Weatherbound but fished anyway
May 4, 2008 15:03:47 GMT -1
Post by dorado on May 4, 2008 15:03:47 GMT -1
The wind was howling, it actually go tup to a full gale later, but was 6-7 offshore when I got to W. Wales, so although it was calm sea in close, it was howling and there were plenty of white tops by half a mile out. The wind was so strong that the tops were getting whipped off the waves on the beach.
Abandoned any idea of going off for a tope, even though they are there now. Instead, joined Nifty for a shore session at Borth in the hope of a turbot. We bought a packet of mackerel and a packet of sandeels each, that was enough. The tide was perfect, LW around 14.00, so we had our bait and were on the beach with lines out by 11.00 to fish the tide down and then back up.
Tackle was simple - a running leger. Only because there are small eyed ray on this beach aswell I hedged my bets and used a flying hook on a paternoster above the ledger. Big bait for the turbot - a 4/0 with half a fillet of mackerel on it, a sandeel on a 1/0 aberdeen on the paternoster. Nifty just fished with the one hook, baied for turbot.
It wasn't long before I got the first fish of the day - and it was a turbot! Not very big, about 1lb maybe 1lb 4oz. It went back happily after a photo, the circle hook hadn't actually found a hold even though it was swallowed right down - that's right, a 1lbish turbot and it had swallowed half a fillet on a 4/0
I rebaited and flung it back out. Then it was Nifty's turn. He had a small turbot and it too had taken the lot right down - and was a devil to unhook. With a turbot apiece we were well chuffed. I was after a bigger fish now and rebaited with fresh fillet and a new sandeel - and waded right out to waist deep and cast out beyond the breakers.
It was Nifty who spotted my bite, the rod was propped up in a tripod while I had a coffee break. Isn't that always the way? You want a fish, breakout the flask! By the time I had put my mug down my line was going through the waves left handed, against the flow and wind. "Thats a small eyed" Nifty said. He was right too, the ray had taken the sandeel on the flyer - not a big one, about 5lbs.
I was doing well. Nifty decided if there were rays about he would change his bait to a sandeel - he says that in 10 years of fishing this mark the turbot have always taken the mackerel and small eyes always take the sandeel. He had been proved correct today too - and he got a small eyed ray within 15 minutes of launching his eel to the waves. About the same size.
The tide was making us retreat up the beach by now and we were really hopeful of a better turbot. It didn't come until about 17.00, when I felt a good knock and then nothing, then another knock. I started to put pressure on the line and then felt a few small taps, but nothing very much - it turned into another turbot of just over 2lbs, 2lb 6oz to be exact (weighed back home). The stomach was empty other than my bait.
I had one last cast and got a very big doggy - a preganant female ready to drop her purses. A good 2lbs, she went away strongly, but the turbot came home with me. Having it toniht - steaming it!
I doubt I will get over for the tope this week. A few are going ot give it a go midweek, weds or Thurs look favourite. See how work goes.
Sorry no yakkiing news - other than no yakking.
Abandoned any idea of going off for a tope, even though they are there now. Instead, joined Nifty for a shore session at Borth in the hope of a turbot. We bought a packet of mackerel and a packet of sandeels each, that was enough. The tide was perfect, LW around 14.00, so we had our bait and were on the beach with lines out by 11.00 to fish the tide down and then back up.
Tackle was simple - a running leger. Only because there are small eyed ray on this beach aswell I hedged my bets and used a flying hook on a paternoster above the ledger. Big bait for the turbot - a 4/0 with half a fillet of mackerel on it, a sandeel on a 1/0 aberdeen on the paternoster. Nifty just fished with the one hook, baied for turbot.
It wasn't long before I got the first fish of the day - and it was a turbot! Not very big, about 1lb maybe 1lb 4oz. It went back happily after a photo, the circle hook hadn't actually found a hold even though it was swallowed right down - that's right, a 1lbish turbot and it had swallowed half a fillet on a 4/0
I rebaited and flung it back out. Then it was Nifty's turn. He had a small turbot and it too had taken the lot right down - and was a devil to unhook. With a turbot apiece we were well chuffed. I was after a bigger fish now and rebaited with fresh fillet and a new sandeel - and waded right out to waist deep and cast out beyond the breakers.
It was Nifty who spotted my bite, the rod was propped up in a tripod while I had a coffee break. Isn't that always the way? You want a fish, breakout the flask! By the time I had put my mug down my line was going through the waves left handed, against the flow and wind. "Thats a small eyed" Nifty said. He was right too, the ray had taken the sandeel on the flyer - not a big one, about 5lbs.
I was doing well. Nifty decided if there were rays about he would change his bait to a sandeel - he says that in 10 years of fishing this mark the turbot have always taken the mackerel and small eyes always take the sandeel. He had been proved correct today too - and he got a small eyed ray within 15 minutes of launching his eel to the waves. About the same size.
The tide was making us retreat up the beach by now and we were really hopeful of a better turbot. It didn't come until about 17.00, when I felt a good knock and then nothing, then another knock. I started to put pressure on the line and then felt a few small taps, but nothing very much - it turned into another turbot of just over 2lbs, 2lb 6oz to be exact (weighed back home). The stomach was empty other than my bait.
I had one last cast and got a very big doggy - a preganant female ready to drop her purses. A good 2lbs, she went away strongly, but the turbot came home with me. Having it toniht - steaming it!
I doubt I will get over for the tope this week. A few are going ot give it a go midweek, weds or Thurs look favourite. See how work goes.
Sorry no yakkiing news - other than no yakking.
