First bass of the season

[Otter of Poole]

Great to get Otter out on the tide last Sunday and take full advantage of the ‘weather window’. Sitting here listening to the rain beating on the windows and the wind wining through the telephone wires, it hardly seems possible.

 

Dropped our plans for the early start, as the wind was still howling at 05:00, and not wanting to go out on a falling tide, with no option to return quickly if all went sour. By the time we were heading out the wind had eased and come round from the east to a gentle southerly - skies clearing and the promise of a better day.

 

Finding bait proved surprisingly easy although many were on the large size, 30 livelies in the tank, we were off to the first mark. The anticipation was electric. There were a few other boats already working hard and the word was this was going to be difficult. After half a dozen fruitless drifts and a bit of fine tuning of terminal gear the first enquiry from a proper bass had me connected to a polaris missile. I was totally convinced I was connected to a double for sure. I started to question my choice of light tackle to begin with, but I had no cause for concern, it performed brilliantly. After a fierce fight and several dives under the boat she came to the net. I couldn't believe it only went 7lbs 5oz but a cracking fish all the same .

 

There was sadly a very sour note to the day brought on by the disgraceful behaviour of a charter skipper.

 

We were right on the hot spot of the chosen mark, with Aquafresh some 50 yards behind us when Tomkat, an Arvor 25 skippered by John Skeggs out of Lymington, deliberately steamed at full tilt between our boats and directly over the mark. We could see him coming and tried to wave him off but to no avail. Jim had to retrieve his line to prevent being cut off. This was clearly done to upset the fishing prospects on that mark. Had we been on smaller craft it would also have been quite dangerous. This unfortunately is not the first occasion he has done this to us, so how many others have had this experience? What a disgrace to his profession – a deplorable and unsporting act that serves only to bring his profession into disrepute. Great advert John – well done!

 

We tried to make the best of a fading tide, with just one more fish of 2lb 7oz. I stopped briefly on the way back for a couple of drifts on an inshore mark for naught. A few drops for fresh mackerel gave us full strings of joeys but no sizable fish, so back home for a bit of filleting practice.

 

Hard work, occasionally frustrating, but a great day out.

 

See you on the tide.

 

Edit 28/5/08

I took the opportunity to speak with John Skeggs today ref. the above. He explained that there was genuinely no malicious intent on his part, he didn't notice we were fishing and apologised for the incident.

 

I have to say that I personally would still not drive my craft between two angling boats 50 yards apart that were clearly on the drift on a known mark.

 

That said, apology accepted.

 

end of.

Edited May 28, 2008 by Otter of Poole

[Dan]

You were lucky to get out, I bought a new boat in april and its been easterlies ever since Ive been out once and that wasnt comfortable! ... that said well done and a good bass to boot!