Further frustrations with the weather forecasting today. The forecast was for a stiff NE wind to come in yesterday late afternoon, remain all morning, switch to SE mid afternoon (our worst wind) and end in a light SW. I am forced to make my sailing decisions by the forecast. It would be better if I could make the decision at the boat, but with many of my customers travelling distance to fish with me, and with more windy days than non windy ones now on this south coast of the 2020's, it would end up in more frustration, but on the clients shoulders instead of mine.
I accepted that this is the modern world, the one the scientists of my youth predicted with great accuracy if things didnt change, and they havent. I sent the messages. I always accompany with a picture of the forecast, that my people can at least see the reason. And then I try and arrange shore or inland based fishing, that their might be some contribution to the fishyrob household bill fund from the day.
Which is why I found myself prepping for a 2300 shore lure session in my garden at 2100 last night. Still awaiting the stiff NE wind that was going to assist my guys on the shingle with reaching max distance. The time arrived, we met, we fished. we caught bass. But not at extreme wind assisted distance. Because there was no wind. I hastily texted affected parties. But the problem is, once people have rescheduled, they of course wont mess other parties around and come back to the plan. A lot of much needed cash blew away on the non-wind. I adjusted the 0500 to reflect the best bit of the tide, and then put a few messages to known early birds. One bit immediately, and then another from the original 0500 sailing DID mess the other parties around and came back on board. Such is the pull of a potential fifty plus fish session. Tiredness consumed me, the shore bassing had gone quiet, and we all decided to give it up for the night. For the last ten minutes, a fairly stiff NE wind had finally arrived and I was a little nervous for the morning. I was in bed for 0200. 0600 and I was actually awake slightly before the alarm. I also get really f*****g excited when I know it is on.
Which bought Thomas, returning after a three year break from my services. Life goes like that sometimes. You will be seeing more of him now I suspect. With Thomas ever more bass addicted Mark and Loz. And new to BIF1 Curtis. Curtis is very familiar looking, and it is only as I allow my fish brain to switch off, to let the journalist head spill this drawl, I think I worked out why. I think Curtis was one of those annoying teenagers on the marina walls. Originally annoying for being loud and casting over you, progressing to annoying because he is always in the best spots, or finding new spots and outfishing you. Either way, we were always going to meet on BIF1. And what happened to him today, changed his approach to fishing, I am pretty sure. Little tiny touches that get learned on BIF1, change results for life.
Out we sailed, on flat seas. I was sad for those that should have been here. I take it all quite personally, as it is my decisions that dictate their disappointment. But I have to work from that forecast. Unless someone can give me the number of a genuine clairvoyant. And the fish were there where expected. Initially, high numbers of small fish, being replace by less action with all table fish. Clues in that situation, as to what is happening.
You know when the magpie lands and scatters the sparrows by the slice of bread? End result, fifty six fish landed, with stacks of table fish so of course max kill. Biggest around 4lb. But so good to see numbers of 2-4lb fish. May they chase the schoolies away every day. Soon though, they will be be bullied off the bait highway, by THEIR elders...
So, now an afternoon with nothing to really do. I thought to take myself out on the fly rods. Which bought another thought. A client Joe, really really wanted to get a bass on the fly. We had tried to make a trip happen, but Joe perhaps more than anyone suffered from wind cancellations, then may rot, as conditions for good fly fishing tend to need to be pretty much spot on. Which they are at the moment. I messaged him, and an hour later we were flicking the fluff. And magic happened. Not big, but everybody's first bass on the fly is special. As well as an actual result, it was more about getting used to the heavy weight gear, and I was very pleased to see Joe improve his casting with the #10 shooting head a really big amount.
Third sailing was made up of people who had been cancelled either today or yesterday, New to BIF1 Paul, plus regulars Natalie and Dave, and Max. Fishing was pretty hard, and it took quite a bit of poking about to get a result. But we steadily picked away. Final tally, sixteen and a reef pollack, plus a lone gurnard. Not tragi, not amazing although Paul did catch his first lure caught bass, which again, is always a momentous occasion.
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