Last knockings joy

A combination of a conversation at my local tackle shop and some great tides meant I booked time off to fish today’s tide. I pulled up at my favourite daytime venue and made the long slog to my mark. Conditions were lovely, apart from a slight offshore wind, which wasn’t ideal.

I was soon fishing with half a mackerel on my old setup, comprising a 9ft carp rod and new braid on a 4000 size Shimano. It felt so much better than the heavy gear I was using during Storm Amy. When I say 'new braid,' I actually reversed the braid on the spool so the unused section was now at the top. Hopefully, that will reduce the recent knots I’ve been experiencing.

It was really slow going - painfully slow. Despite a couple of small schoolie runs, nothing came on the incoming tide. A lure angler later walked past, having caught three micro bass, and it all started to look like one of those trips. Then, out of the blue, a proper run appeared! No messing around this one as it ripped off around ten yards of line. I engaged the freespool, watched the line draw tight, felt the bass… and watched the bait spring back. I was gutted.

After another hour, I would normally have packed away, but the high tide meant I was effectively cut off unless I fancied getting wet, so I stayed on until about three hours after high. I then started to experience a very enthusiastic schoolie trying to take my mackerel. I left the rod in the rest, hoping its efforts would attract the attention of a larger bass. I had maybe five minutes before I had to pack up when the rod went into meltdown!

Picking up the rod, the line was still ripping from the spool, and when I engaged, the rod took on a lovely, satisfying bend. The fight was strong but short and manageable, and I soon had her beached. She looked so much bigger than she measured. At just over 24" to the fork, I reckon she may have made 6lb. After unhooking, she swam off strongly.

Maybe there were more to be had, but I didn’t mind as I packed up to beat my parking ticket time. Thank goodness I stayed on.