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The Cod are Here
Not the early start, we normally go 2 to 2.30am, 4am saw Cliff n me on the M1 heading north. M1, M18, M62, A63, A1033 then through the side roads of East Yorkshire to our venue Tunstall.
We would stop off at Hull for that majik breakfast at our favourite Café, “The Bacon Banjo”. Opens at 6am. I’d recommend this to anyone passing through. With filled stomachs, we’d then head for A&D Tackle for baits etc. 7am, Mark is always on hand to give the latest fishing reports, while serving his wares. Always a good laugh, but his bait is better, we’d ordered Rag worm with frozen squid and Sand eel.
Loaded with those last minute bits n bobs we were soon on our way, Tunstall here we come, you could smell the sea from miles away. Or does Cliff always smell like that.
On arriving, looking out over the cliffs, with a northerly breeze blowing, the sea was still knocking up a bit. Sun shining and with the weather predictions, a westerly breeze later that day, with no rain. Soon we were down on the beach setting up base camp; talk of those Bass and maybe an early autumn Cod. These were our hopes, but any piscatorial thing that would take our baits would be welcome.
8am, casting seaward, then rods sitting in their tripod cups, we were soon waiting with anticipation of what was to come ashore. Rigs would vary,1 n 2 hooked bomber, 1 and 2 hook clipped bomber, 3 hook size 1 or 1/0 flappers, loaded with rag worm, tipped with strips of squid. 6ft * 20lb amnesia 4/0 Pennel loaded with cocktails of Whole Squid n Rag Worm or Sand eels, these were presented with bound elastic. Surely no fish could resist these temptations. Weights were grip wired 5 n 6oz with a couple of 8oz, just in case the tide would rush by.
The tide time was Low at 11am then High 5pm. Still a couple of hours before low, then the knocks started and lines moving along the shore. It was sushi time, weed weed and more weed. If we could just retrieve a fish of this weight, what big smiles we’d have. Frustratingly we had to give up, a break was called for, hoping the weed would go.
During the break, we had a visit by Carl, who fishes the Holderness beaches quite regular, with Chris (Macky).
Talking of catches, from the past, on this part of the shore, filled us with hope. The laughter and Cracc soon made time pass and Cliff decided to give it another go, yes the weed had moved on. Carl wished us luck and promised to come back later to see what, hopefully we’d caught.
Again back to the waiting game, as low tide was approaching we were joined by Graham, who set up just to the right of us.
Again the talk was of how we were doing, but hopefully Graham was going to show us, how it was to be done. Soon all rods were facing seaward, the tide had turned, this was going to be our moment and the waiting started again.
What a pleasant surprise, as Jock (Fishy1) turned up, pulling his amazing home made mobile fishing tackle carrier. This can only be described as one of the Thunderbird International Rescuers Main Modules. Fantastic, I want one.
Setting up to the left of us, Jock was soon casting those rigs at distances we can only dream of. Shouts of “Your over the top of them” followed by laughter. We all settled with the usual Cracc and laughter, then that dam sushi returned. Time for a snack till it moved on.
After half an hour and we were back into clear water.
Soon the call came, “Fish On”, Cliff landed a Rockling.
This filled us with hope; rigs were soon re-baited then back into the sea. 15 minutes and again Cliff called out, “Fish On”, this time it was a small Codling, and smiles all round. A photo was taken the fish returned to the sea.
An angler farther to the left of Jock also landed a Codling; this filled us with greater expectancy. Not long then the call came again, “Fish On”, Jock was to land his first Early Autumn Codling. Photo taken and soon the fish were back in the sea.
Things went quiet then we watched the angler, to the left of Jock, pull in his second Codling. Graham n me looked at each other, come on then show me how’s it’s done, I called out to him. Well it weren’t long and Grahams rod was giving it the knocks, soon he also landed a fish, a Dab, which was returned.
At this moment I’m thinking, well any daft bugger can catch a fish, it takes hard earned skill not to. But in the back of my mind I new there was a Leviathan out there waiting for me.
As the tide was reaching the top we had our backs to the cliff face. Jock decided to fishing from above as the area he had fished was washed out.
At this time we were visited by, Richard (Adrenalin) then Carl came back. Lots of Laughter with a group photo and talk of what had been caught.
Not me though, again I had to prove that I was Top Blanker. Richard and Carl again wished us luck as they left the stage. Well they missed the excitement, my rod moved not a knock not a rattle but it was different. It’s been that long since I’ve had a visit from a fish, I don’t think I would recognise a bite when I got one. But on retrieval I knew there was something hanging on the end. Yes, yes there it was, a beautiful Rockling.
Well I’m not the Top Blanker, but I could have been. Photo taken of my trophy catch, it was soon returned to the sea. No more fish were landed but we did have good day fishing with our Internet friends. Tidying up we all agreed to meet up again on the www and promised each other that when back in the area we’ll try and get together again. Hand shakes all round we were all on are way, Graham (Hull), Jock (Scunthorpe), Cliff n me (Leicester).
On the return journey Cliff, would say excitingly “what a Codling” and my reply was “But my Rockling was better looking”.
No Big catches but a very enjoyable day, early autumn, the chances are it may be a good winter for beach fishing.
The Cod are Here
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