20th June

Bognor's Beaches

A wee schoolie for Mike

Out with Mike and Ray again. When we were discussing this session, I predicted two possible scenario's. This beach is reasonably predictable as to the migrations of hounds on it. They turn up, often as early as late April. Initially sub 5lb fish, leading to a peak in mid June with plenty of double figure fish, as the exploits of a fortnight ago show. However, in mid-june they completely desert the beaches and turn up around the corner, on the beaches to the West of Selsey bill, possibly co-inciding with the first proper spider crab moult. The dilema as a guide is, when do you switch beaches? THe tide was early in a week of good hound tides (good bass tides as well, quite big) so it hadnt been a good time to fit in a reccy trip, which I would normally do when I have a dilema. So, the first scenario was that we wouldnt get any hounds at all. The second scenatrio, was that with small tides and settled conditions, we would fill our boots with hounds on the Bognor beaches. Unfortunately, it turned out the first scenario was the correct one. It turned out that whilst we fished hard for a couple of schoolies, the very heavily packed beaches to the West of Selsey were throwing up hound after hound after hound. You cant win them all springs to mind, but actually, I do try to!! Next time guys, I will have them pinned down for you!! Probably my last visit to this beach until next May.