Goateeblank
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 1,659
- Reaction score
- 5,657
- Points
- 115
- Location
- South Coast
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
The idea was to fish Milford on Sea beach looking for a spottie (again) thornie or whatever. I parked up and went for a look at the chosen spot, and the spray across the beach was horrendous. I had a message from Mukiwa to say he and Merrylegs were on Hurst Shingle bank. I could see their bivvy in the distance, with room to the West of them. It's a short drive over to them and only a short walk from the van to the beach.
Had a quick chat, then got set up. One rod 3 hook flapper, rag tipped with squid and one big bait rod with combinations of squid, sand eels, mackerel and frozen blacks. Sent the rods out, set the clutches and went for a catch up and a chat. They started to get a few bites and that upped my enthusiasm to do a bait change and set up my brolly.
Nothing doing for me fish wise, but I can see a vessel coming our way from Swanage. It was the Waverley. The last sea going paddle steamer in the world. It is touring the South Coast until the 20th. I worked on her in the late 70's and have been for a trip on her in recent years. She is a fine vessel and has a heartbeat and rhythm courtesy of her triple expansion steam engine and the bap, bap, of the paddles when underway. She is well worth a look and the engine is open for viewing and fascinating to watch. Bottom picture is not mine.
The sunset followed closely and still no bites for me, but I can see others getting the occasional bream and the odd gurnard. Merrylegs was out fishing the beach and unfortunately dropped a ray.
It was a good 3 hours into the session before I noticed a slight nod on the flapper rod, followed by a hint of another. I left it for a while, then it was time for a bait change anyway, so l did the usual wind down, lift and wind. I can feel some weight there and thankfully there had been no weed, so was hopeful of a fish at last. No kicks or anything and it is not until it comes out of the surf, that I can see its my second ever codling, some 12 days since my first. It was a similar size to my first from Chesil recently, but in better condition and chunkier. Picture taken and I ran over to Mukiwa to show them before releasing it. Very happy to have a codling from a local beach and without a 3 hour round trip drive and the slog there and back along the beach.
Again nothing happening and Mukiwa and Merrylegs are leaving. As we are chatting we can clearly see the lightning strikes over towards Weymouth way, but then they start from way behind the Isle of Wight. Mukiwa warned me keep and eye behind, as the weather is hidden by the bank. I said I would do a slow pack down and they left.
All of a sudden things change and l can see I am now surrounded by lightning with 28ft of highly conductive carbon fibre sticking up in the air! I pick up a rod and try to keep it low with the sudden realisation that the rod is between my legs and my nuts are at great risk should it get struck! The reality is that that would be the least of my problems. Got one packed down and a thunder shower hit. Thankfully it only lasted minutes and l packed down the other rod holding it horizontal. Again just a short walk back to the van which was good. By now the lightning is in full flow and good to watch from the safety of the van.
A friend sent me this lightning strike recording. It shows the storm coming over the Isle of Wight and passing over where I was fishing. It was a bit concerning! So many strikes.
Good luck if you are out.
Had a quick chat, then got set up. One rod 3 hook flapper, rag tipped with squid and one big bait rod with combinations of squid, sand eels, mackerel and frozen blacks. Sent the rods out, set the clutches and went for a catch up and a chat. They started to get a few bites and that upped my enthusiasm to do a bait change and set up my brolly.
Nothing doing for me fish wise, but I can see a vessel coming our way from Swanage. It was the Waverley. The last sea going paddle steamer in the world. It is touring the South Coast until the 20th. I worked on her in the late 70's and have been for a trip on her in recent years. She is a fine vessel and has a heartbeat and rhythm courtesy of her triple expansion steam engine and the bap, bap, of the paddles when underway. She is well worth a look and the engine is open for viewing and fascinating to watch. Bottom picture is not mine.
The sunset followed closely and still no bites for me, but I can see others getting the occasional bream and the odd gurnard. Merrylegs was out fishing the beach and unfortunately dropped a ray.
It was a good 3 hours into the session before I noticed a slight nod on the flapper rod, followed by a hint of another. I left it for a while, then it was time for a bait change anyway, so l did the usual wind down, lift and wind. I can feel some weight there and thankfully there had been no weed, so was hopeful of a fish at last. No kicks or anything and it is not until it comes out of the surf, that I can see its my second ever codling, some 12 days since my first. It was a similar size to my first from Chesil recently, but in better condition and chunkier. Picture taken and I ran over to Mukiwa to show them before releasing it. Very happy to have a codling from a local beach and without a 3 hour round trip drive and the slog there and back along the beach.
Again nothing happening and Mukiwa and Merrylegs are leaving. As we are chatting we can clearly see the lightning strikes over towards Weymouth way, but then they start from way behind the Isle of Wight. Mukiwa warned me keep and eye behind, as the weather is hidden by the bank. I said I would do a slow pack down and they left.
All of a sudden things change and l can see I am now surrounded by lightning with 28ft of highly conductive carbon fibre sticking up in the air! I pick up a rod and try to keep it low with the sudden realisation that the rod is between my legs and my nuts are at great risk should it get struck! The reality is that that would be the least of my problems. Got one packed down and a thunder shower hit. Thankfully it only lasted minutes and l packed down the other rod holding it horizontal. Again just a short walk back to the van which was good. By now the lightning is in full flow and good to watch from the safety of the van.
A friend sent me this lightning strike recording. It shows the storm coming over the Isle of Wight and passing over where I was fishing. It was a bit concerning! So many strikes.
Good luck if you are out.
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, yep standing in a lightning storm waving your rod around is not going to be great for one's health.