Reculver/Deal Pier Saturday Morning

[john-boy]

Morning all,

Just thought I'd publish the results of my "Ray Hunt", first thing Saturday morning.

Having hauled myself out of bed at 6am to catch low water at Reculver on Saturday, I arrived at the beach to find a stiff breeze in my face, and a walk that I don't remember being quite so long, over the top by the fort and down to the groynes on the West beach. Conditions looked perfect, lovely rock/sand mix, perfect colour in the water, and sunshine. Only downside I could see was 5 tons of "gorilla pubes" floating in the water. Anyway, tackled up three rods and sent them see-ward at varying distances and sat back...

Results (in the words of the Fast Show scientist) were "disappointing". No action on the rods, and a ton of weed on each pull in.

Anyways, I quickly came to the decision that I was in the wrong place, and despite the appauling prospect of the trudge back to the car, I decided I could still catch the remainder of the ebb tide on Deal Pier, assuming I packed up and got there ASAP. So I ambled back to the car, manfully ignoring the multiple hernias and drove the 20 or so miles to Deal at warp factor 9.

Oh, the irony, I thought to myself when I set up at my favourite spot on the 1919 corner of the bottom deck and the lads to my right cheerily told me that the bloke fishing where I was had hauled in an 11lb thornback not 1-2 hours ago (whilst I was at Reculver) "Booger."

Things soon looked up however, as on my first cast, I saw my rod start to rattle, followed by slack line! Hoorah... Could this be the elusive ray, I thought. Unfortunately not, however, a very worth scrap ensued, especially from the height of the pier at dead low water, and a I swung a 4lb smoothound onto the deck! Cool - a pb for me



With renewed enthusiasm I fished on for another 3-4 hours, with all hope of a Ray disappearing, but nonetheless a fine day's fishing ensued. I had a fish every cast, which was either a double of pouting on my pennell (strewth the water was alive with 'em), and as the day progressed, I had 3 more slack line bites, and pulled in a trio of Bass, in the 2lb/1.5lb and 1lb order. Great fun. Returned them all, along with the Smoothie, but left feeling like I'd had a great day's sport. Glad I packed up and moved now.

BTW, I took every one of the decent fish on fresh crab, and apart from my fish, I only saw 1 bass on worm, so the peeler definitely paid off.

Don't you just love the old Summer fishing!

Cheers,
JB.

[Old Smoothound]

Well done JB a cracking bit of sport after a disappointing start.

Don't ya just love fresh peeler crab!

Well do again mate, I bet the smutt was a hell of job hauling up the pier!

[pingu]

well done john, worth the hernias lol

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done mate and great read

[Norfolkboy]

Well done John, lovely write up

[fishypaul]

well done john.
i will be catching a couple of hours this week in pursuit of a species or two.will keep you informed

[john-boy]

Cheers chaps!!

Paul, let me know how you get on - we need to strike back mate, as Messrs Dan and Richard are pulling away from us in second......

Come on the two Roddies!!

[Rob M]

Sounds like a great day John! Theres a feature on Deal Pier in this months TSF

Rob