Stewart 1971
Well-known member
Only four days in to the easter holiday and the missus is already so fed up with me under her feet that this morning I was ordered out of the house and told to go fishing. Never being one to turn down a good thing I chucked my gear in the car and headed off to South Shields, stopping off only at Reelsport on Dean Road to grab some ragworm.
Arrived at my chosen spot just after 1pm, and after a bit of a ponder over whether it was fishable yet due to the massive tide uncovering lots of rocks and kelp I decided to give it a go. Fishing with just one rod and two hook flapper rigs, one with loads of bling and the other without I was soon baited up with rag tipped off with Mackerel and cast out.
Things started off very quiet, the tide was rising very quickly but not even the crabs were interested in my baits. At least the weather was cracking once again, fishing in shorts and shirtsleeves certainly has its attractions as of course did the procession of pretty young things taking a stroll along the pier in the afternoon sunshine.
Two hours in and I was starting to wonder if there was anything in front of me as not even a nibble from a little coalie had disturbed the stationary rod tip. Then it went, a gentle pulldown, a pause, another pulldown, a pause, again and then nothing. Not being in a mood to rush things I sat on my hands and left the baits out there to wait and see. Ten minutes later it was time to rebait; I lifted the rod and started to reel and it all went a bit mad. Something good was definitely on the end, whatever it was was staying deep and putting up a pretty good scrap. After a few moments I had it into the pier wall and it still hadn't surfaced but a few more turns on the reel and a brilliant white bin lid broke the surface and came up the side.
A little over 45cm of Plaice, weighing in at 2lb 6oz it was 7oz shy of a new pb for me but a fantastic fish all the same and my first decent NE Plaice.
With another couple of hours to go until high tide I now had high hopes for the rest of my session but that was the only bite I was to have all day. However just when I thought things couldn't get better a little nod on the rod tip saw this little beauty come up to top off a pretty good day:
Six hours fishing for one bite, one fish and one lobster but a cracking day nonetheless
Arrived at my chosen spot just after 1pm, and after a bit of a ponder over whether it was fishable yet due to the massive tide uncovering lots of rocks and kelp I decided to give it a go. Fishing with just one rod and two hook flapper rigs, one with loads of bling and the other without I was soon baited up with rag tipped off with Mackerel and cast out.
Things started off very quiet, the tide was rising very quickly but not even the crabs were interested in my baits. At least the weather was cracking once again, fishing in shorts and shirtsleeves certainly has its attractions as of course did the procession of pretty young things taking a stroll along the pier in the afternoon sunshine.
Two hours in and I was starting to wonder if there was anything in front of me as not even a nibble from a little coalie had disturbed the stationary rod tip. Then it went, a gentle pulldown, a pause, another pulldown, a pause, again and then nothing. Not being in a mood to rush things I sat on my hands and left the baits out there to wait and see. Ten minutes later it was time to rebait; I lifted the rod and started to reel and it all went a bit mad. Something good was definitely on the end, whatever it was was staying deep and putting up a pretty good scrap. After a few moments I had it into the pier wall and it still hadn't surfaced but a few more turns on the reel and a brilliant white bin lid broke the surface and came up the side.
A little over 45cm of Plaice, weighing in at 2lb 6oz it was 7oz shy of a new pb for me but a fantastic fish all the same and my first decent NE Plaice.
With another couple of hours to go until high tide I now had high hopes for the rest of my session but that was the only bite I was to have all day. However just when I thought things couldn't get better a little nod on the rod tip saw this little beauty come up to top off a pretty good day:
Six hours fishing for one bite, one fish and one lobster but a cracking day nonetheless
,me pal says you watch there be a report of a nice size plaice tomorrow yup he was right thats a cracking plaice m8 im still hoping for sommit as good 
