Mackerel Hunt 30/06/10

neil1964

Well-known member
With the weather forecasting rain for tomorrow, I decided take today off work and target some mackerel. Threw various packs of feathers/Sabikis/spinners/floats into a box and set off for Blyth at about 9.30. While on route I was wondering what I had forgot to pack this time (as I ALWAYS forget something). Coming into Seaton Sluice I decided to give the rocks behind the Kings Arms a little look. I saw a nice spot to have a go but couldn’t see an easy way down the cliffs. Ended up following the path round to the North end and spied another comfortable looking rock edge into deep-ish water. Thought I would try the float for a while
While setting up, I realised the first thing I meant to bring but didn’t.... my f*****g buey out of the freezer!! Because I now had no bait, all I could do was try the spinner. I tried this for 15 mins without a sniff and looked round saw that the place was being invaded by loads of school kids on a day out. I nearly slipped on my ass when I passed them and I heard some having a giggle at the old man with a fishing rod.
I remembered there is a tackle shop somewhere in New Hartley so I decided to whiz up there to see if they had any frozen Mackerel. After about 15 minutes of driving back and forwards and asking people directions, I eventually found it tucked away. I got my frozen Macky (rip off, 3 fillets for £180) and decided to give Blyth pier a shot.
As I was walking onto the Pier I was an elderly couple gazing into the water near the shoreline. As I approached them, they beckoned me over and asked what sort of fish was that while pointing into the water. I expected to see some sand eels or something until my eyes bulged with excitement :eek: . It was a bass of about 5-6lB just feeding casually in a few inches of water next to the pier!! They had been watching it for ten minutes or so. I told them I was going to try and catch that little beauty so I quickly set up the rod while they left and wished me luck. Tied on the nearest spinner to hand and cast out. The water was crystal clear and I could see my spinner approaching the fish. All I had to do was move left and right slightly to guide it directly onto the fish. When it was almost on top of it, the fish paid it some interest as I dropped in on its nose and waited for the take.................heart pumping.........like fishing in an aquarium...........easy this I thought........... ...........The fussy little git just turned away and ignored it!!! :mad:
Then thought about dropping a bit of Mackerel right on it and tried to sort out another set up as fast as I could. That’s when I realised ...........I forgot my hooks!!!!!!!!! :mad::mad: What a first class Wally!!! How the hell did I set out with the intention of float fishing without any hooks????? I jumped up with frustration to see where my baby was but it had given up waiting for me and left......I was stood up by a bass!! :(
Anyway, I set my stall up just passed the bend and tried again with a spinner with no success. Switched to the float for another ten minutes again without any action. Quite a few were beginning to leave having not caught much and I thought I might be wasting my time so I packed up as well. I decided to give the same mark at Seaton Sluice another go but when I got there the tide was further out with loads of kelp in the way. I was going to call it a day then but instead, decided to have a look at St Mary’s for maybe wrasse or whatever. I made my way to a ledge at Crisps Gulley only to see a long rope near the surface and some lobster pots. I would never get anything back over the rope so I had a look over the other end of the island where there is a nice gulley next to the concrete obelisk thing. I float fished and used spinners again for a while without success. I started to feel the sun on my baldy nappa and realised I left my cap in the car!!!:D Had to pack up before my bonse began to glow. There endith my fishy session for today.
 
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what a cracking read mate made me laugh also wud the bass not of been a mullet cos they ignorant also welldone on forgetting stuff too poor baldy napper :D
 
the worst I ever did, was during a club high water match, the sea was perfect, I dashed from Tynemouth to Blyth Pier, got all the way to the end, a few fish coming in, got tackled up and went for my big bucket of lugworm, which was safe at home on the garage floor, fancy forgetting that, as it wouldn't fit into a tackle box. Untackled, went off home, got bait, went to Whitley Beach, couldn't be bothered with the Blyth trek again, got a few fish, but not as many as came off Blyth pier.
 
Nice entertaining report there mate - oh yes, I'm sure we've all forgotten stuff; I know I have (yes Alan, I also once went to a club match, got signed in & geared up ready for the off only to realise my bait bucket was still at home inside the front door! Also fished an Amble comp year before last when I had only a bucket of fresh crab as bait, got to the end of my mark only to realise I had no bait elastic or thread of any kind, so had to start un-picking the tea-towel to lash the crab on - fiddly but it worked & I still managed to catch!).

I think it would most likely have been a bass you saw - last summer the fella with the salmon net was telling me he usually gets a couple right in the beach-end of his net every day.

Gary :)
 
prob a sea trout or salmon was on the pier yesterday and there where a few about, afew blokes thought they were bass, but deffo seatrout or salmon hard to tell unless had them out of the water:)
 
Nice report and i had a same sounding time on the pier last year trying to get a decent size flattie i could see to take my bait
 
A fished crisps gulley on friday night and noticed the rope about 3-4 metres off the rock but i thought sh**e with it,ive always fished there so why should this rope stop me now!!
 
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