Stormtrooper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 292
- Reaction score
- 2,717
- Points
- 93
- Location
- Herne Bay
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Hi all. Firstly thank you so much to all that offered advice etc in my last thread about Torbay and the surrounding areas. You’re all awesome!
So, I didn’t manage to get out quite as early as I’d hoped but got to Berry Head for around 10pm ish. I drove around the tiny lanes in the dark for a bit, trying to get my bearings and find somewhere suitable to set down. I saw a couple of little spots but was a bit unsure so in the end, I decided to play it safe and settled for the car park.
It was completely empty which was a relief in some respects as I knew the marks should be quiet but I was a little uneasy leaving the car as I’ve read internet reports that break-ins aren’t uncommon.
Nonetheless, this seemed my best option and I got my gear out. Limited for space with the camper, kids, dog and everything else needed for spending a week in a field, I didn’t have much with me. A 12’ telescopic rod (a Jarvis Walker thing I bought some years back that’s done me proud to be fair, it’s a nice little rod!), a telescopic tripod, my tackle box and a folding bucket complete with flask, bait and towel.
As I left the car park, there was a path to my right straight away which seemed to head seaward so I thought I’d investigate. Bear in mind I’ve never been here before and it was pitch black! I followed the path down to a gate, this must be ok I thought or there wouldn’t be access through the fence. I went through and the path became treacherously steep, I was being eaten alive by gnats and midges too. As the path levelled out I became aware I was basically on the edge of a small cliff, the sound of the waves lapping below was distant enough to make me realise this was not an option and actually felt a little unsafe.
I quickly scrambled back up the hillside to the safety of the gated fence and returned back to the main path.
I continued down for a couple of hundred yards and came to a crossroads in the path. I opted to go left (north) as the south side seemed to be all cliffs. As I followed it round, the path began to descend and I was aware of very large drops on BOTH sides of me. It wasn’t a narrow path and I felt quite safe walking down but even in the darkness I had a sense of altitude.
The path carried on for what felt like an age and I realised my return would be an exhausting affair but I wasn’t about to give up.
The path widened and I could hear the waves on my left so I went to investigate. As I got to the edge, there was a small drop of about 3’ and I could see a sort of path carved into the cliff side.
It looked manageable if I took my time and so I took the plunge. It was a little narrow in parts but before long, I’d made my way down and I was faced with a large concrete plateau. I walked across and hussar! The sea!!
I was a few meters above the water level but the water was clear, it looked like there was a bit of depth too. This will do!!
I opted to fish the right hand corner and straight away found a discarded rig packet and a string of rusty feathers. I cleared the rubbish up and put it in my bait carrier bag, I wouldn’t be taking any bait away with me so this was an ideal rubbish sack for the night.
I opted to fish a short pulley rig and added a lead lift, I had a feeling it would be rocky in parts and didn’t see the harm. I wouldn’t be sending it far anyway as the rod wouldn’t allow me to!
Armed with 3 mackerel and a pack of small squid, I decided to use a whole squid for my first bait and out it went. There was a bit of depth as I had suspected, not something I’m used to in North Kent.
As I waited for a nod, I took a look at my surroundings and noticed what looked like an abandoned fort or outpost on the cliff top to my right. There was also a craggy inlet down to my right hand side which seemed to have underwater caves, I could hear the sea sploshing around under my feet.
It was very peaceful if not a little eerie.
I wasn’t waiting long at all for my first bite though, a reasonable pull but nothing spectacular. I watched on and chose my moment to strike, fish on!
I can’t say I was surprised when I got the fish up to have my first strap conger of the night at my feet. I know I said I wanted to catch something that I don’t (usually) get on the N.Kent coast but this wasn’t what I had in mind. Be careful what you wish for I guess!!
At least I hadn’t blanked.
I opted for a macky strip on the next cast and threw it out a little further than my first offering then sat back for a coffee.
As I sat, I heard a noise in the sea down to my right, like a puff of air being exhaled. Oh no, I thought, I bet I’ve got a seal for company!
I wandered over to edge to investigate and was amazed at what I saw. It was no more than 15yds off the shore and was grey, fish shaped and at least 8’ long, if not bigger. It blew a puff of air out at the surface before very rapidly turning and diving down out of site. I stood, bemused, waiting for it to return so I could confirm what it was but unfortunately it never did. I can only think it was a dolphin but in honesty, it almost looked too big! I never knew such things would come so close to shore.
Still pondering the experience, I returned to my rod to see it bent right over. The ratchet hadn’t sounded and it wasn’t pulling but there was definitely something heavy causing the pull. There didn’t seem to be much tide run. I lifted in and it started to move but frequently stuck fast, at this point I really didn’t think it was anything other than a rock or a tackle snag but then I felt 3 really solid pulls. There was something good on here! After about 15mins or so, it was apparent that my trusty tele-rod just wasn’t up to this challenge, I was getting no where and it had really locked up. I was completely stuck.
Im fairly confident it was a big conger that had taken me into its hole, it just wouldn’t budge apart from the occasional tug. In the end I decided to give it a bit of welly and inevitably, snapped off.
I fished on until about 2am with just a few more straps to show for my efforts, the best was the last one at about 3-4lbs.
The walk back up was just as nasty as I suspected it would be but thankfully, I’d travelled light!
The results weren’t quite what I’d hoped for but I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure nonetheless!
So, I didn’t manage to get out quite as early as I’d hoped but got to Berry Head for around 10pm ish. I drove around the tiny lanes in the dark for a bit, trying to get my bearings and find somewhere suitable to set down. I saw a couple of little spots but was a bit unsure so in the end, I decided to play it safe and settled for the car park.
It was completely empty which was a relief in some respects as I knew the marks should be quiet but I was a little uneasy leaving the car as I’ve read internet reports that break-ins aren’t uncommon.
Nonetheless, this seemed my best option and I got my gear out. Limited for space with the camper, kids, dog and everything else needed for spending a week in a field, I didn’t have much with me. A 12’ telescopic rod (a Jarvis Walker thing I bought some years back that’s done me proud to be fair, it’s a nice little rod!), a telescopic tripod, my tackle box and a folding bucket complete with flask, bait and towel.
As I left the car park, there was a path to my right straight away which seemed to head seaward so I thought I’d investigate. Bear in mind I’ve never been here before and it was pitch black! I followed the path down to a gate, this must be ok I thought or there wouldn’t be access through the fence. I went through and the path became treacherously steep, I was being eaten alive by gnats and midges too. As the path levelled out I became aware I was basically on the edge of a small cliff, the sound of the waves lapping below was distant enough to make me realise this was not an option and actually felt a little unsafe.
I quickly scrambled back up the hillside to the safety of the gated fence and returned back to the main path.
I continued down for a couple of hundred yards and came to a crossroads in the path. I opted to go left (north) as the south side seemed to be all cliffs. As I followed it round, the path began to descend and I was aware of very large drops on BOTH sides of me. It wasn’t a narrow path and I felt quite safe walking down but even in the darkness I had a sense of altitude.
The path carried on for what felt like an age and I realised my return would be an exhausting affair but I wasn’t about to give up.
The path widened and I could hear the waves on my left so I went to investigate. As I got to the edge, there was a small drop of about 3’ and I could see a sort of path carved into the cliff side.
It looked manageable if I took my time and so I took the plunge. It was a little narrow in parts but before long, I’d made my way down and I was faced with a large concrete plateau. I walked across and hussar! The sea!!
I was a few meters above the water level but the water was clear, it looked like there was a bit of depth too. This will do!!
I opted to fish the right hand corner and straight away found a discarded rig packet and a string of rusty feathers. I cleared the rubbish up and put it in my bait carrier bag, I wouldn’t be taking any bait away with me so this was an ideal rubbish sack for the night.
I opted to fish a short pulley rig and added a lead lift, I had a feeling it would be rocky in parts and didn’t see the harm. I wouldn’t be sending it far anyway as the rod wouldn’t allow me to!
Armed with 3 mackerel and a pack of small squid, I decided to use a whole squid for my first bait and out it went. There was a bit of depth as I had suspected, not something I’m used to in North Kent.
As I waited for a nod, I took a look at my surroundings and noticed what looked like an abandoned fort or outpost on the cliff top to my right. There was also a craggy inlet down to my right hand side which seemed to have underwater caves, I could hear the sea sploshing around under my feet.
It was very peaceful if not a little eerie.
I wasn’t waiting long at all for my first bite though, a reasonable pull but nothing spectacular. I watched on and chose my moment to strike, fish on!
I can’t say I was surprised when I got the fish up to have my first strap conger of the night at my feet. I know I said I wanted to catch something that I don’t (usually) get on the N.Kent coast but this wasn’t what I had in mind. Be careful what you wish for I guess!!
At least I hadn’t blanked.
I opted for a macky strip on the next cast and threw it out a little further than my first offering then sat back for a coffee.
As I sat, I heard a noise in the sea down to my right, like a puff of air being exhaled. Oh no, I thought, I bet I’ve got a seal for company!
I wandered over to edge to investigate and was amazed at what I saw. It was no more than 15yds off the shore and was grey, fish shaped and at least 8’ long, if not bigger. It blew a puff of air out at the surface before very rapidly turning and diving down out of site. I stood, bemused, waiting for it to return so I could confirm what it was but unfortunately it never did. I can only think it was a dolphin but in honesty, it almost looked too big! I never knew such things would come so close to shore.
Still pondering the experience, I returned to my rod to see it bent right over. The ratchet hadn’t sounded and it wasn’t pulling but there was definitely something heavy causing the pull. There didn’t seem to be much tide run. I lifted in and it started to move but frequently stuck fast, at this point I really didn’t think it was anything other than a rock or a tackle snag but then I felt 3 really solid pulls. There was something good on here! After about 15mins or so, it was apparent that my trusty tele-rod just wasn’t up to this challenge, I was getting no where and it had really locked up. I was completely stuck.
Im fairly confident it was a big conger that had taken me into its hole, it just wouldn’t budge apart from the occasional tug. In the end I decided to give it a bit of welly and inevitably, snapped off.
I fished on until about 2am with just a few more straps to show for my efforts, the best was the last one at about 3-4lbs.
The walk back up was just as nasty as I suspected it would be but thankfully, I’d travelled light!
The results weren’t quite what I’d hoped for but I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure nonetheless!
