The last trip of 2011, .....................................probably.

27th November and it used to be I'd be looking to Cod, not Bass this late in the year. I wish I still was as I left home at 3 to make the 0600hrs met some place in Dorset. Mark333, Gee and Joe back early from Ireland ment a day of serious piss taking. It started promisingly with Compo Padfield dressed in breathable waders and dispensing with the usual wading boots in favour of 2 odd wellington boots, with booster heels. A day with Mark gives you a deep understanding of what social carers have to put up with.

We split up, JS and Gee heading right, care in the community and me heading left. It started well, first cast, fish straight onto the Pearl Gataride, rod bent, Pollock. Then the first big wave swamped me. Sunrise came and went, nothing. Then just as we were about to move on Mark gets a Schoolie, the fish are switching on. Out goes my GunFish and in comes a 2 pounder. Things get better, Mark gets swamped too.

And that was how it stayed. 7 more hours, and nothing between the four of us.Not a follow, splash, tug. The day ended with JS and me salting Razorclams, which at this moment are cleansing in a saline solution eagerly awaiting their big moment on the griddle.

Great day out chaps.                                                  (21)

Easterly @ Dorset

Went down to Dorset for what might be the last trip of the Season ( That's what you tell the wife). We knew it was going to be a 20 MPH Easterly, but it was still a disappointment when it really was.The plus side was the late start thanks to the days getting shorter, a nice lay-in til 0200hrs. Picked up Joe, meet Mark and Richard, plus Steve and Martin who travelled from the West, against the wind.

Fishing wasn't easy, had one on a Gataride HT Sayori early on, then snapped it off on a cast. So on goes the Pearl Gataride, couple of swift sweeps of the rod, and another fish. Then I snapped that off on a cast too.  £50 down, couple of 2.5 pounders, totally shagged and sure there's time for another trip to Dorset before the fish move on. Around 20 fish between the 6 of us, nothing big, great laugh and a nice impromptu photo shoot. 6 big kids who should grow up.