After weather watching for weeks is became evident that there was only gonna be one window of opportunity to get out there and catch ... (errrm well)
And that was today, early morning as the wind was dropping and before evening as the wind was expected to return ....
So ... off we went this morning ..... myself, Tony and our special VIP guest Duncan (lingking) hereafter referred to as dunk
The usual stupid aclock start of 4.30am was to a) catch the tide on the flood and b) get through this window ......... the only error was in not informing the fish to be there well, for some of us ....
Okay (that word again) lets start by admitting I caught a big NOTHING today there thats over .....
Off we went with a following west wind and decided to fish at distance to try to clear the dirty water, great trip out to the first wreck at some 4 mile watching sheer walls of water on the immense slow swell, until, we got to our mark, opened the cabin door and were almost blown overboard with the wind .... as forecast, but not as yet blown down.
We, all three, tried dropping a line but with the wind and tide working together the lines streamed almost parallel with the surface, I reckon it would have taken 3 lbs of lead to get them anywhere near straight down.
So unfortunately, especially having a "VIP" guest on board we were forced to seek shelter and head for the "banker" St Marys, which always produced cod although usually on the smaller scale.
oh oh not this time, I'm sure the place was barren of fish or, they were sheltering under the swell with eyes and gobs fully shut.
spot after spot we visited but all to no avail until eventually Dunk hit into his first fish, a small coalie.
Spirits were heightened ... but fell again as nothing else appeared at St Marys ........
Eventually the wind began to ease and we decided to try the wrecks again. The wind certainly had dropped but not the swell, it was (to me) absolutely brilliant with wall to wall water.
Slowly bit by bit we (or should I say they) began to catch a few fish, not the targeted species of cod but still fish .... coalie, whiting, pouting etc all came aboard, along with a fine pollack of about 4lb for Tony.
This was the theme for the whole day, not a lot of fish about and for the slinky crew not a single cod today.
Conditions were as near perfect as could be, a flooding tide, sun rising, month of may, early start, lots of bait and shads, clearer water further out ... however little in the way of catch. ...... could it be the enormous swell that kept them at bay, as we heard later that we were not the only ones to find it hard today .....
Anyway, it keeps you honest and makes you appreciate the better days when they come.
Many thanks to my crew today, Tony and VIP Dunk (thanks again for the "gift" Dunk)
Look forward to the next time ...
A few pics of the day to lighten the post ...
Crew at the ready 5.00am ...
First shot to Dunk ....
and a Double shot to Tony
VIP of the Day "lingking"......
and with a bigger coalie .....
Tony with a fine Pollack ....
A scotchie with a scotchie ... the noo ..
And just to show he can still do it........ Tony with a scotchie .......
Great Day, with or without fish ... many thanks to all for taking the time to read ......
norm
And that was today, early morning as the wind was dropping and before evening as the wind was expected to return ....
So ... off we went this morning ..... myself, Tony and our special VIP guest Duncan (lingking) hereafter referred to as dunk
The usual stupid aclock start of 4.30am was to a) catch the tide on the flood and b) get through this window ......... the only error was in not informing the fish to be there well, for some of us ....
Okay (that word again) lets start by admitting I caught a big NOTHING today there thats over .....
Off we went with a following west wind and decided to fish at distance to try to clear the dirty water, great trip out to the first wreck at some 4 mile watching sheer walls of water on the immense slow swell, until, we got to our mark, opened the cabin door and were almost blown overboard with the wind .... as forecast, but not as yet blown down.
We, all three, tried dropping a line but with the wind and tide working together the lines streamed almost parallel with the surface, I reckon it would have taken 3 lbs of lead to get them anywhere near straight down.
So unfortunately, especially having a "VIP" guest on board we were forced to seek shelter and head for the "banker" St Marys, which always produced cod although usually on the smaller scale.
oh oh not this time, I'm sure the place was barren of fish or, they were sheltering under the swell with eyes and gobs fully shut.
spot after spot we visited but all to no avail until eventually Dunk hit into his first fish, a small coalie.
Spirits were heightened ... but fell again as nothing else appeared at St Marys ........
Eventually the wind began to ease and we decided to try the wrecks again. The wind certainly had dropped but not the swell, it was (to me) absolutely brilliant with wall to wall water.
Slowly bit by bit we (or should I say they) began to catch a few fish, not the targeted species of cod but still fish .... coalie, whiting, pouting etc all came aboard, along with a fine pollack of about 4lb for Tony.
This was the theme for the whole day, not a lot of fish about and for the slinky crew not a single cod today.
Conditions were as near perfect as could be, a flooding tide, sun rising, month of may, early start, lots of bait and shads, clearer water further out ... however little in the way of catch. ...... could it be the enormous swell that kept them at bay, as we heard later that we were not the only ones to find it hard today .....
Anyway, it keeps you honest and makes you appreciate the better days when they come.
Many thanks to my crew today, Tony and VIP Dunk (thanks again for the "gift" Dunk)
Look forward to the next time ...
A few pics of the day to lighten the post ...
Crew at the ready 5.00am ...
First shot to Dunk ....
and a Double shot to Tony
VIP of the Day "lingking"......
and with a bigger coalie .....
Tony with a fine Pollack ....
A scotchie with a scotchie ... the noo ..
And just to show he can still do it........ Tony with a scotchie .......
Great Day, with or without fish ... many thanks to all for taking the time to read ......
norm
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