5 Bar Gate Cleveleys Saturday 30th

[Dave]

Launched onto a flat sea at around 8am and proceeded to paddle out about a mile. new fish finder - hummingbird 160 was working well showing just how shallow the water was - averaging 10ft upto 500m offshore.

Anchored up at a depth of 25ft and fished the flood and 3 hours of the ebb catching 2 smoothhounds, 4 dabs, 7 plaice - 5 keepers, a red gunard, 1 tiny tope and a larger tope as pictured. all fish taken off re frozen black lug - no other baits due to poor preparation!

Although not targeting tope I was snapped off twice during the 1st hour (abrasion of the 14lb line above the trace) by what i presume were 2 very large tope. In both instances the hooked fish charged agaisnt the tide pulling the kayak whilst at anchor for around 10mins, slowly taking more and more line off before I lost them. At no time was i able to apply more pressure and try to fight the fish - great fun but I definately need some better line in order to take these fish on!

[smokin]

nice report fella - looks like a nice day to be out plus 5 for the table too - that has to be good!!

on the subject of line - good abrasion resistance, low stretch and low diameter can all be found in 'ghostline' - i didn't like this line at 1st as it had ridiculous strength and it always broke the leader in half tying the knot - - changed to an albright now and it s a lovely line -not the cheapest but very good at what it does.

cheers

chris

[TerryG]

Cracking report and pics Dave Bet your heart was pumping when you hooked the big tope

[Paul]

That looks like a smoothhound to me... Judging by the baits you say you were using id be surprised if the other two fish that snapped you were tope. Much more likely to be smoothhound....


Well done on the yakkin session Dave.... some cracking plaice there too!!!

[Rushy]

Great report and pictures Dave that's a good selection of species you got there, though I'd have to agree with Paul in saying that's a smoothhound....the easiest way of telling them apart is tope have teeth and smoothhound rough pads like a thornback.....in Australia they call them 'gummy sharks' due to their lack of teeth

Looked a fantastic day to be messing about on the yak and thanks for sharing

[phill 85]

Nice one mate well done on the fish