Blankhaven

Due to a puncture on my machine at work I was given the golden opportunity of going fishing last Monday tea time
I decided Whitehaven pier would be my venue as I've wanted to fish there for a long time and its only a half hour drive from the digs

I'd read that this place fishes best over high water, I knew I'd miss the tide before I set off but armed with the knowledge that there's water there even at low I hoped there would still be a fish or two about plus it was a good opportunity to hopefully bag myself a Plaice for the species count as I've heard its a very good mark for them  

The tide was well on its way out when I arrived but other anglers were still pulling out Mackerel on their strings of new feathers, I could tell they were new feathers as the hastily ripped open packets were littering the pier in their dozens despite a well placed litter bin being on hand

Fortunately I was able to distance myself from the Maccy bashing litter bugs who preferred the middle section of the pier leaving me the end part all to myself and fishing into the mouth of the harbour which is actually quite wide and I thought it probably offers me the best chance of a fish at low water as there's most likely a channel down there somewhere

I'd soon set up and had a flatty rig launched into the harbour mouth, carrying on its hooks some very sticky defrosted Lug, I couldn't fail
How could any self respecting flatty not want this bait I told myself, it was the perfect bait in the perfect position at the perfect location

One of the Maccy bashers came over to ask how I was doing before he left for home with his bag of six inch fish which were apparently destined for the barbecue but as it was only my first cast it was rather difficult to say

He very kindly offered me a couple of fish for bait which I gladly excepted as it might be just the edge I needed
Before leaving he told me I should get the feathers on as the Mackerel were still about but I explained I didn't want Mackerel as I was targeting the flattys hopefully a Plaice  He looked at me with a confused look  then left

Cast after cast my "perfect" sticky lug baits, some of which were made even more "perfect" being tipped off with a strip of Mackerel, came back in almost as "perfect" as they went out
Rather a spectacular return to form for me I'm afraid after my Flounder a couple of weeks before
I should have listened to the Maccy basher and popped some feathers on    

So once again dear friends no fish for me this time only some photos




















One things for sure though..... I'll be back

Hard luck owdddd good report

Nice try Dave, it looks like a perfect venue.

Another super report dave it look's a cracking place to fish

Great report and photo's Dave. It looks a very nice place and we'll worth trying again

It's terrible when one your fish hooks punctures your machinery

I believe accidentally dropping a spool of line into the fan belt can also cause an unfortunate end to the day's work necessitating a fishing session

great set of pics dave and no fish to spoil them should have got the feathers out to save the blank but good try anyway dave

Great report and pics Dave ,one of them sessions where you know you could avoid a blank but wanted to maximise your time hunting a specific species,this time it didn't pay off but it might do next time

Great report and pictures Dave shame no fish but looks a nice spot to spend some time looking at the end of a rod and dreaming of large Plaice. 

Unlucky Dave there used to be some big bags of plaice came off there in days gone by they must've been on holiday better luck next time

very good dave good pictures great place to fish

Unlucky mate........looks like a great venue!!