Best of a good bunch for Gavin

First sailing was nearly a complete cock up, thanks to me being quite stupid. When I had taken the first booking, from Gavin, there was just him on board, for a double session. So, we agreed it would be a 0700 start. Happily, Gavin was a keen angler, and had allowed plenty of time for his journey. So, when I rang him at 05:55 effectively to say "where the hell are you?" his response was layed back and cool. "Just coming into Brighton". With Madeira road closed for road trials, I drove to meet him on Marine parade. He parked, and we headed back to where David was waiting. Boat prepared, we headed out.

Loving my "Ting" patterns...

I was hoping that East side would be good for some surface action first off. And it was, to the point. But there were few bass round there. Just small shoals scattered about. Some good ones amongst them, one of which rather enjoyed my self tied "Ting" pattern. A couple of smaller ones to Gavin. David had some interest, but zero hook ups. After an hour, we headed round west side.

Spikey little tub gunard for Gavin the cuttle magnet...

Here not a lot happening. So I poked along my usual spots tight to the beach, Sounder said nothing much of interest down there. We headed further west. Here, finally, we found a few fish. I managed a few on the fly, and Gareth tapped out three in quick succession, on the shad, including a cracker of a bronzed fish. Sadly, David never made a connection that stayed. When it was time to return, he had to acknowledge a blank. His 2nd one on BIF1. Next time he comes out, he will receive my fullest attention. We simply cant have blankers on BIF1...

Gareth scores at a top secret spot...

We swapped David for my regular fly boy, John, and added Gareth to the crew. And headed straight back west where we had left the fish just 45 minutes before. Very first cast, Gareth hit a lovely fish, again very bronzed from a life living among dark seaweeds. Then Gavin was away. John however, was struggling. I was doing ok. The "ting" flies are everything I could have wished for, other than I need a better technique for attaching the eyes... By the time we returned to port after this session, the boat had 19 bass to its tally, with many over the 3lb mark. Plus a couple of gurnard, and close encounters with Cuttle. Another sign of change was also noted. A squid shot up to attack the HTO Mighty minnow also. A most excellent and rewarding session.

Young Connor's day made.. He really wanted to catch a "Flattie"...

Third session I had actually been dreading a bit, "Family Adventure" trips are so much more Capt Bruce's thing. But, he is in Russia playing with Salmon, so I had to helm. Despite a much more bouncy sea, in a quite fresh SW wind, Cooper and his father Robert were a delight to work for. Easily pleased, we soon had them a plaice a piece Then young Connoer got tired (h had been up very eatly) and wanted a rest, so I suggested to Robert we go look for a bass. He had two in quite quick succession. Then it was off to get a mackerel.. Robert had one to the side of the boat, but it did what mackerel quite often do at the side of the boat, especially if you really really want them.,It de-hooked itself and sped for the deeps.

Dad Robert gets in on the action...

We also had a cuttle. A very very small cuttle, which suggests a huge staggering in the breeding this year, as most of the palm sized ones terrorising our lures just now, I think are also this years young. And then, all too soon, it was time to go back in.

The littlest Cuttle...

Fouth session... Well... there was no fourth session. I did however invite my flyboy John back on in the evening, as by running my sessions pretty much back to back, I had a couple of hours of daylight, and nothing much to do. John was there as my family walked off. And off we went again. We headed back west, to do some more R & D on "the shoal"...

Another chunk on the "Ting" pattern...

I found it quickly, pretty much where I expected to find it. And we stayed with it pretty well also,. By the time the gloom had gathered, and we headed in, the boat total was up to 29 on the day, and some more crackers from the evening session. To the "Tings". John, fishing a green fly, had three smalls... Food for though...

Last fish of the day...

Looks like I got over a week shore based now, with the wind returning. a real shame, as "the shoal" is a work in progress. Happy to do some bass on bait work from the shore, or bass on lures on the rivers. Drop me a line - Robin@fishyrob.co.uk