Chesil Smutt 3rd time lucky

Portland Pirate · #1 06-11-2011, 07:02 AM

Myself and Chesil Chucker needed a Smoothound for our species hunt, so we decided that Bridging camp would be a good bet. As we set off for Ferrybridge, Rodger was so keen to get there that he opened the throttle a little too fiercely before engaging the gear. That I think is the last of the gearbox! We rowed across the fleet, but only as far as the end of the bird sanctuary.

Conditions seemed perfect. No nets this time and an easterly wind allowing us to bang out a big crab bait.
Well we waited and then waited some more, until I got bored and feathered up a dozen or so Mackerel.
The waiting went on for so long we decided to give it one more cast before heading home. For what seemed the first time that day, I connected properly with my cast and managed to add about 20yds extra on to it.

The wind had picked up by this stage and rod tips started bouncing a bit, but nothing to indicate the normally violent take of a Smoothound. Feeling disgruntled we brought our rigs in for a final time. Only this time mine felt considerably heavier than normal, but without any fight. I thought I may have hooked a plastic bag. However as it got within sight I could see a fish attached to the rig. It was the Smoothound that we were after. It had somehow managed to wrap itself round the snood about 6 times, hence the total lack of fight. It was only a small Common one but it was what we wanted.