Well - having been let down by my crew (who was also my host as local to Portland), I was disapointed to say the least. However, after some networking and general moaning at the Club BBQ last Sat, word spread and Tony Deavin was lookign for crew and a partnership was made.
So it all began with a very relaxed start and most boats headed out from Poole at around 10am - my starts are usually much earlier than this, so much so I got slightly slowed by commuters, who rude! I am a strng beliver that there should be bus lanes and lanes for people carrying rods!!
Tony and I were swiftly overtaken by AWOL, Alfresco and Abode was already at Peveril.
We looked for bait at Peveril but no luck, so we headed to the 190ft hole off St Albans. here we drifted with Alfresco and Abode as AWOL was already a spec in the distance. After a dozen maccs we left to head for the Shambles. With 30 mins to go on our journey we get a radio call from Alfresco to say AWOL already had a Turbot on board - blimey Tony and I were just eating lunch and could barely see Portland!
Anyhow, Serenity got us safely to the bank where we found several club boats and charters. We had no idea whcih way the drift would go so stopped a good distance from the rest to see which way the drift went. Tackled up and dropped the baits. No more than 15 later Tony was on teh radio with the secret call sign of "Turbot" - no more no less - but any club boats would have known who said that! Charlie C popped up on the radio to ask who caught it (he knew - twas me!). A nice fish of 4lb ish I guess.
Further down the drift I lost a fish, then we hit low tide - without the need to reposition our flood drift started without us ever leaving the bank - nice one Skipper (luck but we will take that). I then had a screamer of a run which went off at 100mph and my braid mainline went ping on something after 2 seconds of what felt big, tope? probably - need longer leaders I guess as that didn't help save the braid on the bank.
It was then Tony's turn for some action as he quietly waited in the wings! Two Turbos for Tony on the flood drift and that was the end of the day - it was a great first day and a good laugh. We headed for out lodgings in the great Portland Marina - meeting up with Boblin2 in the harbour - did a little photoshoot for them before finding the others.
So we had a mooch around the other boats and a chin wag, odd beer and a laugh before going for a nice curry with Bblin2, AWOL, Serenity (me and TD), Just Purfik's crew and better halves were in the curry house too!
An early awakening by Mr Jenning at some silly hour woke us but was managed to kip until 8. Had a good feed then set off to the bank with Boblin2 in tow.
We started with a few drifts for maccy and found the quickly - Colin was getting to grips with the lovely Boblin2 and building his confidence in handling her (he has mastered it now after surfing and crashing through St Albans on the way home!). Tony and I fished hard all day and were rewarded with 4 fish (a dozen weavers don't count!), not the greatest toll as we had had 3 fishing for just the afternoon on the Friday! However, Tony had a loevely Brill of 4lb 10oz and we had a Turbot each (mine was returned for me to catch at a later date), my other catch was a PB Plaice of 5lb 11oz - yes 5lb 11oz! What a lunker - caught on a Turbo bait (whole Launce) - how it fitted it in I don't know! (the mouth of a 1lb Turbot is bigger that this Plaice's!).
Thanks to Bob's membership cards I was quickly able to verify that I hadn't caught a club record, but hey - good eating!!!
Saturday night was a cracker - 8 boats, about 25 people for the meal in the restaurant, in the whole a jolly good laugh. Shame no trailered boats made the trip - I am hoping to perhaps take JoJo next time? September?
Sat night \ Sunday morning was very blowy - not good, so the following swell ended up ruining the day really - lumpy all the way back, few maccy from Kimmeridge and a bass drift at the SW banks. Nothing but a wave over the cabin of Serenity! After surfing round Durlston was made it back to the calm waters of Poole Bay - like a different day round there!
Great few days, great fishing, great company, great club.
I think I may have used all my banked fising passes for some time, however, watch this space!!!!!
Rob
