People:me , Fishface, Ger
Duration:me,,,,,,,,7-30pm-10-30pm,,,,,,,the 2 lads stayed later
Tide:dropping
Weather:lovely mild evening, flat calm
Bait:crab, with the odd lug
Rigs:pulleys mostly
Results:smoothounds, doggies, baby tope
Report: Got a phone call from Neil during the week confirming that the odd smoothie was making an appearance so we decided on a trip to one of our more physically demanding marks

,,,,,,,,,,,thankfully by the weekend he had decided on a handier venue

and we were on site by roughly 7-30pm .Ger arrived a bit later but we hadnt connected with anything yet

I had been suffering with the flu for the last 2 weeks and as I hadnt been out fishing in weeks, I was really looking forward to this, my last chance to break my June duck. 2 other anglers were set up to our right and they seemed to be getting off the mark with some small smoothies, things were looking up

.
I had a pull on my near rod, baited with lug, which turned out to be a baby tope. Off the mark at least

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Fishface suggested I take a snap in case I didnt get anything else so I duly obliged,,,,,,,,,,getting down on all fours to make my catch seem a bit more exciting

. When I stood back up I noticed my line had gone in a southerly direction and was now slack

.I picked it up and found a lot of line had been taken ,,but I eventually caught up and felt the unmistakable pulling of a Smoothie on the other end

. He took me for a stroll down the beach, then back up again,,,swimming parallel to the shore, until I eventually saw his outline in the water,,,,,Am I milking this part of the report

,,,,you bet

.Fishface was reminding me not to panic,,,,,,,,,,,but I dont get the jellylegs until after its all over

,,,,,,,,not unlike,, well,,,,,,,,we wont go there

.Soon I had the fish in my arms and Ger was taking the obligatory photo,and once the pic got the nod of approval from me,,,,, the Smoothie was lovingly returned to whence he came

.
At times like this I almost wish I smoked, so as I could have one afterwards, if you know what I mean,,,,, but I had to settle for a

club milk and a can of 7up instead

. Neil got another Smoothound shortly after,,, which put the pressure on Ger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,who took it in his stride,after all , he was here for the long game.
I had a few more baby tope, 2 on lug and 2 on crab, and also a couple of doggies. The only other smoothie for me was a smallish doggie sized one , but I was more than happy with my nights fishing ,after such a bleak month

,,,,,so with a long drive home, I started to pack up and say my farewells to the 2 boys. Ger had already got his smoothie by the time I left, and Neil had 2 biggies, and as I left they promised to email me the pics of the big smoothies they were going to catch later

. True to form,,,,,,,,,,there was an email waiting when I got up this morning

I should have stayed

Species '20 (14) 5 Beard Rockling, Shore Rockling, Codling, Whiting, Pollock, Coalfish, Pouting, Corkwing Wrasse ,Ballan Wrasse, Poor Cod, Dab ,Smoothhound,Flounder, Thornback Ray
For the rich, there is therapy. For the rest of us, there is FISHING! --