ALDEBURGH

Orford Island 4th Oct.1997

Arrived at Orford Quay, just before 5, where some very nice locals (who's names I forgot to note down), informed us (Nigel, Karen, and myself), that the "Crouch" was probably not worth fishing due to the long walk (about a mile over shingle) and the fact that it can be very snaggy if you don't know where to fish. As a result we decided to tag along with them to the "Narrows".

I feel that I should point out at this point to those of you not familiar with Orford and the Ness, that Orford Island is not really an Island at all, but the southern end of the Ness. The boats out to the "Island", are run by a chap called Gary (can't miss him,' cos. he's an American!!!!). The cost of the return Boat trip depends on the drop off point... i.e. the "Crouch" costs 5 UKP and the "Narrows" 6 UKP. To book a place on one of the boats, Tel. 01394 450 844. (21/10/01 Phil Green 01394 459169)

Taken across to the Narrows around 5.30pm, after seeing the day people come back with codling of between 1 and 1/2lb to 3lb... things were looking good for a night fish........ but as we all can bear testament to, the fish just don't read the same manuals that we do!!!!! Started fishing around 6.30, by the time we had set-up camp....... got dark around 7pm.

Very little wind (force 3 or less), clear sky, and high tide around 2am.

Rigs used were aimed at codling, with clip-up clip-down rigs, with 4/0 or 6/0 pennell at the top, and a single 4/0 or 2/0 at the bottom. These were baited with lug (black and blow) and tipped with either squid, or as the locals had indicated with mackerel. Sometimes replaced the lug with rag.

I also had a second rod that I changed around with size 2 hooks for dabs/sole, baited with rag worm, and a freelined 6/0 pennell baited with squid or mackerel (or later small live whiting, for Bass).

Took the first fish of the night around 7.30pm....... a small but sizeable whiting, on a lug and squid combo.

Karen took her fist fish, again sizeable whiting around 8pm....... we both continued to pull in whiting, and Nigel finally hit home with a whiting, around 10pm.......

Around midnight had my first codling, undersize and about 1/2 lb...... more whiting for the three of us, and then Karen landed a small dogfish around 12.45am, followed by Nigel with an undersized codling.....

The night went on and I continued to pull out whiting with the occasional undersized codling....... the other two had the occasional whiting or undersized codling.

After a short nap (not the best of things to do at 4am..... get very cold and tired the minute you stop doing things..), started to take more whiting and occasional small codling..... around 5am took a small dab on rag....... after this continued with the small codling and whiting, with a dogfish around 6am.....

Packed up at 6.30, and collected off the beach around 7am.......

From the conversation nobody had faired any better than us, although one chap had a 3lb skate..... but the question that everyone was asking themselves was, where had all the 2 and 3lb codling gone, that they'd been catching that day????? Guess it's just one of life's little mysteries!!!!!!

Nice little drive back to London, with a 2 hour sleep at a service station on route...... I must be mad!!!!!!!!

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