"My old man and the sea"

The anchor was quickly set and we rigged our rods for Bream.  My outfit was an 8lb class boat rod, small multiplier with 20lb micro braid and a two hook Moonfleet Angling Wessex rig.  The Wessex rig had its size 4 hooks embellished with small yellow muppets and I have a theory that these attract more bites, particularly when things are tough (previous reports have demonstrated how effective this rig can be).  My chosen bait was small chunks of mackerel tipped with squid strips or head sections.

The early action consisted of a plague of Poor Cod to which Pops added a smallish Pouting (that's three species for Pops already and he would go on to beat me out of sight on species for the day).

It wasn't long and a "Cat Shark" or two started to show as well, followed by a small but pan sized Bream from somewhere on the boat (sorry I didn't see who caught it!).  I followed this with a "single portion" Bream myself.  Pops has historically struggled on the Bream trips we have taken and once again seemed to be dancing to his own tune on this trip.  A "Cat Shark" or two came to his baits and then he hit a much more lively fish.  Was it a Bream?  He didn't seem convinced.  The result - a Pollack!  No one else caught a Pollack all day and yet Pops managed to find them - how does he do it?  He now had five species for the day.

A Pollack for Pops

Next up came my finest moment of the day.  I have been trying to catch a Bream of 3lbs or more for years.  I know this is not necessarily an earth shattering achievement but it is one that has eluded me.  Dave has done his best by consistently finding the fish on his Bream trips and I have watched others (including my 9 year old daughter) achieve this milestone with ease - but not me!

I had just re-baited after a poor cod attack on both my baits and lowered to the sea bed when my hook was hit by something akin to a freight train.  Not the usual finicky pecks of a Bream but a whole hearted lunge.  Where my fight with the Bass last month was attritional, this was a high octane frenzy of a fight with the fish running hard, swimming at me, head shaking, running in circles and anything else it could think of.  It didn't tire even when it came to the net.  I immediately asked Dave if he thought it was a 3lb'er and typically he estimated it would be 2lb 15oz!  Nevertheless, out came the scales and they slowly crept up - 2lb 9oz, then 2lb 13oz, 2lb 15oz, and finally settling on 3lb.  Not an ounce under or an ounce over but 3lbs exactly - I'd done it!

A 3lb'er - At Last!

So as I basked in my glory, and pondered whether my relief was greater than Dave's that I had finally got rid of my albatross, I reset my gear.  In true London Bus fashion I had another bite immediately.  More cautious to start with but then insistent.  As I reeled in to the fish it became apparent that it was another good one.  The result was an almost identically sized fish.

As I was sorting out this fish, Tina called for the net expecting a decent Bream.  The result was not a Bream but this very lively and good sized doggy.

Tina's Dogfish (aka Cat Shark)

By this time Pops had managed another Pollack (How? why?) as well as more dogs before eventually capturing his first Bream (species six for Pops).  As the morning progressed I had a real hot streak on the Bream - "showing off" as Portland Mick put it.  Pops had no problem getting bites but his solitary Bream capture looked like it would remain that way.

Next to catch a good Bream was Geraint with this cracking fish.

Geraint and Bream

This seemed to be a trigger for the Bream to start coming to all the rods and I felt less smug than before (pride before a fall anyone?).  Pops got his eye in and started to catch a steady stream of Bream also, much to his relief.

Dee had other ideas however, and added to the variety of the day by catching this very nice Red Gurnard - supper for her husband who is a big fan of these delicious tropically coloured fish.

Dee and Gurnard

Obviously encouraged by Dee's exploits Pops decided he would catch a Gurnard too (species number 7 for Pops).  The Bream bites increased in ferocity and I also managed to catch a couple of Mackerel and Scad to replenish the bait at the same time.  Of course Pops wouldn't be denied and he added Scad to his species tally (8).

Whilst this was going on Geoff, who already had a freezer full of Bream, saw some Gar Fish jumping on the surface.  He decided to put out a float and see if he could catch one of these for bait for the winter.  Portland Mick decided to join him and the competition was on.  Battle was joined for an hour or more and I don't know who won in the end but there were a steady stream of Garfish coming to the boat over this period. I'm amazed Pops didn't get one though!

One of many Garfish for Geoff

The Bream fishing just got better and better as the tide built.  Not all big fish but lots of them with a few better specimens thrown in for good measure.  I continued to catch all day and gave up counting.  I certainly had 20, it was highly likely I had 30 or more with the ones caught later in the day returned.  The rest of the boat was also cashing in on this action and Tina may well have had the biggest total for the day as she seemed to have the knack for catching them two at a time.

Dee helps Tina with another brace of Bream

As this story developed the other Mick had kept a low profile, catching his share of Bream and then surprising us all with a very early Whiting.  Of course Pops was not going to let this pass and caught a Whiting as well (species number 9 for Pops).

With only an hour or so left for the trip it was time to try for our second target species for the day.  The plan was to fish Bill Point to try for one of the "lunker" Ballan Wrasse that inhabit these waters during the Autumn.  A short steam to the mark and a change to very simple single hook rigs saw us ready to lower our worm baits in to the kelp.

The tide was still too strong to anchor and we would have to drift, taking great care not to snag in the bottom - a concept I struggled with!

Pops didn't wait for anyone else to show the way this time and hooked a modest Ballan Wrasse on the first drift (10 species for the day to Pops' rod!).

Pops shows the way

Several more similar Ballans came to the net on this drift as well as a nice Cuckoo Wrasse for Mick (not the Portland variety!).  I was too busy breaking out my snagged line however and missed the picture of this fish - sorry!  This made the species total for the boat up to twelve - the best I have ever experienced I think?

Dave reset the boat for what would be our second and final drift of the day.  It was Pops who crowned a virtuoso solo performance with the biggest fish of the day.  A cracking 4lb 5oz example with stunning blue spotted markings.

And the winner is?

I failed miserably in this part of the day, again snagging the bottom and this time losing all my gear.  My only positive being that at least my leader knot didn't give out so perhaps I have made some progress in this area!

There were a number of other Ballans taken on the second drift, and Portland Mick gave Pops a run for his money with this beauty that was a little short of four pounds.

International Man of Mystery?

So with this last fish from Mick, Dave called for lines up and we headed back to port.  This day genuinely had everything - quantity, quality and variety as well as the company of some very nice people who were kind enough to let us crash their party.  Thanks very much to Dave, Dee and all the crew and we look forward to fishing with you again soon.

The Gallery

The only problem with fishing from the same venue frequently is that I am running out of new and original atmospheric shots for the site (apologies for yet another boat picture at the start of this entry).

I snapped this cloud shot which was the best of the rest after I had discounted using yet more photos of Portland and it's lighthouses.

Illuminated clouds

I didn't think this picture was particularly interesting but it was all I had.  On the way home however, as I came towards Shaftesbury, I was treated to the view below.  It is a strong argument, I think, for always having a camera with you!

Dorset Sunset