Orford Ness, the report

[Greenheart]

After chatting online to fellow forum member Simon1968 about our shared interests in Fishing & Motorcycles for a while, we had a chance to meet up when I was down at my Daughters new place in Southend. Simon suggested that we fish Orford Ness off the coast of Suffolk, & at 5am on Saturday morning Simon & his girlfriend Julie, picked me & my tackle up from my Daughters house & we set off on the 90 minute drive to Orford. The journey through the Essex & Suffolk countryside was very scenic in the early morning light & the roads almost empty except for the local wildlife. We had a close up view of some Muntjac & Roe deer including two pure white albino's. Simon had booked us on the 7am ferry from Orford, which takes you on a 15m trip down the river Crouch to a spot known as the narrows, where it drops you on the beach.

We were hoping that the spring run of Codling for which this spot is famous had started. Simon had organised some fresh Lugworm & plenty of frozen squid for bait & conditions looked perfect.

The plan was to fish the flood tide up to high water at about 2.30pm & a couple of hours down, until the ferry picked us up a 4pm.

Simon & Julie

I was very impressed with Simons new beach shelter. For those who have not seen one before, it's the new Browning Quantum. Great piece of kit that packs away really small.
Soon we started to get a few small codling. These were mainly caught on Lugworm tipped with small pieces of squid.

Also managed to catch this little beasty (Nicknamed Clarence) on a squid bait Sadly now deceased as he ended up as Simon & Julies supper...

Had to keep an eye on our bait as crabs were not the only creatures intent on robbing it....

Sadly 4pm came around all too fast & it was soon time to catch the ferry home. My last cast of the day was the most productive. I caught a small codling, a starfish & someones lost rig & weight all on one cast

Our fellow passengers had also managed a good size whiting & a couple of dogfish & had sighted a passing seal. So all in all an eventfull day, rounded off with a nice pint of Adnams Broardside at a quaint little Suffolk pub. Thanks again to Simon & Julie for organising a great trip...

[cuckoo]

Cracking report and pics ian looks like you all had a fab day , well done to you

[fishypaul]

a good day was had by all ,shame the bigger codling didnt turn up

[JustMark]

Great report and pics. Enjoyed reading that.

[alex82]

That looked and sounded like a great day Ian. Nice one.

[pingu]

excellant report and Pictures ian , looked a cracking day

dave

[Banana Steve]

Nice one Guys,

(Still recon that your cod was made from plastic )

[simon1968]

nice report Ian, it was a pleasure to meet you and share great days fishing. shame the fish weren't playing ball. looks like the spring run of cod isn't going happen for another week at least (if at all). the problem is the water is 2C colder than it was this time last year so the food hasn't started to show on the shore, and therefore the cod haven't come in to gorge themselves. I knew there was another reason i hated snow lol.

If anyone else fancies having a crack at this awesome venue send me a PM and i will give you all the details you need, I may even agree to come fishing, stranger things have happened.

To give people an idea of what the fishing can be like, 30th March 2009 I fished here and had 24 cod in a session, mainly in the 3 - 4.5lb bracket but there was also a 5.5lb a 6.75lb and a 7.5lb.

The cod in my profile pic came from the ness and went 9.5lb and was caught november last year, in the early winter it throws up double figure cod regularly (nearly every day) up to about 18lb

[Greenheart]

Originally Posted by Banana Steve

Nice one Guys,

(Still recon that your cod was made from plastic )

At least it was'nt sprayed gold like your Tench LOL...

[Fishing Forum Admin]

nice one mate looks a great day