2014 in Summary

As 2014 draws to a close and the winter season gets into its final few months here in the UK I thought I would run down my favourite photo/fishing moments of 2014.

Dunstanburgh 8th June 2014

Our first trip of the year to this area.  It is a yearly favourite and always provides some stunning scenery even if the fishing can be spotty.

We managed some good sport on the very light gear and enjoyed a day out in the sunshine.

Out and About in Tynemouth

I went out for the afternoon in April with the family down to Tynemouth Pier.  My kids had never seen a pier before and so they were eager to take a walk along to the end.

This gave me a great opportunity to snap some of the best Pano shots I have take to date from the pier looking inland.

First time taking my son out fishing

Having asked for months I finally made the time to take my 5yr old son out fishing to a local spot in the Tyne.

The pressure was on to have him catch something.  Eventually after several changes in bait he managed his very first fish! A small flounder which made his week (and made my month!)

He asked to get out the very next day fishing too and was rewarded by a very decent eel (his first!) of around 1.5lb on his tiny little rod

Fishing Siddick for the first time

No fish from this new mark but the photos as the sun went down were spectacular!  Well worth the 90 mile trip.

Thornback Hunt on the West Coast

A last minute decision in May saw us head West after hearing that Thornback Ray were coming in from Silloth Promenade.  Having never caught a thornie we couldn't resist the trip across.

After an all night session catching Dab and Dogfish we both ended up bagging a 10lb Ray each on our last cast at sunrise!  Truly one of those amazing strokes of luck that we are unlikely to have again.

Needless to say I will be trying my luck again in May 2015 on this mark!

Out with the Boys

I spent a few sessions this past year to attempt to get my nephews into fishing (at their mothers request)

I took them out in the Tyne in October for a few sessions with my son and I and they were delighted to catch their first few fish...

So 2014 has been a great year overall.

Being able to get the younger ones into fishing will open up some interesting opportunities this coming year to get out and about with them.

By far my favourite session was the Thornback hunt in Silloth.  I will be visiting this area for certain next year and I will be making a conscious effort to fish more new marks.

I don't get the chance to fish as often as I would like to and so I plan to make sure that when I do get out it is worthwhile.  There are many marks I have never thought to fish and I will be doing my research during the quiet period (Mar-Apr) and planning the year out.

I will be heading to Skye in July/August for 3 or 4 days so expect some tremendous fishing AND photos.  Until then I will be exploring with the ultra-light gear to see what I can catch when I fish the usual marks with the "non-standard" gear.

All the best for 2015!

Thornback Hunt - Silloth Promenade 5th May 2014

Once species we had yet to catch ourselves was the Thornback Ray.

I had read reports of quite a few being caught on the West coast in the Silloth area.  This was a few hours drive from where we lived and so we decided to head over for a Bank Holiday session.
We initially planned on fishing during the day but changed the plans last minute and decided that fishing at night would be more productive.

We had Dogfish, some good sized Dab and whiting throughout the session.
A guy to our left had two decent Thornbacks of 4lb 4oz and 4lb 5oz on the run up to High Water.  Once he left at around 0330 we moved and started fishing in the area he had been.

We fished all night and a little before High Water (around 0400) Mark hooked into a big ray that bit through his hook length on the lift up the wall.
Disheartened we fished on and decided to stay an extra hour or so to try and catch ourselves a Thornback before the long drive back.

Lucky we did!

Last cast saw Mark land a cracking 10lb 2oz female.

I responded with one of my own weighing 10lb!

A new mark under our belts and for once a totally successful trip.

Fishing here is remarkably comfortable and I will definitely be making a return trip later this month