West Beach, Selsey 17.08.11

[Rob M]

I have to admit I was looking forward to this and after a bit of a mad dash to the tackle shop to pick up fresh and frozen peelers we got to the caravan park at about 6.30pm and had plenty of time to set up in some nice conditions:







I then decided to show off and blast a weight out with my new rods:



So I spent half an hour sorting that out. What a numpty. Anyway, we had a nice sunset:





As high tide was 01:30 we chucked out the first peelers at 10pm and waited, fingers crossed, for the rods to bend and line to fly off the reels. We decided to fish only 1 rod and used simple pulley rigs, rebaiting every 20 minutes or so:



There was hardly any weed too which was nice. Nothing happened at all and we were sitting on our hands with the only entertainment being passing holidaymakers who chatted to us from time to time. Just down from us another angler set up and within an hour landed the first smoothhound about 10lbs but he said he was fishing for tope instead! He landed another two and by 00:30 we were starting to get fed up when Glen's rod bent over and lots of line was taken from the spool. After a 5 minute fight he landed a starry smoothound that had fought hard. We didn't have scales but reckoned it was at least 10 lbs:



I was chuffed for him but wanted one of my own, sadly I wasn't my night and we packed up at 02:00. I was a bit cheesed off last night as my tactics, bait and casting distance were right but hey-ho. My thoughts are now edging towards Dungeness starting from next month so Mr Cod had better watch out!

[MRG2000]

Looks like a super evening to be out in the fresh air ,cracking Smoothie. That lil nest looks like a good candidate for the " birdie" of the year vote ..

[bassmanrob]

Nice read and pics (especially the nest), shame they didn't play ball for you though.

[scottish_and_mental]

Unluck Rob .. one of those nights where you wish you could start again lol
nice double for your mate tho ,and unlike the callous others on here i won't mention that massive tangle of line that has adorned your Abu

[pingu]

lovely pics rob, next time you ban hold the hound

dave


oh nice birdy as well

[Rob M]

Thanks fellas, glad you didn't mention the birdy

[fishypaul]

unlucky on the birdy rob
nice smutt glen,your turn next time rob