Our trip to the Weymouth and the WSF meet had its ups and downs as follows:
Day 1 Steam up from Poole with a stop and St Albans Head for bait and a few drifts for bass, got bait but the swell was uncomfortable and with no Bass showing its over to the shambles and filled up with more bait but sadly no other fish showing other than a doggie or two so in for 5, grub and beer
Day 2 Totally different day planned for today so a wrecking we will go.
Twenty odd miles offshore and we reached our first rusting hulk. A couple of drifts only saw a few pout and by now the tide is easing. Guessing that if pout are present so are conger so in goes the pick and down go the lines. Instantly we were into slimeys with Dean and I managing two's up luckily they didn't tangle up. Anyways after about an hour of constant action with eels up to 30lb we had had enough and decided to travel to another wreck to catch the turn of the tide. 5 miles later were on the wreck lines down and bang Deans into a Bass of between 7-8lb. We decided then to feather up some live bait and give the wreck a try for more bass. We had several Pollock to 12lb and I managed the first Ling caught on board AWOL with this one going 18lb.
No more bass showed so we decided to travel another 5 miles west to join Charlie who had had a couple of cod. We didn't get any cod but did manage a few more Pollock and I had another Ling this one being the same length as the 18lber but fatter and this one held the scales at 20lb. All this action took place before 2 o'clock and I know its sounds daft but we were all wrecked out Looking for a change of fishing we bid Charlie farewell and headed into the Shambles to have a couple of hours after the elusive Tubbies. Well they are still elusive.....we caught diddly squat so upped sticks and headed back into harbour for a wash and brush up then get more grub and.... beer We donated a side of Ling to the BBQ and thoroughly enjoyed the tales and banter.
Day 3 (Monday) Had to refuel today so a late start for us but it seemed to suit and after talking to Andy the diesel delivery chap we decided to go get some launce from the Shambles then drift for Bass by the West buoy and then into the race. Lee (Whopper on wsf forum) was out with us today so pressure on to try and get some fish. Well initially all went to plan with us all getting Launce and macky into the bait well. First stop after bait was by the east buoy and first drift I had a missed take and Dean landed a small fish of around 2lb. Plan going like clockwork so far. A few more drifts and two more fish for Dean but Lee and I were obviously not up to the mark today. A move is called for so over to the race and not a blooming thing. How the professional bass guys make a living from fishing is beyond me but they do it. I really felt for Lee as he had really been looking forward to a day out on the boat but it wasn't for not trying as we all fished hard the whole day. Sorry mate but if you fancy a day out of Poole sometime give me a call and you will catch fish!
Day 4 en route home we feathered up some livelies and had a few drifts right at the end of St Albans with Dean managing another bass of about 5lb and a small 15lb Tope (they are their congeraider) With the tide now dieing away we called it a day and got back indoors for about 3pm
The trip and fishing is almost the same type as we do from Poole albeit a slightly different area. But the results achieved do show that it is all about local knowledge and not just where, tides, times, baits, when to and how to all put together correctly make the difference between a good or bad day. I do feel that with every year we are accumulating some of the required info and in about 20 years time we should be able to fish Weymouth like the locals
I would like to thank Terry (Cascars) for organising this event and thanks to all those I met and spoke to for making us feel welcome. They really are a great bunch of guys
Martin
