Hi Jonny, apologies for the silence. It would have been Oli who was out fishing with his mates. I was in Donegal that day. It was the coldest, wettest place in Western Europe that day. It rained all day and was 15 degrees max! They've had a rubbish Spring/Summer in that tiny corner of Ireland. I'd been down in Co.Mayo the previous week and saw no rain all week. That said. it only rained that one day in Donegal. I had a rod with me, and the day before I fished a spot opposite Owey Island for pollock, using a float and mackerel strip. It was great fun. There were dozens of them up to about 6lb. I ran out of bait and switched to lures but only caugh a couple, and then the incoming tide pushed me off the rocks.
Bellini is back at last. She turned up the day I left for Ireland. There is still some finishing off to be done, but the boat is useable. I'm planning to get out at the weekend, maybe both days. She's still pretty grubby as I never had a chance over winter to clean/polish, but that's on the cards for this winter.
The lads had some very large coalies that day, largest we've ever had aboard, and a couple of codling to 3lb and loads of mackerel, which is really what that session was about. Oli says that none of the other boats at Amble have been reporting epic sessions. Maybe that will change this weekend......
Cheers
Adrian