Gibraltar

headless · #1 02-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Hi

I had a week in Gibraltar with the missus, our two sons, my sister and her partner, to celebrate my birthday and also to get married to my long term partner while we where there. I got permission from missus to take a couple of rods and a few bits of tackle along, good girl, a good start to married life I thought,

When I checked in my rods at the airport I was gob smacked to be charged £38.00 to take my rods onto the flight. A good start to the holiday I thought.

We arrived late on the 30th Jan; I managed a few beers before it was time to hit the pit. Spent my birthday (31st Jan) shopping and sorting the paper work out for the Wedding (1st Feb) However my sister and I did manage to have a couple of hours at the end of the day fishing in the harbour. We only managed a few small Bream before it got dark.

Tuesday was the day of the wedding, so no fishing allowed.

Wednesday morning we found the local tackle shop to get some bait and advice on how to access the deep waters in harbour and moles. I was surprised to be told that last year the local anglers demonstrated to put pressure on the authorities to stop the Spanish from fishing with rods and long lines, stating that fish stocks are in decline. The authorities have now banned angling to all the deep areas water marks unless you are a resident. What a joke, in the week I was there I only saw half a dozen anglers and none of them were fishing from the harbour moles. We did find an area that we were allowed to fish from, it was a few hundred metres from the end of the airport run way. I thought, at least we could see a few plans take off and land if the fishing was slow.

The plan was to arrive Thursday morning, two hours before first light armed with Rag worm, squid and some vicious looking American worm that the tackle shop sold us. We hoped to target the Bass and Bream that we were told should be in the area.

We arrived Thursday morning to be greeted by a strong westerly wind. We did not have any cold weather clothing with us and we was struggling to keep warm and to find any enthusiasm to carry on fishing, especially as all we had caught was a few small Bream. We so nearly called it a day even before the sun got up over the Rock. When the sun finally showed I started to throw some small pieces of bread flake in close to the boulders which formed the sea defences, hoping to see if a Mullet or two would show. It was only five minutes or so and I saw a flash from a fish. I quickly set up my old Daiwa Harrier Z heavy float rod with 4lb line and a size 10 hook. I free lined a small piece of bread flake while my sister was regularly throwing in small pieces of bread. Within thirty seconds I had a fish on, it fought well but I was gutted when I realised it was another Bream, at least this time it was a good size, one for the pot. Next cast I hooked a fish straight away, this time it was a Mullet, around the 3.5-4lb mark.

It fought very well and made up for the cold early start. Over the next hour I hook and landed a total of six Mullet and two Bream before we headed back to the apartment. We kept four Mullet and two Bream for the evening meal, releasing the other two Mullet.

Friday morning I took the boys and girls along to the same place, hoping that they will have a chance of catching. The Mullet did not disappoint us, another four Mullet and a couple of Bream.

All were returned. Not a bad result I thought as it was mid morning, little wind and the sun was up.

Friday morning I went on my own, arriving at first light. I only had a two and a half hour pass. It was a little windy and overcast which I though would be ideal conditions to get a few fish.

I fished with a little Chubber float set at four feet deep. I feed the swim every cast with mashed bread. I hooked a fish straight away; I was gutted when it threw the hook. I did hook a few though, finishing with Twelve Mullet, all around the 3-4lb and three Bream, losing three Mullet as well. All fish were returned alive.

That was the last chance I had to go fishing during the weeks holiday. I have agreed to pay Gib another visit next year with my sister just for the Mullet fishing. Next time I will take a landing net as well, it was hard work handing out the fish.

Darrell