John E Ashford

Weybourne 3rd May 2008 Early Saturday morning 1.30am the alarms were rousing members of the Desford SAS. Today they would be ascending the pebble beach, at Weybourne, in the North of Norfolk. Leaving their respected abodes the plan was to meet up on the beach, where the battle to prove who was to be Top Blanker. Baits were to be Lug; this was ordered from a reliable source, local to the area we were to fish, squid + any other mysterious fish attractants, I’m sure would be used. Travelling under the cover of darkness the 2½-hour trip was about over when a crescent Moon appeared from behind dissipating clouds, also revealing a reddish turquoise sky. The feeling, this was going to be a good day, by the seaside. We were first to arrive and for the uninitiated to the Weybourne Beach Car Park there is a section that is fenced off and runs parallel with the area, this is the area you can park for free, yes no £6 fees. Climbing over the shingle we were greeted to a flat calm sea, with the sun about to break over the horizon. As we all know we anglers never travel light, so a couple of treks to the car were needed. Setting up our base camp we were soon to be joined by the rest of the motley Desford SAS crew. The cracc started early with banter and laughter filling the air. Great expectations were flying all over, were we to be truly Blankers on this day. Soon rods were bending then a salvo end rigs were seen heading seawards through the air. The first set of rods were rested on their tripods, second rods were put together which soon followed the first. The kettles were now boiling, and then a well-earned cuppa was now to be consumed. Eyes scanning the rod tips to see who would be first in, then the shout fish on, I was the first to land, with my first cast, a Pouting. It was soon unhooked then placed back into the sea; this would be a catch n release day, unless a fish was well over undersize or not a protected species. I caught a couple of other Pouting before the shout came from my left, my brother Dave had caught a dab and whiting, the first of many double headers through out the day. I was using a 9ft uptiding rod + Penn 535, for close shore fishing, this was loaded with 15lb main line and 80lb leader, terminating with a 1/0 three hook flapper. The hooks were baited with Lug, sometimes tipped with a slither of squid. The other was a 15.5 Blue Team Beachcaster Rod + Abu Mag Elite, loaded the same as the smaller rod. The end rig I would start with a 3/0 – 2/0 Pennel rig with a 3oz wired weight. This was cast 100yds + to hopefully catch that bigger fish. The tease were a number of Lugworm, their tails made it look well enticing. During the morning several fish were caught, Whiting & Dabs, I somehow was stuck with Pouting. My luck was changing, after loading the big rod with half of squid, it suddenly came to life. Taking the strain, I knew straight away this was a half decent fish. On retrieving the rod was being direct left n right, was this a smoothound, then close in it broke the surface, A Dogfish. The lads were all there shouting, “Who Who Let the Dogs Out. Weighing 3½lbs it was soon back into the sea, hopefully for some other angler to catch another day. That was to be the only fish that I caught with the big rod, at distance. All other fish I caught were at close in on the likkle rod. My tally for the day, Pouting (6) Whiting (1) Eel (1) Pollack (1) Dogfish (1) Desford SAS caught 6 Species in all on the day. It was a good day for the angler, all caught, but not a Blanker in the group, how disappointing. Desford SAS failed; none of us were to be honoured with the title of Blanker. We can only wish the next time. WATCH THIS SPACE

Thanks for that dant, a positive atitude and we'll be well in.

A few of us are heading over to the North coast of Norfolk this Saturday, hopefully I'll have something to report back. Weybourne can throw up that suprise fish, now & again, lets hope we're in for one this weekend.

Cheers for that Tony. There's more to it than meets the eye, I will though be looking more carefully at the Notes going through my hands now.

The collection is going well, thanks to some sound advice from other AN Members. I've joined or subscribed to Coin Collectors forums, where it's amazing to see some familiar names. My main aim now is to collect Pennies from the past, not the decimal new pennies. So if you've got some of the large old type of Pennies, give me a PM, and maybe we can come to some arrangements.

I know down at the local Pet Shop the Buggies are going Cheep.

Friday 9pm I set off, on my own, for the East Yorkshire beaches. The roads were clear and within no time I was parking up on Spurn Road. The only bait was a 1lb box of frozen Squid. I set up my Beach Buddy under the glare of my Coleman Northstar and soon was casting seaward, into the darkness, with a 1/o & 2/o flapper rig attached. I was only expecting Whiting if I was lucky. No sooner had I put my second rod together then the rod I'd just settled into my tripod started to rattle like made. Lifting the rod I felt no resistance, is this a slack liner, I kept the line taught while I retrived. While winding ever so fast it entered my mind that I'd lost the weight and end rig, then all hell broke loose. The rod bent and the rattle n weight of something that didn't want to come ashore was felt. This was going to be my finest shore caught fish and nobody was going to be here to witness it. I felt the reel slipping as the fish was trying to take off. I didn’t want to tighten the drag but played the fish. My heart was beating, my mind was all over the place as I couldn’t see what was coming in. Then in front of me, splashing about in the surf, was the most beautiful sight of what looked like a Cod. Slowly I kept the line tight as I wound in little by little. I then managed to get me hand into its gill; this was a leviathan of a Cod, I could hardly pull it out of the surf. Then whoosh a fluffing great wave washed over me, next thing the wife was shouting are you getting up for work or are you going to lay there all day. Women why do they always spoil it..

Keep these reports coming dant. A dream session, cracking.

Fantastic, 20lb story.

You softies fancy letting likkle waves put you off. More big fishs for us in the Summer Festival.

Hi bucksflyfisher you've got to call into Sam Hooks at Lowstoft. Here you'll get very good service from the girls. Their sea fishing baits are top quality.

Thanks to Jamie & his dad for the £1 & 10/- notes. We met at Gorleston while fishing the other Saturday when he told me he had read my call for British notes on here. Jamie PM your home address, I've got loads of Stamps I promised you. Many Many Thanks.

Thanks to ???? only clue I've have is, AN Member Dorset. QEII £1 Note & 3 1940s Half Crowns. Many Many Thanks.

Weybourne, Easter Saturday, sounds like mission impossible. An early start, from Leicestershire 2.30am, towards the coast. It'll be a bit of a challenge, but we are up for it. If your keen, mad or just want that fishing adventure that's that bit different, why don't you join us. I'll be taking the camera, get your mug shot on the net. Hopefully with a PB Cod. Not for the faint hearted or fair weather fishermen.

I've just dug out my old coin collection and there's no British notes. So I'm looking to adding some British Bank Notes to the collection, if you've got any hanging about and just want to get rid please send too:- John E Ashford Boca Chica Desford Leicestershire LE9 9JQ Or give me a PM.

I'm in a simlar position when it comes to medication, ask the person who is dispensing yours. I've taken Ramipril 10mg for 6 years, every morning after my breakfast.

A lot of Fish Fingers on one of those. I'm going for it's dad, at this years Whitby Summer Festival.

Cracking Photograph, well done on the sell.

Just 4 U Glenn, I think you'll find all you are looking for HERE.

Just a thought, if I'm going to carry on blanking, I need to be sitting in comfort. Have you a Beach Buddy, that's sitting around doing nowt, taking up valuable space. If so a good home is here waiting to take it Fishing/Blanking. If the price is right + P&P give me a shout or if you just want to get rid give me a PM.

Elton, any daft TWIT can catch fish, but I had to show the young guns how easy it is. My skill as a King Blanker has taking many years to achive, and normaly as all (Twits) are catching, I'm well ahead Blanking. I was too busy landing fish, no time for photos. I know I moan when there's no piccies, and I'm fully guilty this time, the camera was always at the ready for that special fish though.

Saturday 23rd Gorleston-on-Sea, Pier/Wall Fish, Fish and more fish, yes not a chance of blanking. Setting our rods up at six in the morning, still dark, the anticipation was high. Armed with numerous sorts of baits the offerings surely would help land that prize catch. Our group had placed themselves at different positions around the Gorleston Pier. Some choose to fish the riverside while the rest were to try the sea. It weren’t long before the baited rigs were heading into the water. While darkness still prevailed the offerings, normally associated with night fishing, soon responded with rods knocking n rattling. The fish were there and were coming ashore, this was the start of a good days fishing. Codling, Codling coming from the riverside first, then the lads were heard on the seaside, “Fish On”. The size was not a problem, up to and around the 12", this would be the norm for most of the day and all the fish we returned. The weather was bracing, overcast, with the wind coming from the South West, and temperatures up to 13°. It was perfect if you were on a leeward side or protected from the wind with your umbrella. Early morning my brother set up the stoves, at the sheltered side of the coastguard lookout station. Soon the lads were tucking into Hot Dogs n Fried Onions with a choice of Brown, Red Sauce and Mustard. These were received well plus the chance for all to tell their tales of past fishing adventures. This scene would be repeated again around lunchtime. Species caught, Codling (best 3lb), Whiting, Pouting, Dabs and Rockling. Bait used, Lugworm, Ragworm, Mackerel, Squid, Mussel, Shrimps and possibly some secret baits/additive these fishermen would try. The best results were Lugworm, bought from the local Tackle shop, lessons to be learnt, but as we know a different day and the wining bait could be one of the others. One of our lads, Paul managed four species, Codling, Whiting, Pouting and Dab, these were caught on the seaside. Steve however managed to land the prise fish, a 3lb Codling. For those wishing to give Gorleston Pier a go, that fish was caught on the riverside. Well at the end of the day, around 5ish, we were to clear up out patch, reload the cars and head for home. A 6 hour round trip was well worth it with all dozen of us being multiple catchers on a memorable day at Gorleston Pier.

A few of us from Leicestershire are heading to Gorleston-on-Sea, Pier/Wall, next Saturday. Around a dozen Blankers hoping to catch that fish of a lifetime. None of us have fished this year, so some rusty tackle boxs to sort out first. I'll be taking the camera, so some piccies with my report, lets just think positive and hope all the lads get something worth it. If your up for it, we would like to see you there, fishing from 6amish to 5/6pm.

Always wanted to make your own weights & lures, take a look HERE there's loads of info.