Screaming Stella.

With the extra hour, having put the clocks back, its was up to a pretty new mark for me. The absence of other anglers was a welcome surprise, and the 2nd cast producing a 67cm fish even better.

When inspecting the Feed-Shallow I noticed 2 of the hooks were bent out. I bent them right and carried on. 5 Casts later I hooked into something much bigger,  and against a tight drag the fish made  a 50 meter , bent hook memory joggin run. There's 2 ways to go when this happens, end the fight quickly or go gentle. I went the wimp way.  10 minutes later, 76cm of Bass slid up the beach. Measured and Photographed she went back strongly, splashing me with a tail slap. The photo shows how fat she was, and while I never weighed her I reckons she made it over 10 lb. The Feed-Shallow didn't fair so well, one hook completely snapped off, one bent right out, although the hook in the fish's scissors was completely OK. I've always considered Bass clean fighters, but I do wonder if that Bass tried to knock the hooks out against a rock. !!!   Anyhow, best fight a Bass has ever put up on my rod.

This red-letter day hasn't been exceptional in Kent this year. I know of at least 15 doubles coming out to lures, yet these are very rarely mentioned on Forums.  The WSF lure fishing Forum used to be the place informed practicing anglers shared catch reports and tactics. Now its full of caught nothing keyboard warriors spouting their ill informed opinions. You get it in all walks of life, the pratt who thinks if he hangs onto an expert long enough some of his reputation will rub off on them. If they talk long enough somebody will listen. If they stack enough chairs at the AGM they're part of the management team. Bless em.

I caught my first fish from here 22 years ago when I was 11, and last night I went back there and caught some more. Why did I wait 22 years to revisit a mark that always held fish and is 5 minutes from home. 
Answer.   Because I'm a pratt.

Another season over.

Dawn in November.

Thoughts

So the EU has seen fit to suddenly stop pair trawling for the rest of the year for Bass, and thats got to be a good thing. It offers protection to Bass down in the Southern Approaches of the English Channel spawning, (well, those that haven't already been caught this season) and the acknowledgment by the EU that there is a problem with Bass Stocks.  There is also a proposal of a 3 fish recreational limit and a increase in the minimum size limit for recreational anglers, no bad thing either.

So my prediction,

1. Bass Prices will increase.
2.Recreational netting will increase, but at least they come under the heading of recreational anglers and can only take the same as Rod and Line Anglers
3. Recreational netting will go completely un-policed.
4. The pair trawling will be reinstated within 2 years

Hope I'm wrong,  would be great to see a fishery recovery on par with the Striped Bass in the States. Trouble is while we say Americans are a greedy race, we are greedier and stupider.

Did the Irish Bass Festival back in July, 6 of us went. Had a few fish, best at 64cm was never going to worry the leaders. As much as I enjoy it I think that will be my last one.

 Don't think this sort of event lends itself to group fishing, 6 blokes scrambling to get to the best marks, (and rooms), shouting across the water to each other, lights on and off.  Stealth is king on these deserted rugged coastlines where light pollution is non-existent, especially at night, when collectively we caught hardly anything with nearly all our fish coming in daylight. Anyway, only remember it because I found this pic on the camera earlier today

 If you get a chance to go, do it. Great Comp

2014, it's nearly over.

There was a plan, a crap plan according to the wife, that Joe and I would shoot down to Weymouth Boxing day, get a Double each, and be back before anyone noticed. Unfortunately the wind is now forecast to go East and the only plus is the family think I'm not going because of them.

Shore fishing has taken a backseat this year to fishing from the RIB. Spending the sort of money we have on it meant we had to use it. Nine Doubles, plenty of 8-9lb class fish, Dolphins at sunset, ease of fishing all suggest it's now our first choice for a day out. But in reality it was the first fish of the season, at first light from a rock mark at 7lb that gave me the biggest rush. The flat seas at Sunset when the fish smash a topper,  or bringing back a shallow diver though the surf when everything locks up are still moments that can never be beaten on the RIB. You have to work for every shore fish, often aching days after from miles on shingle or life risking climbs in and out of marks. The fish from the RIB just hurt the pocket.

So, with a days Holiday to use up and no chance of a Bass, it was a long walk along a deserted beach, a Pub Lunch, and assuring the Family Christmas wouldn't be a one day Holiday (unless the winds swings back around).

Best Fish of the year,

Late season Fish

Out the 21st November with Malcolm on Chesil, HT at 0545hrs meant an early start. Didn't expect much, but when the light came up the fish came on, virtually all on the Megabass Pearl Gataride. 11 to me and 9 to Malc, nothing of size, but nice to put a bend in the rod.

Back in Kent

With Joe and Mark away in Eire, a break in the weather today with wind forecast at 5MPH westerly, I thought a shore mark may have cleared sufficiently. The wind was more like 15MPH, the water was just the wrong side of clear and I nearly turned around and walked back to the car.

Glad I didn't as after an hour I had this little schoolie, at around 1.5lb on a white waveworm 5 meters from the shore.

Working my way back to the car I had a fish on for around 20 seconds having taken the Vulture. When it come off I cast out again and as the lure reached the exact point it was intercepted on the previous cast, again it was taken, by this 3 pounder. Nothing moved in the area for the next 10 minutes which re-enforced my belief that it was the same fish that took me a second time. Considering the bend it put in the rod the first time, theres no doubt it knew it was hooked, yet up it came again. Must have been starving.