12th November - Dungeness with Bruce

6lb 2oz for Bruce

Bruce came and collected me from my humble abode, a common theme for the next six months since the magistrates in Lewes Court 3 decided I was a menace to society for a succesion of 35 in 30 mph speeding offences, plus a stop light, the previous morning. We crept along the coast road, pausing briefly to top up the bait bucket with fresh out lug, and then proceeded out to Kentish lands. We still hadnt decided where to go, even after collecting the bait, but an ever freshening SW wind saw us make the decision to fish the point at Dungeness. A busy beach greeted us as we arrived, and we made the decision to fish a single rod each. The worsening weather was a signal for would be cod anglers, and the beach actually got busier as the weather worsened. We began fishing, but it wasnt until darkness and about two hours before high tide when I noticed Bruces rod slacken off ever so slightly. There was a fair amount of small floating weed rafts around, and we calmly discussed the option of the bite being caused by one of these. Bruce decided to have a look, and wound down to feel weight. But the strong tide combined with big swells and weed meant he felt no head shaking, and we had it written off as weed until a big head popped out of the surf. Cod number one for Bruce, 6lb 2oz. We had been considering ending the session before the worst of the forecast rain arrived, but decided to have another cast, just in case.

Bruce with cod No 2 - 4lb 14oz

And a very good decision it was. Although, I cracked off with this cast, and was urgently setting up again as Bruces rod once again went slack, ever so slightly. Winding down, I watched events from the shelter of my beach buddy, frantically tying knots. Once again, it wasnt determinable wether fish or weed (cod can rarely be described as great fighting fish) but once again, it was a big whiskered head that popped out of the surf.

Cod number 3 - A beauty at 7lb 14oz

Take number three was far more positive for Bruce. A definate breakout, and some good head shaking, and I was perched on the edge of the surf ready for when the biggest head of the session popped out of the surf. Looking bigger than its actual weight of 7lb 14oz, this fish had consumed a whiting in true Dungeness style. This in itself tells us a lot about how the cod feeds. Livebaiting for bass is all about sight and sound, with clear water being much better. The cod must home in on the whiting by means other than sight, or scent. Movement maybe? I guess only a cod knows for sure......... Piccy of bait below.

Whiting - Good for something

A huge thanks to Bruce for putting up with a very nervous passenger on a long ride. Cant wait to do it all again. The winds have died. Wont get up again until about 22:00 at Dungie................