Goateeblank
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 1,659
- Reaction score
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- 115
- Location
- South Coast
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
We, @cap'nhaddock and I, arrived at West Bay at the same time, which considering we came from miles away, in different directions, was pretty good and it was also just as the parking charges changed at 3. The plan was to fish the East arm for "stuff" then move to the West arm later and do a re-enactment of Haddock nearly killing himself trying to land a decent (read getting on for 3ft across) blonde up onto the pier on his own! Knocked the stuffing out of him for days he said. Quote" its a bugger getting old".
It may well be sir, but the effort and hours you put in, the numbers of species you achieve year after year and considering your general health, is truly inspiring, as is the help and advice you give and have given me and many others over the years. I only say this as I am trying to get him to put me in his will for all his fishing gear and in return all I have to do is get him one of those brass plaques on Boscombe Pier! Seriously though, l do ok catching fish, but could never hope to gain the knowledge Haddock has.
Off to the East arm we go. As we get to the end he he says I had better go in the best spot. No you go there l say, but he insists! Right, best take full advantage then and I did!
Normal size 6 hooks on my normal rigs and normal 9ft spinning rods. The tide is low and I can just see a clear patch surrounded by 5 rocks. That's the spot for me. Just a little underarm flick hits the spot. First up was a pollack and then a species for my hunt a shanny. Different colouration on this one. Same grumpy mouth though! Had a few over the session.
A couple of wrasse came in and give the rod a good rattle. So pretty.
Next up a dragonet, another one for the hunt. Very pretty little things, but they have sharp gill plates so best to handle carefully.
A few more pollack, whiting and pout were keeping me busy. One thing I say for pout is that they do give a good knock compared to a whiting or a pollack. Haddock had his rods dropped straight down targeting a shore rockling. Thought I would give that a go and did the same. I had a different looking bite from the fish already caught and a different wiggly feel on the retrieval. There it is, my third hunt species for the day a shore rockling. I told Haddock I had intercepted it on its way to his rods. I got all the usual, I told you they were there and I have to tell you everything crap, while he is confirming the identity of shore rockling, not 3 bearded. That is his gloved hand in the picture. Haddock does not do pictures as he is so handsome it make normal men cry, ha, ha.
The different fish species came in definite waves over the session. We decided we needed to stay where we were and I insisted that he take the best spot cause I caught shore rockling number two, as it was on its way along the wall to his bait!
I moved my gear out and cajouled him into moving his gear 8ft! What next? Where are the doggies? Cant believe I am asking after being plagued by them at the end of the year, but this is the new year and I need one. He points to the spot close to some rocks and its an easy enough, but accurate cast needed on the 10ft pier rod I had brought. Catching more pout and I thought l had knocked the bigger rod, but it kept moving. Put the small rod down and had to steer the fish away from the rocks can feel its much bigger than the species caught so far that day. Had to pass the rod and hand ball it up onto the pier where it quickly spat the hook. That was lucky. Just shows how important it is to maintain contact with the fish with a tight line. Species number 21 a doggie and I was pleased to have it!
We fished on for a bit, then called it a night. Haddock did not get his shore rockling, but without doubt soon will.
I would have been happy to go home, pleased with my 4 new hunt species caught, but had promised to fish West Bexington with a friend over from Aus. Not a bad night in the van and set up on the beach before daybreak. Pictures of the dawn and a bit later as I like the pictures. No fish pictures as there weren't any! Highlight of that day was beans on toast in the van and a coffee before driving home.
Get out there people. Its good for the soul. If a bit cold!
It may well be sir, but the effort and hours you put in, the numbers of species you achieve year after year and considering your general health, is truly inspiring, as is the help and advice you give and have given me and many others over the years. I only say this as I am trying to get him to put me in his will for all his fishing gear and in return all I have to do is get him one of those brass plaques on Boscombe Pier! Seriously though, l do ok catching fish, but could never hope to gain the knowledge Haddock has.
Off to the East arm we go. As we get to the end he he says I had better go in the best spot. No you go there l say, but he insists! Right, best take full advantage then and I did!
Normal size 6 hooks on my normal rigs and normal 9ft spinning rods. The tide is low and I can just see a clear patch surrounded by 5 rocks. That's the spot for me. Just a little underarm flick hits the spot. First up was a pollack and then a species for my hunt a shanny. Different colouration on this one. Same grumpy mouth though! Had a few over the session.
A couple of wrasse came in and give the rod a good rattle. So pretty.
Next up a dragonet, another one for the hunt. Very pretty little things, but they have sharp gill plates so best to handle carefully.
A few more pollack, whiting and pout were keeping me busy. One thing I say for pout is that they do give a good knock compared to a whiting or a pollack. Haddock had his rods dropped straight down targeting a shore rockling. Thought I would give that a go and did the same. I had a different looking bite from the fish already caught and a different wiggly feel on the retrieval. There it is, my third hunt species for the day a shore rockling. I told Haddock I had intercepted it on its way to his rods. I got all the usual, I told you they were there and I have to tell you everything crap, while he is confirming the identity of shore rockling, not 3 bearded. That is his gloved hand in the picture. Haddock does not do pictures as he is so handsome it make normal men cry, ha, ha.
The different fish species came in definite waves over the session. We decided we needed to stay where we were and I insisted that he take the best spot cause I caught shore rockling number two, as it was on its way along the wall to his bait!
I moved my gear out and cajouled him into moving his gear 8ft! What next? Where are the doggies? Cant believe I am asking after being plagued by them at the end of the year, but this is the new year and I need one. He points to the spot close to some rocks and its an easy enough, but accurate cast needed on the 10ft pier rod I had brought. Catching more pout and I thought l had knocked the bigger rod, but it kept moving. Put the small rod down and had to steer the fish away from the rocks can feel its much bigger than the species caught so far that day. Had to pass the rod and hand ball it up onto the pier where it quickly spat the hook. That was lucky. Just shows how important it is to maintain contact with the fish with a tight line. Species number 21 a doggie and I was pleased to have it!
We fished on for a bit, then called it a night. Haddock did not get his shore rockling, but without doubt soon will.
I would have been happy to go home, pleased with my 4 new hunt species caught, but had promised to fish West Bexington with a friend over from Aus. Not a bad night in the van and set up on the beach before daybreak. Pictures of the dawn and a bit later as I like the pictures. No fish pictures as there weren't any! Highlight of that day was beans on toast in the van and a coffee before driving home.
Get out there people. Its good for the soul. If a bit cold!
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