A change is good as a rest

After weeks of trying Chale and no change in the weather this week, I decided to have a change of venue. So Friday evening after picking Nick up we were set up down Sandown Bay.



The weather was heavy cloud but little wind and the sea was flat calm, we were set up by 8pm with the tide just started to ebb.
One rod I had a 2 hook flapper on with size 1 hooks using ragworm as bait looking for a plaice or early Sole, the other was a clip down with Sandeel for the Rays.
9pm we were joined by lighty, by 9.30pm the rain started to fall but was assured by John it was only a shower!
Just gone 10pm whilst sheltering from the rain under John's brolley I get my first bite on the sandeel by the time I got to the rod it was hanging right over and striking felt a good weight, it fought well in the shallow water and eventually a Spotted Ray was landed going 3lb on the Nose.



That was a good start, the rain got gradually heavier, so much for the shower, but we started to get some bites with the odd Pout being landed, then I had a slightly different knock on worm and this little fellow came in, a silver eel albeit a small one, but a new species for the year.



Well there was no sign of the rain stopping and the wind had got up and thats when I found out my waterproofs were no longer waterproof!!!!!

Just gone 11.30pm again whilst under John's Brolley my Rod is almost pulled off the rest, again a good weight and a better fight ensuired in the shallow water but eventually I slipped my second ray onto the beach, this time a small eyed (painted) Ray this one weighing in at 5lb 6oz.



After that the tide again started to flood and the few bites we were getting died off, about 2am again my sandeel showed some interest with a massive slack line bite, tightening the line it went again so I struck and the fish took off towards the beach, winding in like crazy to keep contact with the fish it finally turn some 40 yards out and almost dragged me down the beach, it took off right and then slack line, it was gone! Damn that was a good fish, possibly a Bass.




Finally about 3.30am the rain stopped but it was getting light now and my thoughts started to think of home and bed, about 4am I had a good slack line bite on worm and a school Bass of a pound or so was my reward.
Well we fished on till 4.30am, now broad daylight and tired we called it a night.

All fish were caught at distance, a must on the shallow beach and were all returned alive to fight another day.