Click here (or the picture) to see a larger version of this photograph of Mick, Peter, Reg and Barry.
LOCOMOTION SEA ANGLING CLUBBOAT TRIP REPORTS 2001 |
All smiles at the start of the day are Mick, Peter, Reg and Barry.
Despite the skipper trying several wrecks and areas of rough ground, not a single sizeable fish was landed. In truth, only two fish were caught. Both were whiting and both were returned safely to put on several more inches.
Eddie, Peter and Barry paying careful attention to their lines - more in hope than anticipation!
We were kept quite busy, but unfortunately, only by whiting. Tony caught the heaviest fish of the day; a ballen wrasse. Great care was needed when handling the wrasse since the the spines on the back can give painful puncture wounds. The beautiful dark blue and turquoise markings on the tail and fins make this a handsome fish.
We later moved south of the Head, where it was calmer, and worked some wrecks.
In addition to the wrasse, a small pouting and a small coalfish were the only other exceptions to the numerous whiting.
Weatherwise; a beautiful day. One that was memorable for the number of fish landed but not the species or weight.
The weather for the whole of the previous week had been windy and, although Saturday was calm, the wind had risen again by Sunday morning. Our boatman fully expected the trip would be called off, but the skipper was ready to go ahead.
The wind, however, was at least 15 - 20 mph. This prevented our sinkers/jiggers from holding the bottom, where the fish were likely to be, for more than a few seconds at a time.
The total catch was very small; 4 cod, 2 ling and a few mackerel. Reg had the heaviest fish; a cod of about 5 or 6 lbs. It was not weighed because unfortunately it was 'the one that got away'. As he negotiated the delapidated, slippery steps up onto the quay-side, it slid out of his bag and into the harbour!
We headed south at first but with the wind rising, after a spell of mackerel fishing, we headed north towards Seaham. The skipper then drifted us across rough ground off the Durham coastline for the remainder of the day.
With the prevailing conditions, none of the party expected a decent catch. However we were pleasently surprised and everyone went home with a reasonable bag.
There were no large fish caught; the heaviest cod being 3lb 2oz, caught by Bill. The limited numbers - 6 cod, 2 haddock, 2 red gurnard and 1 pouting were supplemented by large numbers of mackerel and whiting. Even those new to the sport took 20 or more fish.
A busy and enjoyable day.
A heavy swell made the morning rather uncomfortable and although the sea calmed a little, by early afternoon it was clear that the catch was going to be rather meager.
Peter gave us one bright spot by catching an angler fish, which at 6lb 13oz was the heaviest fish of the day.
In this photograph the the spine with a fleshy tip, which the angler fish uses to lure its prey, can be seen dangling across the front of its mouth.
The angler fish has a huge gape, lined with many small, sharp teeth.
Two cod, two ling plus a few mackerel and whiting completed the day's catch.
The boat was drifting very quickly, making it difficult to hold the bottom. Tangled lines were common, many sinkers and jiggers were lost and few fish were taken.
Then to add to our woes, the boat developed an engine problem which appeared quite serious at first. Attention from the skipper and a significant reduction in speed, kept the engine running, but further added to our disappointment.
The one highlight of the day came with the landing, by Tony, of a very large ling. It could not be weighed until we returned to port, but gutted turned the scales at 24lb 8oz - probably 28-29lbs when caught! An exceptional fish.
In addition to the ling, 8 cod, several mackerel and some small whiting were caught.
The heaviest fish was caught by Mick Herron - a 5lb 8oz ling. The second heaviest fish was also caught by Mick Herron - a 5lb 1oz ling.
(These two fish cannot be included in the heaviest/second heaviest total catch.)
The heaviest total catch was by Reg Lewis - 14lb 5oz. The second heaviest total catch was by Phill Daniel - 10lb 3oz.