Friday, April 23, 2010

Fishermen re-united

















I had found it bit lonely out there on my own the last 6 months or so Kayak fishing , so you can imagine how pleased I was to hear that Tim had taken the plunge so to speak, and decided to get himself a Kayak.
Now that the Florida fishing adventure is just a memory the Mick 'n' Tim fishing duo are trying something a bit different. The luxury of a boat with the latest electronic gadgetry, powerful engine and enough room to swing several cats has gone, we are now fishing the way some have been fishing for hundreds of years, the primitive kayak.
The Dolphins
It was Tims first day out in his Kayak. I had assured him a while back how stable these little Kayaks were and with the sea so calm, what could possibly go wrong?
We set out from Lepe beach and headed in the direction of Calshot. Tim had suggested we might paddle off to Keyhaven but I talked him out of it.
Launching from Lepe
The day was spent trying different spots around Lepe without much success and ending at the mouth of Beaulieu river. Still no fish but it was nice watching the geese from the Kayaks. When watching from they shore they do not let you get so close. I thought that maybe I should have taken my new camera with it's powerful zoom lens and got some great photos, it being so calm, it would probably have been fine.


To end the day we decided to give the other side of the Beaulieu river one last try to avoid blanking on the fish front. After I had dropped anchor I checked to see that I was not the wrong side of the post that marks the channel of the river. The peace and serenity of the day was then shattered with my spluttering and splashing as I capsized my Kayak. Getting it the right way up was no easy task. Then, like a big fat seal I got back onto my Kayak and surveyed the damage. I lost my rod, drowned my phone and wounded my pride. I half expected to see Tim snapping away with his new camera but, he did look a little concerned. So I got wet and cold and Tim got a free lesson of how not to turn suddenly when sat on your Kayak. The sudden shift of my bulk was all it took.

So as I sloshed my way down the beach, my dry suit bottoms holding a gallon or so of water, towing my Kayak behind me I thought, well that was different.
Looking forward to the next day of Kayak fishing..........................................