Stormtrooper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2020
- Messages
- 292
- Reaction score
- 2,717
- Points
- 93
- Location
- Herne Bay
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Hi all!
I had some success midweek on the hounds fairly locally on the N.Kent coast, I bagged 4 including my first double of the year at 11lbs 2oz. The issue was the weed though, I only had a 45min - 1hr window max over HW where I was catching and it was weed free. The rest of the night was a write-off.
Saturday night came and I wanted to get out, the wife’s away for a few days from Sunday so it was my only chance…. But where to go?
With the building tides and steady northerlies, I did’t fancy N.Kent, it really wouldn’t have been fun even IF I got any sort of window at all. So what to do?
I considered Shakey beach but my gut was telling me not to bother, I really was in a quandary.
In the end I hatched a crazy plan to try for a tope in W.Sussex!!
I knew it was stupid not really knowing where to go to avoid weed and snags or where would be busy but once the seed was planted that it was possible, my mind was set!! I also knew I’d only have a short window to fish as the journey itself was 2hrs and 25mins, 122 miles!
I left as early as I could but it was about 7:30pm so I didn’t arrive at my chosen spot until just before 10pm. Thankfully it was an incident free journey with no real problems, I was worried it would be busy but I found a parking spot quickly and my optimism rose. …until I got to the beach itself!
It wasn’t heaving but there wasn’t really enough space between the anglers to set up comfortably, without putting their noses out of joint a little. So I soldiered on to the next bit of beach.
After a 10min walk or so, I could see the next section was busy too, how far was I going to have to walk?! The ridiculous is becoming absurd in this venture!!
As I got a bit closer though, I was happy with a bit of space immediately in front of me. I was closer to a rock groin than I’d have chosen usually but in the circumstances, I just needed to get fishing!!
As I set up, the next guy fishing along from me wandered over and expressed concerns that I didn’t have enough space to fish there, warning the tide run would get us tangled or somehow
cause us issues. I explained that I didn’t know the area and that I would heed the warning but I couldn’t see it, he was at least 60yds away from me… we parted company in agreement I would move if it became an issue.
Finally! I was getting a bait in the water, a joey mackerel sent out in ignorant anticipation. Meanwhile, I had some peelers too so sent one out with the other rod and sat poised, ready for action!
And I waited. and waited. and waited.
This wasn’t meant to happen!! I reeled in the peeler first and found empty hooks. Strange. So I baited again and slightly altered the rig in hope of lifting it off the bottom a little. Meanwhile, the joey rod lay motionless. This eventually came in also bare.
This routine went on, sometimes with bait, sometimes without and sometimes with a little weed but my rod tips essentially stayed motionless for the next 3hrs. About 1am though, I finally registered a positive bite!
…and it was on a joey!
I leapt up like a jack in the box and grabbed the rod just as it went over, there was a decent pull but it felt far more like a bass than anything. It darted briefly to my left and instantly I was snagged.
All the tricks in the book came out to release it but nothing was budging, I couldn’t feel the fish anymore either and eventually the line gave, I reeled in, deflated. As I got back to my tripod, I looked up at my other rod, it was bent double towards the sea!!
The fish put up a great fight the whole way in and it was awesome to watch as it fought in front of me, the water was gin-clear. Finally, I landed it, a nice hound of 8lbs 13oz. It was probably time to start thinking about packing up by now because of the following day’s commitments but I was buzzing to have finally found a fish and was thirsty for more! Another crab hit the horizon whilst I considered tying a new leader to the snapped line on the other rod. I decided against it in the end or I’d never leave… as I packed the rod up though, fzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztt!!!
My ratchet screamed off, another hound was hooked and another brilliant fight ensued. Not quite as big as the first but no.2 went 8lbs on the nose and fought every bit as hard.
Every bit of me wanted to fish on as things were definitely hotting up but I just couldn’t and reluctantly packed up. I was back at the car just after 2am and slipped silently into bed around 4:45am, it was broad daylight by now but I can’t remember my head hitting the pillow!!
I had some success midweek on the hounds fairly locally on the N.Kent coast, I bagged 4 including my first double of the year at 11lbs 2oz. The issue was the weed though, I only had a 45min - 1hr window max over HW where I was catching and it was weed free. The rest of the night was a write-off.
Saturday night came and I wanted to get out, the wife’s away for a few days from Sunday so it was my only chance…. But where to go?
With the building tides and steady northerlies, I did’t fancy N.Kent, it really wouldn’t have been fun even IF I got any sort of window at all. So what to do?
I considered Shakey beach but my gut was telling me not to bother, I really was in a quandary.
In the end I hatched a crazy plan to try for a tope in W.Sussex!!
I knew it was stupid not really knowing where to go to avoid weed and snags or where would be busy but once the seed was planted that it was possible, my mind was set!! I also knew I’d only have a short window to fish as the journey itself was 2hrs and 25mins, 122 miles!
I left as early as I could but it was about 7:30pm so I didn’t arrive at my chosen spot until just before 10pm. Thankfully it was an incident free journey with no real problems, I was worried it would be busy but I found a parking spot quickly and my optimism rose. …until I got to the beach itself!
It wasn’t heaving but there wasn’t really enough space between the anglers to set up comfortably, without putting their noses out of joint a little. So I soldiered on to the next bit of beach.
After a 10min walk or so, I could see the next section was busy too, how far was I going to have to walk?! The ridiculous is becoming absurd in this venture!!
As I got a bit closer though, I was happy with a bit of space immediately in front of me. I was closer to a rock groin than I’d have chosen usually but in the circumstances, I just needed to get fishing!!
As I set up, the next guy fishing along from me wandered over and expressed concerns that I didn’t have enough space to fish there, warning the tide run would get us tangled or somehow
cause us issues. I explained that I didn’t know the area and that I would heed the warning but I couldn’t see it, he was at least 60yds away from me… we parted company in agreement I would move if it became an issue.
Finally! I was getting a bait in the water, a joey mackerel sent out in ignorant anticipation. Meanwhile, I had some peelers too so sent one out with the other rod and sat poised, ready for action!
And I waited. and waited. and waited.
This wasn’t meant to happen!! I reeled in the peeler first and found empty hooks. Strange. So I baited again and slightly altered the rig in hope of lifting it off the bottom a little. Meanwhile, the joey rod lay motionless. This eventually came in also bare.
This routine went on, sometimes with bait, sometimes without and sometimes with a little weed but my rod tips essentially stayed motionless for the next 3hrs. About 1am though, I finally registered a positive bite!
…and it was on a joey!
I leapt up like a jack in the box and grabbed the rod just as it went over, there was a decent pull but it felt far more like a bass than anything. It darted briefly to my left and instantly I was snagged.
All the tricks in the book came out to release it but nothing was budging, I couldn’t feel the fish anymore either and eventually the line gave, I reeled in, deflated. As I got back to my tripod, I looked up at my other rod, it was bent double towards the sea!!
The fish put up a great fight the whole way in and it was awesome to watch as it fought in front of me, the water was gin-clear. Finally, I landed it, a nice hound of 8lbs 13oz. It was probably time to start thinking about packing up by now because of the following day’s commitments but I was buzzing to have finally found a fish and was thirsty for more! Another crab hit the horizon whilst I considered tying a new leader to the snapped line on the other rod. I decided against it in the end or I’d never leave… as I packed the rod up though, fzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzztt!!!
My ratchet screamed off, another hound was hooked and another brilliant fight ensued. Not quite as big as the first but no.2 went 8lbs on the nose and fought every bit as hard.
Every bit of me wanted to fish on as things were definitely hotting up but I just couldn’t and reluctantly packed up. I was back at the car just after 2am and slipped silently into bed around 4:45am, it was broad daylight by now but I can’t remember my head hitting the pillow!!
