Report Written by forum member 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!