Mukiwa
Well-known member
Good evening guys." I fish to scratch the surface of those mysteries, for nearness to the beautiful, and to reassure myself the world remains" Carl Safina
During this sadness, that merryleggs and myself find ourselves in, I managed to break free to find peace by the water, a breather and reflection.
My first blanking session was Hayling ferry side at fort Cumberland. A lovely day of still calm weather, but the rod tips reflected that too.
My Second blank was the submarine blocks at southsea. I have heard so many stories of wonderful fish coming from the area, but as we fished in the day time, the amount of people out walking put me off. With the rod tips not moving, we chose to move back RNLI ramp at fort Cumberland to blank. Lol
My last session, as time was running out before going back to work, was going to be Hillhead. Possible flounder by the sailing club, then at low which was at 18:00, move to the spit, for that possible early ray, most likely would be ting fest at best.
With baits ordered, merryleggs working from 12 noon till 20:00, this was going to be a great little session.......... so I thought.
Fast forward, getting drinks, losing merreleggs phone, collecting bait, hitting road works, only change location to warsash for a flounder, only to leave my phone in the car when merrylegs left.
Oh no, now how am I going to prove a beast of a catch, lol.
Well, walking the path, praying merryleggs would find the phone and not to panic that she has not heard from me.
Setting up, near the path, incase merryleggs comes back, which she did that goodness, bless her. The wind was biting cold, but a warm sun in the shelter of the retaining wall made it into lovely session.
With two rods, two clip down rigs baited and cast to areas that look great fish holding areas , raised my Hope's of just one flounder. Tide was well into the ebb, casting and chasing the water as time went on, looking for signs on the water surface, of gullies or sand bars to which I could find a fish. Reeling to rebait, normal bare hooks, second rod reeled to find ........... what......... splash on the surface, ok just a small bass. As the fish got closer, I could now feel it, landing this lovely flounder, not big, but what beautiful colour, and how camouflage it was.
That got thinking about fish in different areas with markings or colours to blend in. Like cod in kelp up north being red, undilate Ray's round rock Mark's being darker than the one I have caught in the solent.
Any way, the fish back in its watery world, the fishing restarted with me right down in the channel. Changing my rigs to up and over rigs, but with 180g plain lead on one rod and 150g plain lead on the other. Just so when casting into the flood tide, one rod will sit in a different place to the other, and roll differently. My thinking anyway.
Sunset, and darkness starting to surround me, waiting for a sign of a fish, walking around in circles, looking at the rods then proceeding, as if I am doing some kind magical dance, my rod pulled round , shocked to land a beautiful 43cm bass. Oh my goodness.
Cold hands ......cold feet, were now warmed with the excitement. Rebaiting, casting waiting with eagerness, to have the rod hit again, sadly dropping the fish close to shore, as I was using size 4 hooks. For while it was hit after hit, finally the next fish stuck, landing a 46 cm bass. Just stunning.
No sooner did the action start it stopped , making way for the Whiting fest which I knew nothing else would get a look in.
20:00 arrived, merryleggs was on her way, thank goodness. Didnt feel like playing with whiting for the night. But so made up with this flounder that had such beautiful markings.
Thank you for reading my very short report. Stay warm, safe and very tight lines.
Cheers
Mukiwa
