Fri Night.........

[alun j.]

First day back at work .........too much to think about; needed a good start to the weekend.......... so the propect of a calm evening was most welcome.

 

Not only was it calm, but warm and sunny and Paul F. [sinbad] was able to join me in pursuit of that record sole.......... [ but not last night]

 

A few 'senior moments' delayed start when I realised I'd forgotten the lights and had to shoot home to retrieve them......DOH !!......... but this gave Paul 20 mins to tackle up and watch a bit more water start to fill the harbour.

 

Lovely smooth trip east of Christchurch.......... looking for 'groovy' ground at 3.5 to 4 m.

 

Another two boats in a bit closer didn't seem to get any !! ....... but we had a steady stream of fish; plenty of 'pesky' little bream, but not the huge numbers of recent weeks, a few small spotted rays, smoothies and 8 sole ....... mostly just under a pound each; best only went 1 lb. 3 oz , so no challenge to the record this time.

 

After the fantastic sunset, the next light show was the phosphorescence in the water .......... just swirl your hand in that warm calm water and watch .......; pulling up the warp and everything flashes; drop it in the well and it glows, clap your hands and they flash green ! ......... all caused by tiny dinoflagellates [ part of the plant plankton ........ algae ] present in large numbers and most active in calm spells, during dark nights after sunny days [ particularly when day and night are both close to 12 hours] ........ just like we've just had !!

 

Thanks Paul for the company, the beers and the excellent tea making ........ do it again soon???

 

Alun.

[Bob F]

Nice report, Alun.

 

That record's there somewhere.