Tope Nope - Bass Yes !
May 15, 2017 9:06:51 GMT -1
Post by deerphil on May 15, 2017 9:06:51 GMT -1
It's that time of year again when my attentions turn to Tope and this year I was going to meet up
with Manfred, who wanted to try for his first kayak Tope. Manfred was travelling down tonight for
tomorrow's session so it was great to find Fishhunter, Duc and Andy were already there, as I thought
they might be !
I didn't waste much time getting out and decided to troll a small lure on my way to the reef.
This resulted in a Pollack which joined me in the yak for a spot of Tope searching.
Conditions were good and the spring tide was already beginning to ebb strongly, I have caught all my
Tope while the tide is ebbing so far , so I was feeling confident.
Down went the anchor and the frozen mackerel ( and fresh Pollack ) baits
The scene was set.
It didn't take long for the show to start - " The invasion of the bait snatchers "
Let go - you're going back in !
Then a run , and another and another ....
Jellies the size of dustbin lids "snatching" the line ! There was a plague of 'em !
The Tope didn't show and with the cool breeze increasing it was time to try some light lure
fishing for Garfish !
I accidently caught out of season bass last year whilst trying for Gars .
I missed a couple of good takes from my target species but did end up with a nice 3 lb silver.
It needed to be revived properly after taking the lure deep but was good and healthy after a
minute or two and swam away strongly. I do like seeing them swim away - just as well really !
Back up the river , followed by Duc, it was the end of a lovely day's yak fishing , and - Oh Dear !
we had to do it all again tomorrow !
After a very comfortable overnight stay in Manfred's luxury digs ( Thanks Manfred ) we were back at the
alley for another Tope attempt. The weather was stunning - just as forecast, calm, warm and cloudless.
Fishhunter was living up to his name and was first out, but four of us soon followed, heading out to the
North end of the reef.
Manfred seemed a happy chappy and I had high hopes of him getting that Tope.
Only a small surf this morning at the river mouth. So off to the mark without delay.
It was very quiet , but a joy to be out there in these conditions. Manfred caught a good sized
Greater Weever fish on a lure though
Of course the usual culprits put in an appearance.
No Tope for any of us unfortunately, but we looked forward to an afternoons lure fishing.
Fishhunter had some success whilst we were hopeless Topeless!
so we were confident that
the flood would produce a fish or two to the lures.
First though a comfort break was required so we headed for the sand bank.
Refreshed and raring to go, Manfred looked the part in the silver sea.
My target species was eluding me, I hooked two , only for them to jump off as only Garfish can !
I made do with a lovely two pound bass though.
and another , about 2.5 lb great fun on a 5 - 10 gram rod !
They were switched on now and I couldn't get through them to catch my target Garfish
They were getting bigger too, this one was maybe 3 lbs. Shortly after releasing this one a
very good fish had the rod into a circle as I tried in vain to control it. Holding the rod as high as
possible I was managing to avoid all the large rocks , before the hooks pulled out and the lure
hit me on the head ! the ultimate insult !
Then it happened ! Target species !
It had been a manic 2 hours , it does not happen very often when you find yourself in the
right place at the right time - fantastic end to the day.
So it was Tope Nope , Bass Yes !
I hope Manfred will try again for his Tope , I really enjoyed his company and it was nice to
meet up again with Duc, Fishhunter and Andy , Thanks guys , had a cracking couple of days.
Hope to be back soon , catching Garfish -- until July anyway !
Stay safe all, and enjoy your kayak fishing
with Manfred, who wanted to try for his first kayak Tope. Manfred was travelling down tonight for
tomorrow's session so it was great to find Fishhunter, Duc and Andy were already there, as I thought
they might be !
I didn't waste much time getting out and decided to troll a small lure on my way to the reef.
This resulted in a Pollack which joined me in the yak for a spot of Tope searching.
Conditions were good and the spring tide was already beginning to ebb strongly, I have caught all my
Tope while the tide is ebbing so far , so I was feeling confident.
Down went the anchor and the frozen mackerel ( and fresh Pollack ) baits
The scene was set.
It didn't take long for the show to start - " The invasion of the bait snatchers "
Let go - you're going back in !
Then a run , and another and another ....
Jellies the size of dustbin lids "snatching" the line ! There was a plague of 'em !
The Tope didn't show and with the cool breeze increasing it was time to try some light lure
fishing for Garfish !
I accidently caught out of season bass last year whilst trying for Gars .I missed a couple of good takes from my target species but did end up with a nice 3 lb silver.
It needed to be revived properly after taking the lure deep but was good and healthy after a
minute or two and swam away strongly. I do like seeing them swim away - just as well really !
Back up the river , followed by Duc, it was the end of a lovely day's yak fishing , and - Oh Dear !
we had to do it all again tomorrow !
After a very comfortable overnight stay in Manfred's luxury digs ( Thanks Manfred ) we were back at the
alley for another Tope attempt. The weather was stunning - just as forecast, calm, warm and cloudless.
Fishhunter was living up to his name and was first out, but four of us soon followed, heading out to the
North end of the reef.
Manfred seemed a happy chappy and I had high hopes of him getting that Tope.
Only a small surf this morning at the river mouth. So off to the mark without delay.
It was very quiet , but a joy to be out there in these conditions. Manfred caught a good sized
Greater Weever fish on a lure though
Of course the usual culprits put in an appearance.
No Tope for any of us unfortunately, but we looked forward to an afternoons lure fishing.
Fishhunter had some success whilst we were hopeless Topeless!
so we were confident thatthe flood would produce a fish or two to the lures.
First though a comfort break was required so we headed for the sand bank.
Refreshed and raring to go, Manfred looked the part in the silver sea.
My target species was eluding me, I hooked two , only for them to jump off as only Garfish can !
I made do with a lovely two pound bass though.
and another , about 2.5 lb great fun on a 5 - 10 gram rod !
They were switched on now and I couldn't get through them to catch my target Garfish
They were getting bigger too, this one was maybe 3 lbs. Shortly after releasing this one a
very good fish had the rod into a circle as I tried in vain to control it. Holding the rod as high as
possible I was managing to avoid all the large rocks , before the hooks pulled out and the lure
hit me on the head ! the ultimate insult !
Then it happened !
Target species ! 
It had been a manic 2 hours , it does not happen very often when you find yourself in the
right place at the right time - fantastic end to the day.
So it was Tope Nope , Bass Yes !
I hope Manfred will try again for his Tope , I really enjoyed his company and it was nice to
meet up again with Duc, Fishhunter and Andy , Thanks guys , had a cracking couple of days.
Hope to be back soon , catching Garfish -- until July anyway !
Stay safe all, and enjoy your kayak fishing
