I’ve been neglecting the blog again, which is usually code for I haven’t been fishing much. In fact I’ve only been twice since my last post in September for a couple of impromptu plops into the local gully’s. I managed to extract a nice 6lb Cod on my last dart out, satisfying myself that I can still actually catch fish.
So, with a good session well overdue, the plan was set for a pilgrimage to South-West Scotland in search of a few early year Thornbacks to break my angling hiatus.
This is the time of year for a PB as the larger females hug the shallower inshore waters getting ready to lay their eggs in early spring. Although the area produces Thornbacks pretty much year round, the average size definitely seems to go up between now and March/April. While I’ve caught plenty of Thornbacks over the years, I’ve still to break the magic 10lb barrier – so that would be my target for the day, along with an optimistic attempt at a Conger once the light faded.
It was a crisp morning as I rocked up to pick Tony up just after 9am and we quickly embarked on the three hour journey westwards, stopping for the obligatory bacon butty along the way, before arriving at the mark about half an hour before low water.
Bites started pretty quickly, although it was obvious they weren’t what we were after. Frequent rattles had me thinking dabs initially, but the culprit was soon identified as Tony reeled In a match sized Whiting. It was gut hooked so went into the bait bag for Huss bait. I followed up shortly after with a Whiting of my own, so the blank was off, but it wasn’t exactly what I had in mind as far as breaking my angling fast was concerned!
The Whiting continued to make a nuisance of themselves for the first few hours. This didn’t inspire much confidence – being a prey fish, the fact that they were out in abundance meant there clearly wasn’t enough predators around to deter them!
As the light began to fade though I got a bite that looked entirely different and, suspecting the target species had finally turned up, I lifted into the first Thornback of the evening. I could tell it wasn’t a bad size as it hung low all the way back to my feet and I soon had a nice Ray landed. Weighed in a sling she went over 10lb, but with the sling deducted her final weight came out at 9lb 9oz beating my previous PB by a single ounce. So I’m still on the hunt for that double!
Not to be out done, Tony followed up with a ray of his own 5 minutes later, this one comfortably over 6lb.
Generally when the fish turn up here, you can have at least a good few hours on them before they tail off again. Sometimes sport is so prolific it’s hard to keep up with 2 rods! This evening however was not so. Sport remained slow, with only the odd fish showing.
With the sun well set I turned my attention to conger, baiting up a large mackerel and squid combo, lobbing it close in and dragging it backward basically until I could feel ground, which is where the eels will be if they’re there. In the meantime I manage another smaller Ray and a dogfish
Things go quiet for the last hour and eventually we concede, with Tony having to be up early for work the next morning.
Just as I’m tidying up my first rod, I notice a very tentative looking bite on the Conger rod. This is quite typical of Conger, despite their size they usually take a bait very gently. I’m convinced it’s an eel and once I feel it move off I lift into it – and instantly the line parts on the barnacle encrusted rocks.
“S**T!!!”
Ahh well. Much as I’m tempted to have another go, the prospect of a sensible nights sleep wins over and we head back to the car.
So not the session we perhaps hoped for but not a complete waste. I’m happy to be back out and catching fish again after so long, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.