Bob F Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Managed to get out very early this morning (still dark). It was a bit lumpy but fought my way out to the Betsy and anchored up on slack water. 10 mins later and the first eel was on. 30 mins later and the 55lb beast was at the side of the boat and T-bar'd off. Down went the cuttle bait again (thanks Kam) and 10 mins later another eel is on. This one is a massive beast. 45 mins later, and after severel titanic lunges to the depths, I manage to get the mass of thrashing foam and black muscle to the surface. It's huge. Couldn't get the eel into the boat and had to let her go. Who knows how big she was, but in length she was at least 7ft. The tide started running so up'd the anchor and had an experiemental drift of the wreck using the new shads I'd bought. Blow me down, on the first drift I'm hit by a massive take and line screams off my reel. Somehow managed to keep control and stopped the fish diving into the wreck. A terrific battle ensued but it looks like its my day. 15 mins later I've netted by first double figure bass. Scales bounced between 16lb and 22lb. so I guess I'll have to call it 16lb. I give it a Rex Hunt kiss and see her safely back into the water. I line up Splash-Out for another drift and down goes the shad again. The new Eagle colour plotter is supurb and starts to show the beginning of the wreck with a mass of fish just above it. I reel up the shad slightly to miss the wreck and hopefully pass through the middle of the shoal. Bang!! Another huge take. A much different fight this time. More dogged and very heavy. Could it be my first cod of the season??? The fight is getting harder and I'm struggling to keep control with the Giller Thriller rod. I'm being out-gunned. Somehow I manage to get the fish to the surface. It's a huge Cod. I'm now wishing I'd brought the bigger landing net. I let the fish's tail drift back into the net but the huge head will not go in!! Through a combination of lifting the rod and net at the same time, the cod is pulled into the boat. My scales only go upto 45lb and they bottomed out, but taking the lowest weight she scales 36lb. Another personal best!! What a morning. By now the sea is getting very lumpy, so decided to move inshore. On the way in I passed over Dolphin Sands and saw a very intersting bank on the sounder, so decided to give it a quick try. Looks like a great Blonde Ray mark. Down goes a squid bait. Severel missed bites later I have a fish on and kiting in the tide. It can only be a big ray. The tide is running strong and it's a real struggle to gain line. I'm not sure I'm going to get this one in. Inch by inch I manage to bring the fish up and eventually the fish surfaces about 40m meters from the boat. It's a very big ray, so has to be a Blonde. Slowly, and with my heart in my mouth I manage to ease the fish to the boat. Again, the net is not big enough and I have to lean over the side and make a grab for the tail. I drop the rod in the boat and grab the ray with the other hand and haul her into the boat. I can't beleive it!! It's another huge fish which again can't be weighed on my scales. I'm not going to kill her so I lay out a tape measure beside her and take a couple of photos. Hopefully we can estimate the weight from this. The weather is really taking a turn for the worst now, and I'm being roughly shook by the waves..."Bob, Bob, it's 10 O'Clock!!! Wake up you lazy git. The dish washer has flooded, and the bathroom door doesn't open, and you promised to take me to B&Q to choose the new wallpaper!!!" Ah sod it!!! And I still had a personal best Turbot to catch... BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 LOL you must be suffering thesame disease as me Bob latin =notbeenfishinites english = p****d of with this weather Nice story though Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueboatdriver Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 You definately had me going I was just about to ring Matt and ask him where the Betsy is. Sounds like a good mark for the comp. Is there enough room for 25 boats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Great Bob brought some smiles on another windy and wet Sunday. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted November 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored. Fixed the dish washer, though. As much hope of catching a 60lb conger on Betsy as me catching a cod. BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 excellent - had me solidly until the cod bottomed out the scales, and a good read from there still anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Well done, had me going as well! I too am sitting here in my hotel room with the wind howling around the patio window which is shaking enough to shatter. Wishing I could get home .............. all flights to the UK are fully booked until Thursday!!!! Just hope Sammy is safe and well and not been damaged in all the weather you have been having. If it is anything like over here, next week-end will be blown off! Oh well back to dreaming Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted November 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Are you still in Canada, Coddy? BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Congratulation Bob on getting the record conger, bass and cod, (did the blonde ray did it too?) for our club "dream" league record. I'm off tonight trying to get black bream, gunard and maybe a sole. Checklist: a hot water bottle, a bottle of red wine, and a small glass of port for good measure..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted November 6, 2005 Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 Don't forget the CHEESE......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted November 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2005 As a rough guess I'd estimate the Blonde Ray at 39lb, 2oz 4drm, which just beats the British Record, but who's counting...? A nice Stilton for me, please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Hi Bob yes, just moved to Ottawa for one day Back to Toronto until Thursday, catching the overnight flight to the UK arriving Friday early AM Good news is I just been upgraded to First Class flying back! Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 at least your travelling back in style then sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Yes, but what he doesn't say is that he is acting as steward for the real first class passengers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack Posted November 7, 2005 Report Share Posted November 7, 2005 Bob,this is the only type of fishing where I can beat "all comers"... jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Yes, but what he doesn't say is that he is acting as steward for the real first class passengers. The only thing they forgot to tell me is that I have to clean out the outside toilet at 38,000ft! See you all soon Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 Dave.....kep your eye on the airspeed indicator on the back of the seat....I presume that your kite will have one.....I bet you top 700mph across the ground with these huge winds and strong gulfstreams. On the way home from Florida, I topped 723mph, although I'm sure that was groundspeed, but we were still held over Gatwick cos we sped up and couldnt get a landing slot!!! Safe home, Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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