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[Scotch_Egg2012]

Took the day off work today to catch the weather window. 

Stopped off at Dean Tail to see if any mackerel were there, a short while later and we had 12.  Enough to start of our day.

Headed over to Pullar in search of Tope.  All a bit quiet on our spot at the start. I was out on Ray's boat again, Ray had started making his fry up when his live bait had been picked up. 

Rod arched over and the fish was on the move.  Quite a lengthy fight ensued with Ray making zero headway into the fish, he'd gain a bit and the fish would take it back. Certainly wasn't a Tope as it was just holding him in the tide, some 30 mins later with plenty of rest stops the leader parted.  I'm calling a large Stingray, I've had a 70lb plus on my boat from not far away.  Gutted we didn't see it but it would have been a monster had he landed it. 

Another live bait went down and shortly after a nice Tope picked it up totally different fight to the last fish much more typical of Tope.  Got the fish alongside looked a good 25lb when just before landing, it bit the 200lb mono through. 

I had stopped fishing after the monster fish and was fighting a very bad acid stomach attack which at one stage had me thinking we'd be heading home.  

We decided to make a move into Sandown bay and try a new spot for Bream,  I've been after a good spot in there as the bay can be fished on even the very biggest ebb or flood unlike pretty much every other Solent Bream mark. Anchored up on a nice little spot and over the next hour or so we pulled out 21 Bream between us with my pop up rig taking the honours of most fish. Glad that the mark was proven and I'm sure in the coming weeks the bigger ones will turn up. Our biggest today was 2lb with most around 1lb mark. 

Another nice day to be out with a new mark turning up the goods. 

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by Scotch_Egg2012

[jonnyswamp]

Great report and a good few fish, shame about the lost fish

[Andy135]

Quality report Scott! Shame about the one that got away but well done on finding a productive bream spot. I heard of a few 3lb'ers caught today so it seems like they're properly here now.

[Scotch_Egg2012]

11 hours ago, JonC said:

Thanks for the report again. Shame about the lost fish, it’s gutting when it happens. 
My boy played what was probably a large stinger for about twenty minutes a couple of years ago, it was like hooking into the seabed but it was moving about. He was getting tired, passed the rod to me and the line parted soon after. He still goes on about it🤣

 

That's is exactly the fight he had,  I said to him that is a big Ray and likely a stinger as they do come inshore on the beaches not far,  our biggest on my boat came from a mark just over a mile away on exactly the same bait and rig also fishing for Tope 

[mike farrants]

nice write up - glad to hear the bream are showing - we had 2 off the Dorset coast last week and they will be my go-to fish target this year! from both the boat and i fancy a few on the kayak too!

[Cuda4]

Nice report and great that the mackerel are starting to show,pity about the lost fish I hate it when the line parts as it gets the mind going through the What If scenario 😀, from the picture you posted it looks not far from where I have bream marks so I think it's maybe time for a visit, my PB is just over 3lb from around Sandown Bay.

Steve

[Tony smith]

Great report Scotch

Shame about losing the fish 

Use wire mate 👍

[Scotch_Egg2012]

57 minutes ago, Tony smith said:

Great report Scotch

Shame about losing the fish 

Use wire mate 👍

It wasn't the hook length that broke,  it was above the top swivel.  I think we could have used industrial strength cable and still not moved it.  It was like he had hooked the seabed except it lunged and took line.  Tide was just too strong get it off the bottom