Sunday 19th November - Remembering it was the Whitby Open on the 26th I started keeping an eye on the weather forecasts and surf predictors. Magic seaweed are giving moderate north easterlies and given the tide next Sunday is a small ebb of 2 metres I have just the place in mind to catch me a sack full of fish and win the open (Dreaming again just like I do every year - something everyone else does no doubt).
Monday 20th Magic seaweed changes its forecast again to a huge easterly. No problem I'm thinking head a few miles further north and another venue which will throw a big bag of fish out. Remember The catch of Dennis Thompson in the Robin hoods Bay victorian weekend comp a few years ago I picture myself pulling in those big fish and winning the event.
Tuesday 21st Again the surf dudes at the magic sea weed prove themselves to be less than magic - the forecast changes to a moderate south easterly and my thoughts switch back to the earlier mark - still confident of some fish.
Wednesday 22nd Forecast changes again to light south easterly. Head south to Robin hoods bay my mind tells me but Ill need an overcast day to get the fish as they dont like to run the shallow scars in sunlight.
Thursday 23rd The forecast changes to south westerly with no swell. I want to murder mr magic seaweed whoever he is. Well the only place I can think of is the deep water at bay ness end. There has been fish there but the tide isnt brilliant with the mark usually fishing on the bigger ebbs.
The forecast changes again and again over the next few days and now i'm convinced the weather forecasters should be on the dole. They are clueless as to what it is actually gonna do.
Saturday 25th Its definately gonna be flat. I get my bag ready for the morning. 30 sinkers (the ground is a touch heavy and with cross winds you can loose a lead a cast). Trace wallet is filled and every thing else readies for the morning.
Sunday 26th Get up get ready. Packed all my bait including 30 crabs - 20 gulley worms two pots of mussel and a flask full of my secret bait which is at times deadly. Headed off to Robin hoods bay and on arrival immediately noticed there is a slight south easterly swell coming in and the water is coloured like chocolate. Im certain to catch fish in that im thinking then bang into my mind comes doubt its beaming sunlight the fish dont like the sun when you fish the shallows. Dilema ? what to do ? half an hours walk to the deeper marks or fish the scars at bay ? Half heartedly I decide to do both - fish the scars then if I dont get anything head to the deap water and try there. Cast in about 10.10 am and not a bite for the first cast. Cast in again. Then Philip Mead comes around the corner heading to the deeper water spots. Phils full of confidence and dashes off quickly - I watch him head off around the next corner and out of site. Should I stay here or follow Phil ? well 2 casts and no bites means I should head off - its too bright to fish the shallows my head says so I follow Philip around the corner.
I get around the corner and cast in. It gets to low water and noone has had a bite except Philip who has caught a billet but we cant weigh them in today because its a codling only match. There is 8 of us fishing and nothing is coming out. Phil makes up his mind to go back inside to where I started. Thinking I might get a big fish soon I stay where I am and start casting out a 6o pennel rig full of bait. 3 oclock arrives, philip is long gone and still no fish. Should I go inside and try with philip ? Still looks too bright I'm thinking - Stick it out in the deep water. At 3.30 my day is over and to get safely back to the car without being cut off by the tide I must leave now so pack up and set off on the half hour walk back to the car. I pass Philip on the way back to the car and the smile on my face tells me he has been succesful. 2 small codlings says Philip - perhaps not enough to win but at least its something. MAkes me wonder what could have happened if I stayed there all match. Too late for thet now though so I make a mental not of it for next time - Philip caught fish in bright sunshine.
So next time my head says fish the deep water on a sunny day what will I do ? Well I wont know untill next time will I but At least I'll have the confidence to try it a little longer next time.
We all get back to the weigh in and only 11 anglers have caught fish. Not many of the Whitby lads have even had a bite never mind caught anything. However local JUnior Dave Smith has shown the seniors how to do it and has weighed in a cod of almost 8 pounds - great day for Dave - well done. Philip gets 6th which isnt bad.
The day is rounded off with a great big bowl of stew, a few pints and a laugh with the lads. I spent half an hour trying to get 6 quid im owed from PK but he is that tight his arse is squeeking on the way to the bar.
All in all not a bad day - maybe would have been better for the short casters like me if the earlier predicted swell had been present.
The moral of the story is take no notice of any long term weather and swell forecasts, and you don't always have to fish the deep water on a daytime.
Seniors
M Chadwick 8-7(5) £400
N Brittain 4-9(1) £200
P France 4-1.5(3) £125
W Atkinson 3-13.5(1)
I Thompson 3-4.5(2)
P Mead 2-8.5(2)
H Moon 1-9.5(1)
M Wilding 1-8.5(1)
S Barker 1-7(1)
Juniors
1st Dave Smith 7-11(1) £50
2nd C Mcarthy 1-4(1) £30
3rd D Mcarthy 1-0(1) £20
Niel Ingliss' mate with a nice wrasse
Waiting for a bite - We would probably still be waiting now
Phil Mead down to an early Billet bite
