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We finally got the boat back in the water on Friday after all the work we'd done sprucing her up for the season ahead, so we were desperate to get out as soon as poss! I was frantically checking the usual websites all week, and despite the windy forecast we decided to give it a go. 
We were up for 3am, travelling by 3:30 & heading out of Seaton Sluice harbour for about 4am, sun just threatening to come up over the horizon. Well, once we got out into the open sea the "No Incoming Swell" was more like 2.5 - 3ft once you got any distance away from the shore! We therefore decided to stay inshore & started the day by dropping the lobster pot off beside St. Mary's.
On my first drop I reeled in a small codling which was safely returned back to the sea. Little did I know this would be the only cod caught all day! :s We had a few more drifts around the lighthouse and eventually got into a brief shoal of mackerel, still only caught 4 of them though then it was quiet again.
We moved a little past the lighthouse and dropped into what I now call 'Coaly Bay' because it was riddled with the little buggers! They were coming up in 2's & 3's every single drop, but they were all under-size & becoming a nuisance so we decided to move away from the lighthouse and upon doing so, it all went quiet again. For the rest of our time out there we maybe caught 2 or 3 small coalies and we were getting a bit fed up so decided to head back. It was about 8am by this point so we wouldn't have been out much longer anyway due to the tide restrictions for getting in & out the harbour.
On the way back in we searched for the buoy off the lobster pot... and searched... and searrrched... but alas it was nowhere to be seen! We hunted all around but couldn't find it anywhere so it had either been washed away somehow (not sure how as we've used it in worse conditions and it was fine), or it was picked up by someone else. Either way, it was gone so we just headed back in, a little disappointed.
Talked to a few people on the way back in and it seems everyone else had a poor show too, but I was still glad just to get out and that everything was working as it should on the boat.
I would add some pics but there was nothing worth snapping. Even the sunrise was a let down due to the clouds. Harrumph!
Hopefully the next trip out will be more fruitful!
All the best.
Steve
We were up for 3am, travelling by 3:30 & heading out of Seaton Sluice harbour for about 4am, sun just threatening to come up over the horizon. Well, once we got out into the open sea the "No Incoming Swell" was more like 2.5 - 3ft once you got any distance away from the shore! We therefore decided to stay inshore & started the day by dropping the lobster pot off beside St. Mary's.
On my first drop I reeled in a small codling which was safely returned back to the sea. Little did I know this would be the only cod caught all day! :s We had a few more drifts around the lighthouse and eventually got into a brief shoal of mackerel, still only caught 4 of them though then it was quiet again.
We moved a little past the lighthouse and dropped into what I now call 'Coaly Bay' because it was riddled with the little buggers! They were coming up in 2's & 3's every single drop, but they were all under-size & becoming a nuisance so we decided to move away from the lighthouse and upon doing so, it all went quiet again. For the rest of our time out there we maybe caught 2 or 3 small coalies and we were getting a bit fed up so decided to head back. It was about 8am by this point so we wouldn't have been out much longer anyway due to the tide restrictions for getting in & out the harbour.
On the way back in we searched for the buoy off the lobster pot... and searched... and searrrched... but alas it was nowhere to be seen! We hunted all around but couldn't find it anywhere so it had either been washed away somehow (not sure how as we've used it in worse conditions and it was fine), or it was picked up by someone else. Either way, it was gone so we just headed back in, a little disappointed.
Talked to a few people on the way back in and it seems everyone else had a poor show too, but I was still glad just to get out and that everything was working as it should on the boat.
I would add some pics but there was nothing worth snapping. Even the sunrise was a let down due to the clouds. Harrumph!
Hopefully the next trip out will be more fruitful!All the best.
Steve
. 
Actually, whilst on the subject, I read on here somewhere about a (free) 'license' that you should have to be putting out pots. Would this apply to us who are just putting out 1 pot for a couple of hours & not leaving them unattended (ie not leaving them out overnight after coming back into the harbour). Just want to make sure we wouldn't get into any trouble if we were randomly inspected or anything, so if we need one of these licenses then Ill be sure to get one before putting out any more pots. 
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