Well Im out tomorrow if the weather gods allow a day at sea and I intend to do a deep one as its a 4.7 tide, club comp should be on so all looks good. However I couldnt wait till tomorrow so I popped over to Shoreham East Arm for a spot of macky bashing, saves time collecting bait in the morning.
Off I went rod, reel etc for a nice gentle walk over the lock gates, onto Southwick beach then that long walk to the arm. Empty rubbish bag in hand ready for playing my part in the Just Take 5 litter campaign. As I looked onto the beach I thought Im going to need a bigger bag!!!!!! Suddenly I was not looking forward to seeing the mess waiting for me on the arm. Well what a surprise the East arm seemed to be just as busy as the West arm, and my second surprise......next to no litter considering recent visits and no nasty smells either. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the day fishing, mums, dads, kids and a couple of groups at the beginning and to the end of the arm. Now thats what pleasure fishing is meant to be like, enjoyable, relaxing and fun.
I picked my spot and set about getting my bait for tomorrows comp, thirty, forty, fifty casts later and still no mackerel, one tiny little smelt thats all. I said to myself it isnt going to be a productive day so I decided to simply enjoy the environment and do a bit of day dreaming of days gone by fishing the arm. One nice chap came over to me and offered me some king rag as he was leaving, which I accepted with thanks. So on went the rag, sat down on the top with rod resting on my legs waiting for a bite. Peace and tranquillity, shades on with the sun on my back, peering over the side of the arm looking into the depths, now could I see a fish or two.......no but never mind it was a lovely day.
Then along came those jet skis, vmmmmm vmmmmm vmmmmm vmmmmm in and out of the harbour, 360s, thump thump thump for about a hour. We never had them when I was a lad fishing the harbour and to be honest I never realised what a pain in the backside they really are when people are trying to enjoy a day fishing the arms, I dont know how you guys put up with it. Not one of them was keeping to the 6 knot speed limit in the harbour and they were doing it right in front of the harbour watch, how long that will last I dont know. That was enough for me, so I decided to pack up and call it a day.
Despite the arm being surprisingly clean my Just Take 5 turned into just take 25, most of which was several pairs of blue disposable gloves and the cardboard packaging that they came in, a few crushed cans and a couple of plastic bottles...........not the sort of litter I would associate with angling but there you go. On a good note as I turned to go home I heard kids cheering from the bottom ledge, so I peered over to see a young lad with his two sisters lifting up his drop net with a fish inside, its a fish...its a fish can we eat it daddy........... no son its only little wrasse.........lets put it back but well done anyway. With smiles all round the wrasse was returned and there were three very happy kids and I even heard the dad say thats what Ive been trying to catch all day, lol.
Thats another young lad hooked on fishing and thats why we all need to help make sure he has a future as an angler and clean venues so he can enjoy his hobby. Well done dad. :clap3:
Off I went rod, reel etc for a nice gentle walk over the lock gates, onto Southwick beach then that long walk to the arm. Empty rubbish bag in hand ready for playing my part in the Just Take 5 litter campaign. As I looked onto the beach I thought Im going to need a bigger bag!!!!!! Suddenly I was not looking forward to seeing the mess waiting for me on the arm. Well what a surprise the East arm seemed to be just as busy as the West arm, and my second surprise......next to no litter considering recent visits and no nasty smells either. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the day fishing, mums, dads, kids and a couple of groups at the beginning and to the end of the arm. Now thats what pleasure fishing is meant to be like, enjoyable, relaxing and fun.
I picked my spot and set about getting my bait for tomorrows comp, thirty, forty, fifty casts later and still no mackerel, one tiny little smelt thats all. I said to myself it isnt going to be a productive day so I decided to simply enjoy the environment and do a bit of day dreaming of days gone by fishing the arm. One nice chap came over to me and offered me some king rag as he was leaving, which I accepted with thanks. So on went the rag, sat down on the top with rod resting on my legs waiting for a bite. Peace and tranquillity, shades on with the sun on my back, peering over the side of the arm looking into the depths, now could I see a fish or two.......no but never mind it was a lovely day.
Then along came those jet skis, vmmmmm vmmmmm vmmmmm vmmmmm in and out of the harbour, 360s, thump thump thump for about a hour. We never had them when I was a lad fishing the harbour and to be honest I never realised what a pain in the backside they really are when people are trying to enjoy a day fishing the arms, I dont know how you guys put up with it. Not one of them was keeping to the 6 knot speed limit in the harbour and they were doing it right in front of the harbour watch, how long that will last I dont know. That was enough for me, so I decided to pack up and call it a day.
Despite the arm being surprisingly clean my Just Take 5 turned into just take 25, most of which was several pairs of blue disposable gloves and the cardboard packaging that they came in, a few crushed cans and a couple of plastic bottles...........not the sort of litter I would associate with angling but there you go. On a good note as I turned to go home I heard kids cheering from the bottom ledge, so I peered over to see a young lad with his two sisters lifting up his drop net with a fish inside, its a fish...its a fish can we eat it daddy........... no son its only little wrasse.........lets put it back but well done anyway. With smiles all round the wrasse was returned and there were three very happy kids and I even heard the dad say thats what Ive been trying to catch all day, lol.
Thats another young lad hooked on fishing and thats why we all need to help make sure he has a future as an angler and clean venues so he can enjoy his hobby. Well done dad. :clap3:
