Smoothound Fishing
May 29th, 2006 by Fishing admin
Well after months of planning, the big day arrived. In the run up to the meet, a lot of concern had been voiced about the un-seasonable weather (Bloody cold, wet & windy) & the possibility that Selsey would be un-fishable.
Anyway too many people had ordered bait & booked time off for this event, so it was a case of game on!!!
Geejayy (Gordon) & his son Ashley arrived at my place at about 8.30 & transfered their gear into my wifes car & off we went. I did’nt trust my old banger to make it as far as Sussex, so the three of us plus all the gear were crammed into a little Kia. Cosy or very cramped depending on how you look at it!!!
Stopped of at Sammys Tackle at Hamble to collect the bait, Crab, rag, sandeel & squid to add to the prawn, mackies & crab that we already had. Just hope the missus dos’nt find out what it all cost, i,m already in trouble because her car stinks off fish. Set off again with Ashley bragging that he was going to give dad a thrashing.
Arrived at Selsey about an hour after leaving Wiltshire, wow that was quick, then I realised that my watch had stopped.. oops hope we’re not late. Checked Gords watch, no it’s OK it was about 11.15. Went & took a look at the west side of the Bill & it was just as we feared, loads of weed & un-fishable.
Took a drive over to the East beach. Big relief, the conditions looked perfect. So we went back to the Selsey bill pub to meet up with the rest.
Went in to find Richard, Pingu, Imran etc already enjoying a few beers & they informed us that Flying fox, Baitmaster & a few others were already fishing down by the lifeboat station. Then Disaster struck!!! Pingu had made some special Pies for the meet, problem was, they were still in his freezer in Exmouth!!! Bad Omen (Well I have to blame someone)
Had a beer & some chips & set off in convoy to the East beach to see how the others were getting on.
Not good, only one small Wrasse had been caught, the wind was getting stronger & it was getting colder.
After saying hello to the others I found a sheltered spot behind a groyne & set up for the night. Young Ashley was already showing his dad how it was done. He had set up with some feathers & had already caught 2 pollock before Geejayy & I had started.
Geejayy soon comandeered Ashleys rod to have a try himself, but the Pollack had gone.
Then as the tide started to ebb, the bites dried up.
Took a walk along the beach to find that nobody else was getting any bites either. WONDER WHY???
Some dude in a pair of dark glasses was handing out free beers. (Not sure who he is, probably the local beach Bum…)
Walked back along the beach & came accross Rob handlining in a mass of tangled rigs that he thought someone has lost. Took him a few minutes to realise that it was his own & attached to his other rod!!!
Everyone fished on, full of anticipation, waiting for high tide, darkness & the arrival of the smutts.
Darkness & high tide arrived, but no fish except for a couple of small knocks. Plenty of hook robbing spider crab around though, as everyone discovered.
Ashley took a walk along the beach & reported back that only one small Doggie had been caught.
Then I heard a shout from Geffsky. He had caught a nice silver eel.
Witnessed it & returned to my gear. Another shout from Geff. This time he strolled over with a nice Bass. A personal best of 46cm. Well done mate.
He went on to catch another good eel & a smaller Bass of 32cm & ended the night as the overall winner. Not bad considering that he had been in two minds as to wether to come or not because he only had a light rod (Oddly enough a Bass rod!!!) & he only came because I offered to lend him one of my spare rods. Must have been my lucky one.
Come first light I strolled back along the beach to find a few people had given up & gone home, nothing more had been caught & everyone looked totally knackered.
& that was about it really, a good turnout, very few fish caught, no Smutts, but nice to meet up with other Forum members & have a natter & laugh.
The last few diehards presented Geffsky with his Trophy & we all set off home.
