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As the title suggests i had another visit to chesil beach, my 3rd attempt at a week this year. My previous 2 attempts this year were disasters with being struck down with bronchitis after one day on my first visit and popping my knee on my 2nd trip, I was hoping for better luck this time.
Arrived 24/09 and as I couldn't book into the caravan I had booked until 4pm I spent the day in West bay. I'd taken my old barbel rod with me purposely to fish the harbour as id seen many fish there. A small float and slithers of squid soon had joey mackerel one after the other being caught. Put most back as being surrounded by kids saying "mummy, a fish" etc I felt I couldn't really dispatch it in front of them haha. I did manage to keep 6 of the better ones for fresh bait. Good fun though. My caravan was on the park above west bexington so once I was in there I popped down to west bexington to see the inevitable long line of anglers. I walked right until the end of the anglers which was about 30mins, my knee still not being 100% had already started to ache. Pulled my first rod out and first thing I noticed was the butt ring was busted "here we go again I thought", god knows how or why as I don't recall it being knocked or falling etc. Luckily I had a spare rod with me so still could use 2 rods. First chuck on my scratching rig and solid bite had a strange fight and on seeing 2 fish slide up the shingle I could see why. A 34cm plaice and a codling double shot, my first chesil codling so my target for the week was achieved.
It then went dead until dark when the dogs and pouting started so called it a night around 10pm but happy with my catch.
Sunday had me heading to cogden hoping for plaice and or sole. I walked to as far as the middle of the houses. Turned out to be a struggle, a tub gurnard and a small plaice saving me from a blank. The wind had picked up from right to left quite strong at times which made casting distance difficult.
Monday and looked out of the caravan window to see what I thought was similar conditions so I decided to head to lyme regis for the day and fish the evening tide there. Lack of pics from this session as I struggled to keep the rods in with constant bites. I had 6 wrasse upto 1lb 08oz , numerous pouting, straps, a bass of 38cm and a lobster ?. Must admit I enjoyed the fishing.
Tuesday and I was heading back to lyme regis as I'd enjoyed the fishing that much and I've never had a bull huss so decided I'd try again for another. This time though I stopped at Charmouth and decided to have a go there. Never have I caught so many pouting. Big baits for a big conger or huss were being snaffled by them and they were jumbo pout. Planned on doing 2 up 3 down but after 3 hours I'd had enough of pouting so called it a night. I know now that Monmouth beach is where I should have tried for a huss, next time.
Wednesday I went back down to bexington, an all most empty beach in front of me and my knee aching I only walked 100m east. Fished the mornings high down to low. Slow going with 1 dogfish mid tide. Just before low and another 2 dogs had me starting to pack up, look up and slack line on one rod and the culprit a codling, only my 4th ever codling but it was pb not that it needed to be big to beat my previous best. Gave it another hour but nothing else occurred but more than happy.
Thursday, I'd got chatting to another angler at West bay when I was float fishing earlier in the week and he said he was fishing the "teeth " on Thursday and did I want to tag along to which I did. Certainly the furthest ive walked on chesil but a 04'30am start and we went to the teeth, was slow going as my Knee was aching but we made it. He ended up with 3 bream (all keepers ) and a codling and I had 2 keeper bream, 1 small codling, lip hooked so returned and what I was told was a dragonet, a first for me and forgot to take a pic of the fish but happy to catch a new species.
Friday and my last day, well was a tad windy ?.
Hopefully return again soon.
I apologise for not seeing if anyone on here was up for a session, the week just ran away with me.
Tight lines.
Arrived 24/09 and as I couldn't book into the caravan I had booked until 4pm I spent the day in West bay. I'd taken my old barbel rod with me purposely to fish the harbour as id seen many fish there. A small float and slithers of squid soon had joey mackerel one after the other being caught. Put most back as being surrounded by kids saying "mummy, a fish" etc I felt I couldn't really dispatch it in front of them haha. I did manage to keep 6 of the better ones for fresh bait. Good fun though. My caravan was on the park above west bexington so once I was in there I popped down to west bexington to see the inevitable long line of anglers. I walked right until the end of the anglers which was about 30mins, my knee still not being 100% had already started to ache. Pulled my first rod out and first thing I noticed was the butt ring was busted "here we go again I thought", god knows how or why as I don't recall it being knocked or falling etc. Luckily I had a spare rod with me so still could use 2 rods. First chuck on my scratching rig and solid bite had a strange fight and on seeing 2 fish slide up the shingle I could see why. A 34cm plaice and a codling double shot, my first chesil codling so my target for the week was achieved.
It then went dead until dark when the dogs and pouting started so called it a night around 10pm but happy with my catch.
Sunday had me heading to cogden hoping for plaice and or sole. I walked to as far as the middle of the houses. Turned out to be a struggle, a tub gurnard and a small plaice saving me from a blank. The wind had picked up from right to left quite strong at times which made casting distance difficult.
Monday and looked out of the caravan window to see what I thought was similar conditions so I decided to head to lyme regis for the day and fish the evening tide there. Lack of pics from this session as I struggled to keep the rods in with constant bites. I had 6 wrasse upto 1lb 08oz , numerous pouting, straps, a bass of 38cm and a lobster ?. Must admit I enjoyed the fishing.
Tuesday and I was heading back to lyme regis as I'd enjoyed the fishing that much and I've never had a bull huss so decided I'd try again for another. This time though I stopped at Charmouth and decided to have a go there. Never have I caught so many pouting. Big baits for a big conger or huss were being snaffled by them and they were jumbo pout. Planned on doing 2 up 3 down but after 3 hours I'd had enough of pouting so called it a night. I know now that Monmouth beach is where I should have tried for a huss, next time.
Wednesday I went back down to bexington, an all most empty beach in front of me and my knee aching I only walked 100m east. Fished the mornings high down to low. Slow going with 1 dogfish mid tide. Just before low and another 2 dogs had me starting to pack up, look up and slack line on one rod and the culprit a codling, only my 4th ever codling but it was pb not that it needed to be big to beat my previous best. Gave it another hour but nothing else occurred but more than happy.
Thursday, I'd got chatting to another angler at West bay when I was float fishing earlier in the week and he said he was fishing the "teeth " on Thursday and did I want to tag along to which I did. Certainly the furthest ive walked on chesil but a 04'30am start and we went to the teeth, was slow going as my Knee was aching but we made it. He ended up with 3 bream (all keepers ) and a codling and I had 2 keeper bream, 1 small codling, lip hooked so returned and what I was told was a dragonet, a first for me and forgot to take a pic of the fish but happy to catch a new species.
Friday and my last day, well was a tad windy ?.
Hopefully return again soon.I apologise for not seeing if anyone on here was up for a session, the week just ran away with me.
Tight lines.
