Ryde Middle Cod

A short trip out with Ian this evening looking for a cod in the Solent this time. We only had a pass for three hours but would be fishing the best state of tide so the decision was made to give it a go.
Down to the boat and ready to go just before darkness descended. A turn of the key then revealed the battery was dead.....what to do then? 
Bonnet up, battery removed from my Jeep and we were soon slipping the mooring lines as the big old honda fired into life!
There were a few boats on the mark we wanted to fish when we arrived but managed to settle in on a nice patch of ground. Typically, as soon as we had the hook down darkness descended and the other boats all headed home. I was happy where we were though so we settled in for the next couple of hours and concentrated on the fishing.

The tide was ebbing quite hard and weed proved to be a bit of pain in the tide run, still we managed to find some decent sized whiting along with the ever obliging pout and dogfish.

Towards the last half of the session the tide started to lessen as expected and this was the time we would have seen a cod if we were going to at all. Almost on cue, my uptider started nodding and bouncing away to the tune of a good fish. I caught up with the weight and the rod started to buck in my hands.....for all of 5 seconds...then the fish was off.. I hate missing opportunities like these, it's never a great feeling.

A second chance though 5 minutes later as a better fish started to back away with 4 squid in it's mouth that had been patiently waiting down tide. I gave it line and let it get a real good hold before lifting into it. This time fish on and soon safely in the net. The cod are of a much better stamp this year, nearly all in their teens.

We lost the tide shortly after and it was time to head back anyway.....mission accomplished though and a nice couple of hours in good company.