Humber alive with fish.

3rd July 2009

Last Sunday I was out in my boat Little Eva, with Thomas Marshall, fishing off the Wonderland Sand bank on a few hundred yards out. With in minutes the rod tip nodded and this resulted in a small smooth hound, probably one of this years pups. The other rod then buckled over and a nice bass was soon to the boat. This continued for the next few hours. Both of us were catching fishing on all types of baits the hounds were falling to squid, rag worm and crab. The bass favoured the crab or king rag.
Bearing this is only a few hundred yards off the beach and in fairly shallow water and fishing with very light spinning style rods it is fantastic fun. On one occasion I had a very good hound on and tried to bully it on 10lb line the line snapped it was a case of what snapped first the rod or the line. I am pleased to say that it was the hook trace was the first to go. With using the light tackle you feel every surge and run of the fish and it certainly makes the rod bend.
Whilst we were out there fishing several other boats from the docks were out at the5A and they were catching cod , Ollie Call in his boat had six and other boats had cod and rays. This is from a river that many people said was a waste of time fishing in the summer months. The other week Allan Major has 11 species in one session. The problem is that we may not have been exploring the area enough. There are reports of good sized turbot and brill but it is how to catch them. I would love to try live sand eel on the drift and see what we may catch off the sand banks.
By the end of the session we had landed 35 smooth hounds to around 7lb , 3 bass to 6lb and several flounders. It was one of the most enjoyable sessions I have had for some while. The bait from Georges tackle box was spot on the rag worm were really lively. In fact I was using some that I had had for fortnight. They were still all alive and wriggling nicely.
The question is now when will the first hound be caught off the beach from the Humber. Top smooth hound angler Karl Nangle was supposed to be having a go this week on the sand bank near to the leisure centre it will be interesting to hear his results.
Humber SAC were in action last Saturday at Bohemia. The Northerly winds had put off the hounds and it was down to bass and flounders to make up the weights. Adie Cooper was top man finding four bass for 3lb 15 1/2oz and this included the biggest bass of 41cm. Next was Simon Binge 2lb 4oz and third Frank Cribb 1lb 10oz Frank also had the biggest flatfish of the day a 27cm flounder. The clubs next match is on Sunday at Goxhill fishing 4.15 to 8.15pm.
The clubs biggest match of the year the smooth hound open is on the 18thy July please make sure that you have booked in there has been trouble with Jez Waters phone so if you want to make sure that you are in either contact Georges tackle shop , Cleethorpes Angling Centre as they will pass the information on. Presently there are 60 anglers booked in. I would expect this will rise to 100 for match day. The club want to know because of pegging. This year the match is sponsored by Anyfish anywhere so there will be some excellent tackle on offer as prizes.
Also if you want bait please do not leave until the last minute order well in advance. The shops have been struggling as some of the crabbers have not been getting very many crabs. This is usually the case this time of year, as the females have stopped peeling and the next batch of males have not started yet. Please be patient with your tackle dealer as they are trying all they can to get in regular supplies.