Well you have good days and bad days. Over the last couple of months we have had many difficulties, especially with the boat engine. However today was a really good day! Steve phoned to say he would be over early again and after nearly being run off the road on his way over, we safely arrived at the the marina just as the marina staff came alongside in the work boat for work. After a few rude comments one of lads was promised a Bass to keep him quiet (he said the Bass were in and one boat was out during the night and catching well) so were now under pressure to deliver.

Making an uneventful trip down the river we discussed where to fish and since the Bass were supposed to be about we thought it worth having a go for Bass again. There were two good signs for us to see as we approached the fishing grounds. Firstly there were several commercial boats out and secondly the seagulls were fishing over the grounds.

After getting the rods set up with our now favourite lures (see below), we drifted with the tide and Steve had a knock on the first drift. The second brought him a nice bass and so did the third drift! I decided I would be cool and not catch anything yet, saving myself for later..........and a good job I did.

Sidewinder Sprats 3 x 5" Sea Fishing Lures Silver/Brown    £6.99

My first catch was a mackerel which was soon put back to fight another day. Steve caught his third Bass and I was about to leave my rod to help him with the net when I also was in to a nice bass which turned out to be the biggest of the day (see photo below). I go for quality you see.......well that's what I say.

Steve then caught another bass and I another &^%$£! mackerel...when on the next drift I felt heavy pressure on the line. Initially I thought it could be a snag which would have been unusual but stared to reel it in. Now I must explain here that I fish on light tackle since I suffer with a lower back problem and when we wreck fish Steve retrieves my line if I catch anything big. After just a few turns I new I couldn't bring this one in so I shouted to Steve to take over (I should also say I fish with 10lb max line).

There was a short question over whether it was a fish or a plastic bag (I soon put him right that it was a fish!) and Steve retrieved the line with me getting the net out. We were both surprised when at about 15 feet down we could see it was a fish and a big one at that. We were even more surprised to see that it was a Thorn-back ray! This is the first ray we have ever landed on Blue Marlin (I or II) and Steve did his best to make sure we didn't land this one! We have a rule that unless the fish is landed in the boat, then it doesn't count. Just as I got the net near the ray the line gave way and the ray went into the net.

A close call. When we went to take the lure out I had actually gaffed it (see photo) and we thing the ray settled onto the lure as I was about to start my retrieval. The thorn-back was then weighed and came in at 11 lb 8oz. So I claimed the biggest fish of the day and also another best in species. However I think that I can only claim 50% since Steve worked well in retrieval (even if he did try and loose it on the surface -sneaky or what!) and it wasn't a bad effort since it was only 10lb line, so Steve gets 50% as well.

It was funny to see the ray arch itself up on the deck, raising itself several inches up. After weighing, the ray was returned to the water. I then caught another bass only for Steve to bring in his fourth. After another mackerel for me and another bass for Steve we decided we had enough fish and called it a day returning to Dartmouth before 1200 hours.

So the total haul for the morning session was 7 bass, 2 mackerel, 1 thorn-back ray and nearly a seagull. Not bad eh! The seagull was a near miss since it dived on my lure near the surface.  We had the seagulls there for most of the time and its fascinating to watch them as they dive in for sprats or whatever else is driven to the surface. When we were gutting the fish (we always do this before returning to the marina) several had sprats in their stomachs but one had a sprat and the remains of a small crab in its stomach. 

Did I say I caught a ray.....?

We buy a lot of our tackle on ebay and suggest you do too.

SHAKESPEARE SALT COD 9' 20-30LB / SEA FISHING BOAT ROD    £59.99

IMPERIAL REEL LINE COUNTER SHAKESPEARE BOAT SEA FISHING    £9.79

FLADEN CHIEFTAIN 2030 MULTIPLIER REEL BOAT SEA FISHING    £13.99

ABU GARCIA Ambassadeur 6601C4 Fishing Reel NEW ))* J    £84.99

FLADEN VANTAGE 2BB BOAT MULTIPLIER REEL RRP £39 m860    £24.99

FLADEN VANTAGE 2BB BOAT MULTIPLIER REEL RRP £39 m880    £24.99

Date: Wednesday 10/06/2009