IOW trip - 25 miles for 2 Mackerel!

[chris329a]

Well.....where do I begin. What was planned to be a chilled out two day visit to the Island, with fishing, camping and beers soon turned out to be a frantic paddle across the Solent dodging the Fastcat, Fishbourne Ferries, and Hovercraft

Got to GAFIRS (Gosport) by 5am, and kitted up while I waited for Jim.

Setting off it was like a Millpond - absolutely as flat as a pancake





As we were with the tide we were stonking along easily at about 5mph and drifting about 2mph.

Have a look at this drift!



Thought we would try for some Mackerel near No Mans Land Fort, and Jim had a few - I lost a few (must have been small!)

Headed out to have a closer look at the Fort, and the weather was looking great.


Rounded the corner and went past the rescue station at Bembridge

stopping to have a chat with a local fisherman catching prawns, to get the low down on tactics

Once we got round the corner, Jim was itching to land, having never done it yet - doesn't he look proud ;D




We then headed out to Pricessa shoal and found a lovely wreck (Not Jim). Could we anchor up over it, could we hell! The tide was thrapping through about 3knots......

It was funny though when the Commodore Clipper cam on the INSIDE of us?!

After a big fat blank, we went towards the cliffs and after some quick food, sat in the bay by the cliffs



Got bored with NO FISH so rounded the corner to find a better spot.



There was the weirdest current/wind combo - like the trap at Hurst??? Fun though ;D






By now the wind was picking up and getting worse.......

I had to giggle at Jims tankwell, which was more of a livewell! ;D

We had our tents etc with us so pretty low in the water - he later found out that a plastic bag was blocking it up....



Once we had stopped, again no fish, the wind was nasty so headed back to cut the miles for the next day and try to hide from the South easterly.

It didn't happen - wind everywhere, so after a quick stop at the cafe, we went under the lifeboat station at Bembridge and clipped to some buoys for a while to eat and fish. Yep, you guessed, no fish.....

Got bored so went to St Helens Fort - Jim went to the beach to check it out, I went out about another mile off, and it was REALLY rough - 4 foot breakers.....hence no photos! Any fish.....nope

Jim called up to say it was busy on the beach , and I headed back to see him. It was freeking tiring, only doing 2mph.......

Once we met up, we decided to move further around with the intention to camp near Seaview and do some fishing at night there. What a lovely place it is there!



Stuffed some food into our gobs and had a chin wag.......

"winds getting really bad isnt it?"
"yep, its at least a F5-6"
"have you seen those clouds?"
"don't think the winds going to let off and won't be able to fish anyway"
"we are only 5 miles from home"
"its going to be tough against the full tide and wind!"
"F*&k it, we've gone this far....."
"Ok then"

so off we set. F-5 wind, full tide. It was about 6pm, we had been paddling since 5am, already about 20 miles.........but my bed was waiting!

The first few miles were tough, and the main channel worse. Massive 5 foot swells, making progress of 2 mph with all your effort. Great

The scariest point was seeing two ferries, fastcat tigether - then the hovercraft headed straight at us We put our paddles straight in the air and he saw us before cutting around us - phew. Those swells cant half hide you!

Here is the only picture I took as it would push you back at 3 mph if you stopped!



After an hour and a half of full on paddling we made it to the beach at Fort Moncton, and collapsed on the beach. 10 minutes later we thrashed the last bit out and we had done it - that last 200 metres was harder than the whole journey! ;D



So there we are - 25 miles for two Mackerel. Well worth it ;D

Oh, here is the overview

[Sunny]

What a terrific read ....quality report and pictures Chris. You guys are true adventurers. Shame the fish didn't match your effort though. Looks like you were over the right marks from the rough plots; just luck on the day as we all know too well.

Looking forward to the next session report mate

Tight lines
Nick

[richi]

Bloody hardcore Chris and Jim ;)shame about the wind

[skillpot]

superb report, superb pictures. quality!

[solehunter]

Good lord my arms hurt! Cracking blog mate !

[Dyer]

wikid report, enjoyed reading that, would love to join ya but ive only got a 9ft tek kayak, dont think it will handle the rough seas and big tides, let me know if your inshore on the island at all, if you dont mind a beginner joining you and making you laugh.

[snoopy54]

I concur with the rest of your readers,great blog and photos,what a shame you didnt have more to show for your efforts than two Mackerel and aching arms,if you venture over this way again try anchoring up about 300 yards off where the Red blends into the White at Whitecliff and have a go there - painted and spotted rays to be had,strap Conger and Dogs

[loopy78]

There's also a nice big shingle bank runs from puckpool through to seaview, starts off about 200 yards out at puckpool and goes steadily further out diagonally, good bit of drift fishing there apparently

[chris329a]

Cheers for the replies guys - and thanks for the IOW mark advice, I'm thinking of going this week on the boat if the weather holds up!

[Canuck]

Quality report, great pics, shame about the fish but its about as good as I do when we venture over that way (Whitecliff)

Rich

[freeliner]

Just caught up with this one - as someone tied tied to the shore (hold on,this is sounding kinky ) I can only dream of the freedom to roam a yak can give.

The trip in itself is an achievement, and a goodly wodge of exercise, despite the less-than-fishy outcome. Good luck for the next trip (if it hasn't happened already).