kayos
Well-known member
Lynn and I went to Greece on 30th June, as she wanted a "hot holiday" this year! We had also booked a week at Whitley Bay on the 9th July, but I got the flu(probably from the re-cycled air from the plane) as soon as we landed in Glasgow and I was sick for 4 weeks, so we had to cancel! The best summer since 1973 and I was literally housebound!
Finally recovered, I was determined to get at least one boat trip in this year, so I booked JFK2 for Thursday 30th August. Unfortunately Lynn had to work, so it was me and my pal David.
Here is the story.
I awoke last Wednesday morning at silly o'clock, so excited for our trip to the Tyne. I was showered, shaved, dressed and ready to roll by 8am - the problem was David was picking me up at 1230pm! Ten episodes of Judge Judy later and finally it was time to leave. It is a bit pathetic how excited this 58 year old gets over boat fishing, especially when more often than not it ends in disappointment! Weather was lovely as we left Greenock and the drive down was pleasant and unremarkable until we hit traffic in Jesmond!
We just made Billy's Tackle with 5 minutes to spare before he closed and bought 2 packets of squid, plus David bought some hokkais and swivel clips. We then found our apartment on Nile St. North Shields. It was gorgeous, set over 2 floors with 3 bedrooms a lounge, kitchen and 2 bathrooms. All for £30 a night each! Just as well our bedrooms were on different floors as David snores louder than me!
We got settled in and then headed to Tynemouth and tea at the Priory.
Lynn's empty seat.
Not quite the same, plus what has David hidden under his jumper!?
We bought some rolls and ham on the way back to the apartment and made our lunch for JFK day. Early to bed and up with the lark(actually the noisy seagulls!). David drove to Royal Quays, via McDonalds! He made me order a bacon roll with my coffee, disgusting and totally inedible! I'm certain the roll and bacon was microwaved! Why do people eat there??
Anyway we finally arrived at the pontoon.
First in the queue!
Calm and still.
JFK appeared in the lock and was soon alongside. Only seven anglers waiting. We assumed we would be picking up others on the south side, but Alan said no, some people had cancelled! So oodles of room for the magnificent seven!
With the Cod Queen left on the bench at home, the opportunity for David or I to depose her and claim the crown filled us with purpose and the excitement was palpable!
We sailed out past the piers to find an unexpected breeze and a chop on the water.
We stopped just a few hundred yards off the pier to stock up on some mackerel, however no one told the mackerel! Mind you I managed a string, the only ones brought to the boat, so we moved further out.
This time everyone was catching and after my second string I baited the daylites, hit the bottom and pulled in the first Cod on the boat for the day. Only about 2lbs, but a good start and not even 8am!
We then steamed for about 20 minutes to a wreck and I asked Alan what tactics had been successful recently. He said baited Hokkais, blue or pink. I prefer shads, as I tend to lose loads of tackle fishing hokkais. However if the skipper says hokkais, hokkais it is! So on went the pink ones and I was ready for the challenge. David also fished the same set up and down we went. It was slow going, with maybe 3 fish coming to other anglers, so after 30 minutes we were on the move again. This was to be repeated for the rest of the day, with Alan searching for a wreck with plenty of fish. Any thoughts of him keeping close in, with only seven paying anglers, was quickly dispelled and at one point he was 19 miles from port! In my opinion Alan is the best skipper out of the Tyne, who works tirelessly searching for fish for his customers - mind you his taste in music could be better - ABBA, ABBA, ABBA!!
The breeze had now died down and it was warm in the sun. Most anglers had the odd one or two during the morning and I had a cod of about 3lbs and a Ling of about 5.5lbs, so I was satisfied with that. David however was doing an amazing job of playing the part of me and only had mackerel and a pin whiting to show for his efforts by 1130am, I felt his pain! On the plus side, he had only lost one set of hokkais, whereas I had lost four, plus five weights - always happens to me with this kind of fishing. I was moaning a bit until David said "I'd take the tackle losses for the 3 fish you've caught!"
Now midday and I was bored of losing tackle and not exactly setting the heather on fire with the fishing, I changed to a shad tipped with mackerel. By the way the guy next to David was on fire and must have had about 10 fish already, including a double figure Ling! The crewman who was fishing next to me also had a good amount of cod and ling, which depressed us even more!
Alan shook his head, as I dropped down my shad, but within moments of hitting the bottom and slowly retrieving it - bang! The much talked about monster was on! It bent my light travel rod double and I struggled to even wind it in. Fortunately I managed to keep it out the wreck and gamely tried to wind it up. Alan was over immediately, with net in hand and muttering "big big ling!" It was easily the biggest fish I have ever hooked(albeit my best is only 10.5lbs). I was really struggling to control the fish, but struggled manfully and had it at least halfway up, after what felt like ages, when suddenly it was gone! The air was blue and I was so devastated. I reeled the line in, to find the snap swivel had been bent open and the shad, line and of course the fish were missing!
I sat down and opened a coke, lit a cigarette and messaged Lynn. Her reply(hahaha!!) did not ease my pain! .frantic.
After 15 minutes I dusted myself down and went back to the fishing, sticking with the shad. I quickly caught 2 in 2, a cod and a ling.
My bucket was looking healthy and as David was still blanking I couldn't complain too much! With the overall fishing slow, Alan dropped a set of bare daylites over the side next to me and first drop he was in - a 6.5lb pollock - on bare daylites, what a show off!
We were now into the afternoon and slack water and Alan moved again, so David and I stopped for some lunch. He was not a particularly happy bunny, so the conversation was slightly stilted. After about 20 minutes we arrived at a new wreck and it was back at it again. Blue hokkais this time, just to change things up and I picked up a better Ling of about 7lbs and a 5lb plus cod.
This cheered me up no end, but plunged David into a deeper depression. I knew exactly how he was feeling, as I have been there many times.
In deep contemplation.
By now it was 215pm and finally David is in! A decent 5lb ling followed next drop by a 3lb cod. He was delighted and I was relieved for him. I told him there was more to come, as everyone was catching at this wreck. I took another 2 decent cod and yet another ling. We moved for the last time and at the final wreck I had another couple of cod. Sadly for David, he was getting bites, but could not hook up and he finished the day with just a cod and a ling. I ended the day with 7 cod and 3 ling, so I was a happy man. Not enough fish to depose Lynn perhaps, but I was more than satisfied, even though I did not get the ling badge back, lost a shed load of gear and that "monster!".
The guy next to David ended up with 20 plus fish and won the sweep with a 12llb ling, he probably came second and third too! He was fishing the same tactics as everyone else - hokkais tipped with mackerel - but beat everyone hands down - the mysteries of fishing? With the filletor in chief at home, we looked suitably amateurish and the crewman took pity on us and did the dirty work for us - result!
We thanked him and gave him some beer money - well I did, David only having 2 fish, kept his hands in his pockets!
On the way in the south pier was rammed with anglers, yet the north pier almost deserted? It is some lift to get a fish up the side of that pier, looks nigh on impossible, but clearly not. We docked bang on 5pm, after waiting for Mistress and Predator to leave the pontoon with their evening anglers aboard. Got back to the apartment, showered and went to the Queen's Head for tea. I celebrated with a few pints, while David cried into his soda and lime! Beautiful food as always at the pub - the best steak pie in town - with proper short crust pastry - none of that poncy puff pastry nonsense!
I hate signposts, spoil a good picture every time!
I had heard the Spanish City had re-opened, so we went to take a look.
Impressive!
We have been going to Whitley Bay for 8 years now and every year all we could see of the building was a white tower peeking out over the top blue boards. I thought it would never be renovated!
Next morning I halved the fish with David, so that he could go home to the wife with his dignity intact. smiley32
He drove home and I took Lynn out for wine and a meat/cheese board at a local bistro - got home at 130am, blootered!
Hence the reason for the late report.
Just had some baked cod for brunch and hoping the hangover will soon pass.
An all too short a trip to the NE, but I loved it and will hope for better health next summer - when it will probably pour with rain and blow a hooley all July!
I felt rather maudling going to our usual haunts, without my lovely Lynn. :sad:
Until next time JFK2 - thanks for the memory.
Finally recovered, I was determined to get at least one boat trip in this year, so I booked JFK2 for Thursday 30th August. Unfortunately Lynn had to work, so it was me and my pal David.
Here is the story.
I awoke last Wednesday morning at silly o'clock, so excited for our trip to the Tyne. I was showered, shaved, dressed and ready to roll by 8am - the problem was David was picking me up at 1230pm! Ten episodes of Judge Judy later and finally it was time to leave. It is a bit pathetic how excited this 58 year old gets over boat fishing, especially when more often than not it ends in disappointment! Weather was lovely as we left Greenock and the drive down was pleasant and unremarkable until we hit traffic in Jesmond!
We just made Billy's Tackle with 5 minutes to spare before he closed and bought 2 packets of squid, plus David bought some hokkais and swivel clips. We then found our apartment on Nile St. North Shields. It was gorgeous, set over 2 floors with 3 bedrooms a lounge, kitchen and 2 bathrooms. All for £30 a night each! Just as well our bedrooms were on different floors as David snores louder than me!
We got settled in and then headed to Tynemouth and tea at the Priory.
Lynn's empty seat.
Not quite the same, plus what has David hidden under his jumper!?
We bought some rolls and ham on the way back to the apartment and made our lunch for JFK day. Early to bed and up with the lark(actually the noisy seagulls!). David drove to Royal Quays, via McDonalds! He made me order a bacon roll with my coffee, disgusting and totally inedible! I'm certain the roll and bacon was microwaved! Why do people eat there??
Anyway we finally arrived at the pontoon.
First in the queue!
Calm and still.
JFK appeared in the lock and was soon alongside. Only seven anglers waiting. We assumed we would be picking up others on the south side, but Alan said no, some people had cancelled! So oodles of room for the magnificent seven!
With the Cod Queen left on the bench at home, the opportunity for David or I to depose her and claim the crown filled us with purpose and the excitement was palpable!
We sailed out past the piers to find an unexpected breeze and a chop on the water.
We stopped just a few hundred yards off the pier to stock up on some mackerel, however no one told the mackerel! Mind you I managed a string, the only ones brought to the boat, so we moved further out.
This time everyone was catching and after my second string I baited the daylites, hit the bottom and pulled in the first Cod on the boat for the day. Only about 2lbs, but a good start and not even 8am!
We then steamed for about 20 minutes to a wreck and I asked Alan what tactics had been successful recently. He said baited Hokkais, blue or pink. I prefer shads, as I tend to lose loads of tackle fishing hokkais. However if the skipper says hokkais, hokkais it is! So on went the pink ones and I was ready for the challenge. David also fished the same set up and down we went. It was slow going, with maybe 3 fish coming to other anglers, so after 30 minutes we were on the move again. This was to be repeated for the rest of the day, with Alan searching for a wreck with plenty of fish. Any thoughts of him keeping close in, with only seven paying anglers, was quickly dispelled and at one point he was 19 miles from port! In my opinion Alan is the best skipper out of the Tyne, who works tirelessly searching for fish for his customers - mind you his taste in music could be better - ABBA, ABBA, ABBA!!
The breeze had now died down and it was warm in the sun. Most anglers had the odd one or two during the morning and I had a cod of about 3lbs and a Ling of about 5.5lbs, so I was satisfied with that. David however was doing an amazing job of playing the part of me and only had mackerel and a pin whiting to show for his efforts by 1130am, I felt his pain! On the plus side, he had only lost one set of hokkais, whereas I had lost four, plus five weights - always happens to me with this kind of fishing. I was moaning a bit until David said "I'd take the tackle losses for the 3 fish you've caught!"
Now midday and I was bored of losing tackle and not exactly setting the heather on fire with the fishing, I changed to a shad tipped with mackerel. By the way the guy next to David was on fire and must have had about 10 fish already, including a double figure Ling! The crewman who was fishing next to me also had a good amount of cod and ling, which depressed us even more!
Alan shook his head, as I dropped down my shad, but within moments of hitting the bottom and slowly retrieving it - bang! The much talked about monster was on! It bent my light travel rod double and I struggled to even wind it in. Fortunately I managed to keep it out the wreck and gamely tried to wind it up. Alan was over immediately, with net in hand and muttering "big big ling!" It was easily the biggest fish I have ever hooked(albeit my best is only 10.5lbs). I was really struggling to control the fish, but struggled manfully and had it at least halfway up, after what felt like ages, when suddenly it was gone! The air was blue and I was so devastated. I reeled the line in, to find the snap swivel had been bent open and the shad, line and of course the fish were missing!
I sat down and opened a coke, lit a cigarette and messaged Lynn. Her reply(hahaha!!) did not ease my pain! .frantic.
After 15 minutes I dusted myself down and went back to the fishing, sticking with the shad. I quickly caught 2 in 2, a cod and a ling.
My bucket was looking healthy and as David was still blanking I couldn't complain too much! With the overall fishing slow, Alan dropped a set of bare daylites over the side next to me and first drop he was in - a 6.5lb pollock - on bare daylites, what a show off!
We were now into the afternoon and slack water and Alan moved again, so David and I stopped for some lunch. He was not a particularly happy bunny, so the conversation was slightly stilted. After about 20 minutes we arrived at a new wreck and it was back at it again. Blue hokkais this time, just to change things up and I picked up a better Ling of about 7lbs and a 5lb plus cod.
This cheered me up no end, but plunged David into a deeper depression. I knew exactly how he was feeling, as I have been there many times.
In deep contemplation.
By now it was 215pm and finally David is in! A decent 5lb ling followed next drop by a 3lb cod. He was delighted and I was relieved for him. I told him there was more to come, as everyone was catching at this wreck. I took another 2 decent cod and yet another ling. We moved for the last time and at the final wreck I had another couple of cod. Sadly for David, he was getting bites, but could not hook up and he finished the day with just a cod and a ling. I ended the day with 7 cod and 3 ling, so I was a happy man. Not enough fish to depose Lynn perhaps, but I was more than satisfied, even though I did not get the ling badge back, lost a shed load of gear and that "monster!".
The guy next to David ended up with 20 plus fish and won the sweep with a 12llb ling, he probably came second and third too! He was fishing the same tactics as everyone else - hokkais tipped with mackerel - but beat everyone hands down - the mysteries of fishing? With the filletor in chief at home, we looked suitably amateurish and the crewman took pity on us and did the dirty work for us - result!
We thanked him and gave him some beer money - well I did, David only having 2 fish, kept his hands in his pockets!
On the way in the south pier was rammed with anglers, yet the north pier almost deserted? It is some lift to get a fish up the side of that pier, looks nigh on impossible, but clearly not. We docked bang on 5pm, after waiting for Mistress and Predator to leave the pontoon with their evening anglers aboard. Got back to the apartment, showered and went to the Queen's Head for tea. I celebrated with a few pints, while David cried into his soda and lime! Beautiful food as always at the pub - the best steak pie in town - with proper short crust pastry - none of that poncy puff pastry nonsense!
I hate signposts, spoil a good picture every time!
I had heard the Spanish City had re-opened, so we went to take a look.
Impressive!
We have been going to Whitley Bay for 8 years now and every year all we could see of the building was a white tower peeking out over the top blue boards. I thought it would never be renovated!
Next morning I halved the fish with David, so that he could go home to the wife with his dignity intact. smiley32
He drove home and I took Lynn out for wine and a meat/cheese board at a local bistro - got home at 130am, blootered!
Hence the reason for the late report.
Just had some baked cod for brunch and hoping the hangover will soon pass.
An all too short a trip to the NE, but I loved it and will hope for better health next summer - when it will probably pour with rain and blow a hooley all July!
I felt rather maudling going to our usual haunts, without my lovely Lynn. :sad:
Until next time JFK2 - thanks for the memory.
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