With the Bank Holiday upon us it luckily gave us the option to choose from an extra day which day to head out and with our usual Saturday being blown by yet another easterly wind the choice was all but made for us ….. Sunday 4th May !
The usual start this time of year is 4.00am to take in the sunrise and fish with the sun climbing and temperatures rising ……
Not quite this morning …. with the sky overcast and the forecast for early rain we decided it would be just too dark at 4.00am and slid the start-up time back to a very casual 5.00am
Reports recently have been anything but good from the Tyne with only the odd one here and there (well done Rich) managing any decent fish. So, it was once again a lets do it and see type of trip as we trundled out the piers in the (as forecast) drizzle.
Tried first the close in wrecks and hard ground and although not any cod at first we were treat to the nibbling of many a scotchie (and some in good size if you were in the mind to take them).
We decided to try the 3 mile wrecks just in case, but only the odd fish ….. Then, off to St Mary’s “to try the Lures “
The rain continued , it was a bit on the cold side but soon the codling started to show …… and show …. and show.
Well lo and behold I do believe the fishing has started …… a lot of small fish around lots of which went back but a lot of nice pan sized sweet 3 lb fish to be had. To be fair at this point they were attracted to Tony rather than myself but I did get a few to pitch in.
We had several species some normal and some not so normal …
At one point I decided to try out “the St Mary’s Grub”, well where else but at St Mary’s Island should I have tried it …..
Now I’m sure this will be thought of by some as “a set up”, but on my word this is how it came about.
I dropped for the first time above a lead two St Marys’ Grubs and on the way down at about 60 ft in a 65 ft depth “BANG” a hard fighting codling of about 5lb struck viciously and took the lure in the scissors of it mouth. .. unbelievable and when we viewed the pictures there is the grub complete with engraving of St marys grub with the lighthouse behind us and the yellow can in full view ….. stunning (and made my day)
Well by the end of the day (about 11.00am) Tony had well outfished me by number but my St Marys Grub take will remain as my high point of the trip.
Ended with a decent bag and a lot returned, seems the season has started ……………………. Whoooo hoooo
Just a few pics of the day …….
Scotchies Galore ...
But Some Codling starting to show ...
and more ...
and sometimes both at once ....
and more (He must be Lucky) ...
and a baby Ling ...
A New Boat for the Master ...
And the St Marys grub In action ....
A Little Video ...... Theres all sorts down there
the octopus - YouTube
And finally the end result ...
Cheers folks, Thanks for reading
norm
The usual start this time of year is 4.00am to take in the sunrise and fish with the sun climbing and temperatures rising ……
Not quite this morning …. with the sky overcast and the forecast for early rain we decided it would be just too dark at 4.00am and slid the start-up time back to a very casual 5.00am
Reports recently have been anything but good from the Tyne with only the odd one here and there (well done Rich) managing any decent fish. So, it was once again a lets do it and see type of trip as we trundled out the piers in the (as forecast) drizzle.
Tried first the close in wrecks and hard ground and although not any cod at first we were treat to the nibbling of many a scotchie (and some in good size if you were in the mind to take them).
We decided to try the 3 mile wrecks just in case, but only the odd fish ….. Then, off to St Mary’s “to try the Lures “
The rain continued , it was a bit on the cold side but soon the codling started to show …… and show …. and show.
Well lo and behold I do believe the fishing has started …… a lot of small fish around lots of which went back but a lot of nice pan sized sweet 3 lb fish to be had. To be fair at this point they were attracted to Tony rather than myself but I did get a few to pitch in.
We had several species some normal and some not so normal …
At one point I decided to try out “the St Mary’s Grub”, well where else but at St Mary’s Island should I have tried it …..
Now I’m sure this will be thought of by some as “a set up”, but on my word this is how it came about.
I dropped for the first time above a lead two St Marys’ Grubs and on the way down at about 60 ft in a 65 ft depth “BANG” a hard fighting codling of about 5lb struck viciously and took the lure in the scissors of it mouth. .. unbelievable and when we viewed the pictures there is the grub complete with engraving of St marys grub with the lighthouse behind us and the yellow can in full view ….. stunning (and made my day)
Well by the end of the day (about 11.00am) Tony had well outfished me by number but my St Marys Grub take will remain as my high point of the trip.
Ended with a decent bag and a lot returned, seems the season has started ……………………. Whoooo hoooo
Just a few pics of the day …….
Scotchies Galore ...
But Some Codling starting to show ...
and more ...
and sometimes both at once ....
and more (He must be Lucky) ...
and a baby Ling ...
A New Boat for the Master ...
And the St Marys grub In action ....
A Little Video ...... Theres all sorts down there
the octopus - YouTube
And finally the end result ...
Cheers folks, Thanks for reading
norm
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