Foggy Friday 27th December

[moonlighter]

It's been far too long for me to pop in a catch report. Must do better (a New Year's resolution?).

With the wind calm for the period post- Christmas and the tides looking good I decided to have a bash for some Spurs out of Littlehampton on the Friday.

It was looking like I was going solo until my old mucker Kevin worked his charm on the family and got a pass, from visiting Bluewater, to come fishing with me.

We left my gaff at 6.30am and, after an easy drive, had the boat in the water by 8.15am. It made a pleasant change to be launching off the concrete part of the Littlehampton slip and not the gloopy mud section. 

We made our way out of the entrance to a flat to slight sea with the fog thinning all the while to mist, with visibility exceeding 1.5 miles (just).

From 2 miles out until 8 miles the sounder was regularly showing plenty of activity and lots of Gannets and Guillemots were flying around. We tried a few times with small feathers hoping for Herring but to no avail . I suspect the Sprats have arrived.

We pushed out to the 56 metre hole and got the anchor down close to the bottom of the drop-off. We baited 6/0 circle hooks with Herring, Squid and Cuttle and it wasn't long before the first fish arrived. It was a very strong, angry lip-hooked conger of 15lb-20lb which I T-barred off at the side of the boat. 

Whilst re-baiting we were joined by Southern Comfort and Lynander, both from Littlehampton, who anchored up about 200 metres to our stern and port side respectively.

The fishing was slow apart from a couple of dogs until I hooked into a couple of "fiesty" Huss, of good size, and we both has small (3lb-5lb) Smoothies.

No Spurs made a show though we heard over the radio that Lynander's crew had one amongst Huss and Rays.

As it was a bit slow I moved a couple of miles NE into a 40 metre hole to try again.

This proved to be thick with Dogs and the odd good Whiting so, after an hour we upped anchor again and headed to some ground just North of the Duchess Lump.

Here we were able to fish 12lb and 8lb class gear and had a good few Whiting though none were of great size.

We ended the day with a quick drift for Squid and managed to get one for supper.

So, all in all, a slow day fishing-wise but great to be out with a good friend.

Hopefully I get the pictures attached! If I do they are of two of the Huss (not sure if they or I have the better gnashers), one of the small Smoothies and Littlehampton's version of Mortimer and Whitehouse!

Wishing you all light winds, calm seas and tight lines for the last of 2024 and all of 2025.

[Malc]

Stonking huss, sounds like a good day 

[daio web]

great report budd thanks for sharing 👍

[mike farrants]

great report and good fishing!