swilly rays
Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:34 pm
after I finished work and did the BBQ thing I got a few hours shuteye before picking the wife up from work at 11pm. once home I soon had the car packed and headed to a wee mark I had found way back last year. Not a big mark just enough room for one person, a tripod and a single rod. Low water was about 11.40pm and it was 12.30am by the time I had suited and booted and walked to my mini platform. From the word go baits only lasted about 15minutes as the crabs where out in force, after an hour or two I was getting fed up and almost called it quits when the crabs disappeared. Taking this as a good sign I baited up with a sandeel/mackerel combo and chucked the offering as far as I could. Almost instantly the rod tip quivered before pulling over, ray on and after a spirited fight I had a nice 5lb thornback at my feet, second rig casted out and the ray was released and when I looked up the rod tip was pulling down again. I lifted into my second fish only for the line to go light, missed him, or so I thought as the ray had swam towards me. After some frantic winding and a last dash for freedom I soon had the second ray of the night at my feet, quick picture and he was released. Once again I sent a fresh bait out hoping for number three but it wasnt to be as the crabs came back and in force too, so I packed up at 4.30am and went home to bed. All in all it was a great night, mild, no wind and a flooding tide, roll on the next time.