Overrun Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 The last time I'd fished Swanage was back in January, made a mental note to return in summer. A mid-week sortie, the plan was to go with the last of the flood to Old Harry then a little off-shore to inspect the 'race' and back to Swanage. Hopefully, while collecting bait for the weekend and may be a John Dory. Launched at 10:15, a few bait balls on the fish finder and little else in the bay. Around to Ballard and wondered what the RNLI were doing up against the cliff, at one point disappearing into a cave backwards . While pondering the goings-on, drifted and paddled towards Old Harry, more Life Boats . Crikey, some thing's up, they were doing exactly the same as the first, reversing into the cliff under power, against an anchor. The penny dropped, ...training exercise. There were 5 inshore Life Boats, never felt so safe! Approached Old Harry, noticed the depth decreasing rapidly and skirted east, buoyed off on a likely looking spot to fish while waiting for the ebb to begin. Baited hokkai/feather mix yielded nothing. The RNLI went for lunch, then the Barfleur, Condor Fast Cat and the Waverley steamer passed by before the ebb began. Paddled out to the area marked 'dangerous' on the chart (the 'race'), early in the tide and not a big one so nothing apparent. Alternately paddled and drifted back towards Ballard, picked up a small Bream on the baited hokkai. Spied a buoy off Ballard and headed towards that, feathers were hit on arrival at the buoy, Garfish. Nice tide at the buoy approx. 1.5 knots, 40ft depth. Garfish everywhere, jumping out of the water and hitting the feathers & hokkai incessantly. The next three up were tangled in the trace, in typical Gar fashion, not one hooked . Started to get the odd Mackerel, then 5 on one drop. The Mackerel were short lived, Gar returned and for the next 15 minutes hooked another 2 and missed numerous hits. Sport died off, continued back, wind a little fresher than forecast was balancing the Kayak against the tide, so needed to paddle. Back across the bay and onto the beach for 15:00, nearly 5 hours out, 7 Mackerel kept for bait, the John Dory remaining ellusive, where does the time go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zzippy Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Nice trip out James I just love paddling round that part of the coast.I never seem to get much fishing in when I go there though,too much time spent looking rond the rocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cherpy Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 Sounds like you had fun, would love to do it myself, but I wouldn't feel safe on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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