Birthday Bass - 2nd October 2016

I haven't been kayak fishing since the Penzance meet 4 weeks earlier. The weather has been rubbish but with good weather forecast for Sunday and with it being my birthday I was treating myself to a session on the water. The plan was to lure fish the reefs for Pollack but i was in for a surprise.....

The sun was out, the wind was zero but there was a decent swell rolling in. The plan was to head offshore to fish some deep water reefs but with the swell pumping in the shallow reefs close to shore were  foaming! I suggested to Andrew that we have a few casts in the lively white stuff in the hope of a Bass on the way out. 

This turned out to be an excellent plan because on the first cast something nailed the lure! The fish tore off and i initially thought a big Pollack had taken my Savage Gear sandeel. Once i turned the fish it soon become apparent it wasn't the usual crash diving Pollack. This fish was angry and hanging deep. My Ugly Stik Elite Spin 20-50gr was hooped over but i slowly teased the fish towards the surface. I peered down into the crystal clear water to see a decent Bass thrashing around!!! Soon enough i has a stunning Bass of 7lb 13oz and 70cm in length on my lap!! 

This is my biggest Bass to date. I very rarely specifically target Bass and when one comes along its a bonus when fishing for other species. I was over the moon to catch this fish! I doubt i will beat it for a while. The fish was kept for the table and the fillets have made 6 meals. This is only the second Bass i have retained since starting fishing and it certainly did not go to waste. 

Andrew filmed most of the fight on his iPhone whist circling me in his Hobie Revo 13. 

Once Andrew looked up from his phone he instantly felt really sea sick. The swell had taken its toll. That was that, because sea sickness is a feeling you can't shift having suffered from it several times before. He hung on for an hour before we had to call it a day. 

Not to worry as I was more than content with the stunning bar of silver that graced my kayak. We landed, then chilled out with coffee and cake in a cafe whilst watching the surfers on the beach . We should have taken the surf yaks but there's is always next time for that. I got home and spent the afternoon making weights so a productive day all around. 

Happy days indeed 😄