Portland Report 14.1.07

[paintfly]

 

Me and Richi were on the water at dawn, having seen Speciman arrive just before we launched. He said he'd meet up with us out on the water and caught up with us by the time we'd arrived and anchored near the wreck of HMS Hood. Bloody 'ell those Scupper Pro's are quick, I thought to myself; it turned out he knew a handy short cut under a small bridge that only a kayak could squeeze through. But the speed of the SP was proved again later in the day when we decided to head for a nearby cove for a break and he left us standing. I'd certainly have one if my hallway could accomodate it.

 

Anyway, we were here to target doggies, which seemed a bit strange, as, along with wrasse, I generally do my best to avoid the damn things. Speciman continued out to some marker bouys about 1/2 mile further out, while we settled down to see what we could drag up from the submerged feature. Richi got both rods snagged almost immediately, but unusually for me, mine came up with no trouble when I checked. No bites however, and so when Richi eventually sorted his rods out, he announced he was going to head out to where Speciman was, as he was getting into some large pout. Amazingly, my anchor came up fairly easily, just having to break the weak link, which I always set at fairly low breaking strain. Richi's problems had only just begun though, and despite a valiant attempt at retrieving his anchor by paddling all around it, and eventually rafting up so we could both pull on the line, the Hood finally claimed another prize and he was forced to cut it free.

 

By the time we'd got out to the marker buoys, it had turned into a really nice sunny day with a light breeze. Richi tied up to a buoy and I used my anchor warp to tie up to his bow handle, as I didn't fancy losing my anchor as well. Doggies then started coming up fairly regularly and we amused ourselves, like fish chiropracters, with the tricky task of stretching their spines out to measure them. Each successively longer fish was met with cheers, but any rumours of fish going back longer than they came out are totally unfounded All were of pretty average size and between 55-65 cms, so no chance of winning the comp. Most seem to go for squid with a few taking macky, as well as ragworm, so no surprises there either. Pout and whiting came up as well, with enough of decent size for all of us to take one home for supper. Richi had the best catch of the day to make up for his earlier aggro, a codling of around 2lbs, which somehow managed to escape and miraculously leave a 2lb whiting in its place when we had a closer look during our break

 

 

A doggie with obviously Ozzy sympathies

 

Thereafter, the fishing slackened off and apart from a medium sized wrasse caught close in I didn't catch anything else. We fished around around the harbour entrance for a while, but eventually decided to call it a day around 3pm, while it was still light. This was the first time I'd fished Portland and I'd definitely go back, although probably not till the fishing improves. Paddling around a harbour with such big ships forming part of the traffic was an interesting experience and once on open water, views of more famliar territory of the Purbecks on the horizon provided a scenic backdrop to a highly enjoyable, if unspectacular, day's fishing.

 

Another doggie for Speciman

[richi]

what a day!

started driving at 4am saw loads of deer,a badger and a rabbit on the way.Man was I knackered when I got home ,but the 45cm whiting/codling was worth it,well it was so big I thought it was a Codling didn't I! Like Paintfly says doggies,doggies,doggies must have had 15 easily--biggest 64cms here are some more pics

 

 

 

 

 

Roll On Next Weekend!!!

[SpeciMan]

Paintfly thanks for posting the report up. Like Richi have a few pics to add:

 

Buoyed up at mark.

 

Richi and Paintly

 

My 33cm whiting - not huge but its a start.

 

A 34cm Pout - some of the pout were quite big and pulled hard making me think I'd caught a winner

 

Another pout - goggle eyes.

 

The larger pout were caught on whole squid and mackeral chunks. The smaller pout on whole sandeel!

 

Loads of doggies caught. Had to scale down to one rod - fishing became too hectic and the doggies were not being lip hooked.

 

 

My best fish - a 65cm doggie (hardly a speciman)

 

Despite the time of year caught a spidercrab.

 

Bird sunning itself.

 

 

Paintfly gutting his catch.

 

Richi gutting his cod- channel whiting!

 

[overrun]

Excellent report and pics guys as always those doggies really are like rubber bands, full marks for perseverance. Looking forward to giving Portland a go when I'm feeling more confident.

[darnsarf]

Top efforts as usual and great report.

[spanner]

Nice report and pics guys. You certainly had better weather than me......

 

Eeee ... when I were a lad we lived inside the naval base and my dad used to take us fishing at the end of the breakwater there, right beside the Hood. Your pics of Portland Harbour always take me back.....

[Moonyaker]

Thanks Guys, great shots and an entertaining read, well done.

[Simon Everett]

Makes me wish I had opted to get GB to come to Dorset instead and we could have got some fishing done. Oh well, I will put the seaweed on the log burner and get myself a pine cone instead.

 

Great pictures and not such a bad days fishing - nice whiting Richi and unusual markings. I wonder if it is a hybri between cod and whiting - or do they spawn at different times/different places.

 

I have sent pictures some to GB and SM, so maybe one of them will post some of our trip out. You know what I am like with technology - now, how do you use that wheelbarrow again?

[GB]

Great report guy's. Looks like you had a ball.

 

Richi you seen r#~@/*s on the way to a trip afloat, there in lies the answer to all your problems encountered on that day. Damned things.

[Mark Crame]

Super pics everyone, thanks! Loved the doggie doing the snail impression (my 2 yr old said it was a snail). Brilliant report.