Bits and pieces off Selsey

[Lookfar]

Hi folks,
Finally, on Bank Holiday Monday I got myself afloat again. Had a steady tow down from London chatting to my crewman John and we met the second crew Martin at Hayling Island, along with our buddy boat Moby. Prospects were actually not that good, we had a HUGE tide to contend with and a forecast that said 100% cloud cover and some drizzle with a f3-4 easterly. On the slip it was believable, the flood pushing into the Run at Langstone was lumping up against a stiff NE breeze and it was all a bit grey and uninviting. Dropped the boats in quickly and got ourselves away after Moby in the usual welter of discarded waders, loose tackle, lunchboxes etc. Offshore things were actually a lot calmer and we had a gentle cruise out to the Dean Tail wrecks. Wind against a fading tide meant slow drifts, the water was murky and the sounder said 'no fish'. John got us away with a garfish that rolled up in his Sabikis. There was barely an inch of the fish that wasn't presenting a hook, made it a little tricky to handle. A trip over to the pout wreck added an unusually large mackerel for so early in the season but we were clearly wasting time, so John over on Moby again led us off. I dropped way back as I had to stop to deal with the bait rail which jumped out of one mounting. the resulting leverage ripped the other mounting out of the GRP - a nasty sight on an almost new boat
Caught up with Moby on a hound mark where we planned to stay across the slack until the tide dislodged us. The hounds were there alright but they only liked John. He had five of them, Martin and I just a paltry doggie each and a small spider crab. The hermits soon ran out, but the hounds kept coming (to John) on squid. The day also sprang a surprise on us, when the wind dropped a fair bit and the sun came out! That made the inevitable rock and roll routine across slack water much more enjoyable than usual. I had a play with a float for gars but it was nabbed by a gull and with only 3lb line on the reel, hook, float and boat all parted company with each other quite rapidly.
Before John could catch any more hounds and qualify himself for an early swim, the anchor hold failed in the gathering ebb and we headed inshore to Brake Ledge for shelter. Moby stayed offshore looking for that elusive hound. We had Brake to ourselves, with the world and their dog parked line abreast along Boulder Bank. Brake was a revelation - almost no tide and none of the dreaded weed that was around offshore in huge rafts. We buckled down to bashing out a steady stream of small pout, poor cod, ballan wrasse, bream and gar. The bream were small, with a single 2lb fish setting the pulses racing a bit. The gar were frequently following the baits in and I was regretting my lost float rig but the highlight of the day for me was a clonking PB ballan wrasse, 3lb 2oz and beautifully coloured in reds and greens. Martin was a little less happy, he was connected for a few minutes to something with serious weight as the 12/20 rod he was using struggled to make much impression on it. The fight was not like a ray, big bream or hound so I'd guess at a strap conger, though we'll never know as his bream rig inevitably gave up the ghost before we got a look at the beast.
Moby was over on Medmery by now, reporting a small-eyed ray and a baby turbot and threatening to head back west and give Bullocks Patch a go. We opted to join him, probably a bad move as Bullocks was just like Brake Ledge only quieter. A smattering of small pout, bream and ballans, another jumbo mackerel and a bonus pollack pushing 2lb. Hometime came, and I took the guys back via th wrecks again where they picked up a couple of pan sized pout for supper.
The sun had finally given up now and Langstone was again grey and uninviting, which maybe explained the welcome lack of jetskis. We had the slip to ourselves, but we also had a very steep patch of hard gravel foreshore to cross as well. Knowing the marginal capabilities of my Subaru's clutch, I opted to wait for Moby to come in and John kindly pulled SeaMouse out with his Pajero.
That made me well and truly late. Got in about 8.30pm to an unusually friendly reception from the catering manager. By the time John and I had washed down the boat and filleted the catch, it was 10pm and after waving him off, Sue rustled up some grub (I don't eat when afloat) then I hit the sack and was out like a light. Hard day but great fun.

Steve

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Interesting read sound like a fun day

[pingu]

busy day there


dave

[Greenheart]

Great read lookfar, sounds like an excellent day afloat. Pity you did'nt get a look at that mystery fish though....

[Norfolkboy]

Good stuff Steve