First Trip of 2012

Having not wet a line for nearly a month due to crap weather and family commitments I was chomping at the bit to get some fishing in. Finally a lull in the wind allowed us to get out today with the decision to push out a bit more than usual. The water was really murky and still up around 9°C and with reports of a few cod still showing this end, we were hopeful.

There was certainly no shortage of fish down there as our cuttle and squid baits started to get ripped to bits by whiting, pout and dogs and although annoying, it was nice to see a bit of life still down there.

It was pretty slow going on the big fish front and it wasn't until we were a couple of hours into the ebb that something better took an interest in Dave's cuttle. This one was quite obviously an eel and soon appeared on the surface about 80 yards behind the back of the boat. It was at this point that Dave's reel handle decided to snap off....I couldn't help but laugh at the predicament and the interesting technique now adopted to inch the fish back to the boat!!

Had the eel not been lip hooked, I think the drawn out fight might have ended a little sooner but eventually she arrived at the side of the boat. While Dave had been persevering with the reel and the eel I thought I'd clear a bit of space on deck so we could have the fish in for a photo and quick weigh. An average sized fish registering 32lb on the scales that thankfully behaved itself in the boat!

We were just weighing up the idea of a move in shore when Dave announced he was in to a cod. I must admit, it did look like a cod hanging deep and nodding in the tide until it hit the surface. The culprit though came in the shape of a thornback ray and knocked back down the spirits that had been lifted 5 minutes earlier!

We decided on a move after this and after a very bouncy run we were sat at anchor again. First cast and I had a suspect cod on, unfortunately though I managed the same trick as Dave and as it surfaced behind the boat the net was thrust back in its holder once again.

We were plagued with pout and whiting here, stripping baits within seconds of touch down which only got worse as the tide started to fall away. For a bit of fun I baited up some hokkai's and started to pull a few out until all of a sudden something really nailed the feathers. It wasn't very weighty but very lively and I was starting to wonder if I had picked up a small cod or a pollack. I certainly wasn't expecting to see a small conger on the feathers but that's what came up at the back of the boat!

Some boats found the odd one or two but we failed to find a cod today and the only time the net got wet was on the way back in but it was really good to get out. This calm weather looks set to stay for a little while so with a bit of luck we might get a mid-weeker in and find a 2012 cod!