First up was Kristal. I had some apprehension, as she was travelling a fair way for the session, and again the forecast was a stiff Easterly. However, having cancelled the previous days sailings on a similar forecast, to then watch from my window and various web cam's, a perfectly sail-able sea, I decided not to make the same mistake twice, and called it on.
A few pointers to do with casting and finger power, and we were fishing. It is always so very easy to teach women. They really do listen. And then, put it into practice, so much quicker than most men. Had the sea been thick with bass happy to feed on fishes, Kristal would have done really well. Instead, we were scraping around for schoolies and even these were hard to find. But good training for reacting to takes.
Kristal is somebody whose main aim of fishing in the sea is not so much sport, but more for the table. After a couple of hours chasing bass that, although found refused to feed, it was time to check out if the plaice would play. A couple of smalls did, but not really happening in the way that makes fishing for them, fun. So, to ensure some food for the table, adding a string of feathers to the plaice rig, to create a setup named by Mr Bruce Dickinson as the "hoover" rig, meant at least she has a feed of mackerel to take back up the road.
Martin and Karl were next up. A lifetime of fishing shore, and charters with bait, this was their first crack at bass on lures. As always is the case, when people make the jump from bait gear to lure gear, there was a certain amount of amazement at the lightness of the fear, compared to boat bait set ups. They both had rod skills, which were quickly adapted to the light tackle. And after the poor results in the morning, I computed a very different plan, which paid off as, after a few spots with very little going on, we finally did find a shoal of fish
Good action, and we managed to squeeze three for the table from them. Then, another try for the plaice. Same result, not happening. But with the complete contrast of approach, plus bass for the table even though it is a bit of a struggle, they left buzzing. A sure sign we will see them again in the blog. Although, I must apologise for lack of pictures, as it wasnt until the 3rd sailing, that I remembered to get the camera out.
3rd sailing, and returning for another play, my favourite restaurateurs. Antonio, and his lads, Marco and Carlo, were back to play. The wind had stepped up a bit, but with most of the session on the rest of the ebb tide, the seas remained relatively passive. It did make finger power difficult, but I instructed the fix, and everyone was fishing well. Sadly, the bass were playing hardball. One table fish I nailed, and that was it. Another long hunt, for no more fish, and onto the plaice.
Here, the fish were finally happy to play, one we found the line they were laying on after a few drifts, Some quality fish among them also, in the 1.5lb mark. Antonio especially enjoyed the power of these fish, when you remove the more normal 5 ounces of lead that stops them showing what they are all about. Really good fun. And these fish, were to be cooked with real skills. A tribute to their lives. As the guys all work for one of Brighton's busiest and best italian restuarants, Al Duomo.
Weather looking not for sailing now for a fair few days. Lets hope we get a sequence of high pressures to keep the hunt happening. Perhaps only another month of four sailings a day, and then we lose one, with the daylight. This year, is flashing past...