Got out yesterday for the first time in ages, which was a much needed session, albeit brief. Although fishing is a bit pants at this time of year, I decided to have a bash anyway for some herrings and maybe plaice down at Brighton Marina. After picking up some Raworm and lugworm from the Tackle Box, I headed for the East arm and got there at about 2.30pm, wich was just after high water. The sea was pretty calm and clearish with just a hint of colour. Weather-wise, there was just a very light Westerly breeze with an overcast cast sky threatening rain which never materialised, apart from a few drops.
Once there, I settled in at bay 30 and setup one rod with some micro sized Sabiki lures and another rod with a 2 hook flapper baited with the worms. The bait rod was cast out and I then set about the business of cast and retrieve with the lures.
For the period I was there, the bait rod remained static, with no indications of interest apart from the one knock which resulted in an 8″ flounder, which had taken the bait after I changed over from a flapper to a running ledger with a beaded up trace. There was no interest whatsoever on the Sabikis.
With nothing showing and the tide dropping away, I gave up at about 6pm. The only upside is that no rockling showed up, which can only be a good thing!
Had the first session for a couple of months and the first of 2010 on sunday out at Seaford beach. Loaded with some nice black lugworm and two boxes of squid, I arrived at around 6pm and started to unload the car. By the time I’d got all sorted and walked onto the beach, I couldn’t feel my fingers it was so bloody cold!
Undeterred, I trudged across the shingle and started to set up the rods. After the first was done, I had to have a short break to warm the hands and fingers up before doing the next one. Big baits were the order of the day to try and avoid any small whiting and rockling, so one rod sent out with ledgered DVice 3/0 hook crammed with lug and squid, second rod out with whole squid on 4/0 pennel rig. It was then a matter of keeping warm and waiting!
Although freezing to start with, later on, as cloud covercame over, it actually felt like it was warming a bit – so much so that I had to open the main zip on my ABU floaty suit as I was getting a bit too warm.
Fish wise, I ended up with a few whiting and the dreaded rockling ‘slugs’ which still manaed to get themselves hooked on the worm baited 3/0’s. Not a great start to 2010 but at least it wasn’t a blank. May leave the beach for a while now as the rockling seem to be in abundance and the cod having moved off before I could target them in earnest. Will now concentrate on the herring at Brighton Marina if the seas clear out.
Haven’t written much lately due to no fishing.
I’d just like to take the opportunity to say thanks to all who have read my witterings over the last year and hope you have a great Christmas and a productive and happy 2010.
Well, not had much to write about fishing recently what with work, the weather and other committments, so thought it was about time I wrote something.
We took delivery of our new car last week as it had been time to get rid of the old wagon, a 2001 Renault Laguna Sport Tourer. It was a toss up on the new one, between a Renault Scenic or a Citroen C4 Picasso. In the end, the Citroen won as it was the only one that was both diesel and automatic; not really strictly an auto but EGS which basically is like a sequential manual box but can be used in either auto mode or manual shift via ‘Flippy flappy’ paddles. Engine wise, I opted for the 1.6 litre HDi turbo diesel which combines reasonably good performance with good economy. I’ll miss the performance of the 3.0 litre V6 I had but 50+mpg is a damn site more attractive than the 20 I was getting before.
We haven’t done a long distance trip yet but so far, it has proved to be an absolute joy to drive – comfy, roomy and with plenty of ‘toys’ to fiddle with. The seats are a bit on the firm side firm but are supportive with plenty of adjustment to get the driving postion just perfect. All the controls are well laid out, with the vast majority being controlled from the multi function steering wheel central hub which remains static and independant of the steering wheel itself. It’s a bit weird at first but is a fantastic idea and something I think other manufacturers should think about.
As for fishing – well there’s plenty of space for all the stuff I usually lumber myslef with, so there’s no problem there. I just must be careful and remember not leave items such as buckets with bait remnants and other stuff lying around in the boot to fester and ruin that lovely ‘new car’ smell.
I Fished Seaford beach last night after work, from 9pm through until 4am. It was a brilliantly clear night which became cloudier later on, not a breath of wind but still quite chilly. There was very little movement in the water which had just a tinge of colour. I used a familiar setup, two rods – one with size 2, two hook paternoster baited with black lug and squid strip. The other rod, used a 3/0 pennel with whole squid relatively close in.
There were loads of whiting from the off, with many double shots of small to medium fish on the lugworm/squid combo but some really decent sized ones of around the pound mark (with one in particular at 1lb 10oz) on the bigger baits. It was pretty frantic at times with both rods rattling and bouncing away with bites at the same time. I swear there must have been a carpet of the things as the rods were going virtually as soon as the lead hit the bottom. As the tide rose and approached peak, the bites dropped off until there was nothing happening at all. Having been reduced to just scraps of bait, I decided to call it a night and head for home safe in the knowledge that I had enough whiting to keep Anna happy in the kitchen.
Ended the night with a dozen keepers which are now all cleaned, filleted and skinned and ready for Thai fish cakes and fish balls.
All in all, a cold but busy and enjoyable night.
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