Tigger II, Roberts Cove, 05/09/2008

People: me and petekd

Duration: 15:00-19:30

Tide: HW 19:00ish

Weather: mainly dry, westerly breeze

Bait: mackerel (and some rotten rag)

Rigs: 3 hook flowing, spreader bars, some kind of muppet rig

Results: mackerel, grey gurnards in profusion, whiting (only two!!), cod, cuckoo wrasse, ling, pollack, poor cod

Report:

Originally intended heading out in the morning (no wind to speak of), but a double booking for Pete meant we didn't leave the house until after 2. We were going to head to a certain red gurnard mark (this blue shark fishing lark is too easy), but as neither of us had the coordinates and couldn't get anyone on the phone who did have them, or when we did manage to contact them were nowhere near their GPSs (some people are so inconsiderate ). So we were going to have to find it from memory and landmarks....

To save time we decided we'd try a beach launch from Roberts Cove - we're trying a lot of new stuff in the Orkney this year - as the marks that would normally take me over an hour to reach would be an easy half hour away. Turned out to be very easy with Pete's jeep and could become a regular launching spot.

Headed out, picked up some macks very easily for a change and continued out to a likely looking spot - me getting my now traditional soaking from the cross wind and waves, made worse by my lack of waterproofs which I'd left in the jeep. Upon reflection and getting the coords for the original mark from Kev (cheers) we were looking for was a good bit away from where we wanted to be).

However, displaying some of the luck we have been having recently, it turned out to be a grey gurnard paradise. With almost every drop picking up at least one of my favourite looking fish. Lot of big ones there too it turned out.

The drift was long and very quick, but didn't stop as catching, Pete's flowing traces bringing a variety of fish to the boat. I kept losing my rigs whenever we reached a rocky patch, but an eventual change to a spreader bar sorted that out.

Seemed that as soon as we drifted eastwards of the cork buoy that the fishing slowed down, so we headed back up our original drift, but didn't pick up much this time - I imagine we cut such a swathe through it the first time that their wasn't much left down there without a sore mouth

Back East of the buoy again we decided to head to the Smiths and do a bit more drifting, nothing spectacular but a steady stream of fish reached the boat. Pete moved onto bigger rigs to tempt out a larger cod or ling, but to no avail.

Headed back in trying to get ourselves some wrasse close to shore, but with only some rotten rag, I don't think there was much hope. Tried a drift for flats as well, but nothing showing, so we beached and retrieved, well pleased with our day out and our new launch facilities.

sounds like a great day lads well done have to get out this week having withdrawl symtoms

Another grand day out with the fishing more than making up for the buffeting we got on the way. Our first drift was a good couple of miles long with fish flying in all the way through. Aside from the messing around I think we only had 4 or 5 drifts in total.

The change to spreader bars from my favourite flowing traces was necessitated by Lees concerted attempts to empty my tackle box With a box of snoods sitting there it was the best option over the mixed ground and whilst not as effective as my rather pretty and highly effective flowers, certainly did the job.

Weird to catch so many decent sized greys. A bit of a variety of bait would surely have helped the species count along but no matter, we were more than pleased with what we had.

I dont think I could ever get bored of that style of fishing on the drift with the quivertip poking out a variety of bits and bobs. Cheers for the trip out again Lee.

With a box of snoods sitting there it was the best option over the mixed ground and whilst not as effective as my rather pretty and highly effective flowers, certainly did the job.

Is that what the petunias and roses were for??

think we might need to find a new term to distinguish your flow-ers from the plant variety especially when you call them pretty!

But they are pretty. The petunias and roses were for you

But they are pretty. The petunias and roses were for you

Situations Vacant

Worried scotsman in need of new boat companion. Must provide rigs and weights, but have aversion to flowers and my body

You arent going to find anyone with as many rigs as me honey....

hi,
swap you a speci red g mark for the large grey mark
screeming

hi,
swap you a speci red g mark for the large grey mark
screeming

I'm open to offers, but got the red mark eventually (although last time I was there I caught everything but a red) - what else have you got on offer?