Fishing overload..

I could've gone last Friday night, I think Geno might have been up for it, Smudge too. I decided instead to go down the river Thurne with John, an old school mate from Grimsby.

I hadn't been coarse fishing for over a year, John even longer, still between us we'd manage to remember the basics! A couple of pints of maggots, corn and some red worms were sprinkled into a mix of white and brown crumb with crushed hemp. We'd decided to fish the feeder for a couple of hours into dusk and hope for a bream or two.

Thurne Mill just visible centre picture in the background, I should do more of this and I will over the next few weeks, at least until the real fish arrive.

I'm not going to spin this out too much because this is a sea fishing blog, but we had a great time. I've never missed so many bites and John gave me a real towelling until I managed 5 better skimmers on the last 5 chucks. It made a change from hurling 5oz as far as you can and although we only finished with a few lb of mixed bits each, it was a very enjoyable session finished off with a cold one.

Steve sent me a text whilst I was down the river with John, he told me he was up this weekend and was I about for a fish on Saturday. There's no way Mrs Aitch was going to wear that was there? I sent a text to Mrs Aitch saying I wasn't bothered about going it's only that every time Steve has been in touch lately, I'd been at work or had something on and I really should make the effort blah blah blah. A reply from Mrs Aitch said "you're taking the piss but go on"! Pass out gained whilst fishing, that's a first, bargain.

We made plans to fish locally, high water at 22:00, pick up at 19:30 and fish 20:00 to midnight. In truth I wasn't that bothered, I didn't fancy it after the grueller at Cart Gap last Wednesday. What the hell, it'd be fun. I got in touch with some of the other boys, PK and Geno were doing "reel evaluations", that's an excuse for walking up and down a field looking like twots whilst talking muslim (shi'ite), we all do it when the fishing isn't up to much. Johny said he's not coming out to play for a fortnight. Poor old Smudge, his youngest daughter had her birthday at the local bowling alley, he sent me a text from there saying he'd fish a ploughed field he just needed to get out after the experience of a dozen screaming nine year olds.

So with a plan to meet up between 7 and 7:30 at Bacton car park, we'd hopefully fish behind the gas site remembering the "crabtree swims" I'd seen on the walk on the previous weekend. I then had a stroke of luck. John wanted to bring his puppy springer up for a walk, did we fancy a wonder down the beach? Did I fancy it, is a pigs arse pork? We arranged to walk from Bacton to Mundesley at low water, and what a surprise when I got down there, there was a proper sea on! I knew the pressure had dropped overnight a little and there's been some rough weather off Scotland but I never expected to see a four or five foot swell off the bank and a lovely colour to the water. Truth is to me the sea looked that good that if we didn't catch it would've been a real confidence sapper. A couple of local lags were fishing at low water behind the gas site, they'd only just set up when we walked by, nice to see them though I haven't seen them for ages. The ladies I've mentioned before were there again a little further up from Dave and Andy, you have to admire their effort. They hadn't done much as I passed despite the sea looking perfect. It's good to see the fairer sex on the beach, makes a change from the neanderthals I associate with, keep it up gals!

Not ever so obvious from this picture, but there was a good old lump on with colour to boot, if we didn't catch it would be a real bad sign.

I only had frozen bait, Steve said he'd try get some worms from Stalham, did I mention the last lot I got from there were £9 for 50? Fackin liberty! I had some good quality crab and some blacks if Steve couldn't manage to get me a few worms.

Smudge was already fishing when me and Steve got to the car park, he was in the bay to the left of the slip due to the fact he didn't think we would get behind the gas site at high water. The tides, although not very big and falling through the week, were being pushed up against the revetments by the surge and surf. Two hours before the top and we were already on the apron at the bottom of the wall, annoying really as we only had 6 to 12" of water for around 30 or 40 yards in front of us, though at least it didn't look like we'd get forced up the top of the wall onto the grass. Smudge had said there was no weed apart from the odd bit round the leader knot, great news on the flood in a proper sea at Bacton. I'd spoken to Genocide whilst he was messing about with the Leg End, his parting gift was "enjoy the weed", didn't look like there was going to be any and there wasn't flood or ebb.

Perfection in miniature, the bass I mean not Smudge.

Smudge was first in with a schoolie around 1lb, pretty good on the flood I would only expect to pick bonus fish up on the flood here. A couple of casts later and Steve has a nice flounder, first one I've seen for a while and obviously in for a feed in the great conditions. I get back to my rods from taking Steve's mugshot to find my line laid up the beach. I wind down to what should be a head thumping weight and nothing, bait comes back as good as it goes out. Smudge grabs another schoolie and the flounder king another flunky a little bigger than the first.

Steve with a nice butt, he has the knack with them.

Bear in mind we were all fishing with at least 2/0 pennels, it was good to see a few flounders, we'd have probably had quite a few if we'd put size 1 flappers on. Smudge grabs one of the flounders that were paving the sand in this bay and finally I manage to fluke one. High water comes and Steve has had three flounders by this time and Smudge a couple of schoolies and a flounder and I manage an undersize whiting. For the love of god I'm getting duffed up in my own back yard. Steve keeps the flounders coming on a reasonably steady basis, Smudge gets a codling then the best bass of the night, a nice one around 4lb.

More jam than Hartley's, the bass was lucky too, he's well on his way to the Bay of Biscay or where ever they winter.

Same thing again, I finish trying to take a decent picture of a poor subject holding a gorgeous fish, I get back to my rods and the "out" rod's line is laid up the beach and the thing is wobbling in the rest. I pick up, wind, wind, wind and.....fecking solid. It must've found the only snag for miles, I altered the angle, let slack line out for a while all to no avail. I'm now getting duffed up and I'm down to one rod. At least I'd be making the pair of numpties feel good, that's what I kept telling myself, that and the fish obviously weren't well out...

I went for a chat with Steve and noticed my rod straighten up as we spoke, I ambled back fully expecting to miss the bite. I took up the slack and finally felt that lovely head shaking weight. A few seconds later and a slink around 1.75lb is on the beach, deep hooked too unfortunately. In prime condition it would've been close to 3lb, it was longer than my box which is usually a sign its over 2lb. I rolled him over in my hands trying to extract the main hook and nearly baulked. There looking back at me was a festering hole where his eye used to be, a real "head rolling out of the boat" moment. I tried to put him back but he kept washing back up, after two attempts I gutted him and gave him to Steve, by which time he'd added another one approaching 2lb to go with it!

Isiah the slink, my best fish of the session is missing a chromosone or something, fecking typical of my night. Lovely markings though, he looks like he's only 6" long here, below is the length, easily longer than my box.

The slinks good side eye reckon, look at those worms, £9 for 50 they were.

Smudge and Steve both managed a couple of 1 to 1.5lb codling which is a great sign for the coming winter. I remember the last couple of years has seen small fish turn up after a blow even in July, but these are bigger this year, they are legally sizeable but not really more than a meal for a cat. If you catch them try your best to put them back for the winter, the only fish we took where the deep hooked ones, even Smudge's nice bass went back. Within sea angling there's a legacy philosophy of "I've bought my bait so I have to take all my catch", we need to change our thinking I reckon. Yes we all know the commercial guys are ruthless and there's nothing wrong with us taking a feed, but it gets depressing seeing pound after pound of prime fish taken, feed yourselves not the street, after all the commercials take everything, we're as bad if we do.

Enough of the preaching, it was a good session. Good company and a few nice fish, I got a good hiding which doesn't do you any harm from time to time, next time though no more Mr Niceguy...

PS Just checked the forecast, more northerly flow the early part of this week and the pressure's dropping ever so slightly. Might find one or two more the first half of this week. Whilst walking Saturday, I took a picture of an early pink footed goose, not usually here until Octoberish a sure sign autumn is on the way, sorry for the poor quality picture the bird is obviously fresh arrived and knackered!

Lets hope we have many more lovely seas this autumn and winter.