First Turbot of the Year

Managed to get out in the small gap in the winds last night hoping to get into some rays but was pestered by small flatties all session also hooked and lost a few fish what fought like Mackerel so at the end of the session I sent my gopro down to the bottom and was surprised to see a grey gurnard lurking I always thought they turned up later on! but thats what I was probably hooking and losing

I did however manage a small Turbot and got a paddle in on what turned out to be a nice night






Andy

Wales trip May 2013

Myself and Mark headed over to Wales to meet up with a few lads from the North West we arrived on Thursday and had to be home by Sunday and the others were arriving Friday and staying until Monday the forecasts were all over the place apart from the Thursday so on arriving we headed straight out for an experimental session

Paddling out in scorching heat and the clearest sea I have ever seen it was great paddling over the rocks and even being able to see Bass as we passed over them.




Once anchored up in our chosen spot we both sent a big Tope bait down in the tide and fished a lighter rod with smaller baits for other species

I didnt have to wait long for the light rod to start nodding and soon had the first of many Dogfish aboard with Mark getting stuck into the Doggies also non stop action until the Tope rod screamed off I picked it up and waited for the second run which came with a real wrench on the rod so engaged the spool and the fish ran straight through the rocks slicing the braid gutted but at least Mr Tope was home! and gave me a small taste of the power of these fish.


I carried on catching the dog fish and the Tope rod would give the odd small tap and slow buzz on the baitrunner and then it wrenched and screamed again so I quickly wound the 2nd rod in and held the Tope rod and it tore off tightened into it but nothing there.

Getting low on bait for this short experimental session I only fished with the Tope rod still getting the odd Doggie on the big baits and still getting some very fickle pick ups from Huss or Tope and then it Happened a scorching run followed straight after by another as soon as I engaged the spool of the Baitrunner the rod arched over and I was into something with extreme speed and power I like fishing light and could get away with a 3 oz lead and light braid so was in my element battling with whatever was on the end after some long runs down tide it shot uptide under the kayak so I passed the rod around the bow (good reason to use longer rods IMHO) and as soon as I had done so it turned back down tide leaning the Kayak quite far over to say the least but at least it was heading away from my anchor line as the fish (and me) began to tire I saw it in the crystal clear water and the sight will stay with me forever I could see the Tope with my Mackerel bait in its mouth being shadowed by another Tope and a 3rd Tope circling the pair AWESOME! Pity my GoPro froze when I turned it on to record again!!!!! at this point Mark released from his anchor came alongside to get some pics so after it appeared to be ready I brought it along side and was determined to get it on board for some pics much to Marks looks of are you mad!! 



But soon had it aboard where it promptly went mad trying to bite my knee fishfinder mount kayak and Marks kayak  flipped it over on to its back to calm it down (it didn't) so just got on with the unhooking big circle in the corner of the mouth was a straight forward job and with hardly any reviving it was ready to go no worse for wear using 150lb mono trace so no damage caused by wire and so chuffed to see it swimming away strongly Target achieved






Mark anchored up again and after an hour or so I heard a good scream not a reel though just Mark  as he bent into a run I quickly ditched anchor and went to assist and take pics


after a hell of a fight Mark saw the fish and was gob smacked to see the Tope appearing from the depths cant remember the exact words but made me chuckle and after several more runs we could see why it was fighting so much it was hooked outside of the mouth so difficult to control after grabbing the trace I asked Mark if he was getting it on board which he was so rafted up with him but as the fish dived again the hook pulled free so no on board shots  of this one


unfortunately the weather turned for the worse after this very short session so when the other lads arrived we were limited to playing around in the building swell but Hopefully the other lads will get out fishing tomorrow or Monday I will be back again though a stunning place








A lot of pics and hope you enjoy the read I'm sure the other lads will add to it when they can
Andy

Today’s trip out 09/02/2013

I snook out for a quick Kayak trip today the sea had dropped away quite a bit overnight so decided to launch at Marske at around 11am into a nice sea a bit lumpy at times but perfectly do able
I managed a video of the launch for any new starters to have a look at see what they can expect once up and running
http://youtu.be/e92U257PG-U
Once out past the breakers I anchored up in quite a lumpy sea and the tide was running strong and coloured all looked good after a little while the rod tip started to rattle away with a steady stream of increasingly bigger whiting coming aboard




After bringing a dozen or so of these it went quiet and I contemplated heading in as my toes and fingers were a bit numb decided to reel in as I started to wind in I was locked solid over sand? then it thumped and stripped a few yards of line a Ray must have been laid on but the hook pulled shortly after so I quickly re-baited and sent it back to the same spot less than a minute later the rod gave the gentle rustle and tell tale taps of a ray bite I let it develop and hit into it this felt a very big fish but it was hard to tell with the tide pushing hard but sadly I lost this one before it broke the surface by this time it was getting very cold out there so called it a day and prepared for the landing.
I had to get the landing right as the many dog walkers and families out walking on the beach were looking at the mad man in the sea
Captured it on video
http://youtu.be/au6dx2ILXnc?t=3m43s
Safely back on the beach but need to get out more often my paddle fitness has all but disappeared

Andy

 

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A great start to the year thanks to Fi and the team at 1st wet & wild

We have great pleasure in naming Andy Money as our kayak angling representative for the 2013 season.
It has become obvious to us that Andy has done a great deal for kayak angling over the last year or so, his catch reports are first class, he's always one of the first to assist new members and his endless enthusiasm for the sport seems to have no bounds.
We here at 1stWet&Wild are delighted to have Andy aboard and endeavour to encourage and assist him to carry on as an ambassador to kayak angling on our coast.
Keep up the great work Andy
Fi and the team..

1st paddle of the year

Managed to get my first paddle of the year in today launched at Marske at 9:30 and was joined by Davo not the best forecast but still not bad for January.
Got out to my chosen mark and dropped anchor and we didn't have to wait long for the Dabs to come on the feed hard with Dave landing countless good sized Dabs
I struggled with just a few small rattles but eventually connected with my first fish of the year

at 4lb 14oz
Really strong fish these Rays and this one kept raising itself up on its wings when brought aboard

Then the Dabs found my bait and it was hard to keep a bait down longer than a few seconds but did manage a small Thornie on my light outfit fought well on a 10-30g rod


after a lot more jumbo Dabs I hooked into what felt like a really good Thornie but it was on the light outfit again but it spat the hook out and dont think it knew it was even hooked gutted.
A small part of Daves haul of Dabs

A really enjoyable short winter session