Plan 'A' - well almost

I went with Mrs Aitch to pick the boy up from school just to have a look at the sea really. there'd been a steady NE breeze all day and I was beginning to think there would be a surf on. We checked in at Trimingham just before low water and sure enough there was a bit in the edge and a bit on the bank. That's the smoothound fishing knackered then, around here at least, we might be ok further north so the venue was altered to the shingle bank at Kelling.

I'd sent a text to Smudge to see what he was up to, he'd been working in Zeebrugge all week and didn't get back until the morning, he was still keen for a go. I didn't have much in the way of bait, just a few of PK's poppers and 4 frozen crabs i'd had for ages. Karl had some frozen crab and Smudge said he'd go to Tesco's to get some squid and we arranged to meet down there at 1800ish. High water would be around 2130 so we'd basically fish it up a couple and down a couple.

I couldn't believe the weather when we got there. Bright blue skies, hot and not a breath of wind. Karl had left a stiff NE breeze in the city, it had been breezy all day round the corner in Bacton yet here we were, no wind and the sea just "toppy" rather than surfing, we'd have a chance. By the time we'd walked up and set up it was 1900, Smudge was fishing his squid inside hoping for a spikey while me and Karl thumped out crab baits. We hadn't been fishing long before I heard an "Ho", well thats the best way I can describe it, it was more like the gutteral grunting of a Neanderthal having a dump. Karl was on his way to the waters edge tentatively winding as he walked. By the time me and Smudge had got there he'd got it in close enough to see the leader ploughing through the water like he's hooked a u-boat. A couple of seconds later and a sparkling little common around 2.5-3lb is on the beach. I love the way they run up and down the beach, mint it is.

The trade mark scowl almost becoming a grin, only a baby but a good start.

Well thats it then, if there's one there's fecking hundreds! After rebaiting and sending them out, Karl came over for the post catch gloat, its almost law if you don't do it you'll be accused of messing with peoples heads. I'd just put a "jelly" on that I'd had for a while and was about to cast. I said to him "can you smell that crab, that should give a good scent trail". I should've known better, "are you sure its the crab, I thought it was you". He's room to talk, I've been 30 yards upwind of him and still managed to get a whiff, feed the boy onions and he's a demon, that actually gives me an idea for the Isle of Wight trip, he's travelling with PK and Johnny Muahahahaha...

Anyway for all his pee taking about me and smells it did the trick. A couple of minutes after the toxic jelly hit the water, the rod sprang back and I wound down to that satisfying weight with attitude you get with smuts. A short but exciting scrap and what turned out to be the best fish of the night is on the beach.

A nice starry around 5lbish, apologies for the gormless grin, I don't know any other way. By the way thats the photographers shadow on my jeans, I haven't wet myself!

I missed a bite while Karl was there, that hurt. Oh yeah, Smudge has had a flounder teehee. Karl follows up with another 2 quick fire smuts and I manage another and drop one off. I gave Smudge some crab, you can't sit there on squid whilst there's a few torpedos around. They remind me a bit of barbel, if you've ever caught a barbel you'll know what I mean. Bottom hugging scrappers and great fun. It would've been nice to fish for them on light gear but I don't think we would've reached them, they were well out. We had a lot of tide for the whole session and some May weed on and off throughout which was its usual stinky pain in the arse but was easier to cope with thanks to a few fish.

A starry for Karl, he really puts a lot of effort into that scowl. No massive fish but a good session.

The conditions weren't perfect. We had the toppy sea when they like it flat, coloured may weed water, smuts prefer it clearer. Given that it was a good session. Oh yeah Smudge had a slug! In truth we got duffed up by Karl. He finished with 6, I had 3 and a dab and Smudge had the flounder and slug. It may have been Karl's extra bit of distance made a difference on the day, though it would've been 6-5 if I hadn't dropped one off and missed a bite, so its probably just one of those things. A bit like the ray fishing on Sheppey, they are a pack fish. Everytime Karl had one I'd get one within a minute or two, as if they were coming past from Karls direction.

I had my "other" jeans on, the ones with a couple of quid in the pocket, unfortunately we packed up at 2300 and missed last orders, still I'll wear them again sooner or later. A cracking nights fishing that's going to have to keep me going until the back end of next week at the earliest. Work and family commitments have me stymied now until Wednesday of next week at the earliest and with the Jolly Boys trip the Monday after I may just take the time to clean my kit. That May weed makes an awful stinky mess of your reels and line so I'll probably give them a full service, re tie a few rigs, wash my towels etc etc etc......

I love it when a plan comes together.

I've received mail from some sad people that read this drivel, it seems they are tired of the mean and moody scowl. So much so one "reader" was moved to try and help Karl with his scowl, here's a smile for him.

There's more life in that mug than Karl. Is it me or is the persons thumb holding the mug just a little bit freaky, I wonder if their eyebrows meet?