So it seems that I wrote my 2011 review a day or so too early! I had been convinced that my trip with Dave Pitman, skipper of Atlanta out of Weymouth, on the 28th would be cancelled so I resigned myself to my fishing having finished for the year. When I phoned Dave however, although the 28th would not be possible, he said the wind would swing North West later in the day and there was a chance we might get out on the 29th. When I had initially booked we had foreseen this circumstance and I had left the Thursday clear as well just in case! When I phoned Dave the following night he said we could go but we would be restricted to staying within Weymouth Bay and as such it was up to me whether I wanted to come down or not. Frankly I would have gone if we'd only been able to fish in the harbour! Four other hardy souls also braved the weather and we set off for the Whiting grounds on a dark and breezy December morning!

Red Sky In The Morning.......?

Our destination was a mark that Dave had fished on the 27th where he and his crew had captured 8 stone of Whiting running between 1.5lbs and 2.5lbs per fish in a three hour spell. Well we arrived in quick time but as Dave oriented the boat to set the anchor the wind strengthened and it became clear it would be very uncomfortable at this spot. Dave decided to take us further in to the lea of the shore, staying inside the tide line, where we would be more comfortable. 10 minutes later we were at anchor and fishing very comfortably.

Predictably enough we found the Doggies straight away. It was not long however and the first Whiting showed up. This was quickly followed by two more for an Angler from the Midlands named Roy.  At this point it looked like we might do very well on the Whiting.......that was until the Pouts turned up!

The next two hours were a steady stream of Dogs and Pouts with only the odd Whiting making and appearance.  The seagulls knew we were catching fish however and they were not so sniffy about the species, willingly taking any Poor Cod or Pouts that made their way back to the sea.  One brave Tern consistently tried to pinch the baits off our hooks when we were trying to send them to the bottom of the sea!

I was set in to a rhythm - bait, drop, bite, wind, Pout - when I received what felt like a more serious bite.  I was using my 5lb class Awa Shima Ugly Battler rod as I didn't expect to encounter anything of much more than a couple of pounds so any bite felt reasonably serious on this rod...but this was different.  I let the fish have time to take the bait before I wound down and lifted.  As I struck the drag whirred and the fish took off at high speed.  Was it a Cod the crew asked?  I was pretty sure it wasn't as it was way too fast.  I considered whether I just had my drag set too cautiously but the bend in the rod told me I could not put it under any more pressure.

After the first run the fish stopped for a while.  I didn't make anything back but I wasn't losing either.  I then gained a little line before the fish ran again.  This went on for some minutes, me thinking I was gaining only to find the fish was just taking a breather! Dee came to stand by me with the net but I knew I was still some way off getting the fish to the boat.  I was starting to regret having selected the lightest rod in my arsenal!  Eventually I saw the leader knot before it disappeared again on another fast run.....not so long this time.  Eventually the fish broke the surface.  My first thoughts were that it was a small Tope, but when I noticed the white spots I knew it was a Starry Smoothound.  At the surface the fish led us a merry dance before Dee expertly positioned the net and the fish swam straight in to it.  As the net hit the deck my snood parted from the hook and I realised I had probably only been seconds away from losing this lovely fish.

The 'hound weighed in at 8lb 2oz and is another personal best for me even if not large by 'hound standards.  I think the photo shows how happy I was with this beautiful fish.  It was even better to watch this powerful fish casually swim away when we released it.

8lb 2oz Starry Smoothound

The rest of the day was largely unremarkable which became ever more restricted by a freshening breeze that touched gale force under some very unpleasant squalls.  We did however take time out to have a look around an amazing super yacht anchored in the bay.  The yacht was named Tatoosh and is 303 feet long.  It has a helicopter on the back and you can see in the photo that it has a sailing boat mounted on the side.  It also has a motor launch in the same position on the starboard side.  Yours for $160m US!

Tatoosh - Port Side

Tatoosh - Starboard Side