Colin has put a blow by blow report up to which I have added pictures, so I wont go into that sort of detail. However there are a couple more pictures and my thoughts on the day.
Eighteen months is a long time not to go fishing when is has been something one has done since one was 5 years old, and not to be afloat for that long when one has had a boat since 1987 . . . We did go out a few weeks ago, the fishing was not special but the experiance and company were excelent, rods felt a bit stange for the first few casts bit one soon felt comfortable. So this Saturday felt like I had never been away, all the usual things, early rise, a called into Breakaway for some worms, only 25 . . . just in case, but main bait would be unwashed squid.
The drive to the marina included a spectacular sunrise, the 25 minuite drive down is one of the things I have realy missed, sunrises, birds, the view over the river, unfortunatly as I was a bit tight on time, so could not stop for a picture.
We were soon through the lock and heading for open sea, a lazy swell, but all looked well, 'Playing Hooky' pured along at 16-17 knots, she is a fine boat, despite her modest 23ft, she feels much bigger. Heading North, Colin said "he had a feeling in his water over the fishing to day" . . . me to? however, I think mine was more to do with the cold and my age . . . some one got a bucket!
Anchored and fishing within an hour or so, the last two hours of the ebb, fairly quite, we both had a cod and a couple of whiteing, but nothing to get excited about. My three rods, Colin had four, seven baits spread all round to give the best chance, where woud they run? Small ticks on all rod tips, almost certainly whiting attacking our large multi squid baits on equaly large 6/0 and 8/0 paternoster hook rigs. Supringly we were not pesterd by dogies, one each all day and the lugworm, not a touch, stick to squid.
We sat it out, Colin and I had good fish on in this early stint, we both lost them, frustrating, however personaly I think the fish these days are more finicky than they used to be years ago. Cod bites are fare less definate than they were, and the classic, uptide drop back bite is almost non existant? I feel we dont give the fish time, less fish about, so there is more food to go round or they feel under less presure so they are not so desperate?? Plus, if one is using braid, the bite is registered very early . . . wait . . . just a theory?
Cups of tea, then sarnies on slack water, rest, even a few minuits shut-eye . . . The new ebb tide started around 1pm, Colin predicted fish would show around 3pm . . . that 'in the water feeling' again???:sun: Around 2 o'clock we watched a squal approach, the wind got up, we watched it pass landwards of us, the 8 or so boats that had congregated around, one by one pulled anchore and headed for home, it did look a bit threatening, Playing Hook felt fine, we sat it out, within 45 minuits, the wind had died, the sun was out with blue skies.
Then I saw a bite on my middle rod, an old and much loved ABU Ambassador (shortend to 9ft) uptider, nod, nod, long pause . . . nod, nod, this went on for 5 or 6 minuites, nothing positive, we were about 2 hours into the tide, so it was running strong, the Ambassador was across and a little down tide and I was using braid on that one, patience. After what seemed like an age . . . nod, nod and then the tip folded round, I picked up the rod, no need to catch up the line bow, I could feel it was on and a good'un. As I reeled the bow in, the presure got more, the superb medium action in the Ambassadors blank showed with a satifying bend.
The fish was not coming up, it swam where it wanted!!! . . . I was on the starboard side of the boat, it wanted to be on the port side, Colin was fully occupied moving the five rods out of the way, all I could do was hang on and keep a steady presure. Lots of encouragement from Colin, reminding me to keep a consistant bend, dont jerk or slacken, the reel was giving line, I gained a bit, the fish took it back! Eventualy we saw a great swirl 30 yards behind the boat, wow!!!! I got it to with in 10 feet, another swirl and off she went off deep again taking line, I could not stop it.
After 20 minuites of this round the boat and seasawing up and down, Colin finaly got it netted . . . . Then he noticed the reel on one of his rods was half empty, he went through a similar process, and we eventualy netted an almost equaly larg cod. We were both well pleased, the deck was a mess and broke the scales trying to weight the fish, the sun had all but fully set. What a day, Colin made a phone call to arange for som scales to be waiting for us when we got back, around 21lb and 23lb and it measured exactly 3ft long.
Filleted and in the freezer now, my two fish, 7.5lbs and 23lbs produces between them 10 double portions of fish, about 1lbs of roe and enough scraps to make a couple of fish pies. The meat from the 23 pounder, when cut into portions sat looking like portions of white steak fillet, about as valuable too!
I dont know what it is about 20 pound plus cod, I have caught bigger fish, like tope and sting ray, more sporting fish like smoothound to 20lbs . . . but there is a satisfaction factor that goes with cod fishing that is perhaps unique?? This fish is my best ever cod from the East Coast, only bettered by a 26 pounder back in 1991 from the Warren off Dover, but thats not the east coast, a wonderfull day to remember, thanks Colin.
![]()
View attachment 154418
View attachment 154420
![]()
ET 33.3
