First sailing, a man down due to life, but aboard was Ash, David and Callum, all returnee's. A fairly stiff Northerly breeze added some complication to the sailing, pushing us across the tide a little. But once the fairly lack lustre tide got moving, so the bites began to come.
The theme of the morning was really quite small fish where on the bigger tides, the bigger fish tend to dominate these same spots. Table fish fell, but mostly in the 45cm range. Actually perfect table fodder, but the need to show that BIF1 can do bigger became too much, and for the last 30 minutes, we went in to the rocks for crab feeding fish. Never loads, just two bronzed backed creatures fell, but both were better fish. Fifteen the tally, a brace each for the two guys wanting food.
Second sailing, and it was my pleasure to welcome aboard cousins Garry and Don. Retired gentlemen now, but fishing together since nippers. The bond was unmistakable and I liked it very much. Tide was down to low, which meant really only one area was viable. But with the wind dropping away, everything did look quite rosy. Perhaps bigger fish had now taken residence?
It was really more of the same. Plenty of action, with good mackerel by-catch. Final numbers 15, with just 3 killed. Lots more were table sized, but the guys were holding out for a 50 plus and it didnt come. Maybe 48 the biggest. But lots of fun, some great topwater action, and the guys really enjoyed it, confirming it was now to become an annual event. Very flattering.
Third sailing, and Ray, Nick, Jude and David, all regulars, were my guys. It was originally my plan to track rock on the new flood for this sailing, but on the way back in with Garry and Don, I had noticed a long trail of gulls. With no near shore trawling activity happening this could only mean that bait was running the new flood across some scrub that I really enjoy fishing. So, we went for a quick peak, before looking for beasts in the rock.
Except, we never left. There were a good mix of sizes in the fish tracking the bait shoals Lots of action. Very few mackerel as two of my guys tried hard with metals and I had a go also, with zero mackerel. But bass a plenty. We were looking for a full max kill and we had it well before the first hour was up. And still they came. There was no time where there were not either fish hooked or bites missed. No drifts were met with zero response. A great session. I counted 48, but I suspect more, as in the heat of the action, counting is not important. A really great day.
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