Christchurch 5th November

[Mike Fox]

Went out with Gordon on Enticer on Saturday morning, and what a gorgeous winter's day! Whisps of mist blowing down Christchurch harbour on the gentlest of northerlies, with the sun lighting up the dawn over the Isle of Wight, reflecting in the calm seas.

 

We left around 7 a.m., and blasted out to a wreck in 100 ft or so of water a good few miles South. We rigged artificials for bass, for drifting on the last of the flood, and I hit a bass of 6lb first drop on a large blue storm shad, promising a brilliant day. Gordon had a pout of 1lb or so. Several drifts later, Gordon had picked up another pout per drift, and I eventually got one. It seemed the bass was alone.

 

As the tide died, we went out to find another wreck to anchor for conger, but after searching hard, nothing showed on the sounder as looking fishable, and we returned to the first wreck, drifting the dying flood, then anchoring near Neo who had come to join us. No eels came to visit unfortunately, and after the ebb set in hard, and holding bottom proved difficult, we moved to try the back edge of some banks, to try to escape the Spring tide.

 

After checking out 2-3 places, we anchored up, and Gordon had a pair of nice 3lb bass, which he returned, and I lost a mystery fish, that stripped line off at high speed, and felt much heavier than my earlier bass. It was only on about 5 seconds before the 20lb mono trace parted - or was bitten through. We also had a good few doggies.

 

Our final spot was at the back of the Ledge close to Neo who had managed a few whiting, and we had 4 or 5 in an hour. Actually, it was Gordon that had 4-5. I had one. All were under a pound and were returned, but it was good to see they are in.

 

We headed back in to Christchurch in the dusk, after a superb day out with great company in a cracking boat, which handled superbly.

 

Mike

[Sinbad]

Nice report Mike

 

I could only dream of being out there, whilst being indoors, fixing a telephone extension, and looking at all that bright sun and calm water.

Hope Gordon showed you the merits of 30lb class tackle.

Perhaps you can run to a warrior 165 as a tender!

 

Paul