We were back offshore today with another premier offshore trip. The weather was spot on, if a little over cast. I must admit that I didn’t tell the lads what we had caught yesterday as there was every likelihood the fish could have moved on by today. we started on a different mark first thing today and were straight back on the fish. several fish were lost on the first cast alone with a trace giving out for paul. Adem hooked a very decent fish that nearly had his rod in, he played it right up to the boat. As she hit the surface I said ‘that’s around the 20lb mark’ and she took a dive. I think adrenaline got the better of Adem and the line snapped. I had seen a lot of big fish yesterday but that was a good bit bigger. The next few hours were absolute carnage to be honest. I struggled to get the kettle on between netting, weighing, photographing and re-tackling. We got smashed up numerous times and often seemingly for no reason. I rarely use a leader and to be honest find them to be more of a hindrance at times. However I remember we used to use them when the tope fishing was hectic so several of us ended up using them today. amongst the spurdogs there were a few roker and smooth-hounds mixed in along as the ever present dogfish. Again there were lots of spurs around double figures coming out although as a percentage not as many as yesterday. With so many coming out I only weighed the bigger ones and some of the biggest of the day fell to barry at over 16lbs, Adem at over 15lbs and Alec at over 16lbs although we all had fish getting on for this size. By midday the spurs slowed down a bit and the roker could get to our baits so they kept us busy. In just over 4 hours fishing we had managed over 60 spurdogs and several roker too. It had been so hectic many of the lads went down to just 1 rod each so that was between 6 or 7 rods. Despite the fishing feeling quieter in the afternoon we still saw another 15-20 spurs and 20 odd roker which on any other day would have felt amazing. By the time we packed up we had totalled over 80 spurdogs and 40 roker. Added to that were lots of dogfish and 3 hounds. This was truly a great day and one I may struggle to equal but will still try to beat. It is 10 years since I first had spurs off here and I we have caught more this weekend than I have had on the boat in the last 10 years. Many of the lads who have been this weekend are regulars and fully understand how rare a trip like these two are. Most of the lads have been off here before and several have already been off here with me this year. Alec was on his third trip off here with me and today was the first time he even saw an essex spurdog! We will try again for them but im sure it will still be as hit and miss as ever.
As I say this is from a few weeks ago but these fish have hung around for a while and may well be a bit longer yet. fellow skipper phil white on board the chinook out of bradwell had been struggling to get on the spurs and heard through the grapevine about our bumper days on spurs . I couldn’t very well let him keep struggling after a hard couple of winters so I begrudgingly gave him some info for the next time he headed off. As many of you will have seen john rawle even came out of retirement to get in on the action and the lads broke the 20lbs mark twice that day with 66 spurs. Not sure if any had adems trace in them though. That monster is still out there waiting to be caught.
Please remember that with the offshore trips as with any trips it is no good waiting for somebody else to have a good day and then book up as the fish may be gone by the time you get out. always for for what your going to catch today. not what somebody else caught yesterday. Please book well in advance to get the best tides.
