[Suffolker]

I was fishing at Aldeburgh this morning, sitting looking up at my rod tip. There was a sudden big swing then a slack line and then another big swing.

Great I thought, perhaps a nice bass about to come my way. Started pulling in and all felt right, tension on the line and perceivable movement that suggested it was just more than the weight coming back in. Alot more.

As I looked out into the surf I saw a seagul behaving very oddly as I was pulling in, and then realised it was moving with my reeling. Cottoning on to what had happened, I got it in as far as possibe without hurting it and then went into the surf with my scissors.

I picked up the bird and gently released the line from between its wing feathers (it must have flown into the line when I was looking up at the rod) and then let it fly of (after a number of pecks I must add). It was fine and the line had only caught in a few feathers, no damage and joined the group within seconds. Whilst I was doing this, there were people looking at me like I had just killed their pet.

My question is, would you/could you have done any different?

P.S. Fished rag and mackie for a few hours before the wind made it unfishable. Nothing caught in that time.

 

[pdcambs]

I've seen someone 'playing' a seagull in the air after it took a bait from the water. It was at Tenby many years ago. Quite a remarkable sight, no idea what happened to the bird though!

 

[red90]

Seagulls were a common catch years ago when I fished on Hastings pier, and they can be vicious. There is an easy trick to dealing with nasty ones: having recovered the entangled bird, just take a cloth or towel and flick it at the gull. It will instantly seize the cloth and refuse to let go. So you grab it behind the neck, then tuck it under you arm like a chicken while you untangle it, all the time holding the neck in one hand. (Having either a) three hands or b) an assistant can be useful.) Release the bird by tossing it gently away from you. Works every time, and saves a very savage bite.

 

[Corndawg]

I have had the odd Gull catch my line,but not got wrapped up in it.....

I have however,caught a Moorhen,and a duckling on a hookbait whilst coarse match fishing in the past,and had quite a few witty comments chucked at me for it..........

If you released the bird safely after,I can't think why you got the stone eyed glare from folk..at least it was still alive and well when you released it.

 

[Sharkey]

You did all you could by the sound of it mate, it happened to me at shingle street - i did the same as you but put a towel over the bird first as someme told me they can projectile vomit as a form of defence. Not sure if that is true tho. The towel calmed it down a bit so did nestling it like a chicken half under my arm

 

[Norfolk Boy]

I snared one on the shingle with thumping gret waves coming in and it went under several times on the way in through the surf. It then pecked the hell out of me as I untangled and released it whereby it flew off straight away apparently none the worse for wear. So probably to your questions, no.

Now how would I have dealt with the people.....

 

[vidsco]

i have had a couple of seagulls and a lapwing which flew into my line as my rig and weight hit the water all of the humber wall all released unharmed and angry

 

[AndrewJS]

I've unhooked a few over the years and DanTe's Blackback at Dungeness clamped on my thumb like a vice! Just got to watch your face if you decide to handle them.

The Aldeburgh ones are best put in a sealed polythene bag for half an hour until they calm down. It works wonders.:blink:




















Only joking! (before some "Gull-hugger" reports me for cruelty!)

 

[fat flounder]

Never caught a gull but while fishing on orfordness a skien of greylag geese flew past low to the water and the last one hit my line, hell did my rods and tripod go over with a thumb, niether bird or rods were damaged.

 

[John E]

It happens often, from the boats, when using live sandeel. No sooner do get the line into the water, the Gulls are in there like a flash.

I've got some photos of the lads dealing with the gulls caught, I'll try and sort them out. :wacko:

 

[fish"a"holic]

ive bagged a few birds in my time! herring & black headed gulls,great crested grebes,moorhens,coots & loads of ducks all releast safely,but i did keep one!!.......that being the ohter half lol

 

[WRC]

I hauled in a great black backed gull earlier this year, nearly the size of a goose. It was a bit subdued when it got to the beach but soon revived... My wife landed 4 pellicans in florida in one day, covered in lures & plugs they were, always a bonus when you get one , never mind four........

 

[del nufc]

caught a gull off cromer pier, carefully untangled it and set it free, thought that was the end of the matter but it came back and [email protected] on me head.

 

[ZAGMAN]

Ask Paul (MYGODCOD) how far a Greys Nitra can fly off Berwick harbour wall whilst connected to a swan !!!

:whistling:

 

[reeleminryan]

Ask Paul (MYGODCOD) how far a Greys Nitra can fly off Berwick harbour wall whilst connected to a swan !!!

:whistling:

ha ha pmsl no way i want to ask now lolz ... tight uns ryan:laugh: