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Subject: Whitby 20/7
davem2005
Member
Posts: 95
Registered: 5/9/2005
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 01:18
Had to go to Whitby today to sort a few things out and phoned Malcolm the skipper of seasprayto see if he was around. He was replacing the cylinder head on his engine and was doing sea trials in the afternoon, so never one to miss an opportunity we decided a late trip was in order. Graham came over with me and we arrived about 1.30 and the final fuel bleed through was taking place on the engine. Perfect timing...or at least it would have been if the starter motor had not chosen that moment to start playing up. Off came the starter ,checked repaired and refitted. The engine fired up first turn and we headed to sea about 3.30.
As we left the harbour the engine temp had climbed so further bleeding of the water system was required as we motored out. Eventually the air block cleared and all was running sweet. We got to the bell and dropped down for mackrel and once again struggled! What is happening with them? Took us about an hour to get 12 mackrel, it seems thay are very patchy and a string of feathers is taking just one at a time. One comment though is they are huge!
There had been some discussion on the way out as to what we were going to try for. Kettleness for bass and pollock was mentioned. We finally decided to head out to a bank of rough ground about 3 miles out and put the anchor down to have a go for tope and anything else that was around. Mainly due to the late start.
We arrived at the mark , dropped the anchor and the first two rods out were aimed at tope, one uptide and one downtide baited with a whole flapper. I let down the downtide rod, it touched bottom, disengage the drag, set clicker and rest it against the rail, but the clutch was still giving line. Picked up the rod ...thats not the tide! Something had picked up the flapper and was taking line rapidly. I let it run about 15 to 20 yards and wound down on it and a dam good fish was on Unfortunately not for long After about 2 mins whatever had hold let go. Ok we will never know what was on the end. I have caught skate , tope and conger in recent months and it could have been any of them, one thing we all agreed on that it wasn't a typical cod or ling bite and that was one huge bait. When I wound in one side of the flapper had been swallowed and crushed where it joins the head. Unfortunately that was the only touch we had on the big baits despite leaving them out for 2 1/2 hours.
The other rods we fished with baits, shads and a small jigger. They all caught fish even though we were anchored up. It was now we discovered our mistake. We had chosen to anchor in a place where there was obviously either a rope of piece of net lying directly under the boat. You could drop down ok and retrieve for about 30 ft but then every cast would tangle into whatever was down below. It would come up when you reeled in then go solid and rob your gear more than half the time! We were getting bites on baits within seconds of hitting the bottom but the tackle losses were horrendous and we were spending more time tackling up than fishing. With three nice cod in the box and 2 ling returned we decided to move on as there had been no further signs on the big baits.
On the way back in we fished three wrecks with no results, which meant the anchored fishing had far outfished the drifting over wrecks. Had it not been for the unfortunate choice of places to anchor we would have had many more fish.The late start meant it wasn't viable to up anchor and try elsewhere as all that was required was to move a few yards one way or another. It was something different, with ideal weather conditions and 3 nice fillets for tea, unfortunately we will never know what the first fish was, but I have never had a bite like that on this coast and certainly never seen a bait crushed the way that one was here in the east.
But then theres always the next time
Dave.
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willywetegg
Administrator
Posts: 4893
Registered: 25/9/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 01:25
Cracking report Dave, cheer's mate.
Jim.
Oblickta
Old Timer
Posts: 692
Registered: 7/6/2005
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 09:37
I was sipping my morning cuppa and logged into nesa when Dave spotted my name on the board and rang me. Not one to miss an opportunity I raced around all morning and cut it very fine. Lucky for me the roads were good and I made Whitby in 90 mins with time to spare.
I had a mooch around Rods & Reels and bought some bits and pieces to get some change for the parking ticket machine (any excuse) then we had a swifty in the Fleece before heading back to Sea Spray.
I was standing next to Dave when the mystery fish took off with his bait and for a moment I thought the fish was well hooked and was as gutted as Dave when his rod straightened. "Better luck next time"
It was an unusual experience for me to fish off such a large vessel with only two others giving loads of space for casting uptide etc but we still managed a couple of minor tangles. It was also a pleasure to meet Malcolm for the first time whos friendliness and enthusiasm made the afternoon/evening even more enjoyable
Thanks for the invite lads
[Edited on 21/7/2006 by Oblickta]
____________________
Regards, Graham
alan.f
Super Moderator
Posts: 4582
Registered: 31/8/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 12:47
great report lads
____________________
Cheers Alan...
SIXFOOTSTEVE
Super Moderator
Posts: 2521
Registered: 16/9/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 16:31
Fantastic ,nice one Dave and Graham.
____________________
Cheers Steve.
davem2005
Member
Posts: 95
Registered: 5/9/2005
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 01:18
Had to go to Whitby today to sort a few things out and phoned Malcolm the skipper of seasprayto see if he was around. He was replacing the cylinder head on his engine and was doing sea trials in the afternoon, so never one to miss an opportunity we decided a late trip was in order. Graham came over with me and we arrived about 1.30 and the final fuel bleed through was taking place on the engine. Perfect timing...or at least it would have been if the starter motor had not chosen that moment to start playing up. Off came the starter ,checked repaired and refitted. The engine fired up first turn and we headed to sea about 3.30.
As we left the harbour the engine temp had climbed so further bleeding of the water system was required as we motored out. Eventually the air block cleared and all was running sweet. We got to the bell and dropped down for mackrel and once again struggled! What is happening with them? Took us about an hour to get 12 mackrel, it seems thay are very patchy and a string of feathers is taking just one at a time. One comment though is they are huge!
There had been some discussion on the way out as to what we were going to try for. Kettleness for bass and pollock was mentioned. We finally decided to head out to a bank of rough ground about 3 miles out and put the anchor down to have a go for tope and anything else that was around. Mainly due to the late start.
We arrived at the mark , dropped the anchor and the first two rods out were aimed at tope, one uptide and one downtide baited with a whole flapper. I let down the downtide rod, it touched bottom, disengage the drag, set clicker and rest it against the rail, but the clutch was still giving line. Picked up the rod ...thats not the tide! Something had picked up the flapper and was taking line rapidly. I let it run about 15 to 20 yards and wound down on it and a dam good fish was on Unfortunately not for long After about 2 mins whatever had hold let go. Ok we will never know what was on the end. I have caught skate , tope and conger in recent months and it could have been any of them, one thing we all agreed on that it wasn't a typical cod or ling bite and that was one huge bait. When I wound in one side of the flapper had been swallowed and crushed where it joins the head. Unfortunately that was the only touch we had on the big baits despite leaving them out for 2 1/2 hours.
The other rods we fished with baits, shads and a small jigger. They all caught fish even though we were anchored up. It was now we discovered our mistake. We had chosen to anchor in a place where there was obviously either a rope of piece of net lying directly under the boat. You could drop down ok and retrieve for about 30 ft but then every cast would tangle into whatever was down below. It would come up when you reeled in then go solid and rob your gear more than half the time! We were getting bites on baits within seconds of hitting the bottom but the tackle losses were horrendous and we were spending more time tackling up than fishing. With three nice cod in the box and 2 ling returned we decided to move on as there had been no further signs on the big baits.
On the way back in we fished three wrecks with no results, which meant the anchored fishing had far outfished the drifting over wrecks. Had it not been for the unfortunate choice of places to anchor we would have had many more fish.The late start meant it wasn't viable to up anchor and try elsewhere as all that was required was to move a few yards one way or another. It was something different, with ideal weather conditions and 3 nice fillets for tea, unfortunately we will never know what the first fish was, but I have never had a bite like that on this coast and certainly never seen a bait crushed the way that one was here in the east.
But then theres always the next time
Dave.
____________________
Save our Sharks Member
willywetegg
Administrator
Posts: 4893
Registered: 25/9/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 01:25
Cracking report Dave, cheer's mate.
Jim.
Oblickta
Old Timer
Posts: 692
Registered: 7/6/2005
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 09:37
I was sipping my morning cuppa and logged into nesa when Dave spotted my name on the board and rang me. Not one to miss an opportunity I raced around all morning and cut it very fine. Lucky for me the roads were good and I made Whitby in 90 mins with time to spare.
I had a mooch around Rods & Reels and bought some bits and pieces to get some change for the parking ticket machine (any excuse) then we had a swifty in the Fleece before heading back to Sea Spray.
I was standing next to Dave when the mystery fish took off with his bait and for a moment I thought the fish was well hooked and was as gutted as Dave when his rod straightened. "Better luck next time"
It was an unusual experience for me to fish off such a large vessel with only two others giving loads of space for casting uptide etc but we still managed a couple of minor tangles. It was also a pleasure to meet Malcolm for the first time whos friendliness and enthusiasm made the afternoon/evening even more enjoyable
Thanks for the invite lads
[Edited on 21/7/2006 by Oblickta]
____________________
Regards, Graham
alan.f
Super Moderator
Posts: 4582
Registered: 31/8/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 12:47
great report lads
____________________
Cheers Alan...
SIXFOOTSTEVE
Super Moderator
Posts: 2521
Registered: 16/9/2003
Status: Offline
posted on 21/7/2006 at 16:31
Fantastic ,nice one Dave and Graham.
____________________
Cheers Steve.