Chicken-Tikka, You And I Know!

Subject: Chicken-Tikka, You And I Know! Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:25 am

Venue - Prestatyn
Date - 27th June 2009
Duration - 11 hrs
Bait: Fresh Lug, Fresh Mackerel
Boat - Clueless too

I joined mark onboard Clueless too for the day.
Top of the agenda was Tope!

An early start had us launched and drifting through the North Hoyle Windfarm for Mackerel by 6am.
With the Macky onboard, we found a likely spot and anchored up.
Big baits deployed and time for breakfast, Clueless too style!!!!

Bites were far from instant. Infact, I put down a scratch rig to keep me occupied.
Which it did!
Whiting, Dabs and Doggies were coming up 2 and 3 at a time.
A few Tub Gurnards and severel Weevers made for a bit of variety.

The first action on the big baits fell to Mark.

A good bite but no run signalled that the targeted Tope were still to show.

Next best thing though was a Huss.

And so it continued.
Lot of Huss on the big baits and non-stop action on the small hooks.

With the lack of Tope, we decided a move was in order.
Simon on Suveran II kindly gave us a hot mark.

We headed off.

Yards away from the hot-spot, we spotted the Tope-Meister Generel himself, 'Del The Tope'!
A great sign!

If Del's here, then the Tope won't be far away.

Within minutes of dropping down, Mark had a cracking run!
This one didn't develop.
Next up was my Conolon.
Another run and the same result.
And so it went.
Baits stripped and hooks thrown.

It was as exciting as it was frustrating.
Thoughts were slowly turning to Pizza Hut's new Tuscan range.

Getting ready for the off, I threw an uneaten Chicken Tikka Bap into the sea for the gulls.
It drifted 20yds behind the boat and before my very eyes a large Tope jumped 2 foot clear of the water grasping my packed lunch in its mouth!!!!
Amazing!!!!

With such a visual image, we had to drop down again.
It didn't take long for the next run.
This time the hook set and off it went for a 2nd blast.
I was down to the backing before I could assert some form of control.
The long haul back was occasionally interrupted with small diving runs but generally she came in quite easily.
At the side of the boat, Mark lifted her over and then the fun and games began!
With more teeth than your average Bee Gee, my sandals and shorts left me feeling somewhat over exposed to this powerful fish.

After a while, she calmed down enough to be held up for a quick photo opportunity before being returned.

Not weighed but estimated at 20-25lb.

With the Tope box ticked, my Tuscan was going to taste a whole lot sweeter tonight!

Just to add to the occasion, a pod of Porpoise joined us for part of the trip home!
Incredible!!!

Happy Days!!!