Emilia Jayne - 04/06/2011

[Funkmeister_Smith]

Well we decided to chance it this morning after watching the forecast gradually improve all week, so we planned for a 3:00am rise, out the house by 3:30 then out the harbour by 4am. When I got up I thought I would have one last check on the usual sites before we left and lo & behold, changed again! Now there were strong north westerlies forecast by 7am... Doh! We still went for it though, figuring we'd be coming back into the harbour around that time anyway.

So we got there around 3:30 as planned and the sea was lovely & flat, as hoped. We were heading out Seaton Sluice around 4am and it was all going well, sun just popping up as we approached Whitley Bay where we had our first drop. We were straight into mackerel, coming up 2, 3, 4+ at a time, small ones at first then some monsters! Then we started getting a few herring as well which I personally had never caught before (all of which went back to the sea again). This went on for around 45 mins then we got a couple of small coalies in amongst the mackerel and then it all went quiet.

We drifted out a bit further and & hit a patch of pollock which was a welcome change & we managed a couple of decent ones to take home. Not a single cod was caught unfortunately, which is unusual, but never mind!

It wasnt long after this that the wind changed... and in turn the sea changed... fast! We decided to call it a day and started our long, slow journey back to the harbour (we had drifted quite far out from the lighthouse). Well we were thrown around all over the place on the way back, got absolutely drenched and 2 out of the 4 of us were sick! haha! (glad to say I was ok as I was driving!). Definately not very comfortable so was not bothered at all about having to go back in early!

We made it back in after a good 20 mins or so of riding the waves, then had the hardship of lugging the 2 engines & all the gear up the harbour wall, up the stairs to the van, & packing the van... was it all worth it for around an hour & a halfs trip out?... of course!

All in all we had a box full of mackerel & a few pan size pollock. Happy with that and I dont mind the odd rough sea now & then to keep me on my toes driving the boat!

Didnt bother with any pics of our catch, but here is a couple of the sunrise:





And here's a couple of our boat since we've finished tarting her up as Ive never actually posted any up yet:







All the best.

Steve

[big ling]

Well doe on the catch.

[boatangler33]

well done on the catch

[The Jester]

Well done for getting out there and catching some fish , Your boat looks brand new, you've done a cracking job

[canman]

Good post Steve, like you say, strange no cod, maybe the macky and pollock didn't give them a chance. You got to be careful at the entrance of the Sluice harbour once a sea starts building.
Looks like a nice sturdy boat you've got there with a fantastic finish, be safe.

[northeast1]

Good to be out even just mackerel bashing, i had a weekend off to put a fence up after them strong winds. Fish there we just need the weather better to get them out in good numbers

[The Great Wallsendo]

great stuff mate - boat looks gleaming

[Kev1n]

A box full of mackerel at this time of year is a good result. You’ve done a cracking job on the boat, it looks like a new one with the sun reflecting off it in the photo. There’s a similar style boat near ours at the Royal Quays marina; the owner has fitted a canvas cuddy on a folding frame to give some shelter if the sea or weather conditions aren’t good. It could be a winter project for you.

[King Ling]

nice looking boat there m8,i bet youv'e put a few hours into that,but all makes it worth while when you get out fishing,shame about the cod but a box full of maki will do

[fisherman58]

Well done on your catch mate

[Funkmeister_Smith]

Hi.

Thanks for all the comments! She's certainly been a labour of love. This is how she looked when we bought her in March 2010:







We thought about making a cuddy on the front, but think we'd rather have the space to fish from! Next boat will have a cabin, but we're quite happy with her for now.

All the best.

Steve