Popular Post thejollysinker Posted June 19, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted June 19, 2022 (edited) Me and my mate from work decided to do an all nighter (first time for me) on the reef near the Ore Stone just off Hope's Nose. We were a little late getting out and only managed 4 fresh macks for bait to add to 6 frozen and a box of squid. Finding a spot clear of all the lobster pot buoys put us in the middle of reef structure to the NE and S and my aim was to anchor just before dark and stay on the one spot knowing we'd swing around early hours when the tide flow ebbed. All that worked out well. It was a little unnerving and I was on high alert all night but we sent bait after bait down hoping for big conger and huss and maybe a thornie... even a bass 🤞 We did catch but it was strap eels to about 4lb, the ubiquitous doggies and a single huss about 1.5lb. I really did expect more. Maybe it was the spot we were in and I got it wrong 🤷♂️ (that wouldn't surprise me..). When the dawn broke it was blowing quite hard from the N so we up anchored and went in search of some fresh macks which happily obliged so we had a reasonable fill for a good meal and plenty more bait for the freezer. After that we headed N to the wreck of the Galicia to see if we could jig up a bass. We overtook a trawler from Brixham towing his gear across the bay as they do day after day 😐 Got to the wreck to find a string of buoys, one with a flag at the N end which was slightly annoying for positioning the drift (amateur potters?) but we managed to do a few which only resulted in 3 small pollack and some more macks, no bass. That was it, we headed in, glad to get out of the increasing wind and got back on the mooring with just enough water to tie up on a flooding tide. No big fish like we'd dreamed of but plenty of macks (one chunk) to make it more worthwhile. To say it was tiring is an understatement but it was good fun ☺️ I learnt a lot from the trip which is always good and will do another night trip but plan things quite differently for the next one. (I'm posting this without photos on my pc and will try and add some from my phone.... @Saintly Fishsays it's easier 🤞 but it is fathers day and my children very kindly bought me some cider and, the photos are shit anyway 🤣) Edit: gone back to the 'old man' way of doing the photos.... gave up with the phone 🤣 the Ore Stone and home for the night back beach rammed with peeps having a good time in the glorious sunshine Wojciech with a strap (he does smile occaisionally 😂) baby huss in a bucket me with a decent mack, although looking at this pic makes me realise I should get someone with normal sized hands to hold them..... 🤣 Edited June 19, 2022 by thejollysinker Saintly Fish, Andy135, suzook12 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Well done Gary on attempting and completing the "over nighter". I've fished into the dark, and gone out in the dark, but never anchored all night. Being in the dark on the boat is quite unnerving. Well done for catching fish and getting over the nerves. Next time you'll be more relaxed (but always alert)! Thanks for sharing your adventure! thejollysinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 12 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: Well done Gary on attempting and completing the "over nighter". I've fished into the dark, and gone out in the dark, but never anchored all night. Being in the dark on the boat is quite unnerving. Well done for catching fish and getting over the nerves. Next time you'll be more relaxed (but always alert)! Thanks for sharing your adventure! cheers mate... high alert alright, I couldn't relax to any great extent but it was a great experience 🙂 Saintly Fish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 10 minutes ago, thejollysinker said: cheers mate... high alert alright, I couldn't relax to any great extent but it was a great experience 🙂 Have you ever navigated to or from a mark in the dark? That's an experience !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 4 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: Have you ever navigated to or from a mark in the dark? That's an experience !! No, and I wouldn't want to, especially near my neck of the woods... bloody random buoys everywhere and with my limited/past experience with 'random buoys' it's a no from me 🤐 If I was going to do that I'd let the student do it and then blame them when it all goes tits up 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintly Fish Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 3 minutes ago, thejollysinker said: No, and I wouldn't want to, especially near my neck of the woods... bloody random buoys everywhere and with my limited/past experience with 'random buoys' it's a no from me 🤐 If I was going to do that I'd let the student do it and then blame them when it all goes tits up 🤣 I'm guessing that all areas are the same (but happy to be corrected (this time only)), the potters are only allowed to drop pots out side of the main channels. So, if you go out in the day time and lay a track on your plotter, as long as it's in the channel you'll be safe as houses following the same exact route back in the dark. Just turn all lights off around you, turn the plotter display down to low and then let your eyes adjust to the dark. First couple of times it's quite un nerving , but gets a bit easier the more you do it. daio web 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 29 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said: I'm guessing that all areas are the same (but happy to be corrected (this time only)), the potters are only allowed to drop pots out side of the main channels. So, if you go out in the day time and lay a track on your plotter, as long as it's in the channel you'll be safe as houses following the same exact route back in the dark. Just turn all lights off around you, turn the plotter display down to low and then let your eyes adjust to the dark. First couple of times it's quite un nerving , but gets a bit easier the more you do it. mate, some of the buoys out there are not lobster or crab pots.... they've been there forever and a day.... anyway, that's good advice I'd never have thought of (I don't normally do forward planning, ask SWMBO 🤣) I did make a T bar arrangement to dump the anchor in an emergency which is something I should have done from the word go. They're growing 🤣 Saintly Fish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 Well done! Quite an adventure, but you got out and back safely, and you caught some fish. Result! 👍 Night time navigation can be tricky but as @Saintly Fish says, following your track on your plotter is a good way to stay out of trouble. Still doesn't account for drifting hazards or abandoned buoys though, so nice and slowly does it. Saintly Fish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejollysinker Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 9 minutes ago, Andy135 said: Well done! Quite an adventure, but you got out and back safely, and you caught some fish. Result! 👍 Night time navigation can be tricky but as @Saintly Fish says, following your track on your plotter is a good way to stay out of trouble. Still doesn't account for drifting hazards or abandoned buoys though, so nice and slowly does it. cheers Andy and yes, out, caught fish, back in safely is a result ☺️ Nice and slow is good advice and I always have my safety knife to hand to get cutting if needed...in the dark, God forbid! Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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