Dogfish,Big fish,Record Fish ... A pleasant afternoon`s fishing .

[MRG2000]

John and i headed off to Southerndown to continue our search for an early ray , we met up in the car park ,a quick look over to the point and the swell was looking fishable ,with the weather forecast giving the wind deminishing thro the afternoon.

20 min walk and we were at the point ,conditions looking good ,nicely overcast .Baits straight in and within minuites ,the bites started we both had a Mumbles Marlin within 10 mins . After a steady trickle of the "Marlin" ,i had a cracking slack liner , and struck into a decent fish ,was it going to be the elusive ray ? , after a couple of minuites anticipation a conger broke the surface tipping the scales at 10 1/2 lb, John was soon into a decent fish too ,another conger , which spat the hook half way up the rock face and disappeared back into to the briney.

A few more dogs and as the sun was setting a decent bite on John`s rod , good fish on !!!!... stayed deep and at 1 point ,swam uptide , we both uttered Smoothound ? , the lead surfaced at the base of the rocks ,the fish staying deep ,up popped a cracking Small eyed ray !!!!! Job done , until the fish spat the hook and flopped on to the rock ledge just above the water , a bit of mountaineering and i managed to get the fish and pass it up to John ,tipped the scales at a stonking 11 1/2 lb MISSION ACOMPLISHED ,first ray of the season weighted ,photographed and released. A few more dogs follewed before time to shoot off home .

Best days fishing of the year yet over 50lb of fish landed and returned . A double figure conger each , Johns cracking Small Eye and John pipped me on the dogfish count 12 to 9 .

A new Forum shore record for the ray , sorry Dave !!! ,you can kick him in the nuts next weekend !!


A reassonable swell running around the point ,and overcast skies made for ideal conditions



Bites straight away, resulted in the "Mumbles Marlin" plague continuing from last weekend



Better fish were to come a 10 1/2 lb Conger for me , and the fish of the day a cracking 11 1/2 lb Small Eyed Ray for John



Anticipation was high ,i paid attention just in case ray no2 came along,but only got a cracking view of the sun setting

[Portland Pirate]

Cracking days fishing.

They don't come along too often, so savour them when they do.

[dovorian]

Some cracking fish there! Some cracking scenery as well. Looks like the place to fish.
All the best.
Jason

[Spahill]

Fantastic results gents - some great fish there.

[Jolly Piscator]

Brilliant days fishing , enjoyed reading about it . Well done guys

[Fishing Forum Admin]

great read and photos lads and what a day

[pingu]

nice one guys, thats whetted the appetite for next week now

dave

[didgeman]

Looks like you had a great day ! Lovely ray! Looks like a great spot to fish.

[WEARELEEDS22]

cracking session lads and some great pics there.

[lazy hooker]

was a cracking evening...

swell when we got there looked as if it could go either way.....luckily for us it dropped off as with a big swell the place is a widowmaker!!!

some good fish and great to see the congers around...in the open too on open sand!!! shows the water is warming up a bit.

cheers mike for jumping down the rocks like a demented nepalise sherpa...makes up for you shaking the previous conger off!!!! seriously though on any of these type marks if you get your hand on the leader we class it as caught as they can be dodgy to say the least!! a pic is garnish!!

another pic which i like.....first smalleyed of the year and a PB...will have to work hard to beat that i recon



john