be in deep water. Not to be deterred I spun all day in search for them any way. With a bucket load of rag to get through I had tied a couple of 3 hook rigs the previous night to get through the rag.
I rigged the AA match up with a ‘3 hook clipped’ with rag tipped with mackerel and cast it out a short enough distance (60 yards). I quickly got back to spinning and totally forgot about the other rod, but of course I went back to find it was solid. I managed to lift the rod a little and then what ever it was dove back down into the kelp. Getting a little excited I tried to the lift the head of the fish but again to no avail. To be honest at this stage I thought there might have been two fish on. I gave the fish some slack but it didn’t want to play ball so about 15mins later I lost what ever it was. I’m thinking a big wrasse.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/872/dscf0019ld8.jpg
I got new shockleader on, this time a pulley rig with a sandeel. I only let the rod sit for 10 minutes and after seeing a couple of knocks I reeled in a nice codling. The codling seemed to be a little further out at about 100yards. The ground appeared to be very clean from about 40yards out.
After about 3-4 hours trying to coax out a cheeky mackerel I set up a float to get my self my own very wrasse. Again to be honest my heart was really in it to get a wrasse as I was disappointed in not getting a mackerel. The main reason I wanted fresh mackerel was to get a lovely big ling like john’s previous trip. Well cut a long story short I ended up with another codling on the AA match and a small Pollock on the float rig.
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8407/dscf0020uu8.jpg
I have to comment on the crap sandeel which fell apart even with the aid of the baiting needle.
From past experience in catching wrasse I find most of the time the swim bladders of wrasse will inflate if to long out of the water or under stress. Always having a cleaned baiting needle for the exact reason I find if a small piercing is made into the swim bladder it will deflate very quickly and give the fish a fighting chance. The needle should be clinically sterilised as to not to infect the swim bladder
It was a great day and good to get out with the lazy man. On a sunny day I would say this mark would be bouncy with mackerel and in turn other fish.
Both the wrasse picture were caught by john
