|
As I had ordered bait earlier in the week, under the false impression that the Weather would be OK, to fish the Breakwater at Dover, I found myself at Walmer Castle beach.... the idea of standing in a force 6 to 7 S to SW wind, blowing straight into my face at the Admiralty Pier or Folkestone, held little appeal..... I had considered fishing Deal Pier, but didn't feel inclined to rub shoulders with the anticipated hoards...... so went with Steve's suggestion, although I should have been suspicious with his claims of having to work and not being able to accompany me!! :-) The advantage of this venue, is that it offers some protection from the afore mentioned wind direction, and does have a reputation as a good mark...... Low water was around 10am or so...
Arrived and set-up around 8-15am...... one other chap, on the beach, setting up at the same time......
Used 2 rods, with identical rigs 2/0 : 4/0 clip down pennell, with clipup 2/0, baited with lug, and alternating with squid tips..... One set at long range, other middling....
Third rod, set with flowing 3ft 4/0 pennell trace, baited with squid, set at short range.....
10am... get snagged with the long range set-up... lose tackle.... felt like a tackle snag....
My hooks, and the Chap next door's, were coming back stripped after 20 mins...... but no fish.... maybe crabs or prawns, or just small pout, although with the absence of any bites, I think the former 2 are more likely......
10.45..... had a bite on the distance set..... reeled in..... nice sole around the 1 and 1/2 mark... but before I could beach it properly, a wave swamped it, and it was gone, must have just been nicked by the 2/0........ don't really see soles at this time of year, but you never know..... had my best sole some years back in Suffolk of over 2 and 1/4lb..... in Feb, with snow on the ground!!!!!!
Moral: fish don't read the manuals!!!!!!!
11.25....... YEESSSS...... a fish...... well all 9" of plaice anyway at mid range, no bite, just reeled-in after 20 mins or so........ came gift wrapped in a couple of other sets of tackle, and weed...!!!!!!!!!
1.00pm... another lost set of tackle, this time at close range on the retrieve, again to what felt like a tackle snag...... with the wind picking up, I was really enjoying myself.... NOT!!!!! Decided to change the long range rig, to a single clip down 2/0 : 4/0 pennell clipped down to an impact shield.....
1.40pm, and I'm joined on the beach by two adult and two junior anglers....... just at the same time the flood starts, and with it come lots of fine filamentus weed.. replacing the larger occasional fonds of fucus that 'd pulled out before. The fine weed was the type that likes to use ones line as a washing-line, and takes a while to pinch off between your thumb nail and index finger......!!!!!!
2.30pm more arrivals..... Son who fishes, mother who does not......
3.30..... I've had enough..... run out of bait.... and with the fullest reminder of why I don't normally fish from the Beach in daylight.......... well unless it involves a Rapala, and Mr Bass............
The others either side of me, manage a small whiting each whilst I'm packing away, but soon the Lad and his Mum are doing likewise and tell me that they are off to the Pier.....
This looks like a good venue, but I really would only consider it for an evening / night fish, and with Kingsdown and St Margaret's only a stones throw away, would be a little wary of the potential weed problem.....
Drove past the Admiralty Pier at Dover on my way back..... very large waves crashing into it (looked like monsters in the gap, betwen it and the Breakwater!!!), and as I couldn't see anyone, thought it may have been closed... so it was really never an option.......
Return to HomePage of UK Sea Fishing Diary