10th February

Dengemarsh

Moonscape at Dengie.... I really must buy a little tripod for the camera.....!

Another trip to Kent, which to be honest is the only place producing worthwhile fishing at the moment. Considered fishing "the point", but Tackle Box proprietor Dave Grinham persuaded me to give Dengie a try. Further west than I had previously fished, it sounded promising, and furthermore, not snaggy and not crowded. And so it turned out to be.

First codling of the night, although small. 1.5lb

On just the second cast the tip sprung back as the D-Gripper was ripped out of the seabed by fish unknown. There was a fair swell on, which in the backwash makes every fish feel tidy. A codling it was, big it was not. Returned, at about 1.5lb

My biggest of the night - 3lb 10oz

I was just putting that rod back on the rest after re-casting, when the other rod sprung back. Reeling down, I caught my biggest of the night, at 3lb 10oz. Dave wandered along. He had caught three codling, plus a few whiting, but it was going quiet for him. And at that moment for me also. The tide peaked, and began to drop. Another 1.5lb fish graced my rods and was returned. Then, an hour later, another 3lb'er. Wandering down to Dave, he had made his final tally to six, including two returned. With the tide dropping away, and this mark most recognised for producing over the high water, we made our way back to the car.