Up at first light and off to Weymouth to board Colin Penny’s Flamer IV at 7.00am.
The sunrises as we sail out into the English Channel full of optimism for the day ahead. Ian Tyldesley of Ammo baits and Alex McDonald of Sakuma Tackle both sponsors of Colin’s boat are aboard. The trip was to have been a flattie foray but the winter storms had left their mark creating turbid waters that had deterred the flatfish from feeding. Instead we are aiming to catch undulate ray.
We fish two marks in search of undulates but they prove elusive we do though catch a few other species in addition to the inevitable dogfish.
The waters off Weymouth are fortunately diverse and the day is saved as we spend the afternoon drifting successfully for plaice. The first drift yielded eight and we ended the day with twenty three.
It has been a tough winter for the tackle industry, charter skippers and all involved in sea angling. Lets hope the sun shines in the coming months and anglers can get out and get the industry back on its feet.