Dave_B and I made the run out to Loop head in tropical sunshine with the intent of gathering bait(mackerel) for a tope session in the estuary.
On arriving at the head we drifted into a thick fog, strange considering the blistering heat. Even stranger was our inability to catch mackerel. For the last few weeks the area has been paved with them. Two hours fishing with hokkais produced pollack to 5 lbs, 12 mackerel and a whiting of 2.5 lbs. A personal best , and a bit unexpected. When the fog refused to burn off, we decided to steam for the tope mark with the aid of the GPS, and I got my first real lesson in navigation. Must add more way points to my GPS, as the few marks I have entered , are miles inside the estuary, and didnt really aid our trip back to loop head.Lesson Learned!
One back inside the estuary, we emerged into scalding sunshine, with the white blanket of fog like a curtain across the estuary mouth. Real bermuda triangle stuff!
An uneventful run back to my now favourite tope mark, saw us anchor at low water off littor strand in 60 feet of water. Whilst waiting for the anticipated sizzling runs, we watched the now familiar dolphins chasing each other through the surf in no more than 4 feet of water.Amazing!
The tope action was noticeable by its absence. Not a run, or hint of a run.
We did get some doggies, and a huss of 9 pounds, but no tope. And as is now the tradition in my boat, Dave hooked a stonking great fish on the bottom that swam away slowly and bent a 6/0 varivas hook till it gave way.
Not great fishing, but in the carribean sunshine, no complaints
Kev