Looked to pull a blonde...and got so much more!

[andy colmer]

After being almost totally housebound with 'proper flu' for 9 days (now I know what is meant by 'man flu'....it is no more than a runny nose! lol), I thought I would plan for the future and give Robin (fishyrob) a bell and arrange a session for next weekend.

I figured after spending that long without being able to walk 10 yards without aching in almost every muscle (the only one that didn't ache, had no interest in working anyway!!) and then needing 3 hours sleep to get over it, deserved some reward and a fishing trip was the very thing.

I wasn't prepared to find a small disaster had occured and that Rob was in the process of trying to hastily fill a trip targetting decent Blonde Rays, on board Pete Churchill's Moonshine! There were many reasons why I couldn't go, 9 days ill, still felt like sheeite, lack of funds, no transport (still) and last, but by no means least.....I had to be at Heathrow by 7.00pm, to pick up a mate and his wife who were arriving home from their Thai honeymoon.

So.........6.00am this morning, Rob arrived to pick me up!! I felt slightly better (nothing to do with the fact I was going fishing of course! ) and off we went to meet Matt (the other angler joining us for the day) and Pete at Langstone. A lovely, if chilly morning and we were soon steaming East to a mark on a bank (Rob will be able to tell you where it was close to).

On arrival, we set up our gear for those beautiful blondes and settled down to enjoy the lovely weather. Within minutes, Matt was shouting loudly as something was trying to steal his rod.....and a few seconds later, I was away with something similar. Very similar in fact, Matt had a gorgeous bass of around 8 1/2lb and I had one of about 7 1/2lb. Nice start to the 'ray' fishing!

Not long afterwards, I was lucky enough to have a second bass around the 7lb mark, Matt had a small blonde ray of about 2lb and Rob managed a sensational brill at about 4 1/2lb.....the markings on that fish were just awesome.

The tide then eased up and we all took turns in filling our respective kennels with the obligatory doggies, before the tide picked up again and then started to pull quite well.

I had a bass of about 1 1/2lb, followed instantly by another of about 4 1/2lb, dropped another very good bass and then a short while later had a totally mad bite! Tap, bang, run.....then lots of weight! I got the most horrendous amount of p*ss taking as I struggled for ages to bring my quarry to the boat against the tide, but was rewarded (eventually, it's true!), with my first ever blonde ray and naturally a PB at about 17 1/2lb! Fantastic! By the time I had landed it, I was so weak and knackered, I struggled to do the fish justice in the photos, (I blame the flu....most would say I'm just weak and pathetic and couldn't hold the fish correctly! lol).

Not too long later, the bites had dried up for all and we were struggling to hold bottom with 12oz. Rob wasn't overly keen to go as his new DGripper was happily holding uptide.....although the lack of action quickly changed his mind....along with Pete suggesting that such a tool would be much better employed at a mark that was further inshore, where codling, spotted rays, bass, turbot and brill were a realistic target!

Half an hour steaming and we were off at the new mark; Matt was soon away with a spotted ray of about 2lb, followed by Rob with it's twin on the DGripper (best part of the day....so I'm told! lol). Pete then bagged the best spotted ray at about 4lb and I hadn't had more than a slight 'flutter' of a bite after an hour at the new spot. Matt then had his first ever brill at about 1lb.

Several more dogfish entered our kennel (none to me though, I might add), before, last cast, I had another silly, fluttery bite. Given the previous bite, which had come to nothing....I held the rod and decided I wouldn't bring it in until 'time' was called. Eventually, after a series of strange tugs and pulls, it became evident that the fish was on and I had a beautiful plaice of about 3lb to add to my day. This prompted allsorts of expletives referring to my cojones being golden, etc, etc...(Apparently plaice are as rare as dinosaur teeth there).

That was it for the day and we steamed home (I was 10 mins late to Heathrow.....they were 15 mins late in landing, I guess it was my lucky day after all!!).

Did I mention the awesome DGripper? Yes? Oh good! Seriously...this is a 'fish in previously unfishable tide' piece of kit.

Lastly, my own special mention for Matt. What a nice bloke, such a pleasure to have as a crew member....and just for the record, his day in numbers.

PB Bass. 1 1/2lb. Beaten today with 8 1/2lb.
PB Blonde Ray. N/A. Beaten today with 2lb.
PB Brill. N/A. Beaten today with 1lb.

Fantasic day, superb craic and company, great skipper as always. Damn, I'm gonna hurt in the morning.....just not so much as I might have done, somehow!

Piccies to follow.

A.C.

[andy colmer]

Pictures of yesterday's fun on 'Moonshine'.

First cast double. 8 1/2 & 7 1/2lb approx.

Robin's stunning brill...4 1/2lb approx.

Matt's first ever blonde!

My first blonde....not a bad way to start!

My second bass. 7lb approx.

Robin with his 'world first' DGripper caught spotted ray!

Matt and his first ever brill.

A closer look at Matt's brill.

Skipper Pete with his spotted ray.

Lovely plaice....The fish that nearly earned me and my 'golden globes' a swim home!



Cheers.

A.C.

[pingu]

sounded and looked a great day there well done

dave

[Norfolkboy]

Some awesome fish there mate, well done!

[Twiddler]

Wow, well done to all.....some cracking fish there guys

[wellyfish]

what a great looking day ,well done lads

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking fish well done

[andy colmer]

Thanks for all the replies guys.....much appreciated, it is always nice to get a few when you take the time to put up a report and piccies.

I should have mentioned, apart from a couple of casts with sandeel and squid.....all fish were caught on 6" long thin strips of freshly feathered mackerel. I don't think the squid or sandeel scored at all. The sharp eyed amongst you will also have noticed that the 'spotted' rays are all in fact 'small eyed' rays (typo....sorry! lol). Doh!

What made the day all the more remarkable....was due to the fact we were targetting big blondes, we were all using 6/0 wide gape vikings attached to 5ft traces of 80lb mono!!

Cheers.
__________________
A.C.