Neal Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 An early start to dash across the New Forest towards Langstone Harbour was nearly scuppered by the closure of the A31 on Friday morning. I just made it in time to meet the members of the Met. Police for a days Tope fishing on Valkyrie - skippered by Glen Cairns. We set off for an area south of the Isle of Wight that is not usually fished because of the strong tides. We had chosen that day because of the small tides and hoped that we could fish all day. We struggled at first to catch any mackeral - but the few we managed were each quickly cut into two baits and as soon as the anchor was in, using 2lb of lead, we dropped our baits down the 260ft to hold bottom. Within minutes rods were bent double as the Tope in a feeding frenzy attacked and devoured our baits. Fish ranging from 25lb to 45lb were brought to the surface one after another all day with often 3 or 4 hook-ups at a time. Some of the bigger tope never even got anywhere near to the surface, snapping 80lb leaders - biting through 200lb mono traces like spaghetti. On one occasion I had to pull in a fish that had more than one line wrapped around it - a task that burned every muscle in both arms and seemed to take hours to get the fish to the boat. that was with two of us winding together. The second time it happened a 40lb fish was foul hooked and it took a good 45 minutes to get the fish to the boat - by this time the fingers on my left hand were all cramped up at funny angles and I could not lift my arms. All the fish were returned to swim away - only a couple were brought aboard for a quick photo and then released. Total - probably somewhere close to 80 Tope for the day - leaving a few extremely tired but very happy anglers. Oh God - I've got to go out again Saturday.................. Neal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just add water Posted June 17, 2008 Report Share Posted June 17, 2008 Hell of a trip for Friday the 13th Neal Nice one mate any chance of a PM of where you were? Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamouse Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Hell of a trip for Friday the 13th Neal Nice one mate any chance of a PM of where you were? Charlie The clue is in the depth, Charlie. Most probably St Caths and at 260ft probably the 68m hole. There seem to have been a few boats doing well there, looking around the various forums Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Posted June 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Absolutely spot on Steve, Charlie, Their are at least two "holes" with depths marked at up to 80m. You can only normaly fish at dead slack or on the smallest neap tides. These holes are stuffed full of Tope at the moment - plus huge eels if you can get past the Tope. Their is also the odd shark or two in this area - having latched on to Threshers in the past - and I don't mean the Off- Licence!!! My arms are still bruised and sore from last Friday - I have never before been too tired to put down another bait. We basically had a fish a drop. 26th / 27th July, I am going again - hopefully fully recovered. If you want to give it a go before then and the tides are ok, I would be happy to join you - and then do a spot of Eel fishing - that record shouldn't stand too much longer! Neal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 Thanks Neal Is that too accompany Court Jester or all on one boat? Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamouse Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Hi Charlie, If you do plan to plug all the way east to St Caths, you really do need to plan it on a neap. The tide push is very heavy and the overfalls are something else. When the tide is pushing a bit too hard to anchor the deeps, its just right for drifting the rise for pollack and bass though Let me know if you go - given the right conditions it is just about at the limits of my range. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Thanks Steve Neal and I will be trying to make a plan, but as all deep water long range things, it will take planning and luck with the weather coinciding with a decent neap. What sort of fishing time do you expect to get at the end of a neap flood? I like the sound of a few drifts as well as the tope action Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamouse Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi Charlie I've PM'd you numbers for the 68m hole. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Thanks Steve I will PM later when at Home. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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