The Tom Jones 24 June 2010

[TAG]

And then the bites started…

Headed out at 4ish yesterday with an increasing wind and a falling tide. First stop just outside of piers to stock up on mackerel. Surprisingly it was monster whiting that appeared – some real belters – but with our hopes set on bigger things they were returned to fight another day.

Headed south and pretty soon picked up our mackerel so off we went to the hard ground near the South Can. Not a bite on three rods in 30 minutes so decided to go North East and try out luck over a few wrecks

The combined wind and tide was making hitting a wreck harder than usual (never much good at it anyway). After a few attempts and slack water approaching we decided just to drift…and then the bites started.

I was first in with a nice codling (3.5lb) taken on the way down on a pirk; however this was immediately outdone by Richie Coulson who’s rod nearly left the boat after a huge knock. Poor Richie’s struggle was rewarded when he dragged up a superb treble of cod (smallest about 4lb)

For the next hour it was an exciting mix of cod (most coming in doubles), coley and the odd mackerel.

Most bizarre technique of the session went to Alan Esslemont who twice managed to land codling, of about 3.5lb, in what can best be described as a fish noose.

Fish were still being taken on the slack tide but we had our share and it seemed a bit unfair to hook em and chuck em back just for fun.

All in all about 20+ Whiting, 20+ Coley, 30+ codling up to about 5lb (only 10 kept between 3) and numerous mackerel.

Sorry no photos – taking them is a mystery never mind uploading them!

Baits: rag, mussel and mackerel

Best combo: daylights tipped with rag

Tom

[joostan]

nice report mate and a great idea on saying your bait used and the best combo.

Just a nooby question tho, you mentioned a cod being taking on the way down with a pirk. Is that a rig or feather or ....?

[The Great Wallsendo]

Nice one Tom

[TAG]

Joostan - a pirk (jig) is just a big shiny weight, that looks a bit like a fish, with a hook on the bottom. Hit the sea bed give it a few turns and jig up and down...normally productive over wrecks -

[anthony stobbart]

sliver surfer

Joostan - a pirk (jig) is just a big shiny weight, that looks a bit like a fish, with a hook on the bottom. Hit the sea bed give it a few turns and jig up and down...normally productive over wrecks -

have you not used that chrome tape that you use on spinners,and then have you have two flying hooks"two hooks on same length mono so they bang together which drive cod mental and you bag up! you could add muppets etc to your hooks and this works for ling with a small mackerl fillet.

[Norman]

Well done Tom, great report mate two and three ups eh, they certainly feel good ...

nice one

norm