A pet day on the west coast.
Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:58 pm
People:Me
Duration:3:00-6:30ish
Tide:High and Dropping.
Weather:Hazy sunshine slight breeze - sea calm but with some rollers.
Bait:Mackerel, Sand-Eel and Razor
Rigs:
Results:Two doggies and about 10 small pollock - and I mean small.
Report: Haven’t been able to get out for a while so I got up early Thursday morning and headed west. I had a two point plan: scout some marks mentioned in the shore marks section of this site and some I had ID'ed from Google-Earth and do some fishing. I had a look at a few spots and one or two look promising and then headed to the White Lady.
Trudged across to the mark and had it all to myself. Arrived just as the tide was starting the drop and set up. Put sand-eel on the lower hook and mackerel on top and cast out. Set up the second rod with a copper Toby and began spinning. For the first half hour there was nothing to either rod so I replaced the Toby with a two ounce lead and a flowing trace with half a sand-eel on dropped it straight down. Not much there either -small bites and possibly crabs. Got a sharp rattle on the other rod and about five seconds of a fight but whatever it was went into the weed. When I go it free the top hook was clean and the bottom had a long bit of kelp on it.
Cast back out with even more elastic to hold it and went back to feeding the crabs. I continued to get small tugs every now and then and about half an hour later I got a massive take and the line parted above the weight - I’d a strip of mackerel on at this point. Was going to try this again when the other rod gave a couple of nods and I went and lifted it - fish on. Didn’t know what to think as the fish ran left and right and a couple of times took line in what has a decent fight - was thinking large mackie, cod(?) or something as all the way in the rod was pulled hard and fast and was surprised when a doggie came clear of the surf just below my feet. Once out of the water it sat there without movement and lay limp in my hand as I removed the hook. When I threw it back it swam across the surface for quite a distance before going deep. Missed a few more bites over the next while with the bait being taken despite the shirring elastic. Then another good rattle and I was in again. This time it was a typical doggie fight - a hard pull against the rod but little by way of runs. When I landed it it was an aggressive little swine and tried to bite as soon as my hand went any where near it. Eventually got the hook out and picked it up behind the head when it pucked onto my boot - what a fecking smell. Cast back out but got nothing else on that rod.
Tried the Toby again and was beginning to plan upping sticks and heading home when I got a small take on the retrieve of the lure. Thought it might have been a passing mackie but when I took the lure out there was a tiny pollock on the hook - it was shorter than the lure. I went to take a shot of it when it wriggled off and slid back into the water. Five minutes later and the same thing - another tiny pollock which again wriggled off. Three casts later and a slightly larger one - just about the size of the lure. This one I did get a shot of. And this kept happening every four or five casts - but the fish started to get larger as the sun went lower. I was thinking of staying ’til 10 or so when I realised that I had left the headlight at home. It was now 6:30ish so I reckoned I had half an hour or so before I had to leave or else face the walk back in darkness; and then the midges arrived - and I hate midges and they love me: I was packed and gone is 4 minutes flat. There was a gentle breeze off the land so the little b*st@rds were not too bad as I crossed the half kilometre back to the car.
Not too bad for the first time out for about three months. If the weather stays ok I will get out again - probably will try one of those new locations and see what gives.
Will post pics later as I am having trouble with uploading.
Duration:3:00-6:30ish
Tide:High and Dropping.
Weather:Hazy sunshine slight breeze - sea calm but with some rollers.
Bait:Mackerel, Sand-Eel and Razor
Rigs:
Results:Two doggies and about 10 small pollock - and I mean small.
Report: Haven’t been able to get out for a while so I got up early Thursday morning and headed west. I had a two point plan: scout some marks mentioned in the shore marks section of this site and some I had ID'ed from Google-Earth and do some fishing. I had a look at a few spots and one or two look promising and then headed to the White Lady.
Trudged across to the mark and had it all to myself. Arrived just as the tide was starting the drop and set up. Put sand-eel on the lower hook and mackerel on top and cast out. Set up the second rod with a copper Toby and began spinning. For the first half hour there was nothing to either rod so I replaced the Toby with a two ounce lead and a flowing trace with half a sand-eel on dropped it straight down. Not much there either -small bites and possibly crabs. Got a sharp rattle on the other rod and about five seconds of a fight but whatever it was went into the weed. When I go it free the top hook was clean and the bottom had a long bit of kelp on it.
Cast back out with even more elastic to hold it and went back to feeding the crabs. I continued to get small tugs every now and then and about half an hour later I got a massive take and the line parted above the weight - I’d a strip of mackerel on at this point. Was going to try this again when the other rod gave a couple of nods and I went and lifted it - fish on. Didn’t know what to think as the fish ran left and right and a couple of times took line in what has a decent fight - was thinking large mackie, cod(?) or something as all the way in the rod was pulled hard and fast and was surprised when a doggie came clear of the surf just below my feet. Once out of the water it sat there without movement and lay limp in my hand as I removed the hook. When I threw it back it swam across the surface for quite a distance before going deep. Missed a few more bites over the next while with the bait being taken despite the shirring elastic. Then another good rattle and I was in again. This time it was a typical doggie fight - a hard pull against the rod but little by way of runs. When I landed it it was an aggressive little swine and tried to bite as soon as my hand went any where near it. Eventually got the hook out and picked it up behind the head when it pucked onto my boot - what a fecking smell. Cast back out but got nothing else on that rod.
Tried the Toby again and was beginning to plan upping sticks and heading home when I got a small take on the retrieve of the lure. Thought it might have been a passing mackie but when I took the lure out there was a tiny pollock on the hook - it was shorter than the lure. I went to take a shot of it when it wriggled off and slid back into the water. Five minutes later and the same thing - another tiny pollock which again wriggled off. Three casts later and a slightly larger one - just about the size of the lure. This one I did get a shot of. And this kept happening every four or five casts - but the fish started to get larger as the sun went lower. I was thinking of staying ’til 10 or so when I realised that I had left the headlight at home. It was now 6:30ish so I reckoned I had half an hour or so before I had to leave or else face the walk back in darkness; and then the midges arrived - and I hate midges and they love me: I was packed and gone is 4 minutes flat. There was a gentle breeze off the land so the little b*st@rds were not too bad as I crossed the half kilometre back to the car.
Not too bad for the first time out for about three months. If the weather stays ok I will get out again - probably will try one of those new locations and see what gives.
Will post pics later as I am having trouble with uploading.
Re: A pet day on the west coast.
Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:11 pm
Great report Stephen 
Will be fishing today and tomorrow if your about let me know 
Will be fishing today and tomorrow if your about let me know
Re: A pet day on the west coast.
Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:44 pm
Finally got the pictures to the right size.
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