Chindelly
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2021
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 256
- Points
- 53
- Location
- Hampshire
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Down on the south coast of England, summer still lingers. Sunny, calm days with little wind. Perfect for kayaking. I’m very fortunate to live within striking distance of Hayling Island. Here there are all sorts of fishing opportunities. In the summer the bay hosts mackerel shoals and the bass that follow them. They are still around in September, so I took to my kayak in the evening, armed with a couple of lures and plenty of optimism.
I paddled out about 1/2 mile and switched between trolling and drifting. Soon enough I caught a small shoal bass and a couple of joey mackerel. Good fun on light gear. It was low tide so the drifts were pretty slow. I found trolling to be more successful. On one such troll, I heard the reel’s drag sing its all familiar tune. The sound that brings instant excitement. I put down the paddle and grabbed the rod. Line was peeling off and the rod had a proper big fish bend in it. This was no mackerel! After some dives it surfaced about 30 yards away. I made out the large spiky dorsal fin, a decent bass at last! As I played it closer to the boat, I could see that I also had a mackerel attached to the lure. The bass must have smashed the mackerel! What fantastic piece of unrepeatable luck (fluke). I carefully played him in, and got him onboard the kayak. A lovely fish indeed. 70cm and my biggest bass.
I decided to keep the fish and make a meal of it later. I carried on fishing for a spell but my heart was no longer in it, this was my biggest bass to date and also the most exciting fight I’ve had from one. There was nothing left to play for this evening. As the sun sunk lower in the sky, I soaked in the beauty and serenity of my local coastline, counting my blessings, it never to be taken for granted.
Back on the beach, a nice chap was kind enough to be the photographer.
I’m looking forward to some shore fishing next, once some low pressure arrives. There is even bigger fish swimming about out there and you have to be in it to win it.
I paddled out about 1/2 mile and switched between trolling and drifting. Soon enough I caught a small shoal bass and a couple of joey mackerel. Good fun on light gear. It was low tide so the drifts were pretty slow. I found trolling to be more successful. On one such troll, I heard the reel’s drag sing its all familiar tune. The sound that brings instant excitement. I put down the paddle and grabbed the rod. Line was peeling off and the rod had a proper big fish bend in it. This was no mackerel! After some dives it surfaced about 30 yards away. I made out the large spiky dorsal fin, a decent bass at last! As I played it closer to the boat, I could see that I also had a mackerel attached to the lure. The bass must have smashed the mackerel! What fantastic piece of unrepeatable luck (fluke). I carefully played him in, and got him onboard the kayak. A lovely fish indeed. 70cm and my biggest bass.
I decided to keep the fish and make a meal of it later. I carried on fishing for a spell but my heart was no longer in it, this was my biggest bass to date and also the most exciting fight I’ve had from one. There was nothing left to play for this evening. As the sun sunk lower in the sky, I soaked in the beauty and serenity of my local coastline, counting my blessings, it never to be taken for granted.
Back on the beach, a nice chap was kind enough to be the photographer.
I’m looking forward to some shore fishing next, once some low pressure arrives. There is even bigger fish swimming about out there and you have to be in it to win it.
