Its a real shame no two nights can be the same. Asim, Peter and Zuheir had booked this trip months ago, and I was particularly keen that it ended in a result. I had met Asim previously, fishing another local beach mark where he had some good success, but he was keen to pick up some pointers as to how to tackle the rough ground. Peter also is an experienced angler, wheras their friend and former colleague Zuheir had not had the pleasure of fishing with rod and line before.
During the day, I had noticed the anenometer swing around to the East. Never a good thing, I crossed my fingers that as it was light, it wouldnt affect the fishing. It stayed to the East/North East for the duration of our session. We set our traps, and once everyone was comfortable with what they were doing, I went and sat with Zuheir to make sure he had a sporting chance of a fish on his first time out with a rod and line. I explained to him likely scenarios, what the fish were up to, but he is such a likeable chap that the conversation drifted to the beauty of the surroundings, of how the moonlight and the chalk combined made the night more like day, about the meaning of life, about the interpretation of world religions. So much talk in fact that I hadnt quite completed my briefings on what to do when a fish shows interest. So when Zuheir had the only take of the night, I shouted "strike". With the rod bouncing away in his hands, as an obviously tidy fish was desperately shaking its big head to eject the bait and hook, Zuheir calmy turned around to me and said "What is strike, Robin?". By the time I lunged at the rod, and whacked it back, it was too late, the line laying limp where the unseen spikey had succeeded in its mission. That was the only action of the night amongst our four rods, ,and as the tide dropped away, and dawn threatened, we packed it in, fishless. The company had been fantastic, the night warm and calm, but the fish just didnt want to play. And a big lesson learned by me. Finish the fishing briefing BEFORE digressing to the meaning of life. Sorry Zuheir, maybe next time!! And at least you learned some new vocabulary. "STRIKE - THE ACT OF SWEEPING BACK THE ROD TO SET A HOOK IN A FISHES JAW WHILST ANGLING WITH ROD AND LINE". Cheers guys, it was a pleasure. Go back and do the same, and you will find fishes waiting to jump on your line. Try and avoid the nights with an easterly wind though........!