My Fishing Guide #25
Boils up, dolphin and North Sea chaos...
Marred only by a couple of annoying blanks, this week has seen a return to what feels and looks like June.
The blanks I blame on the mackerel. They shouldn’t be here this late and if it wasn’t for a hunch I’d probably still be scrathing hirsute orbs wondering why the reef was so barren yet again.
But on a (relatively) educated whim I went down to Weybourne early in the week and had delicious mackerel barrels (a lot of them over 35cm) virtually every cast.
With enough for tea and to freeze for the pots, I was just about to leave when the dolphins decided to put in a majestic appearance. Quite possibly the same pod that Chris Taylor captured in his drone footage a few months back but what a treat to see them in person (first time ever in Norfolk) and not more than 100 yards from the shore.
Obviously following the huge shoals of mackerel and bait these (bottlenose?) dolphins I hope might now be a regular site on the NN coastline.
200 yards to my left and the birds were diving on what I’m sure were bass but with only an old mackerel rod with me I couldn’t be bothered (terrible lazy-arsed sloth) to give chase.
Rounding the session off with another first by catching a weaver fish on a feather and an end to an evening of unforgettable spectacle.
The rest of the week has looked pretty much like this with every bass, mackerel and bait fish in the north sea congregating between Weybourne and Blakeney point for an end of season feeding frenzy madness.
That’s bass underneath the birds and mostly (and extremely annoyingly) out of range. The blank I had guiding and the other night-blank were both due, I’m sure to the inordinate amount of food to be had, just up the coast.
But knowing doesn’t always help.
And when you plan to get up early with the certainty of a bag up on the cards, sleep often can’t be relied upon.
So waking up yesterday to get down for first light had trouble etched all over it.
But when it’s light outside you get yourself up and on your way out, right? It wasn’t till I was fully dressed that I checked the time and, by the bright deceitful moonlight, realised it was infact 2.30am.
Back to bed and finally falling asleep when I should have been getting up and all great plans laid (literally) to waste. Greeted with a barrage of abusive texts for missing all the action (a mere 10 minute window) and when I finally arrived it was of course well and truly over.
F**king hell indeed. By 7.30am everything was offshore again with only a mackerel to save another blank. Gutted.
Fortunately the misery only lasted until low water when hauling our only remaining pot (other one lost to Poseidon’s pot-locker) revealed a glorious lobster dinner for 2 snug within.
And finally!!
Yep, roll out bunting and share out the whoopie cushions as these are now live:
All the best colours and absolutely one of the most effective shallow running lures you’ll ever use. From the same mould and with identical casting and retrieve action as the brilliant and of course discontinued Daiwa R50 SSR.
Until I’ve got my hands on some you’ll have to guess my favourite patterns for fear of them selling out, good news is there isn’t a stinker amongst them.
Enjoy.
https://bassluresuk.com/products/medium-sub-surface-floating-shallow-running-lure
What else?
The biggest tides of the year for a start.
Absolutely massive this weekend so get out and have a look at the ground if you can.
Historically the huge tides don’t fish all that well but the dropping tides just the other side of them are a different matter entirely. It’s basically the NN festival of bass next week in what has the potential to be one of the best weeks this year.
With the forecast mostly playing ball, water colour and clarity bang on, Neptune only knows what else will be washed and pushes and chased down our coast on these tides but judging by this weeks wonderful annomalies I wouldn’t be surprised if yellow fin isn’t on the menu by next Friday’s ramblings.
Have fun out there and for the next few days, amphibious vehicles only in beach car parks over high.