Catch Report - Ilfracombe - 4th August 2019 (3)

Date From: 04/08/2019 16:15:00

Date To: 04/08/2019 21:05:00

Time of day: Afternoon - Evening

Location: Ilfracombe

Mark: Capstone rocks

Tides:

Moon Phase:

Weather: Sunny with some wind from left to right

Sunrise/Sunset:

Sea: clear with a swell of up to 2 feet

Method: float

Bait: Frozen mackerel strips

Caught:

The Session:

I arrived after low tide and set up on the rocks where I began with my float depth set at 6 feet deep abd I cast it straight out to begin with. As with most of the time here there is a trick I needed to employ to be able to keep the bait in the water for as long as possible. The wind tends to blow from the left and the tow in the sea goes to the right at this stage of the tide so I try and allow just enough line pout so that the bow that is put in the line by the wind, just about cancels out any force the sea has on the weight and causes the float to sit almost still.

I had no bites for a while though and as the tow changed direction I could only then allow it to drift where it wanted to meaning the bait was only in the water for 20-30 seconds each cast, though that can still be enough time for a fish to see and take it, as I have experienced very quick bites here and even seen the sillhouette of fish swimming straight to the bait and taking it without hesitation, as soon as it was spotted by the fish.

Still no bites though, and after an hour while rebaiting I noticed some Blennies in a small rock pool taking an interest in my movements. I dropped the baited hook inthe rock pool and immediately the largest blenny took the mackerel and proceeded to eat it. I gave it a few seconds and lifted the rod and the fish was hooked. A quick photograph and I put it back where is wasted no time in swimming right down into the weed to hide.

Once I was casting back into the sea, half an hour past before I had a bite. A small pollock had taken the bait and I hoped it finally signalled the arrival of a shoal. It wasn't the case though as I went over another hour before I had another bite. This fish was a bit larger and took me by surprise as the float went under so quick and so far, that it had disappeared from view and began to pull the rod tip before I reacted.

With this fish returned I had resigned myself to not catching anymore but lnowing there is always the chance of a special catch if I stuck it out I stayed until just after 9pm before packing up. I put the lack of fish down to the bright sunshine and very clear sea, of course that is just a guess.

Tackle used (price) [ time since first used ]: