View Fishing Report

  • 21/04/2012 Fishing Report by Ron Angel on Why Worry (Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex)

    21 Apr 2012 by Ron Angel

    Report on-board Why Worry

    To be honest today wasn’t planned until Thursday. I had a full boat booking for the guys from Ford Motor Co tomorrow (Sunday) but again, the weather is just not going to let me get the guys Offshore to where I want to take them. I won’t take people’s money to sit them in the River and although they give the weather dropping away throughout the day, the first part of day is going to be not very nice with the wind over the tide so decided to call it off and take them another time.
    That meant Saturday could be a goer looking at the forecast.Only one person wanted to join me and Andy and again Dan said he wanted to go.
    We were away from the marina at 6am on a flat calm river but by the time we cleared the Whittiker it was a little snotty but not too bad once the tide got going. We ran to the far end of the windfarm and set the hookin 34ft in the hope of a Cod or 2.We waited and we waited. We got a Dogfish and then waited some more. This was bollox and a move was needed. A quick 20 minute dash and we were fishing again. This was better within the first 2 minutes! As I got the food underway Dan and Andy started getting a few Hounds, not big but at 5lb-6lb it was a vast improvement on the last mark. Then the Roker started but only on the Herring baits. It was busy, very busy. Andy stuck to the Squid and carried on getting Hounds. Myself and Dan switched to Herring and managed 28 Roker with some nice doubles amongst them. A good few of the fish were between 9lb and 11lb and they go like stink on the bit we were fishing. The Dogfish and Whiting were present too. Then a surprise, I thought I was into another Roker, albeit a big one….This fish was hanging deep. I started to think it may not be a Roker but 2 hung together. Then I saw it, I thought at first it was a big Hound, as it came closer I then thought it was a small Tope. It went under the boat I was expecting the ‘Bite off’ luckily the hook was in the scissors, Andy slid the net under it,I could now see it wasn’t a Tope, as it came aboard Andy said ‘It’s a Spurdog’ I said you sure? He said yes, then I saw the Spurs!! We got her into the slings and the scales showed 18lb 2oz. excellent result and a fish I haven’t seen in the Thames for a while although they do get them a lot further Offshore but I have never seen one or heard of one where we were today.We let her go. I have to admit for a second, I did think of knocking it on the head but, she was in pup and they are not that common in our area and maybe,just maybe in a couple of years, time if we return them and let them multiply they will be a regular visitor. Who knows? They may even become the ‘New Dogfish’ lol
    An excellent day all round and by 3pm we had had enough. We kept 4 Roker and let 24 go. I must be getting soft in my old age… But maybe I just cannot be bothered to skin as many as I used too.
    Dan, you’re a great bloke to fish with and I really do enjoy your company. Andy, you again played a blinder and are always there to help. I think we can say that today was another success. Let’s hope there are many more to come this summer. I have to say I am absolutely knackered after that lot but I look forward to next time!!

    View Boats Page