Holmesy

Nice fish Mike. I see you used some of your 47 years experience to get a "real" one I bet it tastes great, with chips and rounded off with a fair slice of humble pie. Fair play to you mate.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAIWA-SUPERCAST-ROD-...1QQcmdZViewItem

You won't get a new rod to balance the reel you've already got for £50. Somebody else said look for a secondhand supercast, great rod. I just sold a pair for £100, you should be able to find a multiplier version easier than a fixed spool and get one for around £50.

LOL it was a tongue in cheek comment damo, whats a bloke to do, if you didn't laugh you'd cry

--> QUOTE(Norm B @ Dec 1 2005, 04:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was speaking to an angler today who was fishing a competition at Dungie and he told me about this big cod that an angler caught just along the beach from him. They weighed it on their club scales and he took the picture of the fish that I have, he told him to send me a copy. That just about convinces me it's genuine, how about you Stavey? It is genuine Norm, just 1 or 2 "experienced" anglers don't believe it, their choice, who cares ?

If we are lucky it'll be balanced out by global warming ! Some nice pics Gillies.

Along with Kagger I personally know the person on the beach at the same time this brut was caught and would put my life on it being correct. As for experience making you sceptical, I've been around long enough to know we have hardly a clue whats swimming in the sea at any given time. I've seen sun fish beached approaching 30lb (last winter Trimingham), seen a huge thing called an "oar fish" caught in the NE, weird looking thing. What does surprise me is that someone with 47 years "experience" discounts it out of hand. Given the fact that boats often catch 20's and bigger, shouldn't be a surprise to anyone if one turns up off a beach, experience tells me that they will from time to time.

Can I make a suggestion. Instead of keeping a bag of fish n strips in the tackle box, why not keep a couple of wraps of frozen blacks in the freezer ? They are a great natural bait that actually improves (in my opinion) when its defrosted and refrozen, and if its dried out after defrosting they go like leather. Crabs can't get em off the hook and the fish love em. They are widely available and a great standby bait for an impromptu session.