I have not been fishing for a wee while(ill health.)so i was sitting at the computer the other night and i began to wonder if i could somehow upload some of my pre digital photos. I eventualy found out i could photograph them with my digital camera and upload them,they are not so good as the originals but not to bad so i will tell you a story about one of the most fantastic experiences i have ever had when boat fishing. Four or five years ago i took a trip out to one of the wrecks i have charted out in the bay,15mls out.Because of the distance i normally only fish them when conditions are perfect(not often)any way i arrived there about 6am,it was one of those mornings when the water is glass calm and not a sound to be heard.My sounder said it was still where it was supposed to be lol, so i set up my drift and dropped down a 10oz leadhead with a jeltek ell on it and within a few seconds i was in it was a cod which turned out to be 8lb when i weighed it later,well that was to be my first and last fish that day because when i was bent down to unhook it i heard something rubbing along the out side of the hull,(spooky)well obviously i looked over to see what the hell it could be.If i remember correctly my reaction was to blurt something along the lines of...jesus f*"*"*ng christ. When i got over my initial surprise and started to watch it and take some photos it became clear that it was more than just a passing visit as over the next hour it continually swam under the boat then after a short while i would see its white fin tips floating up from the deep and it would turn over and float upside down about 10ft under the boat. This was fantastic to watch and twice when it was alongside the the boat i leaned over and gave it a gentle stroke,that was mindboggling. I could quite clearly see a clustter of sea lice like a wee van **** beard under its chin and it this which caused us to part company. A large raft of sea weed was floating past and when he saw this he swm over and started to rub his chin on it to dislodge the lice,It was with a bit of regret that i used this chance to leave him behind.I had word with a lad at the university gatty marine lab and he thinks it may have been a juvinile which needed company. whatever it is a day i will never forget. A strange thing came of this, about a year later i sat a course and qualified as a marine medic with the sole aim of being abie to help stranded whales and dolphins which has been very rewarding,but my ailing health has now stopped that aswell.
all the best
:wheelchai old salt.
all the best
:wheelchai old salt.
