TomBettle Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 7 this morning saw me collecting Phill Dawson (Bosun at Salterns Marina) and his wife, Sheila. for another go at those English Channel Sharks. Armed with my new tagging gear from Doc Ken Collins of the shark tagging programme along with 4 shark set-ups and 3 12lb / 20lb bottom set-ups, 60Kg of frozen rubby dubby and a generous quantity of my new special formula rubby dubby we headed to a mark much closer than a fortnight ago, In fact, within half an hour we were on our spot. Today we were to try anchoring, rather than drifting, a couple of hundred metres uptide of a wreck a short distance south of the Shambles in somewhat less than 30 metres of water. Down went the hook and Sheila did a great job getting our first fresh mackerl for bait whilst I sorted the rubby dubby and got the rods over. The usual 80 feet, 60 feet, 40 and 20 foot spread was set out, but as we were anchored, 8oz of lead was placed on sliders to try and keep the baits from rising to the surface. Two bottom rods were set and the third was kept for mackerel as and when we required them. 15 minutes in and halfway through the first cup of tea there was a short, but unmistakable burts of ratchet from the deepest rod. Looking out I could see the blue balloon bobbing violently 50 metres away and then shoot under and along just under the surface before pulling free of the line. I have to admit I didn't really know what to do next. I have caught many very large fish abroad, but always had a skipper and crew working for me. To be honest, Big Game fishing abroad the angler doesn't do an awful lot and it is the boat crew who play the biggest part. Admittedly I panicked a little and simply through the reel to "strike" and let the weight come on to the rod. It came on alright, but my racing heart sank as a fairly week, nod nod and a yard of line left the spool. Tope... On 20lb / 50lb stand-up gear the little 12lb pack Tope felt no more than a doggie and she was unceremoniously winched in unhooked and released quickly, nose into the tide. I settled back down to finish my tea thinking "should really have tagged her", we'll do the next that is big enough. Moments later and Sheila's little downtide bottom rod is lurching over the side and after a brief scuffle her very first Tope is on the Surface. Not big, but she was over the moon. During the last hour or so of the ebb, Sheila managed three futher Tope of between 12 and 15lb. None were weighed, all went back in moments and two were tagged as a "practise run" for the real thing. Phil finally managed to hook a small one on his bottom rod too, but he was being well outfished by the FPO. The tide died away and on came the doggies to the bottom rods so leaving the rubby dubby sack trailing I rasied the anchor and steemed at 2 knots to what was about to be the new utide side of the wreck. Settling in, the tide pcked up nicely, but the fishing didn't. Doggie after doggie after doggie on the bottom rods and nothing to the big guns and balloons. A fe boats were drifting the reef marks around us for Bass, most were coming over to see what we were doing, but weren't staying too long, so I guess the fishing wasn't good for them either.... ......sssscccccCCCCCRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAA MMMMMMMMMMM The deepest shark rod went off like a rocket. The startled sea gulls lept from the water and the balloon burst in a flurry of white water. "This is it" I kept telling myself, this is what you have been waiting for. The run carried on for probably 10 or 15 seconds against a medium drag as the tide was running hard. It stopped and for once I calmly took the rod from the holder and waited for the second run. tic tic tic sssssccccCCCCCCRRRRRRRREEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMM off she went again. With rod held high I slid the lever to strike and the weight began to load up and then nothing! Absolutedly gutted, both me and the mackerel bait. I reeled in the sharkless trace and the bait was still their, but one mackerel had a small piece of head left and the other had no belly. This bl@@dy sharking is tough stuff! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIMBOB Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Its all about hours on the "bank" keep at it , next time you might just get one! Great report. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMac Posted August 4, 2006 Report Share Posted August 4, 2006 Great report Tom, keep trying mate, you'll have em!!!!! Ps, Owe you one for my phone , took me half an hour this morning to sort it. Look forward to ypur next day out with us Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Tom, everything comes to he who waits. Its all part of angling!! Great write up, despite the no show. After this next week at work, things are back to "normal" so will be able to crew for you midweek days, if needed. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Nice one Tom, At least a bit of action this time....my freezer is now full to the brim so I'm ready to give it a go! Interesting you had more action at anchor that drifting.. As James says - hours on the bank - its only a matter of time, and boy, o boy! wont it be worth it. I fished a Ringwood gravel pit for 12 months before I had a bite - 38lb 4oz mirror carp though...worth the wait!! Keep in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted August 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 With Fred's successful capture, it has spurred me on to keep trying, even harder now. The freezer is full of goolish concoctions of Sea Magnet, Pigs Blood and all sorts of other fish attracting goo and it all needs to be tipped, ladled or hung over the side at sometime soon. Anchoring seems to get the trail going very well, but drifting just "feels right" so next go will probably be back on the drift, but most likely in the general area we had the run up on Friday. I am keeping my fingers well and truly crossed for the next attempt. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted August 6, 2006 Report Share Posted August 6, 2006 Hi Tom nice report At least the run shows that the theory is right, and none of us get to practice the technique enough to be expert at it. I am surprised you did not get more tope with all that groundbait keep up the effort and I am sure you will reap the reward Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted August 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 We certainly get plenty of Tope down around the area I was fishing, but I don't think they are as prolific as they are in some of the IoW grounds and immediately off Poole. We were getting loads of Tope takes, but trying to snatch the baits away and on the shark gear our hooks were HUGE so it was quite literally hit and miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will church Posted August 7, 2006 Report Share Posted August 7, 2006 I echo Adam's thoughts......it took me a week a year for 5 years as a young lad to catch a salmon . Seems (slightly more) straightforward with the benefit of hindsight! Just keep confident. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.