Boxing Day session 26th Dec 2015

After a hectic Christmas I felt the need for a session out this afternoon.  We initially headed a little north up the coast to Craster but the sea was much bigger than was forecast.  Conditions were a little rough to fish the several marks we took a look at.

We made the return drive via Cambois and took a chance fishing the blocks as the sea looked lovely. There were some huge swells coming in every few minutes so we had to keep an eye on the sea while fishing.

The sea was relentless and as High Water approached it picked up.  We were hit face-on with a few swells that literally knocked us over.  Every few minutes a big one came in and we had to turn away from the water and just get a good soaking.... it was great!

First cast produced a good cod for my dad of around 5lb.  Despite trying to replicate the bait combination and the cast location we could not hook into any other fish in the 3hrs we fished.

We left just as darkness fell.  We were soaked through completely even though we had full floatation suits on and waders.

It was a shame that we had no more fish but to at least see the one caught made the session worthwhile....and to be honest I enjoyed the wave-dodging immensely for some reason.....

Maryport Open 24th October 2015

 We headed back across west this weekend to fish the Maryport Open.

This was a heaviest fish match (1 fish weigh in, heaviest round and heaviest flat fish) that was to be fished between Maryport Promenade and Workington Pier.

Conditions were ideal according to the forecast.  We arrived early and headed down to check out a few marks before registration.  There was a nice roll coming in and although it was a bit blustery it seemed like a decent day to be wetting a line.

Maryport Promenade

I got geared up and headed down the beach to a mark I had noticed earlier.  A few rocky streams ran down the beach and I planned to fish alongside them as the tide dropped.

The weather was lovely and we had blazing sun for the first few hours of the competition.  Most of the locals had piled onto a rocky skier near the middle of the beach.  Looking back it may have been worth trying to find a spot but I think there were too many rods there to allow comfortable fishing.

I had a few bites on most casts and retrieved one to find this little guy who had hooked himself without biting.

As Low Water approached you could see rain on the horizon along with some dark looking clouds.  Over the next 10 minutes the sea lifted, the wind hit gale force and the rain blasted in.  Fishing was very unpleasant for a while and you could do little but zip the suit up and wait it out.

As it happened after 15 minutes the weather passed and things started brightening up again.  The bad weather also left a great double-rainbow over the promenade at the top of the beach.

I snapped a few individual shots as the weather came over and I was lucky enough to get this very cool panorama showing the good/bad weather in one shot with the rainbow in the middle.

The competition finished at 7pm.  We had hoped that the dogfish would have moved in after dark but unfortunately they must have had better things to be doing.

I did manage a codling of 1lb 4 and my dad had one of 1lb 12 along with several under-sized fish.

Back at the weigh in there seemed to be a good number of cod in the 2-5lb range but I never saw any flat-fish at all. 

I think a big bass of around 9lb won the heaviest round fish.  

So a good little days fishing despite not a great number of fish. 

Cullernose Point

Cullernose Point (Craster) taken from in front of the Drs House

Hound Hunt! Skegness July 2015: Pt 1 Chapel Point

We were booked up for a week in Skegness this week for a holiday with the kids.  I was reluctant to say the least as I am not one for a week of solid "kiddy" fun.

When I researched the fishing down that area I was pleased to find a few beaches that really produced some great bags of Smoothhound at this time of year......a fish I had yet to catch.
That was me convinced!

Chapel Point (Chapel St Leonards) and Trunch Lane were the marks I had tagged to visit on the trip.

I did my research and called ahead to some local shops about getting fresh crab.  None of the 3 in the region did any live baits.  Fortunately I managed to snag a few dozen peeler from my dad on the morning we left so I was looking forward to a few sessions out.

Jump ahead to the Tuesday after we arrived at Skegness.  The forecast was sun, sun, sun and a light wind.  I was taking my brother-in-law (Billy) out for his first sea fishing session today.  As always in such situations the pressure is on to get fish.  We pack up the rods and head to Chapel Point for about 3hrs before HW (around 1100ish)

On arrival the conditions were damn near perfect.

We hurried onto the beach and I set our rods up, baited up and got cast out.  We opted for single-hook pulleys with a decent crab bait on 3/0 hooks.
I had chose the 6500 as the reel of choice so that I could get the distance I needed.  As it happens I realised a few casts in that this reel did not have a ratchet....which was a slight issue later on in the session.  If you ever fish for Smoothhound you will find out that you need to use the ratchet/drag.

I cast out for the brother-in-law (showing him how to do it) and set his drag on the fixed spool before putting the rod into the rest.  I cast out my own rod and as I lifted his rod to put mine under it the line from his reel screamed off nearly taking my fingers with it.  I quickly tightened the drag and struck into a fish.  I hand him the rod and he fought and landed his first ever Common Smoothhound of about 4-5lb.

I have never seen one up close but now that I had.....wow...what stunning creatures they are.  They fight like demons too.

A few pictures were taken and then the hound was released.  Hearts still racing we fished on.  A half hour later my rod was nearly ripped out of the stand by a take.  Once I caught it I struck into a good fish.  My god do these fish fight....

A few minutes later and I was holding my first ever Starry Smoothhound!  Also around 4-5lb.

I had a common of around the same weight an hour later.

Another half-hour after that I cast out and went to chat to a few locals who were fishing 100yds up the beach.  Two words into the conversation one of them mentions that my mate wanted me and I turned to see him hanging onto my rod for dear life.
A good take had almost taken the rod in (due to the lack of a ratchet) and fortunately he caught it in time.  I sprinted down the beach (a good feat in wellies) and took the rod.  After a few minutes of heart-pounding fighting I landed a cracking Common of around 9lb.  Even Billy wanted a pic taken with this fish.

Two new species in the same session!  Good specimens too!

The fishing quietened after this fish and so we conserved the crab we had left to return the next day.
I was grinning from ear to ear on the way home.  No other species I had caught has ever provided so much excitement as the hounds.

I couldnt wait to return.....

All 4 hounds were caught at close range (<50yds) and took fresh crab baits.  All were returned safely.

Walney Island Open 5th July 2015

This year I have been travelling across West quite a bit to fish pegged competitions with my parents.
Fishing is ok on the NE coast during the summer but I enjoy the chance to fish new marks whenever I get the chance.

This weekend was the Walney Island Open.  A 120-peg match fished off the front of Walney Island by Barrow.  Although it was less than a 3hr drive we travelled up on the saturday and stayed at the Majestic Hotel in Barrow itself overnight before fishing the comp next day.

We checked out the pegged stretch of coastline on the saturday when we arrived.  The whole beach looked to have a good mix of clean to mixed bottom and looked perfect for Bass and Smoothhounds. I had yet to catch a Smoothhound myself and so I was hoping for one this weekend.
We came armed with a wide array of baits to try so hopefully we could manage at least a few fish in the comp.

We registered and drew pegs on the Sunday morning at a pub on the beach road.  We had a good chat with the local anglers and I shared a sneaky early morning pint with them as we had plenty of time to kill before the match.  It was refreshing to find that nearly every angler was friendly, helpful and forthcoming with info on the local marks.
I personally prefer these pegged matches over the usual roving matches we fish on our coastline. They even the playing field and even the youngest anglers get the chance to get into the fish....its all the luck of the draw when you pick out your peg.

Every fish was measured (towards overall length category) and those exceeding minimum sizes could be taken to weigh in.  First prize was a guaranteed £1000.  Last years comp had been won with one Smoothhound of around 7lb so I didn't think it was going to  take too much to be in the money.

I pulled out peg 38, my dad got peg 30 and my mum 96.  We took our time to look at our pegs beforehand while it was only half-tide to identify any features that may hold fish at HW.  My peg looked pretty hopeful.......

Some good mixed-ground and a few sandy channels running between rocky patches.  Looked good for catching the fish moving in as the tide rose.

The forecast was great with sun, sun, sun until the late afternoon when we had a storm forecast.
From the start of the comp (1215) I was trying all combinations of bait at all distances.  I was favouring crab due to the Bass and Smoothhounds being fond of them.  I was casting beyond 100yds some casts and less than 20 on others...nothing was producing bites.

The weather was hot and sunny for the most part.  The scenery looked almost tropical.

After high water a storm cloud rolled it's way in and brought with it some showers, wind and a bit of movement on the sea.

But still no fish or bites.  This was pretty much how the remaining 4hrs went.  I did retrieve on one cast to find a lovely clean-looking 16cm flounder had kindly saved me from blanking.

As it happens the fishing overall on the day was poor for everyone.  A few bass to around 3lb came in along with a handful of Gurnard and flounder.  I think the winning fish was a 4.5lb Smoothhound that one guy in my zone caught on his first cast.

Even the local guys were surprised that it didnt fish better on the day.
But as you all know that is how it goes as an angler.  You need to take the crap sessions with the tremendous ones......

just wondering when my tremendous one is due......must be soon....surely....

Edit: As it happens my tremendous session was the next one! Skegness Chapel Point and Trunch Lane...