Thanes Estuary Tope 13th June with Roker Ron

[Ron]

With big tides this weekend I really needed to think of a plan to get a few fish.I had it in my head to first get a few Mackerel then run Offshore to a piece of ground I fancied to try for a few Bass.
We arranged to meet at the Marina at 'Johns' favourite time....5am.A quiet nice morning dawned as we slipped the ropes and had a leisurely cruise down the river...Well until we cleared the moorings then I opened the taps and 'Whyworry' reared her head and we were on our way at 25knts.
The Mackerel were waiting for us and we soon had enough for a days fishing.Infact it never took long at all and by 7am we were on our way South bound,clearing the first of the banks and then heading more or less East.



We ran for around an hour and dropped the hook in 42ft.2 hours into the flood and after being at anchor for all of 15minutes,all thoughts of Bass had gone out of my head and 'Tope fever' had set in.Working out the tide I had an inckling I could get away with fishing the deep! I gave my famous call 'Get them up were running'...no surprise to those that know me.A quick 6 mile dash and we were on the mark again......And the tide was pissing through! 'Whyworry' I said,it will ease soon....which it did about 2 hours later and by now I was thinking had I made the right move? I convinced the others I had and I was relieved when Alan had a run on his Tope gear....and we soon had 'Flipper' aboard.
Just shy of 40lb




We then missed a couple of more runs and I was beginning to wonder if we had caught our one and only fish of the day.
I then had a 'screamer' and had a battle with this one.Alan soon had the tailor on it and we had our second fish of the day,again another male fish just under the 40lb.







We then went into 'Miss the Tope run mode'!
Andy meanwhile was just not getting a run,he kept at it though.Meanwhile I had a stonking run and got this fellow.



Amazing the size of bait the Roker will have a go at.

Then it happened for Andy....Only to come off just as he got the leader on the reel...Gutted for him.Down but not out and 10 minutes later he had it....The 'Belle of the Ball'







An absolutely stonking and beautiful Bass of 12lb 4oz,he was made up and so was we to get such a great fish on the boat.Well done Andy....How am I gonna beat that one? lol
Recovered in the net,we let her go on her way.Shame to kill such a beautiful fish when no one really wanted it.
No big Female Tope today,just the feisty males.Maybe the females have already pupped and gone to where ever they go? I don't know but with small Tides next weekend and hopefully the weather settling after what looks like a windy old week.....Guess where we will be?
Another great day out with great company completes another trip on 'Whyworry'.

[cuckoo]

Cracking report with some awsome fish ron , thanks for sharing

[Greenheart]

Great read & pics Ron. Looking forward to reading your next post. Wecoe to the Forum.

[fishypaul]

superb fish there ron,well done

[blackwater]

Brilliant fishing there, well done.