Kayaking for Cod - Cleveleys/Rossall 16th Oct

[Rushy]

Two of the site staff decided to give the kayaks a long overdue trip off the Fylde coast in search of the elusive cod. Terry couldn't make the trip due to family commitments but he nobly offered his Prowler Big Game for our use.

We arrived at our chosen launch venue, 5 bar gate at Cleveleys. The ebbing tide was still quite a way in which made the walk to the waters edge fairly easy. The tide was really quite small at 7m for a cod bashing session, and with reports of dogfish in plague proportions and only frozen black lug & unwashed squid as bait, hopes weren't too high of capturing our chosen quarry





We'd chosen to paddle to an area of rough ground just over a mile and a half out from the low water mark. The sea conditions were pretty decent, with winds forecast as 8mph northerlys, lessening as the day went on. The only slight annoyance was a persistent swell from the north which was ok whilst the tide was ebbing but would need watching when the flood started, as wind against tide could pose a significant risk.


The first few fish to come aboard were the ever present and always hungry dab, mr dependable when it comes to bait robbing and hanging itself off a 3/0 hook




Then our worst fears were realised with dogfish after dogfish latching onto our pennels of frozen black or squid, they're certainly not fussy eaters! I lost count after 20+ for us both with baits being picked up almost immediately they hit the seafloor...



Then, a glimmer of hope amongst the dogs, a small cod came to the worm baits




This codlet galvanised us to ditch the squid baits and concentrate with the worm. Paul had taken the trouble to provide us with good quality frozen black, actually the worm we'd pumped in the 'How to' pumping video. Paul had vacuum packed this worm after wrapping and it looked almost as good as fresh worm after defrosting. Thankfully the codling thought the same and this was proved at the start of a decent run of cod, interspersed with the odd pesky doggie










Nothing huge, with the best fish being around 2.5lb, but there was plenty of them with all four rods nodding at once at one stage







As high water approached, one of the rods arched over with a really hard bite. It was obviously a decent fish and stayed down deep, giving good thumping runs as it moved uptide under the yaks....




A late Starry Smoothhound taken on black lug it gave a good account for itself, dragging us all over, and it gave an even better fight once it was in the yak!



Occasionally, we were getting some good knocks but when we struck it was evident that we were snagged after a bit of heaving and cursing invariably we managed to break loose without losing any gear, After a while it became apparent what the culprit was...

We brought maybe half a dozen aboard, all annoyingly just undersized!

Another thumping good bite raised hopes of a better cod again, but again it proved to be not a good cod but another species, a decent sized bull huss


As high water came, the fishing inevitably slowed down and the whiting and doggies started to put in an appearance again......


With an eye on the weather, as the wind had freshened slightly if anything and the swells were getting larger and more frequent, we decided to call it a day and upped anchor for the paddle home...


One thing both Paul & I noticed as small boaters and kayakers is how well the kayak handled the choppy seas and the swells, particularly at anchor. We both felt that it would have been an uncomfortable day afloat aboard a small dinghy, with the swell, the stiff breeze, the weak tide run and the confused sea probably causing a boat to swing & pitch about at anchor. The kayak, being low to the water and lightweight, was influenced more by the breeze and we sat with our backs to it for most of the session.


It wasn't long until we were safely ashore, a little tired but happy with our day, and it was time to assess how our session went


Paul ended up with the better bag of cod, he managed 7 keepers to my 5, though I did have the bonus smoothie & bull huss.


Big thanks must go to Terry for lending us his kayak again and even bigger thanks to Paul for loading two yaks onto his car and all the paraphernalia that goes with them, and driving us to the Fylde Riviera

Another cracking Fylde coast sunset gave us the perfect end to a perfect day

[AndyNuttall1981]

What a cracking session. Great report and pics too. Very well done to both of you

[jon14hil]

Cracking report there dave - looks like it was an almost perfect day for it

[Spook]

Fantastic pics lads, glad you had a decent day for it. I am still tinkering with the idea of getting my own yak.

[Rushy]

Fantastic pics lads, glad you had a decent day for it. I am still tinkering with the idea of getting my own yak.

You could pick up a 2nd hand outfit for £600 all in I reckon, well worth it when you get days like yesterday, It's amazing what going out a few more hundred yards can do, fish galore

[TerryG]

What a great days fishing lads, top quality report and pics

[geoffd]

Great report and pics would really like a trip out on my yak off 5 bar one day
have read a few good yak reports off Cleveleys on Anglers Afloat as well.

[Rushy]

Great report and pics would really like a trip out on my yak off 5 bar one day
have read a few good yak reports off Cleveleys on Anglers Afloat as well.

Next time we're going we'll give you a shout?

[Paul]

Great write up as usual Dave


Was a really good trip yesterday, loads of fish, and great craic!!

One thing both Paul & I noticed as small boaters and kayakers is how well the kayak handled the choppy seas and the swells, particularly at anchor. We both felt that it would have been an uncomfortable day afloat aboard a small dinghy, with the swell, the stiff breeze, the weak tide run and the confused sea probably causing a boat to swing & pitch about at anchor. The kayak, being low to the water and lightweight, was influenced more by the breeze and we sat with our backs to it for most of the session.

That sea would have been really quite uncomfortable in a dinghy..... yet the yaks seemed to ride with the swells really well and wasnt uncomfortable at all really.... I think perhaps the kayaks sit in between a full wave rather than across several waves as a boat would (does that sound daft?!) Certainly surprised me how well they handled it


Spook.....get one get one get one!!! They are great fun!!!


Geoff, a lad called Curly fishes down there a fair bit, plus trotter and a few others.... this was a report from earlier in the year when i met up with a few of them. Good set of lads....

Written by curly
http://www.anglingaddicts.co.uk/2010/fishing-reports/cleveleys-kayak-smoothy-bonanza/

[Nige]

cracking day chaps , and plenty of action . I can deffo see why this kayak fishing is getting more and more popular

another top quality catch report from Dave . great read mate .