kayos
Well-known member
Rich Cope of Mistress phoned us on Tuesday evening to say there was little chance on getting out on Thursday as booked, but we could get out the next morning. So after some re-arranging of our schedule the alarm woke us at 0450 and we set off to Whitby with a real sense of anticipation. Could Whitby save our week's holiday, from a fishing point of view?
We arrived with plenty of time to replenish our depleted stocks of swivels and hooks at Whitby Angling Supplies,(Dusty Bin having answered our SOS the night before for big leads), we also bought frozen squid and mackerel. After a full english from the cafe next to the tackle shop, it was off to the pontoon to get aboard Mistress. A few minutes after arriving on the pontoon, we saw Mistress approaching which was a lovely sight, as we had booked this trip in December, but weather put paid to the trip, as it did for our re-booked February trip.
We boarded and exchanged pleasantries with Rich, who I felt I already knew because of all our emails and phone calls over the last few months. I casually asked him who would be joining us and he said "this is it." I was stunned, but Rich said the others he had booked for Thursday couldn't come but he decided to go out anyway, as we had been waiting for months to get out, plus he fancied fishing too. What a lovely guy!
We steamed out under the bridge at 7am and headed to a wreck he knew. On chatting to him he said he had been thinking of anchoring parallel to a wreck for sometime to see how it fished and with just us aboard it seemed like a good opportunity to try it out.
We steamed at a very steady pace to 3 miles out, as Rich said he wanted to conserve fuel and try to make enough on the day to buy a pint! On reaching the wreck, out went the anchor, but we didn't end up at the spot Rich wanted, so anchor in and try again. Fifth time lucky and he was satisfied with the position. This is one determined and committed guy I noted.
Down we went with the lines (and to cut a long story short and get to the bit you really want to read about) while it was not the sport out of Whitby we are used to, compared to the other 2 trips this week, the fishing was positively frantic. We boated 8 cod, 2 ling and 2 whiting. I won't embarrass myself by detailing who caught what, suffice to say, I was gubbed again!
Here's a couple of pics.
I hope Lynn doesn't see this, as I have just noticed that somehow I am holding the biggest cod of the day.... which I didn't catch!!
Now to the interesting bit............The fishing went quiet for a couple of hours, so Rich pulled up the anchor and we tried a few drifts over a wreck, but to no avail. So he steamed to another wreck and after a few abortive attempts to anchor, Rich finally got to the spot he wanted.
By this time the tide was ripping, so the three of us fished off the stern with identical set ups. A flowing 1 hook trace, baited with 2 whole squid. Lynn and I were at the stern corners, with Rich in between us. There was not 2 feet between us all. After 20 minutes and with nothing happening, Rich suddenly said, "I think I have an enquiry." He waited to let it develop, but although all he could feel was a couple of knocks, he struck. The rod bent considerably, but he was unsure if it was a fish. He started to wind in anyway and although he said it was heavy, he really wondered if he had a piece of the wreck. He continued to reel in for a minute ot two, then he felt the rod bouce and shouted "fish on.". Although it never stripped line, Rich had to stop reeling in a few times and just hang onto the rod. Shouts of "this is a big fish" increased our excitement and after about 10 minutes he told me to get the gaff. With Rich pumping the rod and all three of us peering into the water, (me with gaff in hand) the wait to see what would appear from the depths really was the most exciting time I have ever had fishing. After what seemed to be an age, the fish appeared. Lynn shouted "it's a plaice!"
Rich shouted, it's a f**cking Halibut!"
Suddenly I was overcome with a sense of dread. Was this a good time to tell him I had never gaffed a fish in my life?..........I decided it was........ to which Rich replied, "no bother mate, I'll gaff it, you just hold the rod." That made me feel so much better.................not!!
Anyway the fateful time came when Rich handed me the rod and shouted "keep the rod up" which I did, or so I thought, until he screamed at me "keep the f**cking rod up!!" Moments later, which seemed to me so much longer, the fish was gaffed and Rich, a big strong lad, just about managed to drag it over the side and onto the boat. Much shouting and backslapping ensued and the fish of a lifetime was safely on board. Rich spent the next 20 mins phoning his pals and it was just great to be there and see his delight.
I'd just like to say how proud and pleased I was to help (in just a small way) in getting the fish aboard....................I'd like to say it but I'd be fibbing............ I was actually spitting, so jealous!
Of course in reality I was dead chuffed for him and maybe it was his reward for going out for ten hours with just Lynn and I onboard. Anyway, congratulations to Rich, a lovely guy, who gave Lynn and I some great advice on the day and it goes without saying, we will be out with him again.
Here's some pics.
Quite imoressed with the pic I took onboard. I got him, the fish and the boat's name in as well...............Maybe I should just jack in the fishing and take up photography instead!!
Back at the caravan now, drinking beer and looking forward to deep fried cod and chips tonight.
Lynn and I have loved our week here, met some really fantastic people off this site and we look forward to coming back, the first week in July.
.
We arrived with plenty of time to replenish our depleted stocks of swivels and hooks at Whitby Angling Supplies,(Dusty Bin having answered our SOS the night before for big leads), we also bought frozen squid and mackerel. After a full english from the cafe next to the tackle shop, it was off to the pontoon to get aboard Mistress. A few minutes after arriving on the pontoon, we saw Mistress approaching which was a lovely sight, as we had booked this trip in December, but weather put paid to the trip, as it did for our re-booked February trip.
We boarded and exchanged pleasantries with Rich, who I felt I already knew because of all our emails and phone calls over the last few months. I casually asked him who would be joining us and he said "this is it." I was stunned, but Rich said the others he had booked for Thursday couldn't come but he decided to go out anyway, as we had been waiting for months to get out, plus he fancied fishing too. What a lovely guy!
We steamed out under the bridge at 7am and headed to a wreck he knew. On chatting to him he said he had been thinking of anchoring parallel to a wreck for sometime to see how it fished and with just us aboard it seemed like a good opportunity to try it out.
We steamed at a very steady pace to 3 miles out, as Rich said he wanted to conserve fuel and try to make enough on the day to buy a pint! On reaching the wreck, out went the anchor, but we didn't end up at the spot Rich wanted, so anchor in and try again. Fifth time lucky and he was satisfied with the position. This is one determined and committed guy I noted.
Down we went with the lines (and to cut a long story short and get to the bit you really want to read about) while it was not the sport out of Whitby we are used to, compared to the other 2 trips this week, the fishing was positively frantic. We boated 8 cod, 2 ling and 2 whiting. I won't embarrass myself by detailing who caught what, suffice to say, I was gubbed again!
Here's a couple of pics.
I hope Lynn doesn't see this, as I have just noticed that somehow I am holding the biggest cod of the day.... which I didn't catch!!
Now to the interesting bit............The fishing went quiet for a couple of hours, so Rich pulled up the anchor and we tried a few drifts over a wreck, but to no avail. So he steamed to another wreck and after a few abortive attempts to anchor, Rich finally got to the spot he wanted.
By this time the tide was ripping, so the three of us fished off the stern with identical set ups. A flowing 1 hook trace, baited with 2 whole squid. Lynn and I were at the stern corners, with Rich in between us. There was not 2 feet between us all. After 20 minutes and with nothing happening, Rich suddenly said, "I think I have an enquiry." He waited to let it develop, but although all he could feel was a couple of knocks, he struck. The rod bent considerably, but he was unsure if it was a fish. He started to wind in anyway and although he said it was heavy, he really wondered if he had a piece of the wreck. He continued to reel in for a minute ot two, then he felt the rod bouce and shouted "fish on.". Although it never stripped line, Rich had to stop reeling in a few times and just hang onto the rod. Shouts of "this is a big fish" increased our excitement and after about 10 minutes he told me to get the gaff. With Rich pumping the rod and all three of us peering into the water, (me with gaff in hand) the wait to see what would appear from the depths really was the most exciting time I have ever had fishing. After what seemed to be an age, the fish appeared. Lynn shouted "it's a plaice!"
Rich shouted, it's a f**cking Halibut!"
Suddenly I was overcome with a sense of dread. Was this a good time to tell him I had never gaffed a fish in my life?..........I decided it was........ to which Rich replied, "no bother mate, I'll gaff it, you just hold the rod." That made me feel so much better.................not!!
Anyway the fateful time came when Rich handed me the rod and shouted "keep the rod up" which I did, or so I thought, until he screamed at me "keep the f**cking rod up!!" Moments later, which seemed to me so much longer, the fish was gaffed and Rich, a big strong lad, just about managed to drag it over the side and onto the boat. Much shouting and backslapping ensued and the fish of a lifetime was safely on board. Rich spent the next 20 mins phoning his pals and it was just great to be there and see his delight.
I'd just like to say how proud and pleased I was to help (in just a small way) in getting the fish aboard....................I'd like to say it but I'd be fibbing............ I was actually spitting, so jealous!
Of course in reality I was dead chuffed for him and maybe it was his reward for going out for ten hours with just Lynn and I onboard. Anyway, congratulations to Rich, a lovely guy, who gave Lynn and I some great advice on the day and it goes without saying, we will be out with him again.
Here's some pics.
Quite imoressed with the pic I took onboard. I got him, the fish and the boat's name in as well...............Maybe I should just jack in the fishing and take up photography instead!!
Back at the caravan now, drinking beer and looking forward to deep fried cod and chips tonight.
Lynn and I have loved our week here, met some really fantastic people off this site and we look forward to coming back, the first week in July.
.
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well done to lynn too
