As regular readers of my catch reports will know, my work is all about adjusting to what nature is telling me. Thinking nature will bend its knee to me, is not something I do. And working to patterns from previous years, is also a short cut to zero catches, especially in these days of very real climate change. This year is a classic example. Thanks to the sun not shining in January or February, the sea temperatures locally still havent made it to double figures. This time last year, I was enjoying up to double figures of bass in the local rivers with my shore clients. This year, they are only just beginning to poke their fins in there.
The same afloat. I have got just one area where, as you can see from the catch reports from the last few weeks, I have found a few bass. Just a couple three weeks ago. A few more last week. But today, it showed real progress. David, Matt and John on board with me, and we found ten bass. Well, they did. I missed all my chances. In the three hour session, we found ten bass. All technically keepers, except it is the closed season until the first of April. Two of them over five pound. And one of them a proper beast, well deserved by David, with a length of 76cm. On the "Weight for it" bass weight to length chart, this is a fish around the 11lb mark.
2nd sailing, and just Duncan wanted to play. Duncan is a foodie, so the obvious choice was to fish for the plaice. Plaice on lures are a real fun option, as without a heavy lead to dull their plunges, they truly are a sporting fish on what is effectively perch gear. While the tide was pulling, they fed well, and we got plenty for a decent feed, with more returned. But as the tide died, so did their hunger, and whiting and gurnard were more obliging. A fairly hard session, and as with the whole day, not at all warm thanks to thick banks of fog rolling around.
Looking like two sailings tomorrow. 0600 sold out. 1030 does have 2 spaces currently. And then it seems the wind will be spoiling things until Monday, which currently looks viable. Check the availability list on the home page of this site for available spaces if any of this fishing tickles your fancy. And the killing of bass resumes next Tuesday!! Personally, I cannot wait to butterfly one and cook it over hot coals. The fish are in superb condition, which is no surprise as some started spawning as early as November last year.
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