Air Show / Bass Comp

[Paul D]

Went for an early launch to avoid all the traffic ( which was bound to happen given the air show ).

Slipway was empty - cluds were dark ( torrential rain just as we left ).

 

Launched without incident and noted how the tide was HUGE.

Reaching the run the tide was still flooding and had reached the concrete part of Mudeford Quay.

 

Headed for the "mackeral spot", passing Marine Boy on the way and then spent some 1 to 2 hours drifting for a grand total of 3 mackeral.

 

Decided that we ought to join the flotilla of boats watching the air show, so anchored up alongside Al Fresco ( and, unlike many others ! out of reach of the big steam ship )

 

Fished through the air show, first getting full strings of mackeral ( why did we not go over earlier ?? ) and then Starry Smoothhound, Tub Gurnard, Scad and bream.

( OK for species comp ).

Vulcan and EuroFighter were awesome.

 

At end of air show headed back and reaching Hengistbury Head noted that the beach was almost reaching the end of the groyne - Well low water.

Passed the groyne close by ( deep water here ) and then headed for the run.

 

Attempted to get up the run but no chance as water was around 1 ft deep in the middle.

 

Decided to drift for bass for an hour while the tide flooded and then headed through the run and slowly/carefully up the harbour.

 

Reaching Wick Slipwaya and the water was just over the edge of the dropoff.

 

Got the car and trailer and whilst waiting to get to my boat watched the people alongside me retrieve by putting the trailer over the lip of the slipway and then driving forward at speed with the boat on to "jump" the trailer over the edge of the lip. This worked but the trailer now had one wheel at right angles to the other ( the axle just bent around 90 degrees ) - a new one to add to my "Wick Slipway Incidents" collection.

 

We retrieved without incident, although was not easy with water so low.

 

Chatting to guys with another boat and they had a somewhat damaged prop ( and skeg ). Turns out the Beerpan rocks had claimed another victim ( I bet there were a few casualties there today ).

 

So Beware : Wick - deep dropoff ( it is better on the left hand side facing the slipway ). Beerpan Rocks - keep close to groyne to avoid these.