Norman
Well-known member
Early Start Today due to a very early High Tide, this was a 4.95mtr Tide at 5.11 am ….. 
therefore an early start of 5.00 am was arranged with crew of Tony and Steve.
Not my favourite fishing conditions, I prefer (for ground fishing) to fish the tide up rather than on the ebb. Later in the year when the wrecks are producing the timing is not as critical as there can usually be found the best ling “lingering” around low tide.
However so be it and we all met up “in the dark” at 5.00 am.
At this point I must point out that Steve is also a fresh water fisherman and after explaining to him how in days gone by I had left a small trap under the boat and found it was stuffed with eels the next day he was more than happy to set the trap with a view to picking up some eels for Pike Bait …. (Best when frozen apparently) ….
So in the dark, the trap was lowered to the bottom set with a rather smelly (and expensive) mackerel, which on return we`d check for eels.
Surprisingly (not) at this early hour it was rather quiet in the Marina with no hustle or bustle with yachts to get through the lock … I wonder why?
After a few pictures (in the dark), off we set up the river watching carefully for logs and boxes which are easily seen in daylight, but not so easy at this time of day.
Out of the piers by about 5.30am is was just about starting to lighten up with the full moon sinking over south shields and the sky brightening in the east.
Hour after hour we plugged away but catch was difficult, we tried hard ground and we tried the wrecks but not a vast amount to show for it.
It became more of a picture taking day than a fish taking day (although there were a few moments)
Met up with a few people out there all were having the same hard time of it.
Good to see Tim in his “well decked out” Yak, then later, a number of his pals (think we counted 6 Yaks at one point)
Eventually after several hours and more than a full tide run we headed in …….
Back at the Marina as Tony was about to start his filleting lessons Steve decided to pull in his trap to check for eels ….. closely watched by camera lens
Whoa ………………… last thing we`d all expected …. It was certainly stuffed, but not by eels, but by a darn big 6.1/2lbd cod lol
Best catch of the day as it happens ….. and difficult to remove from the trap since unlike the average catch it had not been dragged up by the mouth through some 200ft of water, this boy had just been elevated in a confortable trap, without being tired or struggling, some small amount of about 25 foot
Nice one Steve
Pics as ever of the day ……….
Leaving the Marina rather eerie in the dark
again in the dark ready and willing Steve
The river, so much different at this time of day
Moon set …..
Back to business, Steve double heading Codling and Scotchie
Early Start means grab a bit shuteye between marks …… cool Tony
Nice to meet up with Tim at St Marys
Just to prove he too can catch scotchies
The most memorable moment of the year so far …………. Cod in a basket !
Then, when removed, proved to be the best fish of the day , a nice 6.5lbd cod (to steve obviously J )
Another Great, although hard, but memorable day …….. cheers lads
Norm
therefore an early start of 5.00 am was arranged with crew of Tony and Steve. Not my favourite fishing conditions, I prefer (for ground fishing) to fish the tide up rather than on the ebb. Later in the year when the wrecks are producing the timing is not as critical as there can usually be found the best ling “lingering” around low tide.
However so be it and we all met up “in the dark” at 5.00 am.
At this point I must point out that Steve is also a fresh water fisherman and after explaining to him how in days gone by I had left a small trap under the boat and found it was stuffed with eels the next day he was more than happy to set the trap with a view to picking up some eels for Pike Bait …. (Best when frozen apparently) ….
So in the dark, the trap was lowered to the bottom set with a rather smelly (and expensive) mackerel, which on return we`d check for eels.
Surprisingly (not) at this early hour it was rather quiet in the Marina with no hustle or bustle with yachts to get through the lock … I wonder why?
After a few pictures (in the dark), off we set up the river watching carefully for logs and boxes which are easily seen in daylight, but not so easy at this time of day.
Out of the piers by about 5.30am is was just about starting to lighten up with the full moon sinking over south shields and the sky brightening in the east.
Hour after hour we plugged away but catch was difficult, we tried hard ground and we tried the wrecks but not a vast amount to show for it.
It became more of a picture taking day than a fish taking day (although there were a few moments)
Met up with a few people out there all were having the same hard time of it.
Good to see Tim in his “well decked out” Yak, then later, a number of his pals (think we counted 6 Yaks at one point)
Eventually after several hours and more than a full tide run we headed in …….
Back at the Marina as Tony was about to start his filleting lessons Steve decided to pull in his trap to check for eels ….. closely watched by camera lens
Whoa ………………… last thing we`d all expected …. It was certainly stuffed, but not by eels, but by a darn big 6.1/2lbd cod lol
Best catch of the day as it happens ….. and difficult to remove from the trap since unlike the average catch it had not been dragged up by the mouth through some 200ft of water, this boy had just been elevated in a confortable trap, without being tired or struggling, some small amount of about 25 foot
Nice one Steve
Pics as ever of the day ……….
Leaving the Marina rather eerie in the dark
again in the dark ready and willing Steve
The river, so much different at this time of day
Moon set …..
Back to business, Steve double heading Codling and Scotchie
Early Start means grab a bit shuteye between marks …… cool Tony
Nice to meet up with Tim at St Marys
Just to prove he too can catch scotchies
The most memorable moment of the year so far …………. Cod in a basket !
Then, when removed, proved to be the best fish of the day , a nice 6.5lbd cod (to steve obviously J )
Another Great, although hard, but memorable day …….. cheers lads
Norm
- guess who's taking their pot next time
) it'll be the catch of the year 
: always next week
