What I wouldn't give for a doggie - Seaton 02/05/08

[BaggieRich]

What I wouldn’t give for a doggie.

It’s a sentiment I don’t often have. Normally, doggies are the bait-robbing pests that nightmare sessions are made of, however when faced with the big fat blank I was last night, I’d have readily taken a “sea-rat” and been damned pleased about it too.

It had been a hard night. Midnight had come and gone and it was getting to the stage where like it or not, I was going to have to admit defeat. Even Dave’s legendary patience had run out, so we agreed to pack up and visit the local purveyors of indeterminate meat based snacks (with lashings of garlic source, obviously) before setting off for home.

Some hours earlier, Dave had picked me up and we’d set off for Seaton armed with 1 ½ dozen peeler, a stack of rag, a few beers and some outrageous enthusiasm. Everything should have been perfect. The tide was right, the wind was okay and best of all it wasn’t due to rain, despite the ominous low lying cloud clinging to the hills around Sidmouth.

We arrived at 8pm ish and I setup the spinning rod with some feathers looking for a couple of Mackie for bait. It was on the second cast when I remembered that I haven’t actually changed the line on my spinning reel since last year, which probably explains why the line parted on my third cast and my only set of feathers sailed out to sea. Ah well, there was always the pop up rig to try, so I sorted out the beach casters, attached the pop up rig baited with rag and waited for the Mackie to bite. Of course they didn’t, so when Dave had a rummage round in his tackle box, produced a set of feathers, stuck them on his 13’ beach caster and produced a fish on his second cast, it just added insult to injury really.

And so it continued for the rest of the night. Dave totally showed me up and fished quite well, pulling the target species for the night in only a couple of hours later.

Having seen his rod go mental in the stand, he tightened up, struck and slowly made his way down to the surf before pulling a feisty starry hound of about 2lb out. Job done.

Well done mate. Showing me the way as normal!

This was followed by another smaller starry for Dave and a few dogs to boot, whilst yours truly battled with birdies, crack offs and general f**kwitted fishing. I did manage to pull in my lost feathers, but on the whole it was really hard work.

Time ticked by and despite missing three or four good bites and one major slack liner, I’d not actually managed to connect with anything and so it was that I found myself in the unusual position of actually wanting a dog fish to save the blank.

True to (my) form however, the doggie didn’t materialise and so we decided to call it a night. I had started to pack away my gear, when Dave noticed a slight nod on my near rod and I picked it up grateful for the blank busting doggie.

“Here, doggie, doggie, doggie” I called as I pulled it toward the shore. The doggie did it’s usual doggie thing and did nothing

“Here doggie, doggie, doggie” Still more nothing..

“Here doggie, d….. Bl**dy hell.”

The doggie started pulling back. Then it started kiting about left and right and doing other stuff you wouldn’t normally associate with doggies. It even took a little line off me as the doggie put a bend in my rod the like of which I haven’t seen for a long time.

Eventually, it came to shore and Dave grabbed the leader with a big grin and a cry of “Nice fish mate.” Turns out my blank busting doggie was in fact a common hound of 6lb 10oz. A new PB common, a new PB hound, a new PB sea fish and not far off the best fish I’ve ever had full stop.

Dumb animal holds magnificent beast!

To say I was chuffed would have been an understatement. To say I was bouncing around the beach like an absolute mentalist would have been more accurate.

The fish was quickly weighed, photographed and I’m pleased to say swam off strongly, and I was left absolutely buzzing for the next couple of hours. In fact I don’t think a kebab has ever tasted so sweet despite all the garlic.

A hell of a night! Massive thanks to Dave for putting up with my moaning and whining and generally keeping me going whilst fishless.

We will be back, oh yes, we will be back.



Lessons learnt.
***********

1. Using year old, damaged line on a spinning reel is just asking for trouble.
2. Keep fishing right until the end. That big ‘un might come out at any stage.
3. Smooth hounds are FUN! Lots and lots of FUN!

[Banana Steve]

Well Done mate, I am chuffed for you.

[tjnorton]

great report and pics. I will hae to get down there soon. Is there any small eyed comming from sidmouth?

tj

[BaggieRich]

Originally Posted by tjnorton

great report and pics. I will hae to get down there soon. Is there any small eyed comming from sidmouth?

tj

Cheers TJ. The odd ray showing, but not in any sort of numbers yet. Can't be long now mate. We'll let you know.

[Plod]

Brilliant report Baggie!!! Excellent fish. Only one thing to say really......


Where was me bloody invite!!!

Only kidding, I have ropey old man flu at the moment anyway.

Must meet up soon though, so if you and Dave are over my way again, give me a shout.

Regards, Darren

[pingu]

Still chuffed as for you mate


last night i know was really starting to pee you off( and i can understand) but what a fantastic finish

a night too remember

if not for the fact that i kept tackling down as you wound into the doggie, then thought hang on hes been at the waters edge a while is there a problem then get this shout

" Dave do doggies usually belt of down the beach??" at which point i realised
mate maybe needed a hand
totally made up for you mate, roll on next set of tides


dave

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Fab read and bloody well done

[Rob M]

That's fantastic lads!! I'm well chuffed for you both!

[Gowerman]

excellent report well done

[fishypaul]

very well done baggie,thats what i call a big happy grin