Tope, there in.

Hi all,
I am Just in from a cracking short session after tope in Inishowen co.Donegal.
Todays forecast was for a settled spell from about 3am until 3pm.
So I had a look at the tides and saw low water was close to 11am.
With that I planned to paddled out mid ebb tide and anchor up in time for the tide easing, as this area has a strong tides.

Looked great from the pier.
It looked great from the pier even if there was a light easterly breeze blowing. So with no time to spare I was rigged and ready to head across to my mark.
I was on the trident today as the Stealth although a fantastic kayak doesn't sit well stern on to a strong tidal flow at anchor.
I headed across and gave a few marks of fish a jig , that showed on the fish finder but with no joy and as the tide was flowing quiet quickly, I didn't persevere and carried on over to get anchored up in my spot.

Baits in.
Baits to day where frozen mackerel from last year. They where in good condition as they all get a wash and wrapped individually before freezing.
The 2 rods had pulley rigs on with a mackerel fillet on.

 

The same as the pic above.

While they where down I had a chum bag out plus some scrap fish chunked up and threw them in intermittently.

I was not anchored up to long when the rod that normally has the camera on got 2 or 3 good bounces and away it went zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. YYYEEEEHHHAAWW

 

Oh yes we have a fish on and it has to be a tope.

Oh yes he was away like a steam train going mad, he charged all around me and knew how to fight dirty.

He ran away at the start and then turned and ran at me and under the kayak. The bugger nearly gave me a heart attack as I thought I lost him for a second.

Yes so under the kayak and up the other side the bugger he was back and forward several times, a very lively and tricky fish to keep on top of.

And although he was testing me to the full he gave a great fight.

Also as per usual the fight didn't stop when he came out of the water. He was like a coiled spring.

 

First tope of the year, GET IT IN.

As always my heart does be in my mouth every second of the first tope fight of the year.

So as soon as he was ready I got him along side.

 

As you can imagine the adrenaline is just pumping here the first of the year and they always look big when there 2ft under the water. This one looked a cracker.

As you can see it was still full of fight but the fear of loosing the first of the year he was coming in regardless. As long as it was not going to harm the tope it was worth me getting shook all over the place lol.



 He was ready for a return to the water and I had a smile on my face like a Cheshire cat.

Brilliant my first of the year. But not the first in the area. Bertie from Boat angling Ireland had one about 10 days ago.

This was also a tope christening for my new dry suit the Typhoon PS220, kindly sponsored by Typhoon.

As I had guessed I had no issues with movement or any restriction. It is a great for reaching around and doing what you want with no restriction.

 

Was he on his own.

Well the answer to that came about 20 minutes later in the form of more BOB, BOB, BOB, ZZZZZZZZZZ.

Oh yes tope 2 had appeared. But f###k he was off in 2 seconds. I let the bait sit for a minute but there was no return. I pulled the other baited rod near to see would that get a hit but nothing.

So I reeled the first bait in and checked it. The bait was still there but it was battered.

I put a fresh  fillet on and put it in the same spot and with in 2 or 3 mins he was back and he hit the fresh bait and this time the hook was set.

By now the tide was slack and this crafty sod fought much closer to the kayak. He also run all around the kayak but much closer and this tope was a show off. Coming up to the top about 30ft away throwing his head about and shaking his mouth at me .

Again a brilliant heart stopping fight.

This fish was a few pound lighter at around 23 to 24lb.

 



So to say I was happy was an under statement. I was delighted.

Tope no.2 returned and by now the tide was starting to turn and pick up pace.

I sat there for about 20 minutes more and all of a sudden the tide went form a gentle to a very strong flow as the tide line passed me, it was flying by now.

I fished on and nothing happened for an hour and as I was about to give up the rod started to BOB, BOB, BOB but no run and continued to bob until I struck and what was it, but a doggie. Think he just took it to wind me up lol.

So believe it or not my first doggie of the year as well.

With that the tide was roaring in and the wind that was forecast was starting to get up.

So it was time for home and I paddled back with a dirty big grin all the way home.

 

You all know what this means. Get in those cars and head to Donegal for some of Irelands finest fishing.

I hope to see you all very soon.

 

Tight lines and thanks for reading.