So we all have to fish "local". I did not realise how much it meant to me to be able to go and fish where I want, and when there was no fishing, well that was not a good feeling at all. I consider myself lucky to live in The New Forest area and live on the Southampton Estuary. I sympathise with those of you whose "local" waters are miles from home. Stay strong boys and girls. You must be missing your therapy badly.
I started on New Years day with a flounder trip to Shore Road Hythe as reported. First in was a sand goby on a meat hook as
@bananas put it! Only my second ever, the first being in December, and not an easy one to get, so happy with that. This was followed by a flounder, so mission accomplished and two not so easy fish to get on the morning of the New Year.
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Next session was at Hengistbury Head with
@DJDBazzer. It means a drive there, park up and then cycle the 1 plus mile to fish the big groyne. Not a good session for either of us really. I only had pout,
@DJDBazzer had dogs, whiting, pout and pollack. He walked back along the beach, I cycled down the road. He found a dead body and I didn't!!! Yeah you read that right!
Lock down hits!
So time for me to look at what opportunities there are for fishing local. There are a few well known spots and some I keep quiet!
Fished the estuary and had my first bass of the year followed by another. No size to them, but got me my fourth species.
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Next trip was to Town Quay where I fished with my usual 2 x 9ft ugly sticks looking for mini species. My reward was 5 very small whiting so again that was another species giving me 6. Not really what I was after, but again I count myself lucky to have places close to home to fish and again that some don't have that luxury.
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Next session was in the estuary again and as reported where I had 13 bass and some nice ones in very wet conditions. A much better stamp of fish as well.
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Next estuary session for me got me a really pretty corkwing wrasse not huge, but in prime condition. Species 7.
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I followed that with a quick session at the same place and caught 4 species of fish. 2 x rock gobies, 1 x corkwing, some more nice bass and a lovely gilt head bream. Now up to 8 species.
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Next trip gave me 17 bass! More of them than my earlier session, but not as good size wise. Another wet session! The lure fishing boys did not catch anything so seeing me pulling them in and knowing that there were plenty about, must have been irritating for them!
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Fished Maggi Lane Beach looking for a bit of shelter. Lost all my gear on the first and second casts. Something very sharp down there. Rock oysters? Blank!
My last session was at Town Quay where I caught 5 x whiting, another bass, and a black goby to go with the rock goby.
So as a round up I have managed over 60 fish (mostly bass) and 9 species of fish, fishing locally. So if you can get out (and I know that some of you can't) do so, there are fish there. If you can't get out, your time will come, so get your gear sorted ready!
...Alan
