Breezy day off Portland....

Greenheart · #1 05-31-2011, 06:26 PM

Took my boat Lady Rita out for her first trip of the year last weekend along with a workmate Pete & his neighbor Richard. We launched at the new sailing academy on Portland & were hoping to get out on the Shambles bank off Portland. First job was to feather up some mackies to add to the ragworm bait that we had bought that morning. This was achieved suprising quickly, although it was only very small joey mackerel along with a couple of launce. I had my doubts about getting on to the Shambles as the breeze was getting progressively stronger. I was proven correct when we briefly poked our nose out beyond the end of Portland Bill & we ventured into a very large swell. So we did a quick turn-around & headed back into the lee side of the island. Next stop was Church Ope cove where we had almost instant bites on our mackerel bait which resulted in the obligatory Dogfish. A move closer to the shore & a change of bait then found us among some very good Wrasse.....

First blood to me

A nice Ballan for Richard

Followed by this stunning Cuckoo

And this beautifully marked Ballan for Pete...

Before long we found ourselves surrounded by the local charter boats. I guess it was even a little too rough for them out on the banks

The problem was that due to the amount of crab pots in the area, things were getting a little tight, so we moved back down to the entrances to Portland harbour for a couple of hours of fun with some hard fighting Pollock. Only one was table size, but they still gave a good account of themselves on light tackle & rounded the day off nicely.

I had planned on taking the boat back to Portland for the bank holiday weekend & had even booked myself, Jerry Two-jackets & our wives into a campsite at Portesham for 3 nights. But after listening to thursdays shipping forecast, we decided to leave the boat at home & just go camping instead. A drive down to the beach at Burton Bradstock confirmed that this was definitely the right decision, as even the beach was un-fishable.