Post by overrun on Mar 20, 2011 12:13:25 GMT
The word was Chesil for Plaice, West Bexi' to be precise, so a cunning plan began with a short drive to Burton Bradstock, check conditions, launch there or from West Bay as a fall-back. Tides were slightly off, so I'd be paddling against the flow, didn't expect that to be a problem there, even on a 20 year high.
Cracking day, arrived in the car-park to find a couple of local Yakkers with the same plan, paddle-east to Cogden or West Bexi' and keep out of range of the shore anglers. Sea virtually flat, slight swell giving a tricky 2ft dump at the steeply shelving beach, should be fun on the way back.
Unfortunately, the locals hadn't launched there before either. Timed it perfectly and cleared the first 10 metres without egg on face. Stood by approx. 100 metres off while one of the two guys launched. Didn't look good, a sort of seal launch into the trough, next wave rolled him, then sucked him off-shore. Watched while he righted the Yak, failed to get in first time, then drifted while clinging onto the Yak. His mate on the shore couldn't help as far too deep, after a minute or so decided to paddle back and see what could be done. Managed to raft-up and drag him back aboard, all the while conscious of the breaking shore dump a few metres away, that old SOT safety routine came in handy (again).
He landed and appeared to be none the worse for the swim, waited around to see if they would try again, I had no intention of doing more than one landing today! They didn't launch so onto Cogden.
Loads of shore Anglers, even a boat at the eastern end of West Bexi'. Trolled a spoon, anchored 600 yards off Cogden, nothing doing. Paddled onto West Bexi' , stopped at the west most Angler and drifted with spoon back to Cogden, at times 50 metres off. Anchored just short of the east most Angler at Cogden, who proceeded to pull 3 out on successive casts, right under my nose!
The hours passed, getting a bit chilly and fed-up , thankfully the swell almost completely gone, paddled and drifted back. Landing still easy to mess-up and plenty of onlookers, slid up the beach without incident, phew.
...and they say we are mad:
Back at the van, piece of paper stuck under the wiper blade, a note, “Hi mate, how did you get on? We had one small Plaice from the shore and none from the Kayak”.
....Thinking about dusting off the old beach rod.
Cheers
James
Cracking day, arrived in the car-park to find a couple of local Yakkers with the same plan, paddle-east to Cogden or West Bexi' and keep out of range of the shore anglers. Sea virtually flat, slight swell giving a tricky 2ft dump at the steeply shelving beach, should be fun on the way back.
Unfortunately, the locals hadn't launched there before either. Timed it perfectly and cleared the first 10 metres without egg on face. Stood by approx. 100 metres off while one of the two guys launched. Didn't look good, a sort of seal launch into the trough, next wave rolled him, then sucked him off-shore. Watched while he righted the Yak, failed to get in first time, then drifted while clinging onto the Yak. His mate on the shore couldn't help as far too deep, after a minute or so decided to paddle back and see what could be done. Managed to raft-up and drag him back aboard, all the while conscious of the breaking shore dump a few metres away, that old SOT safety routine came in handy (again).
He landed and appeared to be none the worse for the swim, waited around to see if they would try again, I had no intention of doing more than one landing today! They didn't launch so onto Cogden.
Loads of shore Anglers, even a boat at the eastern end of West Bexi'. Trolled a spoon, anchored 600 yards off Cogden, nothing doing. Paddled onto West Bexi' , stopped at the west most Angler and drifted with spoon back to Cogden, at times 50 metres off. Anchored just short of the east most Angler at Cogden, who proceeded to pull 3 out on successive casts, right under my nose!
The hours passed, getting a bit chilly and fed-up , thankfully the swell almost completely gone, paddled and drifted back. Landing still easy to mess-up and plenty of onlookers, slid up the beach without incident, phew.
...and they say we are mad:
Back at the van, piece of paper stuck under the wiper blade, a note, “Hi mate, how did you get on? We had one small Plaice from the shore and none from the Kayak”.
....Thinking about dusting off the old beach rod.
Cheers
James
