Dover Breakwater 20th Dec.1997

Decided to try out a new supplier for bait and tackle....it was suggested that I should give Mick's Tackle in Hythe a go. Mick felt that he could supply both fresh black and yellow tail, but equally crucial was that he would be open at 7.30am so I could collect before going over to Dover, something that a lot of local tackle shops outside of Snargate St, don't seem to do!!!!!!.........

Arrived before 7.30am with Paul (who had ordered his blow lug from Bills)...... unfortunately Mick turned up late (having been delayed, by running errands for his Wife's Party, to be held that night), and by the time he had the shop open, it was already 7.45am...... as the Boats start leaving the Dump Head at 8.30, I started to get butterflies in my stomach....... anyway, collected 4 score of lug (2 black, 2 yellow tail), along with 2 score of rag, and a 1lb block of squid....... if anyone's interested, Mick seems to have a very extensive range of baits on offer...... even Maddies (Tiny Harbour Rag for those of you that don't know)!!!!!!!

Drove straight over to Dover....... Paul jumped out and grabbed his Lug from Bills along with some more squid...... Drove to the Quay to drop the equipment off around 8.15am...... NO ONE THERE, APART FROM 1 CHAP, AND TOMMY THE STEWARD!!!!!!!!!!!........ The first boat had gone!!!!!! They were leaving early to go and join a Pilot Boat exercise...... dropped the gear and Paul off, drove to the Hoverport car park, and ran back.... !!!!!!!!!

Started fishing just before 9am, around peg 60 or so..........

Fished both the inside and outside, with long flowing (6ft) bottom traces, with 4/0 wishbones....... used combinations of black and yellowtail, tipped or untipped with squid (of in the case of the inner wall were I was under-arm casting) rag.........

Weather was good... wind around force 2 or less, and it got decidedly warm, almost like Summer in the Morning.... down to T-Shirts!!!!!!!!! High tide 3pm or so.

9.10am: first fish of the day....... 13" codling on the inside to me

9.15am:Paul strikes home and brings in a 15.1/2" codling, again from the inside.

9.25am:Paul with 6" of pout!!!!

9.30am: I got snagged in lost tackle on the outside, and lost my own set!!!! :-(

9.53am: Paul gives a shout...... he has a double shot from the outside.... 11"Bass, and a 6" Pout........

10.00am: I land a 16" codling from the outside, weigh it... 1.1/2lb.....

10.10am: 14" codling from the inside for me.....

10.25am: Paul has a 16" codling again 1.1/2lb from the inside.....

10.55am: 15" codling outer for me........

11.05am: Paul.. 15" codling from the inside....

11.15am: 17" codling, also from the inside for me.....

11.17am: Paul has a 6" pout from the inside.....

11.30am: Paul lost a codling..... the pre-made wishbone rig he was using, untied itself :-( ...... lucky it wasn't a good fish!!!!!!!!

11.32am: I failed to connect to a super thumping bite from the inside :-(

11.45am: Pulled on the outside rod to bring it in..... really heavy...... manage to land, 1 rock and a sea-anemone!!!!!!!

With things a little slack both in terms of fish and tidal run, I decided to remove the grip lead from the inside, and replace it with a plain 6oz lead, that could roll over the sea bed.

12.10pm: I was rewarded for the change in tactic with an 18" codling from the inside, just touching 2lb......

12.20pm: I had a double shot on the outside...... another 18" codling and an 8" pout!!!

12.24pm: Paul pulls up 6" of prime pouting from the inside!!!!

12.30pm: Paul's turn at a double shot from the outside with a 7" and 6" pout... not what he really wanted!!!!!!!....... :-)

12.37pm: Double shot for me again, this time from the inside, with a 14" codling and an 8" pout!!!!

12.55pm: manage to land yet another 8" pout from the inner side....

1.00pm: Paul gets in on the act with a double shot of pout... 10" and 8".......

1.25pm: Land a 14" codling from the outside....

1.30pm: Paul lands a dab of 9.1/2" from the inside....

1.32pm: 13.1/2" codling to me on the inside....

1.52pm: 13" codling, this time on the outside.....

1.55pm: Paul lands 8" pout, from the inside......

2.00pm: Double shot from the inside... a reasonable pout of 11", along with the same sized whiting...

2.07pm: Paul...... 8" pout from the inside........

2.12pm: not to be out done.... 8" of pure pout for me, from the outside!!!!!!

2.15pm: Paul lands a 9" whiting from the inside...

2.20pm: manage another pout from the inside..... all 10" of it!!!!!

2.22pm: Paul has a codling from the inside... 16"......

2.25pm: Another double, with a 15.1/2" codling and a 7" pout, from the outside....

2.35pm: Paul goes from strength to strength, with a double shot of codling 16" and 17.1/2", from the outside..... the later being our best fish at 2.1/4lb.....

2.45pm: 17" codling from the outside for me.....

2.47pm: 9" pout for me from the inner wall....

2.50pm: Paul pulled up two good pout from the outside, both 11.1/2", and 3/4lb each...

3.00pm: There must have been a grand-daddy shoal passing by, 'cos I then landed a double shot of pouting, although slightly smaller at 10" each.......

3.05pm: Paul takes a 16" codling from the inside..... followed five minutes later with a double shot of 6" pout and a 17" codling, from the outside this time.........

3.25pm: I manage a 9" pout from the inside, followed swiftly by a double shot from the outside, consisting of an 11" pout, and a 17" codling......

3.32pm: Paul's last cast produces an 11" pout from the outside.....

Packed up and walked to catch the boat.......

Asking around most had the same sort of outcome or worse...... couple of chaps claimed to have had a 4lb'er.... when they proudly pulled it out, I saw Paul's jaw visibly drop..... the sorry specimen was no more than 18 or 19" long, and certainly no more than 2.1/2lb....... Now you may ask how does he know... well just for the record, I measure all the fish, and the weights I give in these reports are as accurate as I can give...... a calibrated pocket spring balance is a wonderful thing...... shame more people don't use them, and stop themselves from looking a little foolish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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