11/12th April

Orford - Marina - New Family Member

Not a great start to a session...!!

Nearly the trip that wasn't....!! Arrived at Orford Ness two hours early, so as to not miss the ferry this time. After a lovely meal, if perhaps on the pricey side, from the pub nearest the quay, I met with Shak, Mohin and Mosin in the car-park as arranged. I had traveled up with a couple of friends, Tom and Andy, so the five of us assembled at the quay side awaiting the ferry boat, "Regardless". She could be seen making slow headway some way down river, but it was another twenty minutes before she came alongside the quay. The boatload of anglers unloaded, and we made out way to load up, when Pete (skipper) called a halt to our loading. "Hang on, small problem....." A shiver of "just my luck" origins made its way down my spine. It turned out that the reason Pete had made such slow progress up the river was because his alternator warning alarm was sounding. On removing the engine cover, it transpired that the thread on the shaft coming out of the end of the alternator had worn on the thread, and the locking nut spun off. leaving the cooling wheel not spinning and the alternator overheating, hence the alarm. HAd the belt sheared, the water pump for the cooling system would have also stopped working, which would have been a big deal on this diesel engine. Pete was making noises about not getting out, as responsibly he was worrying about a breakdown on the swift waters of the River Alde. Luckily, we had a chap on board with some engineering savvy. We attempted a repair with a plain washer, Pete nipping home for some and a decent socket set. IT appeared to have fixed the problem, the alternator alarm was silent, and we loaded up our tackle and bait, and headed out. About ten minutes down the river, the repair failed, the alternator alarm started screaming, and we were scratching our heads again. We got a line to a passing Alaska (cheers lads) who began holding us in the current from drifting onto the mud, whilst we again opened the engine box. Pete was making nosiest about returning to the quay, and I thought the three tides pumping worms, and the 160 mile journey was going to be for nothing. But our enterprising engineer chappie dug out a spring washer, forced it on the thread, and whacked up the locking nut. Straight way you could see it was a better repair, and we headed onward for the Narrows. I rang a friend who had been fishing the crouch during the day, and they had seen a late flurry of fish which had resulted in a bag total of eight codling for the three of them, so things were looking good again.

Shak and tidy Whiting.

I wasn't fishing myself, but guiding for the three lads up from East London. One was a total beginner, one had some small experience already, and one had done quite a bit of fishing, although much of it in Dubai. Shak and Mosin had been down to the hallowed grounds of Dungeness in an attempt to satisfy their urge to catch a cod, but had managed instead to get amongst the dab and whiting population. So, they had come to me to see if I could assist them with their quest. Only really one venue to guarantee cod at this time of year. But for a while, it was looking like it might be a damp squib! We settled in after our late departure, and began the routine of fishing big worms for hungry cod. I must admit that the guys were very genuine in their enthusiasm for the fishing, and watched and absorbed all the little tricks I have worked out over the years for persuading the barbeled one to sucker for a hook bait. But for all our efforts, initially no cod were showing. Neither was any run in the tide, critical for the extraction of cod on these Suffolk beaches. Some tidy whiting did show, as demonstrated by Shak in the piccy above.

Mohin with his first ever fish! A proud moment for any new angler.

Initially, I started the lads off using fresh out/squid tip combinations. But with darkness came dogfish, and from that point onwards it was straight worm only. The tide started to bend the tips over, and I found myself keep repeating to the boys, "any minute now" in anticipation of the first hungry mouths coming close inshore.

Shaks first ever cod. Mission completed, and you can see the relief in his face!

Lots of false alarms and frustrations followed, as the guys got their first taste of a full Orford flood. Ever the D-Grippers were occasionally re-settling with the force of the big tide, although none got swept down tide. Until Shaks rod finally signaled what he had been waiting for for a fair few sessions, the drop back then repeated nodding of a classic cod bite. Winding down, he made a great job of making contact, and was rewarded when his first ever codling, in the 2.5lb range, slid up the shingle. The whoops of delight form the guys were commented upon the next morning. It's what they had come to do, and at least Shak had now done it. "Don't worry lads, there will be plenty more" I shouted, although I was already a little rocked at how long the first coddie had taken to be caught.

Mohin's first cod

Luckily for me, the guiding gods were smiling, and more fish came on the feed. Mohion caught his first ever cod, shortly after. Which began making Mosin a bit twitchy, as he was beggining to wonder if he wasn't going to blank. "Don't worry, you will get one" I re-assured him, without letting him notice my crossed fingers behind my back.

Not the biggest, but possibly the most important cod of the night. People will show Mosin's children this shot.. One very happy cod-hunter.

And catch one he did, as even more whoops echoed along the shingle. I think the neighbours must have thought we were bagging twenty pounders!

Shak Attack!! Shak with the biggest fish of the session, at 4lb 6oz. Good fish, well deserved.

The fish continued feeding well, with Shak taking a tidy fish that I weighed at 4lb 6oz. Mohin also managed two decent fish on the trot, 3lb 10 and 3lb 8oz.

Shak's first bass

Shak then managed a smallish spikey (returned) which transpired to be his first bass. It got us onto the subject of bass, and I hope to see Shak visiting the Brighton shoreline for more bass fun later in the summer.

Left to right, Mohin, Mosin and Shak with the fruits of their labours.

Wit ht he end of the tide pull, I suggested to the lads they get their heads down, and i would fish their rods whilst they slept. Pretty hard work, and for not a lot of reward. I did manage to supplement the bag by two, but the fishing was generally quiet, especially when compared to the amazing fishing a fortnight earlier.

Tom and his nights work

Andy's Haul

As the tide began to ebb, so the tips bent over and I began to get excited. We had nine fish on the shingle, and a whole ebb tide to fish, which is often the better time. But not this time. Totally ebbed without troubling us with codling. Unbelievable, especially after a mildly successful flood, And it wasn't for lack of trying. With dawn, I took a wander along to see Andy and Tom, as to their luck. They had also experienced a fishy flood and fishless ebb. Tom had four fish on the shingle, Andy five.

Homeward Bound

The ferry boat had in fact broken down once more, but with a decent workshop, Pete had effected a better repair and was there to pick us up. We headed back to the quay side, unloaded, and I said goodbye to three very tired but very happy former cod virgins. Then it was time to head for home myself, via Gatwick and Tonbridge wells, followed by some well earned sleep. I thought. But it didn't work out like that. On arriving back in Brighton, the totally flat sea put me in the mood to head for the marina to continue the squid hunt. Which I did. And while I was there Mr Motto found a mackerel amongst the herrings to show me.

Mr Moto and mackerel.

But even the squidding plan was doomed, as the wife rang me for a lift. I drove home, and she and the mother in law jumped in the car with a box. "What's the box got in it?" I asked. "Pillows" said the wife. Didn't think too much of it. "Where are we off to?". "Heathfield". NOw I was suspicious. Turns out we were off to pick up a puppy. The wife has been researching which dog to get for a long time, and I had recently steered her towards German shepherds, cos once I realised she wasn't up for the springer spaniel or lurcher that I wanted, I would rather she had a dog with a brain!! End result, we are now the very happy owners of a delightful GSD/Akita cross.......... After she has had her jabs "Hasina" as she is called will maybe be a regular sight with me out fishing.

Isn't she lovely......... Our latest addition, Hasina

finally got to bed at 21:00. Slept deeply, until awoken by a puppy crying at 06:00 cos no-one was awake to play with her. Decided against strong disciplinary measures cos she is so cute. Took rod and went fishing...........