Skerries Banks 19th May

[GPSguru]

Just the wife and I, and the weather was good for a trip to the skerries. This has to be planned in as much as the sea conditions on the Skerries can often be a lot different from where I launch, but today both matched my critera.

We launched at 08:30 and headed to the back of the Orestone for some fresh Mackerel bait. By 09:30 we (she) had about 20 Mackerel and we pushed on toward the skerries. A loverly day with a flat sea and 0.4m swell every 8 secs. As we came onto the skerries, a pod of large dolphins cruised up alongside the boat and were in the mood for playing. Whilst the wife was taking some video, I heard the mayday relay on 16 that my mates boat was sinking. I jotted the co-ords down on my phone and plotted his position as fishing on the wreck of the Glocliffe. The detail of this in a different post.

We were too far away (18 miles) to be of much assistance, but from what I know now it would have been futile anyway.

As we were on standby as a resource to solent CG, if they want a vessel to search from the south, so I decided not to anchor for Ray's, and we fished for Plaice.

The fishing was OK, and we had 17 Plaice of which 9 were keepers, no, I am going to correct that, we had 16 plaice and one flounder, of which 8 plaice were keepers ! I really should wear my glasses more often !

Also, we had a number of Grey Gurnard, although quite small.

No pics, and early in the afternoon we made a very subdued trip back to the slipway.

 

[Andy135]

A good day's drifting, despite the bad news. Well done for posting a report on what was obviously a difficult day.