Last week I was away on the South Coast of Devon for a break and hoping to get in some great sit on top touring and fishing around the coastline. Rugged coastline with plenty of bays only accessible from the sea with the promise of early arrivals of Bass and Mackerel were on the cards. Late May, good weather and that part of the coast should be nicely sheltered from the standard winds that come in from the west, methinks. Game on!
Wrong!
Strong gusty winds from the South and South West really cutting up the water meant that the first part of the week was devoid of any paddling while on the Wednesday the weather broke and I was able to get out and give the lures a swim. Unfortunately no one told the fish I would be there and so I sadly blanked, much to my shame. Then the weather remembered what it was doing and really got the bit between its teeth with more high winds, rain and low temperatures - lovely. Gentle paddling and fishing took a backseat for the last few days and gave way instead to some surf fun.
So it was down to Sandy Bay just east of Exmouth where the nicely shelving sand made for some well spaced sets of up to 1.5 meters providing some great rides and combined with the strong winds a really challenging paddle about.
Strong gusty winds from the South and South West really cutting up the water meant that the first part of the week was devoid of any paddling while on the Wednesday the weather broke and I was able to get out and give the lures a swim. Unfortunately no one told the fish I would be there and so I sadly blanked, much to my shame. Then the weather remembered what it was doing and really got the bit between its teeth with more high winds, rain and low temperatures - lovely. Gentle paddling and fishing took a backseat for the last few days and gave way instead to some surf fun.
So it was down to Sandy Bay just east of Exmouth where the nicely shelving sand made for some well spaced sets of up to 1.5 meters providing some great rides and combined with the strong winds a really challenging paddle about.
All in all, not quite what I was hoping for but it has certainly whetted my appetite for a return trip – later in the year and on the spur on the moment when the weather reports are favourable!
