Post by speciman on Jan 6, 2008 20:52:49 GMT
The plan was to target ballan wrasse near Portland Bill and perhaps try for whiting at a mark on the paddle back. With an early start I arrived at Weymouth Angling Centre by 7.15am - I picked up 30 frozen hermit crabs and a few lead weights.
I was soon at Castletown Slipway unloaded and ready to go. However, I couldn't find a free parking space in the nearby street (first time thats happened to me). I didn't have any change for the carpark so had a coffee and waited hoping that someone would get out of bed and drive away. Seems all the Castletown residents enjoy a lie in on Sundays!
A local shop keeper mentioned free parking nearby so I drove around. Bonza - I found Portland Castle carpark (free) and noticed a slipway there. You can't drive your car down it due to 2 wooden posts in the way but you can get your car within 30 feet of it and either carry or trolley the kayak down. This should prove very useful for future Portland meets.
Portland Castle Slipway:
Portland Castle Carpark & Slipway:
The slipway is almost next door to the Coastguards Search And Rescue Heli base.
Anyway ( ;D), I parked up, launched the kayak and paddled up towards the Bill. Things were going well, the tide was with me, the wind was not strong and the swell was not great when I headed out from the southern breakwater entrance.
Once past Grove Point (where the tide can run fast on springs), I stayed close inshore looking for potential camping/landing spots for future trips.
I made good progress, and only had about 3/4mile to go.
The water suddenly became confused and I realised I was in a tidal race. The current was going with me and I could see calmer water ahead so paddled through it (I had hoped I could have sneaked around the race by staying close inshore). I took a few waves over the bow (and on the chin!) the cockpit got flooded but was soon into calmer water.
Not long after I was up at the Bill.
Mr (or Mrs) lighthouse keeper (or is it all electronic these days?) was testing the fog horn for about 5 minutes! a very deep bass which passed right through me and sounded a lot like the horn from the War of the Worlds film. Quite unnerving.
Anyway ( ;D), there were a few anglers dotted along the coastline - I was expecting a better turnout given
There were no pot buoys along that section and I didn't want to fish on the drift so dropped anchor not far out from beach casting range. Given the rocky terrain, when the anchor went over the side I didn't expect to see it again.
Hermit crabs were my bait of choice and I used strong O'Shaughnessy hooks.
I was soon fishing. On the second drop I had my first snag. I lost the lot despite using a rotten bottom. I setup again dropped it over the side and raised the lead slightly off the seabed. I was using 5 ounces which was needed as the tide was quite strong. A few snags later and I had a fish on.
He put up a good fight in the ebbing tide and stayed still for the photos. When I put him in a plastic bag for weighing he went mental! The reading from my scales bounced around a bit with the swell and I settled for the middleground at 4lb 10ounces. A good size ballan but not a monster by Portland standards.
Not long after I had what felt like a clunker of a fish take the bait, wedge itself between a rock down below and I had to break free.
After more rebaiting, snags and tackle losses I decided to make my way back. I was happy with the fish I'd caught and wanted to try for whiting at a mark closer to where I'd launched.
The forecast over the VHF for force 5-6 with possible gale force winds later also had something to do with my decision to move earlier than planned.
As expected when I went to haul anchor it wouldn't budge - I managed to get most of my warp back though (next time I'll use scrap metal for an anchor).
The tide was still ebbing but I took an eddy very close inshore back up towards the beginning of the crane section. However, the tide race hadn't quite finished its business and and still looked angry. Whilst I was in the eddy a fishing boat came up inshore into the race and looked like he was struggling. He got through it ok. As they passed the crew all looked back at me to see how I'd fare.
The eddy joined the race and I was right in it - I couldn't make any progress as the current was too strong (we're not on springs are we!). I'd been in this situation with Zzippy a few years back in a tide race off Durlston Head and knew that trying to paddle against it was futile.
I turned the kayak around to face the mess and worked my way back to the eddy.
I had no anchor, there were no pot buoys nearby and there is no where to land up there. I waited in the eddy for a while and tried again in the race when it looked a bit calmer. I made progress this time but it was very slow going.
Half an hour later the tide eased (as had been predicted in my tidal flow book for the area) and progress was made easier. By the time I landed at Church Ope the tide had turned (or at least slackened right off) and it was back to enjoying the scenery again!
Whilst resting at Church Ope conditions began to deteriorate . I decided to paddle back to the slipway and would leave the whiting for another day. I had a brisk wind behind me all the way to breakwater and was back at the slipway by 2pm. I contacted the coastguard to let them know I was back and made it to ASDA before they closed!
I was soon at Castletown Slipway unloaded and ready to go. However, I couldn't find a free parking space in the nearby street (first time thats happened to me). I didn't have any change for the carpark so had a coffee and waited hoping that someone would get out of bed and drive away. Seems all the Castletown residents enjoy a lie in on Sundays!
A local shop keeper mentioned free parking nearby so I drove around. Bonza - I found Portland Castle carpark (free) and noticed a slipway there. You can't drive your car down it due to 2 wooden posts in the way but you can get your car within 30 feet of it and either carry or trolley the kayak down. This should prove very useful for future Portland meets.
Portland Castle Slipway:
Portland Castle Carpark & Slipway:
The slipway is almost next door to the Coastguards Search And Rescue Heli base.
Anyway ( ;D), I parked up, launched the kayak and paddled up towards the Bill. Things were going well, the tide was with me, the wind was not strong and the swell was not great when I headed out from the southern breakwater entrance.
Once past Grove Point (where the tide can run fast on springs), I stayed close inshore looking for potential camping/landing spots for future trips.
I made good progress, and only had about 3/4mile to go.
The water suddenly became confused and I realised I was in a tidal race. The current was going with me and I could see calmer water ahead so paddled through it (I had hoped I could have sneaked around the race by staying close inshore). I took a few waves over the bow (and on the chin!) the cockpit got flooded but was soon into calmer water.
Not long after I was up at the Bill.
Mr (or Mrs) lighthouse keeper (or is it all electronic these days?) was testing the fog horn for about 5 minutes! a very deep bass which passed right through me and sounded a lot like the horn from the War of the Worlds film. Quite unnerving.
Anyway ( ;D), there were a few anglers dotted along the coastline - I was expecting a better turnout given
- its a Sunday
- the weather and sea was quite calm
- there are big wrasse to be caught here!
There were no pot buoys along that section and I didn't want to fish on the drift so dropped anchor not far out from beach casting range. Given the rocky terrain, when the anchor went over the side I didn't expect to see it again.
Hermit crabs were my bait of choice and I used strong O'Shaughnessy hooks.
I was soon fishing. On the second drop I had my first snag. I lost the lot despite using a rotten bottom. I setup again dropped it over the side and raised the lead slightly off the seabed. I was using 5 ounces which was needed as the tide was quite strong. A few snags later and I had a fish on.
He put up a good fight in the ebbing tide and stayed still for the photos. When I put him in a plastic bag for weighing he went mental! The reading from my scales bounced around a bit with the swell and I settled for the middleground at 4lb 10ounces. A good size ballan but not a monster by Portland standards.
Not long after I had what felt like a clunker of a fish take the bait, wedge itself between a rock down below and I had to break free.
After more rebaiting, snags and tackle losses I decided to make my way back. I was happy with the fish I'd caught and wanted to try for whiting at a mark closer to where I'd launched.
The forecast over the VHF for force 5-6 with possible gale force winds later also had something to do with my decision to move earlier than planned.
As expected when I went to haul anchor it wouldn't budge - I managed to get most of my warp back though (next time I'll use scrap metal for an anchor).
The tide was still ebbing but I took an eddy very close inshore back up towards the beginning of the crane section. However, the tide race hadn't quite finished its business and and still looked angry. Whilst I was in the eddy a fishing boat came up inshore into the race and looked like he was struggling. He got through it ok. As they passed the crew all looked back at me to see how I'd fare.
The eddy joined the race and I was right in it - I couldn't make any progress as the current was too strong (we're not on springs are we!). I'd been in this situation with Zzippy a few years back in a tide race off Durlston Head and knew that trying to paddle against it was futile.
I turned the kayak around to face the mess and worked my way back to the eddy.
I had no anchor, there were no pot buoys nearby and there is no where to land up there. I waited in the eddy for a while and tried again in the race when it looked a bit calmer. I made progress this time but it was very slow going.
Half an hour later the tide eased (as had been predicted in my tidal flow book for the area) and progress was made easier. By the time I landed at Church Ope the tide had turned (or at least slackened right off) and it was back to enjoying the scenery again!
Whilst resting at Church Ope conditions began to deteriorate . I decided to paddle back to the slipway and would leave the whiting for another day. I had a brisk wind behind me all the way to breakwater and was back at the slipway by 2pm. I contacted the coastguard to let them know I was back and made it to ASDA before they closed!
