Amble on the Hamble

[overrun]

Windy day plan, try and catch a decent Mullet. Didn't start well, late away due to dithering. Met a couple of nice chaps at Moody's slip, Mullet club members. Bit of banter, “I'm a novice Mullet fisherman” to which the reply was “We're professionals” ;D. Kit and method was in order, however, on revealing I'd come from Christchurch...”Mullet Mecca”, my sanity in question . Quickly explained how expensive it is there, although with fuel what it is now... anyway, being a skinflint met with their approval .

Left them fishing from the slip and headed south into lines of moored water-craft.



Tried to “think like a fish” and ended-up at a Marina in sleepy corner where all the floating debris accumulated. Stayed an hour before drifting back with the wind, no sign of fish despite so many nooks and crannies that appeared perfect.

Crossed to the opposite bank and spooked something in the sunny shallows. Parked the Scupper's stern in the mud, ground baited and fished another hour, one small bite, missed. On towards the Jolly Sailor pub, tied-off to a random pole at the bottom of someone's back garden . With the ebb just kicking-in missed a good bite, trotted the float down a second time and bang, fish on at last.

Not very big, why is it you don't get small Mullet? A nice little fight on light gear from one of the Hamble's notorious Bread Bass, all of 8 ozs .



That was me done, avoided the blank, returned to the slip. Slightly self conscious as clearly the most over dressed Kayak person of the day (PFD, Drysuit, VHF, flares etc.).

James 0 Mullet 1

[Female species]

It was still a result
Good to see a bass come up from the hamble

clare

[Purple]

You can bet your rudder that if you'd gone out in a tee-shirt it would have kicked up out there - nothing wrong with having the right gear when your afloat

Well done on the bread thief, and nice report too

[freeliner]

Tough luck with the mullet - but at least the bread thief saved you from a blank.

I don't know the Hamble too well, but further east in Portsmouth harbour I've been struggling at times with the mullet so far this year. There are more small fish in evidence than lunkers, and both have often been sticking pretty close to structures and cover rather than roaming just yet.

You can get small mullet on the rod - real bait-stealing pests at times when only a few inches long. Most times I've had them only when I've gone right down on the hook sizes to try and connect with tentative bites, or when I've just got plain bored with watching them whittle baits down in seconds.

[richi]

Unlucky with the Mullet James,you're still way ahead of all the rest of us yakfishers on the species front




ATM

[overrun]

Thanks all.

Just want to top last years species number Richi, year on year improvement. The boat guys usually manage high thirties, should be able to do thirty

[richi]

May 11, 2011 16:55:19 GMT overrun said:

Thanks all.

Just want to top last years species number Richi, year on year improvement. The boat guys usually manage high thirties, should be able to do thirty

I don't reckon it'll be easy but I reckon you may do it.good luck mate

[Sunny]

Unlucky James.... Mullet were created to frustrate anglers...be it from the shore or boat/yak.

To put that in to perspective...I have been fishing for them for well over 30 years and the first 10 years were confined to a handful each season. I can now catch more in one session than I used to get in whole seasons !!!!

You have to stick with it..... ground bait little and often; keep the tackle as light as possible....and don't ignore the fish in the marinas

Max 6Lb line and size 8 hooks.