I’ve started fishing some heavy ground this year and I didn’t had a proper heavy ground rod but I was using an old Daiwa Tournament X witch has done its job good enough but I knew I needed something with a bit more backbone if I was to wrestle something more serious out of the kelp forest and ledges of the Purbecks coast.
Chris < Kennedy > strongly pointed me to a Century TT-R direction and luckily enough I managed to grab one shortly after.
To my great pleasure Garry < nuttyfisher72 > made a most outstanding job rebuilding it!
I’ve named it Thunder Strike
A picture witch really dosen't make it justice ….
2013-12-30 18.14.28 by selenitry, on Flickr
The rod is still work in progress as I really wanted to apply one or 2 stickers on it with its name and a logo but I did not find the will to follow up on getting the stickers much to Garry’s disappointment < he did reminded me a few times since so the fault lies with me alone >
2013-11-22 18.32.01-1 by selenitry, on Flickr
I must admit that the rod is much more than I can handle at the moment from a casting point of view but does a great job for the purpose witch I got it.
Now that I have introduced you to the star of the show I think its time to steer the story towards last Saturday night.
I had talked with Chris about the possibility of a last Purbecks trip of the year and we really just waited < like most of other guys > for a break in the weather.
Saturday night seemed to be the last window before new year so we settled on it.
We arrived in the car park around 3 pm and although it had been raining all the way from Bournemouth the skies started to brighten up and the rain stopped as we got out of the car.
As soon as we unloaded the gear Dean < a pleasure to meet you mate > parked his van close by and started getting ready.
We got moving shortly after as we all wanted to set up during day light.
I had a quick look at the spot where I wanted to fish and it did not looked promising, the surf was a lot higher than I had expected and the waves where occasionally covering the ledge where I was going to set up.
I’ve decided to wait for a few hours so I joined Chris and helped him set up camp.
Dean meanwhile found himself a good spot and although he was a bit concerned by the huge rafts of weed to his right he got his lines in the water shortly after.
The hours went by and I was getting anxious to start fishing so as soon as I noticed that the surf went down a bit I grabbed my gear and after greeting Dean and a friend of his i slowly made my way to the ledge I had planned to fish.
Half an hour later I had 2 rods in the water and I was eagerly staring at my rod tips.
The surf had quiet down enough to make the place fishable but I was having troubles in spotting the bites so it wasn’t going to be an easy night.
I saw a bit of strange movement on the tt-r’s tip and I lifted it up to feel a little pluck… I started reeling in and it felt like a small bass or pouting was hooked but alas the rig snagged and I lost the lot.
Felt a bit disappointed but at least I was happy there was something out there.
Baited up again and this time I wrapped a largish mackerel filled in the biggest squid I had and casted it out as far as I could.
I waited for 10 more minutes and I decided to change the bait on my other rod.
As I did so I kept glancing at the rod I had in the water and as I was getting ready to fire this one out I noticed that the line on Thunder Strike had gone slack.
I had crossed my mind before that the 6 oz grippers might not hold in the strong surf especially as the occasional largish wave was breaking heavily on the rocks around me so I did not rush to attend the slack but instead I casted out my second rod and set it in position.
I then picked up Thunder Strike and reeled in the slack but I was rather curious to see if there is something else there so I held it high with the line tight.
I could feel something like some small plucks but I could not make up my mind if it was the surf or a fish… then the line slackened a bit again so I made up my mind…. I pointed the rod down… wound up to tighten the line again and then I struck upwards while reeling in some more.
The line went so tight that the wind started whistling as it gusted past…. At the beginning it felt as I was pulling my rig trough heavy kelp forest but as soon as I managed to reel in 5 yards the kelp suddenly burst with life and this was no joke this thing at the end of the line had no intention of leaving the bottom…..
I tried to keep reeling in but the reel was jammed like, then I suddenly felt a few heavy head shakes and the fish started swimming strongly towards the bottom.
I jammed the rod in my groin and leaned backwards as there was no other way for me to try and stop it… more heavy head shakes let me know that this fish was still disapproving and I realised that my feet where shaking uncontrollably… the powerful dives where seriously hurting my hands and my back started aching.
I managed to reel in some line in between the dives but for every few turns of handle the fish was making another dive shortly followed by more head shakes that where hurting my hands and my back some more… I slowly started making progress…
The fish was now well off the bottom so it started kiting in short heavy lunges from left to right and back again…. I started feeling the line occasionally touching the reef in front of me … I knew that there was nothing for me left to do but to try and muscle it to the surface so every time it lunged I let him pull my rod down then as soon as it stopped I was the one pulling and recovering line.
It broke the surface about 40 yards out with a great black tail splash then it surged downwards again.
I knew this was a special fish but as I managed to gain control of it again using the surf to gain line I could occasionally see it and the adrenaline slowly took hold of me.
I know it sounds exaggerated but looking back at those moments I can tell you that I was not in control of my body.. I remember I was swearing.. and not in my native Romanian language but in English… and I don’t know why I did so.. my hands and my legs where shaking uncontrollably…
I got him within 10 yards of the ledge and then I somehow managed to pass it under the other rod in order to bring it to the landing place…. I slid 2 meters on my bottom over the steep ledge and after a huge wave pushed the fish on the rocks I managed to wrap the line around my hand quickly and pulled it away from the water’s edge.
I was exhausted and I kept shaking and swearing… again for no apparent reason.. but I also started smiling .. I knew I was in big time… it looked like a dinosaur!
I started talking to myself out laud… I ordered myself to get the sling and the unhooking tool… then I got the tripod close by and as soon as I took the hook out I slid the fish in the sling and hanged it on the tripod then I rushed to get the boys for picture and weigh in.
photo 2 by selenitry, on Flickr
Garry was there as well and he came with Chris and helped me weight it …
photo 1 by selenitry, on Flickr
Handling it for pictures was a bit of a nightmare.. it didn’t enjoyed being handled and I didn’t enjoyed handling it either
photo 4 by selenitry, on Flickr
I was exalted and it crossed my mind that I could pack up but I continued fishing and 30 minutes after I had released it I had another slack line bite… as I struck I felt good weight and some typical shakes and for a second I thought <OHH … Not again !!!! > but this one came a lot easier to the surface and as I handled it under my other rod and around the ledge I could see that it was quite a bit smaller than the first… I brought it in for landing as I did with first but unfortunately a set of big waves made it a lot harder to control and it managed to sink in the last big wave for the undertow to pull hard on it while I was paying attention to my footing … a laud snap made me look at it one last time before it sank to the depths… it was a long but not so thick fish.. maybe around 15-20lb … felt more like a 20 but I really couldn’t be bothered …
As I proceeded to tie a new rig on the line I realised that after landing first fish I didn’t cut the line that has frayed on the reef … a novice’s mistake … probably due to the rush I was in… I should’ve known better…
Next bite came again about 30 minutes after and this time it was an ev n smaller eel maybe around 10lb that I managed to lose as I was handling it under the other rod so I can land it…. Another big wave lifted it enough for the line to go slack a bit and then it shook its head and gone it was…
The next hour I lost 3 more fish… only one felt bigger.. I suspect all eels but I didn’t managed to see none of them… pretty strange especially that I was sharpening my hooks every time I was casting out
I had fished for less than 3 hours and I was tired like hell and happy as a clam…
As I lost the third fish I started to suspect that the new hooks I was trying where at fault for my bad hook-ups. I’ve been in a shop to get some bait and bought some other hooks than the ones I normally use … this one’s had the barb a lot bigger witch may have prevented the hook to set easily but also there is a chance < As Dean and Steve suggested > that the fish simply didn’t grabbed the bait properly and the they just spat it out.
I cut off the hook and swiftly replaced it with one I found in my box and decided it will be my last cast.
I sat down and had a couple of smokes then I noticed a few nibbles witch slowly developed in a slow pull down… I struck hard and reeled in some weight .. landed perfectly in the dying surf … 4.7 kg .. just a bit over 10lb strap conger
Packed up happy and headed for Chris’s camp and found him and Garry around the fire with some mean steaks cooking beautifully and drinking Guinness.
photo 14 by selenitry, on Flickr
Chris pushed a few of them my way and shared his stout with me then invited me to use his sleeping bag and tent while he tended to his rods.
I went and had a chat with Dean and Steve and found out that 2 more straps of about 7-10lb fell to Dean. As we went on chatting he also pulled a largish pout.
I woke up to a beautiful morning and a great warm fire to witch Chris has tended wonderfully after he finished blanking… errr.. I mean cooking and camping
photo 34 by selenitry, on Flickr
I know it’s a long post .. I just hope it makes up for the 15 odd trips I have made since I posted a proper report.. it’s hard to get inspiration when you blank or catch just a rockling or a pouting…
Chris < Kennedy > strongly pointed me to a Century TT-R direction and luckily enough I managed to grab one shortly after.
To my great pleasure Garry < nuttyfisher72 > made a most outstanding job rebuilding it!
I’ve named it Thunder Strike
A picture witch really dosen't make it justice ….
2013-12-30 18.14.28 by selenitry, on Flickr
The rod is still work in progress as I really wanted to apply one or 2 stickers on it with its name and a logo but I did not find the will to follow up on getting the stickers much to Garry’s disappointment < he did reminded me a few times since so the fault lies with me alone >
2013-11-22 18.32.01-1 by selenitry, on Flickr
I must admit that the rod is much more than I can handle at the moment from a casting point of view but does a great job for the purpose witch I got it.
Now that I have introduced you to the star of the show I think its time to steer the story towards last Saturday night.
I had talked with Chris about the possibility of a last Purbecks trip of the year and we really just waited < like most of other guys > for a break in the weather.
Saturday night seemed to be the last window before new year so we settled on it.
We arrived in the car park around 3 pm and although it had been raining all the way from Bournemouth the skies started to brighten up and the rain stopped as we got out of the car.
As soon as we unloaded the gear Dean < a pleasure to meet you mate > parked his van close by and started getting ready.
We got moving shortly after as we all wanted to set up during day light.
I had a quick look at the spot where I wanted to fish and it did not looked promising, the surf was a lot higher than I had expected and the waves where occasionally covering the ledge where I was going to set up.
I’ve decided to wait for a few hours so I joined Chris and helped him set up camp.
Dean meanwhile found himself a good spot and although he was a bit concerned by the huge rafts of weed to his right he got his lines in the water shortly after.
The hours went by and I was getting anxious to start fishing so as soon as I noticed that the surf went down a bit I grabbed my gear and after greeting Dean and a friend of his i slowly made my way to the ledge I had planned to fish.
Half an hour later I had 2 rods in the water and I was eagerly staring at my rod tips.
The surf had quiet down enough to make the place fishable but I was having troubles in spotting the bites so it wasn’t going to be an easy night.
I saw a bit of strange movement on the tt-r’s tip and I lifted it up to feel a little pluck… I started reeling in and it felt like a small bass or pouting was hooked but alas the rig snagged and I lost the lot.
Felt a bit disappointed but at least I was happy there was something out there.
Baited up again and this time I wrapped a largish mackerel filled in the biggest squid I had and casted it out as far as I could.
I waited for 10 more minutes and I decided to change the bait on my other rod.
As I did so I kept glancing at the rod I had in the water and as I was getting ready to fire this one out I noticed that the line on Thunder Strike had gone slack.
I had crossed my mind before that the 6 oz grippers might not hold in the strong surf especially as the occasional largish wave was breaking heavily on the rocks around me so I did not rush to attend the slack but instead I casted out my second rod and set it in position.
I then picked up Thunder Strike and reeled in the slack but I was rather curious to see if there is something else there so I held it high with the line tight.
I could feel something like some small plucks but I could not make up my mind if it was the surf or a fish… then the line slackened a bit again so I made up my mind…. I pointed the rod down… wound up to tighten the line again and then I struck upwards while reeling in some more.
The line went so tight that the wind started whistling as it gusted past…. At the beginning it felt as I was pulling my rig trough heavy kelp forest but as soon as I managed to reel in 5 yards the kelp suddenly burst with life and this was no joke this thing at the end of the line had no intention of leaving the bottom…..
I tried to keep reeling in but the reel was jammed like, then I suddenly felt a few heavy head shakes and the fish started swimming strongly towards the bottom.
I jammed the rod in my groin and leaned backwards as there was no other way for me to try and stop it… more heavy head shakes let me know that this fish was still disapproving and I realised that my feet where shaking uncontrollably… the powerful dives where seriously hurting my hands and my back started aching.
I managed to reel in some line in between the dives but for every few turns of handle the fish was making another dive shortly followed by more head shakes that where hurting my hands and my back some more… I slowly started making progress…
The fish was now well off the bottom so it started kiting in short heavy lunges from left to right and back again…. I started feeling the line occasionally touching the reef in front of me … I knew that there was nothing for me left to do but to try and muscle it to the surface so every time it lunged I let him pull my rod down then as soon as it stopped I was the one pulling and recovering line.
It broke the surface about 40 yards out with a great black tail splash then it surged downwards again.
I knew this was a special fish but as I managed to gain control of it again using the surf to gain line I could occasionally see it and the adrenaline slowly took hold of me.
I know it sounds exaggerated but looking back at those moments I can tell you that I was not in control of my body.. I remember I was swearing.. and not in my native Romanian language but in English… and I don’t know why I did so.. my hands and my legs where shaking uncontrollably…
I got him within 10 yards of the ledge and then I somehow managed to pass it under the other rod in order to bring it to the landing place…. I slid 2 meters on my bottom over the steep ledge and after a huge wave pushed the fish on the rocks I managed to wrap the line around my hand quickly and pulled it away from the water’s edge.
I was exhausted and I kept shaking and swearing… again for no apparent reason.. but I also started smiling .. I knew I was in big time… it looked like a dinosaur!
I started talking to myself out laud… I ordered myself to get the sling and the unhooking tool… then I got the tripod close by and as soon as I took the hook out I slid the fish in the sling and hanged it on the tripod then I rushed to get the boys for picture and weigh in.
photo 2 by selenitry, on Flickr
Garry was there as well and he came with Chris and helped me weight it …
photo 1 by selenitry, on Flickr
Handling it for pictures was a bit of a nightmare.. it didn’t enjoyed being handled and I didn’t enjoyed handling it either
photo 4 by selenitry, on Flickr
I was exalted and it crossed my mind that I could pack up but I continued fishing and 30 minutes after I had released it I had another slack line bite… as I struck I felt good weight and some typical shakes and for a second I thought <OHH … Not again !!!! > but this one came a lot easier to the surface and as I handled it under my other rod and around the ledge I could see that it was quite a bit smaller than the first… I brought it in for landing as I did with first but unfortunately a set of big waves made it a lot harder to control and it managed to sink in the last big wave for the undertow to pull hard on it while I was paying attention to my footing … a laud snap made me look at it one last time before it sank to the depths… it was a long but not so thick fish.. maybe around 15-20lb … felt more like a 20 but I really couldn’t be bothered …
As I proceeded to tie a new rig on the line I realised that after landing first fish I didn’t cut the line that has frayed on the reef … a novice’s mistake … probably due to the rush I was in… I should’ve known better…
Next bite came again about 30 minutes after and this time it was an ev n smaller eel maybe around 10lb that I managed to lose as I was handling it under the other rod so I can land it…. Another big wave lifted it enough for the line to go slack a bit and then it shook its head and gone it was…
The next hour I lost 3 more fish… only one felt bigger.. I suspect all eels but I didn’t managed to see none of them… pretty strange especially that I was sharpening my hooks every time I was casting out
I had fished for less than 3 hours and I was tired like hell and happy as a clam…
As I lost the third fish I started to suspect that the new hooks I was trying where at fault for my bad hook-ups. I’ve been in a shop to get some bait and bought some other hooks than the ones I normally use … this one’s had the barb a lot bigger witch may have prevented the hook to set easily but also there is a chance < As Dean and Steve suggested > that the fish simply didn’t grabbed the bait properly and the they just spat it out.
I cut off the hook and swiftly replaced it with one I found in my box and decided it will be my last cast.
I sat down and had a couple of smokes then I noticed a few nibbles witch slowly developed in a slow pull down… I struck hard and reeled in some weight .. landed perfectly in the dying surf … 4.7 kg .. just a bit over 10lb strap conger
Packed up happy and headed for Chris’s camp and found him and Garry around the fire with some mean steaks cooking beautifully and drinking Guinness.
photo 14 by selenitry, on Flickr
Chris pushed a few of them my way and shared his stout with me then invited me to use his sleeping bag and tent while he tended to his rods.
I went and had a chat with Dean and Steve and found out that 2 more straps of about 7-10lb fell to Dean. As we went on chatting he also pulled a largish pout.
I woke up to a beautiful morning and a great warm fire to witch Chris has tended wonderfully after he finished blanking… errr.. I mean cooking and camping
photo 34 by selenitry, on Flickr
I know it’s a long post .. I just hope it makes up for the 15 odd trips I have made since I posted a proper report.. it’s hard to get inspiration when you blank or catch just a rockling or a pouting…
