Slinky Kate Sat 31st July 2010 - early :-)

[Norman]

As was asked in another thread .... how early? is two early?

Due to Tide being low at 1.00am and the knowledge that theres been action lately on wrecks around and over slack water low (and also the fact Tony needed to be back by lunchtime to prepare for the celebration of Newcastle V PSV) we decided to experiment and go out BEFORE sunrise ie at 2.00am and see what effect pure darkness has on the fishing ....

As mentioned it was "an experiment" as we were not aware what life would be like in the sea at darkness ..................... (I should really have remembered what it was like a few years ago on a late trip back from amble, its basic, you cannot see anything!, but thats another story)

Hopefully we could fish a few wrecks, catch a few fish, relate to darkness and be back for lunchtime .......

Results ...........
Night fishing on shore, close to shore or in the river may well be fine .... but at sea .... no no. we found, although we did get first fish at 3.05 am that the 1.1/2 hour earlier start (we usually meet up at 3.30am) was basically a waste of time. We spent most of the time in darkness getting to our marks ..... at tickover speed as we could not see a thing in front. The river was just navigable (rubbish in river wise) as there was a lot of light from the shore which gave us a half chance, but when we got to the harbour and worse still past the piers it was pure blackness .....

conclusion ...........
put up with the tide times, and curtail Tonys football supporting roll to fit in with fishing trips .... oh and leave no more than 1 hour before sunrise !

anyway on to the report ...........

As said, first cod was taken just outside the piers in total darkness with baited hokkais ...... just a lucky shot methinks as there were no more fish until the sun started to appear.

we then, after a few drifts close to piers moved to a wreck about 4 mile out (as soon as we could see the sea in front of us at about 4.00am)

prior to that we did have the good fortune to witness an iriduim flare .....
which is a flash of the antennae of one of the iridium communication sattelites it was in fact at exactly 3.36.35secs at 115deg and 45deg inclination for a whole 3 seconds

this wreck was a tubfull of mackerel so we took enough for our needs and thought of moving on to a spot we had in mind .......

off we went to find we were not the first there today ... beaten once again by bert and lads ...

This wreck, at this point in time ... was fishing ... whoo hooo.

Whatever we put down we seemed to catch on, although not as good I might add as a few previous missions, it was maybe a fish every 2 drifts or so, nevertheless they were beginning to fill the boxes and all were 5lb or over ...........

the area seemed to take on a buzz ..... gannets arrived and started diving then all types of sea birds arrived and went crazy in a feed fest.
We noticed that all the fish taken were spitting out sprats and obviously the birds too were feeding on them. After taking a whiting with three sprats stuffed in its mouth I decided to try a shad..... well, it does mimic a fish ...
as I got to the bottom there was a take, resulting in a nice cod.... I could see Tony thinking "lucky"
Then with a smile on the same drift I dropped straight down into the mouth of another cod ....
Again I could see Tony thinking " ok VERY Lucky but if it happens again its not luck ....
for the third time on the same drift I dropped the same shad down to an instant take ...... I swear Tony didn't even reel in but cut his braid and tackle and wrapped a shad on the end
He too was instantly rewarded with cod ..........

Time after time we shaded ourselves out with the highpoint being a nice clean 11lb cod for Tony and a new PB to boot

And thats the way it went until 9.00am when we decided enough was enough and time to get tony to his footie match (bearing in mind the boat clean and the hours of filleting in between).

we learned a lot about fishing today .. !

all in all an EXCEPTIONAL day with over a dozen keepers each with Tony meeting a new PB of an 11lb cod

we came away early with two full boxes ....... wow, now thats fishing !

just a few pics of the day ....


Tony at ready with headlamp ...




the early fish 3.00am




struggeling sunrise (which turned out glorious ......)






First an 8lb cod




Then an 11lb cod




Then another to myself




Then it was Shad Shad Shad ...



Shad Shad Shad ...




and the result ......




Another Manic Fishing Adventure .......


and well done Tony mate on your 11lb PB ..... time to notch it up to 12 now

norm

[mark]

aye its an odd thing at sea at night. takes some getting used to, and a good while before you realise peering hard out the windows looking ahead is pointless as you can see nothing anyway

there's a lot to be said for radar!

[Codfather]

Well done lads, glad to see the shads are working up your way aswell.
Congrats on the new PB Tony.

We have toyed with the idea of going out at last light and anchoring by a wreck overnight fairly close in and see what turned up.

[KeithB]

Nice one lads & well done on the PB Tony. I'll have to have an extra couple of G&T's to make up for missing out.

[The Great Wallsendo]

got to say a perfect saturday for me - fishing this morning, loads of C.O.D. incl' a new PB then footy in the arvo followed by a few sherberts - ACE!

Like Norman said shad'tastic fishing...for Slinky at least they were the way to go on this occasion with instant results and fish after fish falling to their charm...including, did I mention?, a new PB (always nice )

awesome awseome awesome - been a great season so far

see you next sunday Norman

[The Jester]

Great report and pics as always Norman , I am still waiting for the double figure cod this year

[jonny_s]

Another great report Norman and some nice fish. At least you can now enjoy an extra hour or so in bed without wondering ' What if '. I can imagine it must be a bit scary being out there in total darkness. The Mistress hit a large tree branch the other night on the way out of the tyne, it was quite a bump. Imagine that in the dark on a smaller boat

I am out next week and might try to use shads. What is the best way to fish them ? baited / jigged ? advice appreciated.

Thanks

Jonny

[kingcod deano]

cracking result norman just goes to show the earlyer the better

[oldessox]

You will have to get some headlights on your boat Norman I've never been out in the dark , I always make sure I'm back before the light goes , it was bad enough in the fog when I could see the water a few yards off the bow. Yet another good day out Congrats on the personal best Tony

Ray

[Topfly]

Nice one lads & well done on the PB Tony. I'll have to have an extra couple of G&T's to make up for missing out.

Kept your seat warm Keith, enjoy your hols Nice pics Norman, and canny fish Tony

[greggthe1]

Cracking report again Norman and some quality fish.

Well done on the PB Tony

[John E]

Again a cracking trip with a great report, well done Tony with the PB.

Norman your going to land a monster one of these days

[Graham B]

Well done on the PB Tony. The only time I go out on a boat in the hours of darkness are at work with an x band and s band radars and AIS!

Graham.

[Charlie_Thompson]

aye its an odd thing at sea at night. takes some getting used to, and a good while before you realise peering hard out the windows looking ahead is pointless as you can see nothing anyway

there's a lot to be said for radar!

Yup I agree, boats lying down and lighthouses moving around certainly make for an interesting trip.

[Iva-Cod-on]

What a really good stamp of fish well done on the pb tony great read/pics