We arrived just as the bank started to uncover in the distance and by the time we were booted up and ready to go the channel was ready for crossing. With a strong westerly blow and a churned up bank holding lots of water it was a tough slog up the bank but we were hoping that our effort would be rewarded.
The first crab baits went out and it wasn't long before my rod tips were both bouncing. However it wasn't want we'd hoped for, it was clumps of weed...big clods of the stuff! And that's how it went for the first hour and a half with lines picking up weed and the tide swinging baits back to shore.
As the tide slackened off the weed became less of a problem but the golden hour had passed. Had we missed the smuts? As it happened, no, there were still plenty about but only pups.
I was first in with a little male starry.
Then an even smaller common.
Then and even smaller one.
They couldn't get much smaller, but then Gaz smashed it with this monster.
As the tide slackened off the dabs came on and I found a thorny
The flood soon came on and time was almost up. Tom had been fishing further up the bank and stopped off on his way back (nice to meet you Tom).
He spotted one of my rod tips spring back and before long another pup was on the beach and quickly released. Time to pack up so pulled in the other rod to find the best smut of the day on the end, a common of 5lb 6oz.
We finished up with 4 smuts for Gaz and 6 for me but unfortunately no record breakers.
