Unseasonable weather.

[Stray]

A bit south of you at Redcar.

[Davo]

Did you pic up the Demetrius on your finder Steve?

[Stray]

Didn't go near it yesterday Dav, I got some good sidescan images of it the other year though, they're in another thread on here somewhere.

[Stray]

Out in my mates big boat today,

nice box of 3lbers.

On me head son, one that nearly got away.

The cuilprit's in the background.

[Stray]

Managed to get out a couple of times this week. Wednesday was a complete washout, it was so wet I didn't get my phone out to take a picture of the only fish I caught.
Today was better, but windier than forecast, but at least we managed a few fish.

We had to use the drogue to slow us down.

Ended up keeping half a dozen, with the same amount returned, best fish was about 5lb.

And the seagulls got fed.

Chris is waiting for a Hernia op, so I relented and broke out the Tractor for its maiden run to the beach.

It worked well pulling the boat, abet at only walking pace, but it flew up the Cardiac slip with ease, though it did bog down in the soft sand just before the slip.
Chris is off to Scotland and Eric is recovering from Radiotherapy, so I'm billy no mates tomorrow, looks like the Tractor might get its second outing. Hope I'm not.........

[Stray]

Just an update.
It's been a very poor summer boating wise this year, it's been either too rough or too windy. So much so that the limited number of times we've managed to launch has been borderline with wind speed and we've had to use a Drogue. This is the one I use.

It doesn't look much, but that chop on the water 2 miles out makes for a very bumpy ride, great for the thrill seekers, but not for 2 old codgers who just want to catch some fish.

The fishing itself hasn't been the greatest either, though we've usually managed to bring a few in most times. We've had Cod to 6lb and Pollock to 5lb, plus a few Wrasse, Coaley and Mackerel. The Mackerel are thin on the ground at the moment, I've had 3, and I wasn't fishing for them, Chris has had 2 and he usually sticks a spare rod with Daylites on over the side.
Anyway, here's a few bucket shots.

[ChrisParish]

I’ve been out in the Solent a few times this year and so far I have come back with less than I went out with! I have caught a total of no fish (there don’t appear to be any mackerel this year) and I have lost two sets of feathers and my 30 year old rod (i slipped as I was putting it into the rod holder and it vanished over the side)
At least you are managing to catch stuff.

[Stray]

Tackle loss is the nature of the game up here, fishing over rough ground it is inevitable. Half a dozen sets between 2 of us is about average, though it can be double that or worse on bad days, that's why I keep my rigs simple.

[ChrisParish]

I wasn’t bothered about the feathers but the loss of the rod did upset me. Had that since I was about 5.

My Dad used to fish out of Whitby and the like back in the day. He said they used to use bent pram handles (chrome pipe) filled with lead with a hook on the end for cod.

[Stray]

Old style supermarket trolleys where a good source of chrome pipe as well to make the rippers (still a got a couple in the garage gathering dust). We used to make them on the night shift, One cutting the pipe, one flattening the ends and drilling the holes and one filling with lead. A couple of big split rings, 8/0 treble on one end and a big swivel on the other, jobs a goodun.
Two to three hour steam out of Whitby, 150ft of water, a 1lb to 2lb jigger, 2 or 3 Muppets on 8/0 O'Shaughnessy hooks up the line, 50lb class boat rod, big Scarborough reel and you where good to go. Thank god the days of using that sort of gear are over, but we still see people fishing like this in 40ft.
Martin.