10th June

West Sussex beaches

Pauls first ever hound - 8lb 2oz

I met wqith Paul in Bognor, and we proceeded onto the beach, to begin Pauls first crack at the hounds. After the events of the previous night, my confidence for this trip was extremely high, so I was suprised we had to wait about an hour before the first action of the night. It was Pauls rod that slammed round, and he was firmly attached to a spirited shark. He played it well, and on the scales it made a little over 8lb. Paul was made up, well chuffed, and even more so that he would be able to show his young lad a picture of a shark he had caught. I dont think it would have mattered if we hadnt had another bite!! But that wasnt how it turned out.......

11lb 4oz. I think the satisfaction shows a treat in Pauls face.

Again Paul#s rod was away. It was screaming even as Paul picked the rod up. The fish went off like a train, and really tried Pauls fish fighting skills. But he handled it like a pro, not panicking, and he well deserved the 11lb 4oz fish he beached.

Full moon - A good time for hounds...!!

12lb. A new PB for Paul

Once more it was Paul who was away. I am always happy when my clients are catching fish, but I was feeling a bit left out. This fish was even bigger than the last, weighing in at 12lb!!!

Finally!! Biggest of the night, and my biggest so far this year. 12lb 10oz

Pauls last fish, a shade over 9lb.

Finally, my rod slammed over. And, as I tightened up, so did Pauls. I thought it might have been my fish going through his line, but in fact it was a double hook up, Pauls weighing just over 9lb, mine weighing 12lb 10oz, my best so far this year.

And that was it. No more bites, dawn came, and we headed off home. All fish fell to a D-Breakout sheltering an Essex crinklie on a running paternoster, 3/0 Viking and 50lb trace.