Speciman Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi Everyone. Nice to read the reports from this weekends fun. Looks like there were some great trips out. Here is Zzippy and my contribution. If anyones interested we posted some pics to go with the report Short story: Zzippy and I caught mackeral and wrasse in Swanage and Durlston Bay. Long story read on: Zzippy and I planned to fish the tope grounds between St Albans and Durlston Head west of Swanage yesterday. Zzippy arrived early (7-8am) to try for mackeral in Swanage Bay and produced a few before I got down there at 10:30am. The plan had been to paddle out at slack water (high tide & 12:40pm for Swanage bay) and take the ebbing tide round past Durlston Head and fish somewhere in between there and St Albans. We'd heard the tide pulls strong in this area so we would have been looking to fish close inshore between these headlands. When we headed out of Swanage bay and headed west the tide was against us but not too strong at that point. There was confusion with the state of the tide, it may have still been coming in as an hour or so later it was predicted high tide for Swanage but Zzippy had seen it going out before we set off. With a double high tide a characteristic of nearby Poole Harbour and Bournemouth beaches(east) and a double low tide a characteristic of Kimmeridge area(west) it made it hard to judge just what was going on! When we paddled through Durlston Bay around the corner from Swanage, the tide picked up near Durlston Head and we anchored up near Tilly Whim caves as we were tiring. I guess anchoring in deep water near a headland is not advisable at the best of times & isn't there! The tide was too strong, we were in deep water (more pull against the anchor cord) and we were both close to reaching for our dive knifes and cutting the cord. Fortunately the plastic cable ties broke free on their own by the force of the tide and our anchors could be pulled back up with ease. We then took this fast tide back to Durlston Bay and fished this area for a good few hours. When we decided to head back into Swanage Bay the tidal conditions had changed somewhat around Peveril Point (an underwater rocky outcrop just to the west of swanage which we needed to cross to get back into Swanage Bay). With water rushing out of the bay over these rocks, surf and whirlpool were forming. Zzippy and I paddled straight into this not knowing how strong the currents were against us at the time. We reached a point where the kayaks were static - with us paddling hard and the current trying to take us back into the surf and whirlspools we had just paddled through and avoided. We had no choice but to turn back and to go with the current and face the torrents. The kayaks handled this surprisingly well, we got through it and beached up at Durlston Bay for a 'breather'. Afterwards we stayed close inshore and lifted our kayaks over some rocks to get back into the harbour. Fished Swanage bay a few more hours with little success. Zzippy had the most fish today with some good mackeral and wrasse. Myself, I caught one mackeral! So no tope fishing as such although we did have a big bait rod out just in case. A great day out with lots of fun and adventure. If I can suss those tides out I want to try for those tope grounds again. Plenty of sea kayakers pass through this area - its very scenic with good wildlife. When heading over to the Purbecks we may launch from Kimmeridge Bay next time and try to find a tope mark on the western side of St Albans Head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hi Speciman, good report of your heroic deeds,and just to think I was having a quiet moan about MY sundays activities. Still as they say in these parts " they'r not ALL locked up" ,Although in the case of you and zzipy it can only be a matter of time !!...cheers and good luck on your next Tope attack ..jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Hi as said elsware the tides did not seem to agree with the tidal books on Sunday. Without trying to scare you off I did try and warn you last week about the strong tides at peveril, I have seen diving RIBs and fishing boats in the S~~t there, so only a place for kayaks at or around slack tide. even in my 18ft Dory I avoided it when you could see the overfalls on an ebbing tide. Glad that you were safe though after deciding not to continue fighting the tide [very strong ebbing and makes it very rough even beyond the ledge due to the continuous rough terrain], and a nice report Tighter lines, and less tired limbs next time I hope Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speciman Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Thanks Jack and Charlie. Next time, if we launch from Kimmeridge we could end up surfing back in Am I right in thinking that an ebbing tide would take us west in the direction of St Albans Head if launching from Swanage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Spaceman says....Next time, if we launch from Kimmeridge we could end up surfing back in You URGENTLY need to speak to Bob F re this aspect of recovery at Kimmeridge Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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