Post by richi on Apr 24, 2013 18:44:04 GMT
pre-trip
This is a trip that I have been planning for at least 3 years,seduced by tales of big Turbot.Every time the subject has come up on the forums the consensus among some has been that it is impossible to fish by kayak.My opinion has always been that anything is possible and in this case the trip planning took a little thinking outside the box.
At the Kent kayak Cod meet in Winter I got talking to Barry about the Lulworth Banks where I have paddled quite a bit,during this conversation the Adamant Shoal and the Shambles obviously came up.Barry said he would be up for it and having paddled with him I was sure he was a perfect partner for the trip.By Thursday a perfect looking weather window had appeared for Saturday.I was straight on the phone to Barry.On Thursday night my mate Steve sent me a message asking if I had any plans to use the small tide for anything special.I was delighted when he accepted my invitation and we had a 3 man group that I would be confident to take almost anywhere.(I'd taken Steve on a guided trip to the Needles a few years ago and he beat everyone back to Keyhaven
)
trip day
Well,trip day for me started at 0230,leaving home at 0300 to be at Lulworth for 0400.As I pulled into the carpark Barry and Steve had already loaded their yaks and had started rigging.I soon caught them up.We had a quick trip briefing and then I called the very nice sounding Kirsty at Portland to give in the paddle plan.She didn't even flinch ;D
Launch had been set for 5am and we were bang on,great to see good timing discipline,on trips like this timings are crucial.
It was a nice flattish sea to paddle out in and a beautiful morning with a lovely sunrise over St.Albins
We made good time out to the first mark ,the Adamant Shoal.We were to anchor up here for a few hours to allow almost all the middle 3rd of the tide to go through before we headed to the shambles.
Birthday boy Steve was anchored up next to me and Barry was covering the whole shoal on his Hobie.It wasn't long before the fish started coming and gladly birthday boy had a blinder,he picked up a decent Smut,a couple of Whiting,dogs and Plaice.The wind was stronger than predicted out here and we decided to err on the side of caution and delay our set off time for the Shambles by half hour.
I had 3 doggies
Whilst we were sat at anchor a trawler decided he would try to plough straight through us
"I thought you were drifting",,,,,,,,,,,, lying tw*t
It was time to up anchor and make our way to the Shambles anyway.
Only Plaice to be had at the Shambles and soon it was time to paddle/sail back,true to form Steve had a PB Plaice
.
I will remember this trip for a long time and learnt a lot out there Saturday regarding what is and what isn't possible.On reflection wish I hadn't delayed the set off to the Shambles by 1/2 hour and stuck to my exact timings,,,,next time
It will open a few possibilities for me.Barry was already saying right,,,where next
Big thanks to Barry and Steve for accompanying me on this little 22 miler and big thanks to all the people at Lulworth who asked where we had been,the looks on their faces was worth doing it for alone ;D
This is a trip that I have been planning for at least 3 years,seduced by tales of big Turbot.Every time the subject has come up on the forums the consensus among some has been that it is impossible to fish by kayak.My opinion has always been that anything is possible and in this case the trip planning took a little thinking outside the box.
At the Kent kayak Cod meet in Winter I got talking to Barry about the Lulworth Banks where I have paddled quite a bit,during this conversation the Adamant Shoal and the Shambles obviously came up.Barry said he would be up for it and having paddled with him I was sure he was a perfect partner for the trip.By Thursday a perfect looking weather window had appeared for Saturday.I was straight on the phone to Barry.On Thursday night my mate Steve sent me a message asking if I had any plans to use the small tide for anything special.I was delighted when he accepted my invitation and we had a 3 man group that I would be confident to take almost anywhere.(I'd taken Steve on a guided trip to the Needles a few years ago and he beat everyone back to Keyhaven
)trip day
Well,trip day for me started at 0230,leaving home at 0300 to be at Lulworth for 0400.As I pulled into the carpark Barry and Steve had already loaded their yaks and had started rigging.I soon caught them up.We had a quick trip briefing and then I called the very nice sounding Kirsty at Portland to give in the paddle plan.She didn't even flinch ;D
Launch had been set for 5am and we were bang on,great to see good timing discipline,on trips like this timings are crucial.
It was a nice flattish sea to paddle out in and a beautiful morning with a lovely sunrise over St.Albins
We made good time out to the first mark ,the Adamant Shoal.We were to anchor up here for a few hours to allow almost all the middle 3rd of the tide to go through before we headed to the shambles.
Birthday boy Steve was anchored up next to me and Barry was covering the whole shoal on his Hobie.It wasn't long before the fish started coming and gladly birthday boy had a blinder,he picked up a decent Smut,a couple of Whiting,dogs and Plaice.The wind was stronger than predicted out here and we decided to err on the side of caution and delay our set off time for the Shambles by half hour.
I had 3 doggies
Whilst we were sat at anchor a trawler decided he would try to plough straight through us
"I thought you were drifting",,,,,,,,,,,, lying tw*t
It was time to up anchor and make our way to the Shambles anyway.
Only Plaice to be had at the Shambles and soon it was time to paddle/sail back,true to form Steve had a PB Plaice
.I will remember this trip for a long time and learnt a lot out there Saturday regarding what is and what isn't possible.On reflection wish I hadn't delayed the set off to the Shambles by 1/2 hour and stuck to my exact timings,,,,next time
It will open a few possibilities for me.Barry was already saying right,,,where next
Big thanks to Barry and Steve for accompanying me on this little 22 miler and big thanks to all the people at Lulworth who asked where we had been,the looks on their faces was worth doing it for alone ;D
