which is 9.5 inches in length. Then on the 11th March, this nice fish fell to a worm:-
This one I bothered to weigh and it came in at 1lb 4oz for a 13.5inch fish. I reckon this must be a hybrid as it lacks the depth of a proper bream. Notice that it has been damaged at some point just behind the anal fin. From the shape of it, it looks like a bite of a cormorant.
I have been enjoying my time at the staithe and often meet up with people who have become my friends over the last couple of years. This is especially true of Tony and Eddy who come down on a regular basis, usually in search of pike. It was Tony who kindly gave me worms to fish with and to cultivate at home.
On the day before the last day of the season, the 13th March, Tony and I went to Gaye's Staithe in search of pike. Gaye's staithe is further along the Irstead Road from Neatishead and has a bit more open water. I had heard from other fishermen that there were pike to be had there.
We arrived about 2pm and it was a nice sunny afternoon. We were float fishing for pike using live bait that we were able to catch from the margins of the dykes. I had a couple of early runs on some pike but nothing connected. Then about 4pm, things began to happen. I caught this one at 4.10pm which we reckoned was about 7lb:-
Tony then caught a jack which he said wasn't worth looking at and it went promptly back in the water! Then two hours later, just as it was getting dark, I caught a 9 pounder (which we weighed) and this is a personal best. I didn't feel too bad for Tony as I know only a few days before he had caught a 10lb fish and he has numerous others up to 22lb this season. Well done to him!
All text and pictures copyright Duncan Hale-Sutton 2018.
