So after our disappointment of not catching any keepers yesterday out of Hartlepool, I was heard to say, "Well it can't be any worse tomorrow."
I should know by now the phrase "famous last words" and mine are now right up there!
We arrived at Mill Dam, as Tony was coming across to pick us up, to save us from making two trips through the tunnel.
When we boarded there were already ten guys on, so it was a bit of a squeeze to find a place. We headed towards the piers and the weather seemed set fair.
We stopped at a wreck close in and were immediately joined by JFK. Spent about half an hour on the drift and about 8 decent Saithe, to about 2lbs, were caught..................although not by us
We then headed out about 6 miles and the weather soon turned to this.
Stopping at another wreck, down went the baits................and the nightmare began!
With, and I am guessing, about 3 metre swells, fishing was hard with no bites and the inevitable tangles. No real problems until we started snagging the wrecks. Lynn and I must have lost 5 rigs in a row. Next drop, Lynn gets tangled with a chap at the other side of the boat, but Skipper Tony was at hand to do the necessary. At that point, I snagged the wreck again and with Tony busy untagling, I decided, that as I was weraing gloves, I could free the line. I put the rod against the rail to grab the line but it suddenly tightened and before I knew it the tip snapped off! I slumped onto the rail and swore at the sea. Why? who knows! Anyway I noticed Lynn had been untangled and still slumped over the rail, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see a guy in my face. "Mate you are going to have to reel in quicker next time, you just messed up my son's rig."
There are times when you have choices in your life and this was one of those times............Should I be polite.............. or should I just give him a Glasgow Kiss? I dedcided on the former and just mumbled, "not me mate." He replied "Well someone did" and returned to his side of the boat. What a complete ****, a 3 metre swell, big tide, 12 fishing and he thinks reeling in faster will help!? Perhaps he was just being over protective, I mean his son was very young, he was only about 27 !!
Anyway, I took a break, had a cigarette, borrowed a rod and rigged up for about the 6th time and I was back fishing. Yup you've guessed it, first drop, snagged, lost the entire rig.
By this time Tony decided to try close in, so off we went for a 30 minute motor towards South Shields. With time to reflect you invariably think of the reply you wish you had given, such as " I am sorry my good man, but I am afraid you are mistaken, my line was stuck hard to the wreck and I have just snapped my beloved rod. However if you wish to discuss my partner Lynn's rate of retrieve, I will be happy to do so. Why don't we step over here!"
Close in we tried again. Same result, no fish and lost rigs. At 1130am Tony made the right decision and called it a day. We headed back to port with my words of yesterday ringing in my ears.
Back at the caravan, Lynn is asleep and I am writing this in the hope it will help alieviate my frustration. I think a lot of drink may well be consumed this evening!
I should know by now the phrase "famous last words" and mine are now right up there!
We arrived at Mill Dam, as Tony was coming across to pick us up, to save us from making two trips through the tunnel.
When we boarded there were already ten guys on, so it was a bit of a squeeze to find a place. We headed towards the piers and the weather seemed set fair.
We stopped at a wreck close in and were immediately joined by JFK. Spent about half an hour on the drift and about 8 decent Saithe, to about 2lbs, were caught..................although not by us
We then headed out about 6 miles and the weather soon turned to this.
Stopping at another wreck, down went the baits................and the nightmare began!
With, and I am guessing, about 3 metre swells, fishing was hard with no bites and the inevitable tangles. No real problems until we started snagging the wrecks. Lynn and I must have lost 5 rigs in a row. Next drop, Lynn gets tangled with a chap at the other side of the boat, but Skipper Tony was at hand to do the necessary. At that point, I snagged the wreck again and with Tony busy untagling, I decided, that as I was weraing gloves, I could free the line. I put the rod against the rail to grab the line but it suddenly tightened and before I knew it the tip snapped off! I slumped onto the rail and swore at the sea. Why? who knows! Anyway I noticed Lynn had been untangled and still slumped over the rail, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see a guy in my face. "Mate you are going to have to reel in quicker next time, you just messed up my son's rig."
There are times when you have choices in your life and this was one of those times............Should I be polite.............. or should I just give him a Glasgow Kiss? I dedcided on the former and just mumbled, "not me mate." He replied "Well someone did" and returned to his side of the boat. What a complete ****, a 3 metre swell, big tide, 12 fishing and he thinks reeling in faster will help!? Perhaps he was just being over protective, I mean his son was very young, he was only about 27 !!
Anyway, I took a break, had a cigarette, borrowed a rod and rigged up for about the 6th time and I was back fishing. Yup you've guessed it, first drop, snagged, lost the entire rig.
By this time Tony decided to try close in, so off we went for a 30 minute motor towards South Shields. With time to reflect you invariably think of the reply you wish you had given, such as " I am sorry my good man, but I am afraid you are mistaken, my line was stuck hard to the wreck and I have just snapped my beloved rod. However if you wish to discuss my partner Lynn's rate of retrieve, I will be happy to do so. Why don't we step over here!"
Close in we tried again. Same result, no fish and lost rigs. At 1130am Tony made the right decision and called it a day. We headed back to port with my words of yesterday ringing in my ears.
Back at the caravan, Lynn is asleep and I am writing this in the hope it will help alieviate my frustration. I think a lot of drink may well be consumed this evening!
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