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With the last couple of contacts with skate in the Moray Firth ending in tears, surely third time lucky!
The weather has been rubbish this last few weeks, no chance of a trip. Just a gap this weekend, we had to go for it. Fished Saturday at anchor, not far off our last contact, loads of bait, you think you're doing everything right....blank!
Weather still good, we had to try again. Set a bait trail then anchored about half a mile from last spot. Two rods out and looking good. Three hours later, doubts creeping in, do we stick with it or move? Decisions, decisions!
We've got bait to do one move, let's go for it. Came half a mile inshore and picked an edge where the hard meets the sand. Anchor down, let the boat settle, here we go again.
Three hours later, just small dabs on the light rods, then Zzzz....Zzzz.....we're on!
Put Kev. on the rod with instructions 'Don't do anything, just keep in touch while I get everything in and clear the deck!' 'Ok, can you feel it ?' 'Yeah, do I strike?' It's his first ever! 'NO, just set the drag, wind down and lean!!' That done, he was into the serious bit. He would keep taking a rest ! That gives the fish chance to take a rest, then the last bit of line you've gained.
We could tell it was large, but when it surfaced ten yards downtide of the boat, 'Holy ****, that's big !!'
We got it to the side of the boat and held it on a small gaff in the wing edge. The 10/0 barbless was worked out easily and as it stayed fairly docile, chance for a measure. Nose to tail..89ins..spot on. Wingspan was a bit more difficult working on my own and underwater. I called it at 62ins. but that was more best guess and could easily be a few inches out.
Checking the charts, 89in females start at 64in and 200lb, going up from there.
So minimum estimate is 200lb. Possibly biggest fish on rod and line from the Moray Firth?
You'd call that a result!!!
We could do with more people making the effort with skate and sharks in the Firth. That way we could pool info. and lessons learned, that's got to mean more fish.
t.c.
The weather has been rubbish this last few weeks, no chance of a trip. Just a gap this weekend, we had to go for it. Fished Saturday at anchor, not far off our last contact, loads of bait, you think you're doing everything right....blank!
Weather still good, we had to try again. Set a bait trail then anchored about half a mile from last spot. Two rods out and looking good. Three hours later, doubts creeping in, do we stick with it or move? Decisions, decisions!
We've got bait to do one move, let's go for it. Came half a mile inshore and picked an edge where the hard meets the sand. Anchor down, let the boat settle, here we go again.
Three hours later, just small dabs on the light rods, then Zzzz....Zzzz.....we're on!
Put Kev. on the rod with instructions 'Don't do anything, just keep in touch while I get everything in and clear the deck!' 'Ok, can you feel it ?' 'Yeah, do I strike?' It's his first ever! 'NO, just set the drag, wind down and lean!!' That done, he was into the serious bit. He would keep taking a rest ! That gives the fish chance to take a rest, then the last bit of line you've gained.
We could tell it was large, but when it surfaced ten yards downtide of the boat, 'Holy ****, that's big !!'
We got it to the side of the boat and held it on a small gaff in the wing edge. The 10/0 barbless was worked out easily and as it stayed fairly docile, chance for a measure. Nose to tail..89ins..spot on. Wingspan was a bit more difficult working on my own and underwater. I called it at 62ins. but that was more best guess and could easily be a few inches out.
Checking the charts, 89in females start at 64in and 200lb, going up from there.
So minimum estimate is 200lb. Possibly biggest fish on rod and line from the Moray Firth?
You'd call that a result!!!
We could do with more people making the effort with skate and sharks in the Firth. That way we could pool info. and lessons learned, that's got to mean more fish.
t.c.
