At last. Charmouth 28/03/09

[BaggieRich]

After an initial planning mix up, Dave and I eventually set off for Charmouth last night armed with a stack of sand eel and stories of SE Ray ringing in our ears. A couple of fish had been reported from the general area, so we decided to give it a bash and fish over the top and back down.

We got there to find a couple of guys on the beach, one of whom told tales of a seriously big Thornie coming out from East Portlemouth a couple of weeks ago. If this story is true then that's one HELL of a fish at 26lb. I'd love to see a photo.

Anyway, chatting aside, we set about fishing and it didn't take Dave long to christen his new jumbo rig, a double 3/0 pennel flapper with a pout. I reckon the iron work on Dave's rig actually weighed more than the fish, but it was a start! A super defiant doggie soon followed (the hook is already out in this photo, but it still wouldn't let go of the bait!)



I wasn't doing so well. After couple of hours, I'd still not had so much as a bite. Dave had added another couple of dogs and I was starting to get that horror feeling of another impending blank when my rod tip started nodding away. Just little taps at first, so I sat on my hands and fought every urge to strike until eventually the rod went over more positively. I wound down, lifted the rod and proceeded to reel in what turned out to be my first SE ray for nearly a year .



Only a small one at 3lb 6oz, but like I say, my first in a long time so I was chuffed to bits.

Not exactly a hectic session, but happy to see some signs that decent fishing might be coming our way at last.

Lessons learnt
***********

1. Sometimes you've got to leave that bite to develop.
2. Summer species are on the way.
3. Fursty Ferret tastes better from a bottle.

[tjnorton]

Super little ray rich. Let's hope Jacobs ladder is better this year if the netters stay away.

tj

[cuckoo]

Great report rich , glad you 2 had a good night , good to see the rays showing

[maghouse]

Nice one Rich - good fish there .....

[fishypaul]

well done rich,nice way to avoid a blank mate

[pingu]

Oy dont Diss that rig ( made a new one to replace it now )

It was a good night , must admit i was feeling Riches pain in his unmoveing rod tips , but was soo soo chuffed when that ray came in , as its what we headed out for , pity it wouldnt stop curling up for the photos though

ended up being a late night and then with the hour change even later( somehow made it too work on time toaday as well)

hope thats the start of summer now, I will be back asap, but looks like next weekend at earliest

cheers for the beer as well, def bottles next time

dave

[geejayy]

nice ray Rich, 1st ones always good

[Greenheart]

Well done guys. Good to hear the beaches are comming to life...

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done mate and great readed too

[gullyworm]

Its a nice pic of a ray Rich but a very poor one of you
Come on what happened to the manic look?the bewildered look etc etc?
Very disapointed.