Paul J Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 (edited) Not being able to commit to a full day I had to give the flounder comp a miss. The Weather was too nice to miss though so I planned a quick run out of Christchurch to have a look around. Having promised to get back early and with low water at 2:30, a 7am-12 trip was on the cards. Launching at 7am, it was lovely going down the harbour and through the run in calm still conditions with the sun rising- marvellous. As I went offshore it soon chopped up and it was a tad bumpy going out, anchored on the spot and settled beam on in a medium size swell. I got pestered from the off by dogfish and they became a nuisance as the tide slacked off- eating all my cod and whiting baits, all that re-baiting is hard work you know. About 10am as the tide was ebbing I got a good hit which I let run and then tightened up into something heavy, It gave a real good initial run making me think Conger! After a bit of a tussle it settle down but stayed deep giving some strong nods which had me hoping and praying it was what I now thought it might be, A nice steady retrieve and a good bend in the rod eventually yielded a beautiful plump cod of 16 Edited December 17, 2006 by Paul J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Delightful Morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Christmas Cod- 16 1/2lbs - expected it to be full of Squid however it was quite empty with only a few crabs and sprats inside it- must be that anglers haven't been able to feed them 5lb boxes of squid lately due to the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plaicemat Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Nice fish, me hearty. Boxing day lunch? When my new chart plotter comes this week (unexpected Chrimbo present due to old one being sh@gged, lost all waypoints) I may be pestering you for the secret location! No need to wish you a merry Christmas, yours has started already. Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Terry, No problem PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Nice one Paul an excellent fish, they certainly seem few and far between this year so well done on your capture Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Well done Paul Cracking fish and the boat record as well, why can't I have mornings like that! Coddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun j. Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Well done Paul !! Makes up for last weekend by loads!! We're all dead envious..... as we unhooked dog after dog. A few conger and some big pout for some variety........ and one solitary whiting, and that was a bit small! My hols. start Wed......... and weather looks promising for getting out. Cheers and Christmas Greetings, Alun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugazi Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Great result for a quick trip out Paul, hope Paul D and I find some tomorrow as well, whats the run like to get through at the moment? Gordon H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Moore Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Nice one Paul, they are becoming a special fish these days, from around these parts anyway. His brother didn't hang about though as we just hauled in the pout and dogs all day. The original plan was to push out to a wreck or the car park but the nasty swell and a spot of bother with the Etec put paid to that. It was great to get out though at last. I need to wangle some days off now to take advantage of the current weather window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Dont worry Gordon. I will find his brother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 (edited) Thanks for the mark Paul - which produced dog after dog, and then a run of good pout to over 2lb (to Gordon). Not even a sniff from a marauding cod. Didn't get to christen the new gear on a quality fish, but it was fun trying. Great to be on the water again, and George was really impressed at the speed of Enticer, and yet again I was amazed Enticer is only 16.5 feet long. Shame that anchoring in wind over tide earlier today didn't work out - but there was never a concern about safety, even when the engine did seem to be acting strangely. Having seen Paul's superb cod, I now must admit to wanting one! Nice fish Paul! Sounds like Alun and Adam had a good session, and was good to see you both on the slip. Good luck with the worms Alun...if they last! Thanks again for a great day out Gordon, and your hot bacon rolls are unbeatable! Mike and George Edited December 17, 2006 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Phaeton took a late run out - didn't get away until after 830 and had a nice run through the harbour; bothered only by Otter's wash.........called them but they weren't 'switched on'. Word with Frank passing the quay then on across the bay (over the cod apparantely) and joining the needles car park. looked around for a few new spots but eventually joined the rest after nothing there. reasonable day eventually - but patchy at the end we had a couple of good thornbacks, spotted ray, conger, dogs, pout and (a) channel whiting nice day to be out on the water but could have done without the swell, and the breeze.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 BW also joined the fray and Alan and I slipped away at a very respectable 8.30am into a glouros morning - a little snotty once further offshore, but certianly not too uncomfortable. Bites from the off continued for the rest for the rest of the day, 3 boxes of squid later and we never had a single cast between the six rods fished all day, I've never caught so many doggies!! Jumbo pout to just inder 3lb a few scrappy congers to 25lb and a solitary 'lost' channel whiting completed the catch. But alas no cod. Morning flood tide best though - will be squezzing another few trips in this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Nice fish Paul Good to hear that there are still some about The fish book looks sad after all this poor weather I hope that a few get out in the next few days as the wind forcast is calm. and I get a late run on fish reports for 2006. I do think some of this years fish for species Trophy's are a little small this year and could still be beaten. [congers, dogs etc] I will be joining in the Christmas round of socials, and working on the boat between headaches but I still wish all those able to get out, tight lines Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 I had a call from Frank last evening to report a bass of 5lb 8oz and a very large conger The Eel supports my last post, about the species cups still open for grabs apparently it was the bigest conger he has ever seen, about 8ft long The beasty bottomed his scales at the Max 50lb mark before destroying them, so will have to be recorded at 50lb even though Frank thinks it was nearer to 70 It was returned alive rather than knocked on the head just to weigh it Nice one Frank, let them go so we can have a go for them when the boats done Tight lines all Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 apparently it was the bigest conger he has ever seen we've heard this from Frank before if i remember rightly Well Done Frank, shame we couldn't get the true weight PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 He text me a photo She was a big brute, not sure a 70lb fish but apparently it was as long as his boat is wide, so about 8 to 8.5 ft. I will see if Sam can get the photo off of my phone and add it here later Regards Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 certainly a 60 taken very close to where I believe Frank was fishing the previous day - good stamp of fish out in that deeper water if you can fish it. whatever - a great fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 bothered only by Otter's wash.........called them but they weren't 'switched on'. Ooops Sorry Duncan................ We were concentrating on mechanical stuff and I forgot to turn up the radio when we got underway. Had a mostly pleasant day out if not just a bit slow on the bite. Excellent Dorset sausage baps though.. T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Is it me or are whitings are rare as cod nowadays? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 np trev - nice to see Otter running sweetly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Paul, 3 days of hunting and I found his sister ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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