So... Decided that I needed to try for a bass again last night seeing as I haven't had one this weekend, it's a club pairs comp and Monty had an 8-2 and another smaller fish to push him about 15lb clear of me at the top.
So I got a couple of crabs out of the freezer, grabbed the fresh verm and a couple of just about ready live crabs and headed off.
Started very slow but soon had some interest while still daylight but from the bite and the way it developed I think it was a small rockie that couldn't take the hooks in. Changed the bait and put the rod out again with fresh peeler. Rod was up on the wall wen I had some odd bites... Two massive single knocks, hard to describe really but the rod just whalloped over for a single knock, lifting the butt off the ground, then it did it again. I had hold of the rod by now and gave a bit of slack to see if the fish would move off with it, but it didn't and when I tightened up 6 inches there was nothing there. Hmmm...
Next cast bit of crab now it was dark and could avoid the rockies. Decided I needed to "go" so rod against the wall and cautionary ratchet on incase the thing which knocked hard came back, As usual, halfway through and the rathcet started to scream. Typical. Sort myself out and grab the rod which has something stronger on the end, bass, but all of 1.5lb. Arrrgggghh. At least it's target species eh!!
Anyway, next cast, big juicy jelly velvet on. Holding the rod since it was the best bait I had and felt a little knock, felt the fish move so hit it and there's something there. Rat I was thinking to myself as I could ust feel something wriggling on the end but it turned into a bass about a lb.
Somewhat annoyed at my best bait being hit by a schoolie in the fist few seconds I tidied it uo and put it back out. After about 5 minutes there was a slight tug, just like a big bass I was thinking to myself, and then a pull so I gave line, line tightened then another pull so I hit it, and then it hit me!! From 20 yards out this fish was suddendy 40, 50, 60 yards out against a tight drag and going absolutely mental. Like hooking a good mullet on very light gear.
Eventually it stopped and I started to wind back and it came OK, then I felt it go deep and ran hard again but not so far. After a few minutes of too-ing and fro-ing I was in control and had the fish within 10 yards and could see silver. BIG BASS I was thinking to myself. YAY!!! The fight indiated a double for sure if not bigger, but then it came closer still.
****** **** that's not a bass, it's a **** massive gilthead I told some invisible person next to me. Managed to get it in and grab hold avoiding it's gob which as I have been told was seriously well equipped.
Shaking a bit since I do get excited about big fish, and especially PB's and new species. Tried to call Gav since he's just along the road from the mark and has the posh scales but he's got his phone on Silent or something.
Anyway, weighed it on my scales at 5-12-0. Carried on fishing for a bit after the texts to all and sundry but no more.
Eventually got Gavs and met up to get it weighed. It went 5-10-4 on the posh scales (was flicking between 5-10 and 5-10 and a half oz). Nice!!
So day over and off home. Her indoors no interest as usual... Some things never change and I'm apparently still sad for getting excited about fish.
Andy :martial
Precious lures, gollum, gollum (I try not to collect things but lures certainly bring out that instinct/compulsion in me
