Eastney/Hayling Boat report

[solent fisher]

Hi Guys,

 

I went out on my boat yesterday in the hope to catch a few early plaice. We launched just before 10am from the public slipway next to the ferry bridge at Hayling Island. The original plan was 8am but when I got to my boat I found that one of my wheel hubs had seized solid having left the brakes on.

 

The day started off beautiful. It was sunny and relatively warm with a only a very light breeze. After loading up and positioning the boat on the slip I gave it a slight shove and it slipped off the rollers into the clear shallow water and without waves or tide to contend with like I normally have to face at Gosport it was a real pleasure. It almost felt like summer! My mate (Girlfriend's dad) held the boat whilst i parked up.

 

We took the boat out of the harbour and decided to drift for the plaice at hayling bay, just east of chichester harbour entrance. Once we got round past the huge winner bank which was totally dry and exposed we headed in our direction at a nice confortable 23 knots. The sea state was superb with barely a ripple. On arrival we baited our long flowing traces with beads, spoons, plenty of fresh rag and tipped the hooks with long thin strips of squid. With only 18-25 ft water we used our light spinning rods only needing 2oz leads to maintain contact with the bottom. We drifted the area a few times and after covering a reasonable amount of ground decided to move on having not had anything. It did not matter to us, the weather was so nice and the sea so flat it was just so good to be out there.

 

Our next drift would be back at langstone harbour where we launched from. We tried drifting a mark called langstone ridges which is just a mile south of the Eastney outfall pipe. The tide had now turned so we drifted from East to west this time starting right on the top of the bank at 8ft down to 35ft and back up again to 18ft. The ebb tide, being stronger, increased our drift speed to 1.2kts and on the end of our first run we came within a hundred yards of a row of boats anchored up fishing just east of the 'Blocks' at southsea. We had another 4 long drifts, moving north each time to try and cover the ground and still nothing. The wind by this time, as forcast, had picked up to quite a stiff breeze which felt like a 5 but as it was coming from the north the sea whilst got a little choppy was by no means rough. We called it quits at about 16:00 and headed back to the slip.

 

So nothing caught but had a great time none the less. Should be back out again in a couple of weeks when hopefully the sea temp would have risen a little. Which by the way I recorded at a very chilly 4.6 degrees C (surface) Brrrr.

 

James

[David.W]

Nice report, just goes to show that you don't need to catch to have a good day out

[Guest sandpipper]

Hi when i fished the blocks in the lates 80`s it was the done thing to anchor up for the plaice and not drift dont ask me why i cant remmember

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Nice report, glad to see you enjoyed the fishing, catching is the cream on the cake.

 

We always used to drift for plaice in Bournemouth Bay, they seemed to like a moving bait and a bite would sometimes cover a fair distance before a full on take.

 

Good read for someone like me who is just dreaming about things to come when the work is finished.

[Guest CJS2]

Nice one, brings back memories of the 80's when I and my mates used to tow to Hayling/Southsea . . . Mmm happy days

 

CJS2

[Norm B]

Hi Guys,

 

I went out on my boat yesterday in the hope to catch a few early plaice. We launched just before 10am from the public slipway next to the ferry bridge at Hayling Island. The original plan was 8am but when I got to my boat I found that one of my wheel hubs had seized solid having left the brakes on.

 

The day started off beautiful. It was sunny and relatively warm with a only a very light breeze. After loading up and positioning the boat on the slip I gave it a slight shove and it slipped off the rollers into the clear shallow water and without waves or tide to contend with like I normally have to face at Gosport it was a real pleasure. It almost felt like summer! My mate (Girlfriend's dad) held the boat whilst i parked up.

 

We took the boat out of the harbour and decided to drift for the plaice at hayling bay, just east of chichester harbour entrance. Once we got round past the huge winner bank which was totally dry and exposed we headed in our direction at a nice confortable 23 knots. The sea state was superb with barely a ripple. On arrival we baited our long flowing traces with beads, spoons, plenty of fresh rag and tipped the hooks with long thin strips of squid. With only 18-25 ft water we used our light spinning rods only needing 2oz leads to maintain contact with the bottom. We drifted the area a few times and after covering a reasonable amount of ground decided to move on having not had anything. It did not matter to us, the weather was so nice and the sea so flat it was just so good to be out there.

 

Our next drift would be back at langstone harbour where we launched from. We tried drifting a mark called langstone ridges which is just a mile south of the Eastney outfall pipe. The tide had now turned so we drifted from East to west this time starting right on the top of the bank at 8ft down to 35ft and back up again to 18ft. The ebb tide, being stronger, increased our drift speed to 1.2kts and on the end of our first run we came within a hundred yards of a row of boats anchored up fishing just east of the 'Blocks' at southsea. We had another 4 long drifts, moving north each time to try and cover the ground and still nothing. The wind by this time, as forcast, had picked up to quite a stiff breeze which felt like a 5 but as it was coming from the north the sea whilst got a little choppy was by no means rough. We called it quits at about 16:00 and headed back to the slip.

 

So nothing caught but had a great time none the less. Should be back out again in a couple of weeks when hopefully the sea temp would have risen a little. Which by the way I recorded at a very chilly 4.6 degrees C (surface) Brrrr.

 

James

Eastney is best fished at anchor because the plaice are so localised. The area just to the east of the blocks is best. You could get lucky on the drift but there's more chance of them coming to your bait at anchor.

[Pout]

Nice report, glad to see you enjoyed the fishing, catching is the cream on the cake.

 

We always used to drift for plaice in Bournemouth Bay, they seemed to like a moving bait and a bite would sometimes cover a fair distance before a full on take.

 

Good read for someone like me who is just dreaming about things to come when the work is finished.

 

Bournemouth Bay is a funny old place, tis normally crap but just on the odd occasion it does turn up the goods. A few years ago the local beach prodcued the British plaice record and only last Fri day eve a 5lb 5.5oz sole was caught at Warren edge, just a few hundred yards from where that record plaice was taken, ohh yes and it was caught on a classic flattie bait, sandeel .

[Ken Davison South Wales]

Bournemouth Bay is a funny old place, tis normally crap but just on the odd occasion it does turn up the goods. A few years ago the local beach prodcued the British plaice record and only last Fri day eve a 5lb 5.5oz sole was caught at Warren edge, just a few hundred yards from where that record plaice was taken, ohh yes and it was caught on a classic flattie bait, sandeel

 

Hi Pout,

 

Does Warren Edge lie east of Bedfords Beach, many many moons since I last fished that section of beach. I lived in Guildhill Rd so it was only a short walk to Bedfords.

[Pout]

Hi Pout,

 

Does Warren Edge lie east of Bedfords Beach, many many moons since I last fished that section of beach. I lived in Guildhill Rd so it was only a short walk to Bedfords.

 

 

Yep, spot on

[solent fisher]

--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Norm B @ Mar 6 2006, 06:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->

Eastney is best fished at anchor because the plaice are so localised. The area just to the east of the blocks is best. You could get lucky on the drift but there's more chance of them coming to your bait at anchor.

 

 

Hi Norm, had any Plaice from here yourself?

 

I know it use to fish well but times change. I'm always finding that when people think an area is good more people try it and therefore the odds of fish being caught in that area obviously increases. What caught is then spread through word of mouth and then more people fish that area so the cycle goes on. I counted 5 boats anchored east of the blocks but absolutely no where else. Read the catch reports next month in the mags at will say, "plaice being had at the blocks at southsea" but of course with at least 10 rods out there every weekend sooner or later one or two will be caught there. The reason you've heard that 'east of the blocks' is best is because you are not allowed to fish the other side. Anchoring and fishing of any kind on the west side is strictly prohibited.

 

Regards to method, many more people anchor than try drifting so again odds on more fish are caught at anchor. More often than not its because they don't know how to or have no confidence with this technique rather than knowing which would be the best under the conditions.

 

 

James

Edited March 6, 2006 by solent fisher