Little-by-little the weather forecast improved through last week as the weekend approached and by this morning it was looking good. Maybe the fishing gods don’t hate the working man so much after all.
First drop at Cullercoats was just before low tide and was fishless. Thanks to a tip-off from Canman we headed north to join the crowds at StMary’s where fish were showing from the start. Cheers Arthur! I opened the account with a 5 pounder and Steve followed with a smaller one – well it would be wouldn’t it.
Fish came in a few at a time with quieter periods in between. After slack water the wind was strengthening so we went close in to the lighthouse for just long enough to pull out a bonny ballan wrasse, the first of the year.
Anchoring in 40ft of water brought a few more fish to the boat and we sheltered inside from the gusts of wind and first of the heavy rainstorms. When fishing there went quiet I hauled in the anchor. Just as the anchor was safely stowed, the radar arch started making a sizzling noise, I thought that the VHF aerial has short circuited and was crackling and buzzing or that Steve had turned the radar on and it was having problems. Turning off the electronics didn’t help and then a downpour arrived. It must have been static building up in with the storm; I've read about it buy until now never experienced it and hopefully won’t have to again.
Fishing was slow during and after the rain and we were just about to call it a day when another pod of fish went by to light up the fishing. I snagged the bottom and as I wrapped the braid around a plastic tube to break it free, the line took off. One of the better fish of the day had taken the bait and pulled the lead free. Jammy or what?
Today’s fish were a good stamp, the smallest was about a pound and a half and we put back quite a few in the 5~6lb size. Prawns did well and so did strips of squid, both out-fishing peeler and lug.
One of our first fish out so we grabbed the camera; there was no need to rush as plenty more followed.
Time to duck into the cabin for shelter as the land began to disappear from view.
Back into the sunshine and the fish.
First drop at Cullercoats was just before low tide and was fishless. Thanks to a tip-off from Canman we headed north to join the crowds at StMary’s where fish were showing from the start. Cheers Arthur! I opened the account with a 5 pounder and Steve followed with a smaller one – well it would be wouldn’t it.
Fish came in a few at a time with quieter periods in between. After slack water the wind was strengthening so we went close in to the lighthouse for just long enough to pull out a bonny ballan wrasse, the first of the year.
Anchoring in 40ft of water brought a few more fish to the boat and we sheltered inside from the gusts of wind and first of the heavy rainstorms. When fishing there went quiet I hauled in the anchor. Just as the anchor was safely stowed, the radar arch started making a sizzling noise, I thought that the VHF aerial has short circuited and was crackling and buzzing or that Steve had turned the radar on and it was having problems. Turning off the electronics didn’t help and then a downpour arrived. It must have been static building up in with the storm; I've read about it buy until now never experienced it and hopefully won’t have to again.
Fishing was slow during and after the rain and we were just about to call it a day when another pod of fish went by to light up the fishing. I snagged the bottom and as I wrapped the braid around a plastic tube to break it free, the line took off. One of the better fish of the day had taken the bait and pulled the lead free. Jammy or what?
Today’s fish were a good stamp, the smallest was about a pound and a half and we put back quite a few in the 5~6lb size. Prawns did well and so did strips of squid, both out-fishing peeler and lug.
One of our first fish out so we grabbed the camera; there was no need to rush as plenty more followed.
Time to duck into the cabin for shelter as the land began to disappear from view.
Back into the sunshine and the fish.
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