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Print versionWSF on tour: Scrabster
Meeting people from the internet is campaigned against in many walks of life; thankfully anglers are generally a good bunch, and I’m sure most managed to block out mental images of the possible lunatics they could have encountered. In all seriousness, stern Moderation and management ensures that a healthy group of individuals take part in such meets, with trouble makers excluded from the beginning.
Scrabster is not the most central location for a meet, especially since anglers were traveling from all corners of the country to join in, but the fishing is widely known to be fantastic in the area, with a multitude of species available thought the year, and regular big fish encounters.
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Everyone had met by Saturday morning, with plenty alcohol consumed in the local the night before – not the best for boating in notoriously bumpy seas. Firstly, the skipper allocated us a peg on the boat, which we agreed would be changed the next day to make sure it was fair.
DAY ONE!The first mark of choice was a deep area of fairly clean ground a short steam West from port, where we spent a few hours catching Spurdog to 6lbs, and surprising numbers of dogfish, which are usually un-common in these northern waters. They became pests after a while, coming up two at a time after a few drifts, so we collectively decided to head inshore close to Dounray power plant, where the reefs hold numbers of cod and ling.
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It was here within a few short drifts that one unsuspecting angler tagged ‘Tickety Boo’ on the forum, AKA Gordon, would land the cod that would ultimately win him the prestigious WSF trophy. His eight and a half lbs cod was by no means the biggest fish of the trip, but topped what was a very poor showing of cod.
The day proceeded from here on in at a curiously slow rate, but most on the boat compensated by switching to lighter tackle and lures for some fun. Towards the end of the day skipper Les took us to Holburn head, where we spent the remainder of the day bashing away at codling in the 2-3lb bracket, and a few stray pollack.
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Back at the harbour we organized our masses of gear before retiring at the nearest watering hole, which is conveniently 20 yards away from the boat. After yet more alcohol most settled for an early night, with the keenest out of the bunch spending a few hours shore fishing from the harbour wall. The general consensus was that it was perhaps the most prolific dab mark anyone had ever seen, with a host of other species showing face also.
DAY TWO
Bright and raring to go, everyone assembled early at the quayside as skipper Les prepared the boat. It had been discussed that we would head out towards Dunnet head, Britain’s most northerly point, and well-known fishing hotspot. Once out at the mark we had to hold on to the railings as a hefty swell threw us all over the place. Having recovered items of tackle that washed overboard, we steamed off to a more sheltered mark on the other side of the bay where we waded through the masses of dabs until the weather allowed us back towards Dunnet.
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The conditions slowly but surely settled, allowing us back out to the fierce tide rips of the headland. The fishing had vastly improved since day 1, with a better average stamp of cod and ling, and better numbers of Pollack.
WSF moderator Bigads (Adam) hooked into a weighty fish that had his 20/30lb rod in a full lock and tested his drag on a number of occasions before making it up through the water columns. Deck hand Davey Benson, also a WSF forum member, was at Adams side immediately to net what was obviously a substantial fish.
It turned out to be the biggest fish of the trip – a cracking ling of 14lb 11oz. I’m sure everyone would agree that this was well deserved, and perhaps a suitable reward for all the hard work Adam put in organizing the event.
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On the way back to port the presentation was made; Tickety Boo so overjoyed with the prospect of being the first winner of the WSF cup, stripped down to become at one with the breaking waves whilst holding his trophy. He proclaimed that this act should become an annual ritual – perhaps reinforcing the fact that its definitely not wise to meet people from the internet after-all!
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A great weekend filled with banter, enjoyable fishing, and beer – what more could anyone ask for in a forum meet? I would highly recommend that you get in touch with regional forum moderators regarding meets and have your name pencilled in – next years Scrabster event is likely to require two boats with the interest shown after the success of the first meet.
Finally, I close this diary entry with a few words from the cup winner, concluding his impressions of each member of the mad WSF Scottish sector who participated in the Scrabster meet.
Buffalo Bill - your snoring in the next room reminds me of the time I was fitting a new nav light on the Forties Charlie next to the fog horn - and the 10,000 decibel fog horn went off about three feet away from me.
Flounder Al - wins the prize for the best chib mark of the weekend.
Mikey - the friendly rivalry on day one. Thoroughly enjoyed your company mate. OOOOOOooooooohh the banter!
Big Ads - Organisation par excellance and king of big ling.
Peterthefisherman - king of species hunting
Jan - king of small ling hunting
Lewisthe - at 6pm; "ok, I'll go to the pub for one wee eenzy, teenzy wee half pint" By 1am he was singing songs about pixies, wearing a hat made of ostrich feathers and lighting his own farts lying in the middle of the street.
Sandtiger - a first class mate and a great help to us all.
Tuggmistress - There's a woman who has a red light flat near Kings Cross station (so I'm told?) who has the same name as that, but charges a tenner a time for the privilege. I was glad to find out it was not the same person
Spurhound - demonstrated to us all how to get lots of bits of wire and fine mono twisted and wrapped around each other every second cast. Would be lost if bright shads were made illegal though
Bmac - when somebody turns up with a hat that says "UK immigration service" - you wonder if it's a raid? Turns out he nicked the hat from the team that were investigating him in Glasgow's trendy North Side
Sunfish - ...........................I'm truly lost for words!
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