- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 21,550
- Reaction score
- 54,571
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Plymouth.
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Haven't managed to get out this year until last night, when John kindly sent out an invite to an estuary mark as he had heard there were some Herring about. Threw a large assortment of tackle in Jeepy and off I went just after 5pm. Got down to the mark, and there is a small boat harbour in between two areas of quayside. I thought John was heading for the right side, and just as I was about to park up, I thought I'd better check the other side, and there was John!
One of the reasons for getting out for a dangle was that I wanted to have a few casts with the Conti rod that John had broken the tip on & donated to me, and I had done a repair job on it. Tackled up with a 2 hook flapper, 4oz lead & a couple of Gulp artificial sand eels just in case there was a chance of a bite, and gave it an easy overhead thump straight out about 90 yards. Meanwhile, the next plan of action was to put a new Dennett super spratt on my lure rod and have a few casts with that. Another guy fishing nearby was doing a dance with a fair size Mackerel he had caught, so there was a chance of something for the pan.
After a few casts with the lure rod, John was having a field day on small Wrasse, and I was wandering too & fro between casts and to see what he'd caught.
Meanwhile, I noticed that there was a fair bend in the Conti Rod, so thought I'd better investigate. Tried to wind in, and it seemed to be snagged about 20 yards out and 45 deg to my right. Strange. I knew there was a strong current with the incoming tide ( and John had reminded me!) but I couldn't understand why the rig had come so far in. Anyway, well & truly stuck, so pulled for a break, and lost the lot - rig & baits, Lead & shock leader. Conti rod back in Jeepy it was then.
The Guy that had caught the Mackerel had now packed up & gone, so I moved in on his spot. After a few casts, fish on - blank saved! I shouted to John as I could see a small shoal of Macker on the top of the water. John came over and cast out - fish No. 2 on! They weren't really big enough for an invitation to my frying pan, so it was donated to John for his bait freezer.
John had me chuckling as he had spotted some action on his LRF rod, so quickly tucked the Mackerel under his Fishing bag to stop them slithering off the quayside!
That was about the end of my efforts. The Mackerel shoal had moved on in the strong current, and nothing else was interested in my lure offerings. Meanwhile, John had secured many different Wrasse (I lost count past 10!) and had also fiddled out a small Herring - Just the job for his species hunt.
There was a nice guy turned up for a Dangle who we had a great chat with - he was from South Wales and is working in the area for a few months. Always nice to meet new people, especially the genuine sort who are fellow Danglers.
John had arranged to meet Ben, his Nephew down there too, and just as John was thinking of heading for home, Ben arrived. Apparently Ben had got the day wrong and thought we were meeting up tonight, so there was a bit of banter and ribbing! John headed off, and I stayed for a while chatting to Ben & the Welsh guy, as I knew the RFA Landing craft ship Cardigan Bay was due out of the Dockyard heading to sea.
The larger RFA & RN ships can only navigate the channels on a high tide, so stood on the quayside when one is passing is quite impressive. She was a bit late leaving so it was probably 9pm and near pitch dark when she passed. The phone camera shot is a bit blurred but didn't do bad under the circumstances, and the wide angle lens makes her look a lot further away than she was. Big supporter of our Royal Navy!
The only other event of the evening was a shout of "Lobster!" form the Welsh guy! I was packing my gear into Jeepy about 30 yards away, so dashed over to see what was going on, to find a large Lobster claw dangling from Welshie's rig! He'd felt a large weight trying to reel it in, and we think the Lobster threw it's claw off just as it got to the Quayside!
Time to go home I decided!
Sorry if this has dragged on a bit, but I don't get chance often to 'do my bit' and put a report up, so thought I'd better make the most of it!
Tight lines!
??
One of the reasons for getting out for a dangle was that I wanted to have a few casts with the Conti rod that John had broken the tip on & donated to me, and I had done a repair job on it. Tackled up with a 2 hook flapper, 4oz lead & a couple of Gulp artificial sand eels just in case there was a chance of a bite, and gave it an easy overhead thump straight out about 90 yards. Meanwhile, the next plan of action was to put a new Dennett super spratt on my lure rod and have a few casts with that. Another guy fishing nearby was doing a dance with a fair size Mackerel he had caught, so there was a chance of something for the pan.
After a few casts with the lure rod, John was having a field day on small Wrasse, and I was wandering too & fro between casts and to see what he'd caught.
Meanwhile, I noticed that there was a fair bend in the Conti Rod, so thought I'd better investigate. Tried to wind in, and it seemed to be snagged about 20 yards out and 45 deg to my right. Strange. I knew there was a strong current with the incoming tide ( and John had reminded me!) but I couldn't understand why the rig had come so far in. Anyway, well & truly stuck, so pulled for a break, and lost the lot - rig & baits, Lead & shock leader. Conti rod back in Jeepy it was then.
The Guy that had caught the Mackerel had now packed up & gone, so I moved in on his spot. After a few casts, fish on - blank saved! I shouted to John as I could see a small shoal of Macker on the top of the water. John came over and cast out - fish No. 2 on! They weren't really big enough for an invitation to my frying pan, so it was donated to John for his bait freezer.
John had me chuckling as he had spotted some action on his LRF rod, so quickly tucked the Mackerel under his Fishing bag to stop them slithering off the quayside!
That was about the end of my efforts. The Mackerel shoal had moved on in the strong current, and nothing else was interested in my lure offerings. Meanwhile, John had secured many different Wrasse (I lost count past 10!) and had also fiddled out a small Herring - Just the job for his species hunt.
There was a nice guy turned up for a Dangle who we had a great chat with - he was from South Wales and is working in the area for a few months. Always nice to meet new people, especially the genuine sort who are fellow Danglers.
John had arranged to meet Ben, his Nephew down there too, and just as John was thinking of heading for home, Ben arrived. Apparently Ben had got the day wrong and thought we were meeting up tonight, so there was a bit of banter and ribbing! John headed off, and I stayed for a while chatting to Ben & the Welsh guy, as I knew the RFA Landing craft ship Cardigan Bay was due out of the Dockyard heading to sea.
The larger RFA & RN ships can only navigate the channels on a high tide, so stood on the quayside when one is passing is quite impressive. She was a bit late leaving so it was probably 9pm and near pitch dark when she passed. The phone camera shot is a bit blurred but didn't do bad under the circumstances, and the wide angle lens makes her look a lot further away than she was. Big supporter of our Royal Navy!
The only other event of the evening was a shout of "Lobster!" form the Welsh guy! I was packing my gear into Jeepy about 30 yards away, so dashed over to see what was going on, to find a large Lobster claw dangling from Welshie's rig! He'd felt a large weight trying to reel it in, and we think the Lobster threw it's claw off just as it got to the Quayside!
Time to go home I decided!
Sorry if this has dragged on a bit, but I don't get chance often to 'do my bit' and put a report up, so thought I'd better make the most of it!
Tight lines!
??
