A very wet Dorset 5.6.12

Joe and I left Kent at 1am to meet up with Mark at 4. The plan was to fish a mark that I'd never seen a fish come out of, so confidence wasn't high. 3 Fish in half an hour changed my view, then Joe started catching and finally so did Mark.  10 fish between us to 2lb, we moved onto site 2, having met up with Martin H and Carl from Somerset.
 The second mark looked ideal, Joe and I heading left and the others right. 2 Hours later we were in the Cafe having not added to our tally. Onto the 3rd mark which again looked spot on, but only produced a few Mackerel.
The fourth venue started fishing immediately, my first fish was a little bigger, and the average crept up to around 2.5 lb. Mark started closing the gap, Joe look the lead on the Bass count, Carl had 3 on softs and the rain got heavier. Then Mark hooked a better fish which gave a good account of itself in the strong current, and when beached measured 57cm.  A few fish later I had a 3 lb schoolie, and at the death landed a 61 cm on a Pearl Gateride.
Final scores   Joe and I 7 each, Mark 6, Carl 3, Martin had a bad day.

Excuse the photo, Mark again behind the Lens, but it was pissing down.

First fish of the year from Kent

Had my first trip out this year in Kent, never seen the water so clear. Fished from 1920hrs til 2200hrs and again in the same Bay I saw a Salmon leap last year tonight a big Sea Trout did the same.

Had a small schoolie on a Pearl Gataride and at last light a 2 lb fish on a Patchinko.

First of the year

After a very slow start to the year Joe and I left home at 1 O'clock to make first light in Dorset. One hours sleep ahead of a 3 hour drive, a 45 minute walk and a 5 hour stint over Purbecks assult course was never going to be enough, but at least I finally christened the new 9.5 St Croix my wife thinks cost peanuts. We did make first light, unlike Mark and Richard, who live much much closer.

Things started well, a near 3lb fish to me, a duplicate minutes later to Joe, 1 mini Bass to 333, ( it shouldn't really count) and Richard had the consulation that we caught using his Rods.  ( He didn't).Then the wind got up, it got cold, and we went for breakfast. We never went back. 

Note to self. Never let Mark take the fish shot.

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.

Kent East Coast, 25.9.11

After a few weeks break for various un-avoidable reasons, it was the first chance I'd had to try Joe Sepi's favourite Kent  mark. Knowing JS was in Dorset I thought I'd have the place to myself, and so it was until Joes mate Tony turned up. Tony pointed me to the various hotspots, but none of them produced on the day. With an increasing wind colouring the water and the Indian Summer conditions things didn't look good.

Coming to the back end my first season my new ability to read the water for myself, and the confidence gained from fishing with experts has certainly increased my catch rate. So it wasn't a total surprise that choosing a spot for myself and switching to the smaller 77 Hot Shad Zonk resulted in a solid hookup.
With the fish taking line against a tightish drag I thought it would be twice the size of its 2.5lb, but a Bass is a Bass and I was more than happy.

Back in Dorset, 4.9.11

Having caught 2 fish in Dorset 5 days previous, (both Schoolies) I couldn't wait to get back again. Not letting the 1am start from home put me off, the lack of sleep, the 12 hours straight fishing, nor the rain and mist forecast, we were on our way and those Bass were in trouble. (Well, 2 more schoolies were).

I have been rubbing shoulders with some of the UK's Bassing elite lately. Mark 333 Padfield,  Joe Seppi and on this trip Graham Hill. Even with just 5 fish between the 3 of us, (Adrian had the best at around 4lb) the experience was well worth the effort. The amount you learn from fishing and listening to people who excel in their field is priceless. You can learn more in a day with Anglers of this quality then you would in years fishing on your own. Real Fisherman, who have respect for the fish, worth a million Key Board Wannabes. And the best bit, all the real fisherman I've meet of late have been great Company. You dont need to be a Prima Donna when you can actually do it. Couple of Pics Graham took, making some small Bass look bigger. Qualitys pics if not fish.....