Gummage

IMG_0130.mov Happy hunters

I was due to travel up with my mate and his party early on Sunday morning . On Saturday ,one hiatus after another landed in my lap to such an extent that I had to let them go on ahead whilst I did some sorting out. On the up side at least I had Robs one year old pup to help me call my cattle out of my neighbours Barley. IMG_0107.mov The advanced party went on ahead and drew the boat out of its bothy on Tuesday morning and guess what? Yep, the wheels fell off.🤧🤭🤭🤭. Fourteen years ago I went up and the same thing happened and we never did get to sea, but this time we had Amazon overnight delivery and new bearings were dispatched for midday Wednesday. By then things had settled at home and with only Thursday looking half decent weather wise , I decided to train it to Bristol and catch a flight to Inverness etc Such stress! Finally made Huntley by supper time😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 The boat is actually a beautiful Orkney 590 cw a mariner 60. we got her in to Banff marina, which is in the historic well sheltered fishing harbour. We were made welcome by the friendly harbour master. Incidentally this berth will cost about £1000 for the season. services: slipway, floating pontoon, access security , fresh water hose and I think I saw electric hookups. Shes right at the very back of this photo Soon at sea, and first stop and fist stop chosen as it appeared to Be a wide dish shaped gravel plain. We had no bait but felt sure to catch some . Coloured feathers and white feathers were used. Ten minutes in . Our host kicked off with a double; haddock and a dab!👍👏. This was all right and soon more haddock followed. We could have stayed but I wanted to try a very promising looking spot a couple of miles further out before the deteriorating weather might drive us back. That bank looks so fishy! we caught haddock at the top of it and below it . In fact despite my planning we seemed to catch a fish and a few doubles every ten or so minutes wherever we were. It looked like wind and rain were closing in so we retreated to the earlier mark. The others carried on as before, but I changed tack an rigged a Tubot rig baited with a haddock flank. It hit the bottom and within 4 seconds, bang. Up came A ling. It didnt carry on like that but another later fell to my mates baited feathers. The weather threatened We moved closer in shore where apart from a couple of mackerel , the action stopped. Early evening and our skipper, knowing there was a supper on the stove, drew stumps. A great intro to the Moray firth; About 24 Haddock 4 Mackerel 2 ling 1 Dab CO2 credentials….Dont ask

On Sunday I’m going up to stay near Huntley with a Wiltshire friend who has a property up there. He has a little used (but overhauled) boat there. I think it’s a Warrior or similar. I went once before but his trailer bearings were shot and we couldn’t get to the ocean. Fingers crossed, this time we will launch at Banff. I hope to report on our achievements here. Charlie suggested how we might make use of the topography to find Cod and Haddock . Turbot are caught from the shore there. My pal has been disappointed with his trips so far. His son did well last year , using the stick the pin in the donkey technique. (No mark recorded) Has anyone any experience of this area ? All tips and encouragement gratefully received.

I forgot to mention seeing Chris on Kingfisher out there. Gave us a cheery wave. Curious to know how you fared.

You’ve pretty much summarised my report in those few words Jim. I know you guys like a big fish alongside a big grin in your favourite photos. These elements didn’t come together on this trip but for us we tried something new exciting and gained plenty of new skills. I was preoccupied for much of the week trying to get a crew and am grateful to J2 who furnished me with a host of well proven fishing and nav tips for this venture. I wanted to treat my daughters soon to be father in law to a trip and fearing the unknown and the Portland race wanted someone wise and well informed who had been there before. I got Hooky. Hooky declared his excitement at the prospect of white water rafting with alive mackerel for bass. A little odd since I was organising a Turbot trip. Spent Saturday afternoon fixing rod tips, darning the holes in my landing net, reclaiming my petrol tanks which had gone farming, and so on and last but not least Putting the bung in👏. Steve and I left by five on Sunday morning. Now trailering is always a worry. It saves me masses in mooring fees but it has its challenges. So ten miles into my trips I pull over and do a load check. Good job I did it on Sunday. I was met with a healthy plume of smoke coming off both wheels😕. This must surely put paid to our trip🤧. Both wheels.🤔. Thats brakes, not bearings. Why are they binding. 🤔. 😩🙄😖Doh😖 Because I left the handbrake on after fitting a new jockey wheel last week. Dont normally use the handbrake because the drums bind so it’s not normally on. New day /school day and we hadn’t got going yet. Weymouth harbour slip. Despite the above got there by 7.30. I have never used it before and wanted to be early to beat the bank holiday rush. In the event it didn’t seem to get oversubscribed. It’s an easy slip and the car parking is well designed. Expensive at £26! It’s only a five minute walk to the helpful Weymouth Angling shop, open at7.00. You do get access to washroom facilities at the harbour office. Had no trouble launching at neap water low. Saw other trailers going to Portland . Now for our holiday snaps If we are the good guys , what must pirates had looked like. what a day, what a prospect. we trolled the Portland harbour entrance in the background. Some fish finder hits but neither sabikis or fladen whites did the business And when we got out there. Maybe it was too quiet. It was not long before we had a few launce It was going to be ages before we had anything else . Drifts were slow, sea-state was languid and with hindsight I wish we had followed a more “Follow the pack” routine. My helmsman hankered after a different kind of adventure. It happens that I have prior experience of such jaunts. Thats Gummage in the fetching pink hat in 2015 on the Zambezi. I didn’t catch much that day either and everyone bar my son and the skipper ended up swimming. Im not sure which way up the photo is supposed to be!? Moving on! Late afternoon and most folk had left the banks .and a few new optimists were powering in. But it was flat I was anxious to show my new guest any result. Lulworth banks beckoned. On an imperceptible drift there , half a dozen Bream fell to Squid baits. Thee red gurnard and a cuckoo joined in. The new father in law and me ate one of the bream (guess 1lb 6oz) and a stout red gurnard for tea tonight. All other specimens returned, except mr Hook Mission accomplished

Just got back at 11.30pm. After a 4.30 am start. We survived ! unfortunately so did the Turbots🫩.

Have found two crew and we are heading to Weymouth, early . Are any of the rest of you going down?

Sorry didn’t think you could submit the same thing twice. or is it something to do with my steam age wifi

I am trying to organise a trailer trip to Weymouth /Shambles for Sunday on my 20 foot dory Endeavour 3. Still don’t know if I have a crew for sure. Anyone interested? PM me and we’ll try and firm a plan.

I am trying to organise a trailer trip to Weymouth /Shambles for Sunday on my 20 foot dory Endeavour 3. Still don’t know if I have a crew for sure. Anyone interested? PM me and we’ll try and firm a plan.

Yes we must talk. I bet the other farmer would be up for it.

This is a great club DT , look forward to meeting you out and about or maybe at a club meeting. (Next Tuesday at oakdale social club) Where do you Moore/ Launch?

E3 feels a trip out of Weymouth coming on!

lm with Charlie on this issue.

Ditto

Certainly Greg, hats off to Mal and hats off to the artist. There are a series of them on the Chiro’s wall , all very clever and simple and clever but that one ….. well I just had to share!

I had to go to the chiropractor this morning. I told her how a lifetime of hard work and worry on the farm had left me racked with pain. But I think she saw through me🙄

Farmer looking Epic

On behalf of Alan who now has the payient On resucitation but can be saved !

I found that I could get away on Sunday. Endeavour 3 is champing at the mooring in the silage clamp, sporting her new tyres but the offer of a place wiith Greg on Marlin seemed too good not to follow up. The milking machine still hadn’t been switched on when I was leaving the downs . Met Greg as planned at seven. Keen as Mustard 7.30 bridge. We had both seen that the weather was set to go downhill and were anxious to make the best of the bright start.🔆 After a couple of drifts by the Brownsea cardinal Greg hit on a cunning plan.💡 You know how annoying it is when just as you are lining up to take your favourite mark some whipper snapper of a boat slips in ahead of you?😫😫😫 Well, that’s how annoyed they all were on Martin Burke’s boat as I clumsily picked up their favourite market buoy and tied Marlin to it. sorry lads I feel so embarrassed about that.🤭🤭🤭 Smack bang next to an old hulk that is obviously so full of species that they will likely film the next series of blue planet there.🐟🐠🐡🍤🎣. The wind and tide were squabbling over Marlin and she didn’t lie a we had hoped . So efforts to harvest the BluePlanet foundered. Lines tightened for a couple of schoolies each and Greg encouraged me with tales of how many flounders he had caught there; in the past! Greg and I were enjoying not trying too hard . Conversation was easy, coffee hot and Greg had prepared an excellent fried rice lunch. Just after midday and the heavy rain was imminent all boats saw sense and slipped under the 1.30 bridge and crews were son in the bar . Jerry can deal with the results but it was convivial. Thanks Jerry for making it happen , Greg for hosting me so well, and the rest of you for your sporting Company👏👏👏

The penny has only just dropped about the polar bear thing 🫨. At first I thought it was a great shot but now I see the wit in it as well; brilliant!

Well done with the crabs. On my Shetland trip we managed to turn mackies into scallops.

Two Gordon’s and Andy on Isabella out of Burravoe Cod! Haddock (preferred target), mackerel, wrasse and dogfish and maybe ling. Nobody buys fish on Yell.

Sometimes I m my own boss and sometimes I’m told I’m not. We have a farm standards inspection looming and that is derailing my fishing aspirations a bit. so martin , it may not be soon but I’d love to Be a guest on madness in due course.