Catch Report -18th June 2010

After a few days off due to the sea state we were back out on the water today.  We still have a good tide for catching Bream so this was our target species for the day.  The crew all arrived in good time so we enjoyed a quick cuppa before heading out.  It was the perfect opportunity for known faces to meet new ones and get all their gear organised on board.  The crew today were a lovely mix with lads and lasses, experienced anglers and those giving it a go for the first time.
Onboard today was Bob, Bill, Roy, Oliver, Dan and also Richard with his partner Janette and his sister Vivian.

A short stop on the way out to the fishing mark saw the live bait well stocked with perfect sized Mackerel for live baiting.  With this in mind several members of the crew decided that they would be trying for a Bass today.

We got off to a good start with Ron claiming the first Bream of the day on the ebb tide.  In fact it was the ebb tide that produced the most productive fishing of the day.  We were kept busy for the first couple of hours with a constant flow of Bream being played to the net.

Ron with the first Bream of the day.

Dan

Bob

Vivian

Janette

Oliver

Richard

Bob and myself had put out a line in the hope of nicking a Bass.  Bob used a live Mackerel on a pennel rig and I popped a Mackerel head on a 6/0 hook but not much was happening.  The action at this point of the day was all happening for the rods out in search of Bream.

Simple squid baits on size 2 circle hooks were finding the targets.

As we approached slack water the catches slowed down and then for a good hour or so came to a complete stop.  When the tide did get going again the fish were not so happy to play ball.  We were catching the odd one or two in little flurries for the rest of the afternoon and everyone decided that we should move towards home and try out a different mark.  Everyone wanted fresh Mackerel for the table so we decided to give it just another 15mins on this mark and then move on.

Typically at this point the Bream decided that it was time to come back out to play and Bill played in the biggest of the day weighing in at 3lb 8oz.  What a fight this feisty fish gave him darting and diving all the way in.

Bill

Come on Bill best of the day –  its got to be worth a kiss!!!

Awwwww

This was swiftly flowed by another couple of good sized fish and so the plan to make a move was cancelled It was then heads down and concentrating on hooking one that would better Bill’s catch.

Dan got one almighty knock on his rod, which he had baited up with a Mackerel head and as he lifted into the bite it was obvious that we were looking to be netting a Bass.  The fight the fish was giving had caught everyone’s attention and we all stopped what we were doing to watch as the Bass was played to the surface.  This was a good fish and looked to be easily a 10 lb’er.  Every angler’s nightmare followed when the good bend and tight line suddenly became a jolt and then slack.  You can imagine the noise that echoed around the boat as we all groaned with disappointment.

Bob’s line out for Bass managed to produce only dogfish and my own line took several good knocks but nothing but lost baits for me.  We enjoyed seeing the last couple of bream caught before it was time to head back home.  All the fish that were kept were gutted and prepared on the way back to the marina.

Everyone on board today caught the target fish but the fishing in general was a lot slower than we had expected it to be today.  The crew landed 26 Bream, numerous pouting, a couple of Dogfish and some wrasse.  Well done to all the crew who were great fun to spend the day with.