Stewart 1971
Well-known member
With Roker still shut and not fancying Shields I decided on a few lazy hours on the Rathouse this afternoon. With HT at 4:20 I got there just after half 12 after swinging by NETS to pick up some Bluey to find a few other lads already on there. Got set up right at the sea end against the green fence, same tactics as last time using two rods, both two hook flappers and size 2 hooks one dropped down the side and the other cast to the channel.
First couple of casts were uneventful, then shortly after casting out I got a nice rattle on the channel rod which I left to develop. A slightly better rattle a bit later and I lifted in to what felt on OK fish but turned out to be a double shot of a Coalie and a 29cm Dab (well I'm 99% sure it was a manky Dab, 1% niggly that it might be a Long Rough Dab):
Not long after the down the side rod went mental and I landed a 28cm codling and then for the next couple of hours it was almost non stop action. Another couple of tommy codling then as the tide picked up it was all Coalies, nothing big but good sport nonetheless.
In the end it was a lovely afternoon to be out, that wind is still chilly but when the sun came out it was almost (almost) warm:
Met Rod off here (nice to meet you mate) who came down to pick up my old RT shelter and also had a chat with another lad who figured me out but I forgot to ask his name. The Turnstones were a pest constantly nibbling away at my baited traces and even worse as the afternoon went on were the gulls, not only trying to grab baited hooks as they hit the water but also trying to nab them in mid air as I was reeling up the side
The Cormorants were around as well and a couple of the Coalies that would otherwise have made it back safe and sound were nabbed and swallowed whole before they could get off the surface.
Finally packed up just after half five with an end tally of 8 Coalies, 5 tommy codling and one manky Dab. Surprisingly all bar three of the fish came from the channel, the down the side rod was very quiet today fetching oly one codling and two little coalies.
First couple of casts were uneventful, then shortly after casting out I got a nice rattle on the channel rod which I left to develop. A slightly better rattle a bit later and I lifted in to what felt on OK fish but turned out to be a double shot of a Coalie and a 29cm Dab (well I'm 99% sure it was a manky Dab, 1% niggly that it might be a Long Rough Dab):
Not long after the down the side rod went mental and I landed a 28cm codling and then for the next couple of hours it was almost non stop action. Another couple of tommy codling then as the tide picked up it was all Coalies, nothing big but good sport nonetheless.
In the end it was a lovely afternoon to be out, that wind is still chilly but when the sun came out it was almost (almost) warm:
Met Rod off here (nice to meet you mate) who came down to pick up my old RT shelter and also had a chat with another lad who figured me out but I forgot to ask his name. The Turnstones were a pest constantly nibbling away at my baited traces and even worse as the afternoon went on were the gulls, not only trying to grab baited hooks as they hit the water but also trying to nab them in mid air as I was reeling up the side
The Cormorants were around as well and a couple of the Coalies that would otherwise have made it back safe and sound were nabbed and swallowed whole before they could get off the surface.Finally packed up just after half five with an end tally of 8 Coalies, 5 tommy codling and one manky Dab. Surprisingly all bar three of the fish came from the channel, the down the side rod was very quiet today fetching oly one codling and two little coalies.
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