Cod at Cleveleys - out again at last!

[grahamw]

Hello all, I'm new to this site though have been on the AnglersAfloat site for a few years. I usually fish from Cleveleys but have not been able to get out for ages. At last on Saturday the winds were predicted to be low so I headed off, hoping to get on the water at sun-up, but I just missed it.
Anyway, paddled out just over 1/2 a mile and anchored. Nice and calm and down went the lines on some really old lug left over from September and a bit of squid. The bites started coming and then I thought I had a reasonable sized dogfish, but to my delight up came a codling. Just under 2Lb.

For the first time I tried a net, and I must say that after nearly 3 years without and lossing some fish at the side, I really like it. It's a great feeling when you know the catch is safe!




After a bit I looked around and I could count 19 boats - it seems as though everyone has been penned in by the weather and at last made it out. The fish kept coming, with a pounting making an appearance and some whiting, including a few of take home size, so I did.


After some hot oxo I got a bite that pulled one rod staright under the water! Frantically I grabbed at the drag and released it a bit while I sorted myself out, then set about the tug of war. It felt like a drifting submerged log or a ray! I was making no real headway after a bit, so tried the ace-up-the-sleeve and undid the quick release line to the anchor buoy. That sorted it, as I drifted with the fish it's attempts to fly down to the bottom were useless, and I landed it. Unfortunately it had got well tangled, with both lines !!
Anyway, I eventually got everything sorted out and back to the buoy with the thornback released after throwing up various bits of fish it had been munching on.
It weighed about 7 1/2 Lb.

The dogfish were keeping away fortunately, though I did get one to add to the species tally, and a dab or two.


I moved out to some other boats nearly 1 1/2 miles out after a while, but only caught 4 more dabs, so moved in a bit and carried on. The sea got calmer still and it was beautiful out there. A couple of guys in a boat called "Sea Witch" came over and passed me the remainder of their lug as they were heading in, which was very kind - thanks gents! (From the Wyre boat club I think).



The fish kept coming - I had lost count - and my fish box was more than full by the end of the day.




I paddled in arriving in time to chat to a bloke shrimping and to get some shots of the sun as it went down.

The longer I have the OK 2xl the more I appreciate it I think - so stable and loads of deck space, great upturned high volume bow, easy to steer. They do make great yaks do Ocean Kayaks.

Nothing beats God's handiwork though!

[Riccardo El Paxo]

Excellent report and photos

[TerryG]

That's a 1st report that's gonna take some beating mate Fantastic pics and welcome to Angling addicts Graham

[Paul]

Hiya Graham Great to see you over here

Fantastic report mate. Reading through it seems you were slightly inshore from where we have fished the last couple of times, nice to see the coddies are that bit closer in too

Keep in touch mate and we will have to try and get a paddle out sometime. I know Curly is chomping at the bit to get out too.... think he is constantly working weekends unfortunately



PS. Welcome to Angling Addicts

[smokin]

fantastic report there fella and welcome to the site - whetting my appetite even more for a Yak!!! so many types of sea fishing to do i could explode

atb


Chris

[Rushy]

Brilliant report Graham looked like a terrific day to be afloat

welcome to the site

Them sunset pics are tremendous

[grahamw]

Thanks for the welcome to the site everyone.
I've never seen so many boats out as there were Saturday, hopefully there'll be more kayaks too as we go on through the winter and the cod hopefully get bigger.

[Paul]

Think a lot of the dinghies have struggled to get out in recent weeks with the weather, probably dying to get out on Saturday....

When myself and Dave were out on the yaks the other week, two or three boats sneaked out for a couple of hours but admitted defeat in the end, it was just too rough for the dinghies....


Next opportunity i get ill be out again.... Ill give you a shout

[geoffd]

Great day out Graham a nice catch and great pics could you tell please me what camera you use thanks as I'm lookin for one

[smokin]

hope you don't mind but 'calm.jpg' is now my ubuntu desktop picture!