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Forecast was for a hot sunny day with NW winds of force 3 ( in fact they were more like force 4 plus on occasions), with high water around 11am.
Collected Tony from Folkestone, and drove to Bills Bait and Tackle. Spoke to Clive, who told us that Soles were coming up from the inside, towards the high numbered pegs. We purchased a couple of pollack rests, which allow the rod to be held out horizontal over the water, when fishing straight down the wall. We were not planning on fishing for pollack this day, but bass were to be our intended quarry although the main part of the day is less than ideal!!!.
Then went over to Channel Angling where I had ordered our bait. I had intended to use maddies, but Channel Angling have recently had problems keeping them in prime condition, and for the time being are not taking orders for them. As a result we had to settle for rag that I'd ordered instead, and picked-up a score of lug to tempt small pout with, that we could use as live bait....
Tony has now had a chat with Phil Tanner of Harbour Tackle in Folkestone, who will supply Maddies, but the order must be for a full tube, 20 quid, which supplies around 300 to 400 or so ...... really an option for a group of anglers rather than an individual, as the worms do not keep well.
Caught the boat across ..... there were about 20 anglers in all, with some already fishing through the night. A 6lb bass had been taken early that morning. We made our way down towards the first set of steps.... around peg140 (I think.. forgot to note it down!!!). Started fishing around 9am.
Set one rod up with a 4/0 pennel with a side of mackerel , and another baited with pout, when Tony pulled a few up, which he did within 20 mins or so.
The third rod I had out a little way on the inside, with a wishbone with size 4 hooks, baited with rag, for the sole. In hind sight I really should have cast it out, but at the time I really didn't want the hassle of getting snagged, and wanted to be able to bring it in quickly should we get a bass on the other rods..... Tony did much the same, although he also set up a bread bag, and fished for mullet.
Tony managed to pull up a small wrasse, before getting any pout down the wall.
Set up a float rig on the pike rod, baited with a strip of mackerel, for either garfish, mackerel or what ever......
People where trying to feather for mackerel, with no joy.
Pulled up a couple of small pouts via the wishbone, which was stripped within 20 minutes or so.... combination of small pout and crab, I would guess.
Around midday, the chap next to us, had to use the steps to land a nice plaice from the inside ..... estimated at around 2.1/2lb or so.
The steward had a dogfish down the far end, but otherwise very slow. Talked to two chaps, one of which had caught a single mackerel, along with a small mullet ... on a lug squid combo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was just going to be one of those days.
Just after 1pm, Tony pulled up a small sand goby!!!! He saw the funny side!!! ;-)
The chap next to us, has a small sole, and managed to get Tony's gear snagged in the process of landing it again on the steps. He also had a gurnard on rag, along with a lobster, that had a liking for the weaver fish that he had managed to hook into on the outside!!! Otherwise a very poor days fishing ..... Tried feathering again for mackeral around 2.30pm or so..... a number of large garfish came after the feathers but failed to connect .... teied with toby's, redgills, float fished mackeral strips etc... all blanked!! :-(
Spoke to Rick Ryder, who said that although he'd won the open on the Breakwater that Saturday, that the fishing had also been very poor, and that he'd won it with 5 scad, and a number of pout ..... made me feel much better, although it does leave the slight problem of where next to fish!!!!
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