The swilly again

I have been itching to get back to this beach but you need the right conditions, so with the lack of rain meaning the freshwater run off won't put fish off and being neap tides I headed to this low water mark. I have fished this beach in the past and landed small Huss dogs gurnards flounder and conger but never what the beach is famous for, Ray's. So with everything falling into place I headed to the mark, I was late due to a family event so missed the drop but managed the low water and first two hours of the flood. As I was casting out two anglers came up the beach heading home and they said there was a half hour period before low water when they got Ray's and a dog, had I missed the action. The fist hour passed with crabs stripping baits but once the tide started to run they disappeared at this point weed became problematic but it was still fishable. After two hours I got a rattle and connected with a doggie, blank beat but am I still cursed on this venue, slowly I am running out of bait and the weed is getting worse but I fish on. Using the last of my mackerel I chuck out and let the 6oz grip settle, wind in and rebait with double sandeel on the other rod, I start to tidy up as it won't be long until the tide starts to rip through and you can't hold bottom. I let the rods sit for a while before bringing in one and putting it away as the pile of weed at my feet is getting bigger, it's at this point I notice my other rod bent over and the line pulling down tide, the weed must have ripped out the lead so I wind in but the weed pulls back and splashes, the excitement build have I finally managed a ray from this cursed beach, after a few minutes I have a nice 5lb Ray at my feet and 3lb of weed. Taken this as an omen I released the Ray and rebaited with what's left and cast out again but alas the weed and tide put end to anymore fishing so I packed up and made the long trek back to the car with a smile on my face.

Well done MC, the curse lifted with a nice ray complete with salad.

:

Well done MC, the curse lifted with a nice ray complete with salad.

weed is always on the change of tide at that area , better fishing swilly pier on a night tide when all the mackrel slingers have gone home.