Cod Quad!

Well after a codless weekend all eyes were on the next weather window and from the start of the week it looked like a Tuesday or Wednesday. We made the call Monday evening to opt for Wednesday and make the most of it with a half day off work to get the full flood tide. This would give us wind with tide for the majority of the trip and make things that little bit more comfortable.

After a leisurely launch we arrived at our first mark with the view to fishing a few hours and then moving on and after a slow 1 - 1/2 hours in daylight we decided to give it another hour before upping anchor. Low and behold though, now cloaked in darkness the fish came out to play - mainly chunky pout and dogs to start with.......that is until I had a lovely noddy coddy bite downtide. After letting the fish really get a good mouthful of the bait, I lifted into a satisfying nodding weight. Heart in mouth and 'jelly legs' I knew what it was. After a good tussle in the full run of the tide she surfaced to be scooped up in the waiting net. About bloody time!!!!! 

As soon as the cod hit the deck my uptider was off with a good fish. I thought I had another one on but something didn't feel quite right and as a smoothound broke surface I could see why! Now totally relaxed, I could sit back and just enjoy the rest of the trip...the pressure was off and I had ended the codless streak!

Dave was off next with a good nodder...this one looked a bit better and was soon safely in the net......we were staying put!

Twenty minutes later and Dave sprang into life again! This one looked like a good fish too and was edged up with caution! As I stood by with the net it looked a good fish as it came into view. Once aboard though she was evidently pretty lean and was actually longer but lighter than his first going around 14lb

Following this we both bent into big eels....my fault as I made a comment about the pleasant lack of congers! More dogs and pout followed until Dave managed his third....maybe I was a bit too relaxed! This one barely made 'cod' status at 5-6lb but nice to see some different year classes coming out.

With the last of the flood tide now trickling away the fishing slowed up apart from a half decent conger that took off with my uptider. T-barred off at the side and with a big slap of the tail, disappeared back into the gloomy depths.

The wind was blowing pretty hard now and our choice for the ebb tide was a no go, so after a muck about in close we called it a night.

Really pleased to find one at last, especially as the weekend looks like a no go on the current forecast......could all change - we shall see!