Last Gasp effort

The forecast for Friday night was heavy rain, which didn't happen, so we decided to go on the saturday, Mick was coming after 6 months away from fishing, picking Nick up on the way we were set up down Chale by 7.30pm. The weather was warm with little wind and the sea was flat calm. Tried casting feathers but to no avail, so clip down rigs with sandeel went out for the Rays.
Wasn't expecting much till after dark though we were treated to another nice sunset.




Darkness arrived but the fish didn't, high tide came and went with only a solitary Pout for Nick, but as the tide ebbed the Doggies came on the feed with the odd Pout thrown in for good measure. But even these were few and far between.4am arrived and the tide was very low, the ideal time for the rays, but it was almost daylight now, talking to Mick we decided to call it a night, then my rod hung round with a typical Ray bitem struck and there was a good weight on, a dozen turns of the reel and the fish was gone. Last chance and I'd missed it!
Well I had one sandeel left so decided to have one last cast.
15 minutes later and the rod hangs round again, and this time I'm in, at first I thought it was another doggie as it didn't do much, but the closer to the shore it got the more fight it put up, eventually with Micks help a fine Small eyed Ray (Painted) was landed weighing 6lb 2oz.




Talk about leaving it till the last minute.
Well we decided to pack up then when Mick winded in and had a mackerel take his sandeel on the retreive, so again we had a go at feathering but alas no takers.
Another cracking night in good company but despite the Ray the fishing was poor, so will have a change of venue for the next trip I think.