As most of you already know I had an epic session out near Malin head, Inishowen.
It began with the alarm going off way before stupid O'clock 4am to be precise.
So up and ready and out the road.
The forecast was not great for the early part of the day 12mph to 15mph later it was to be 6mph to 8mph.
But the swell was small so I was up for it.
Bait gathering.
I had a decent selection of frozen baits, including a 4lb coalie and a 2lb coalie for the skate.
The mackerel where very scarce and I just managed 2 on the way out. I wasn't to bothered though as I was really after skate.
Chum out, heavy rod down with a bait jaws couldn't resist lol.
So down that went soon followed by the light rods for some entertainment while I waited.
As usual the doggies where in flying form and nailed me every drop but then they went quiet, I am sure I was shaking with the excitement waiting for something to happen lol.
But not this time, soon they where back.
But so where the squid, my first of the year. I really get a kick out of squid fishing they are a laugh.
The fishing was good, I start hitting some fine red gurnard, scad and more squid.
As I sat there a big mark of fish drift across my fish finder so I reeled up to it quickly to try for macks or what ever it was. But as soon as began to reel I got a nice rattle on the rod likely a scad or mackerel, but a third of the way up something grabbed it and took off. A good run and as it started to come around it bit trough the line.
Ah not really a problem as I didn't want him hitting my skate line.
But he was no sooner gone and the skate rod got a take, the rod bobbed and the line started to run off the reel. I lifted the rod and began to put pressure on but the hook didn't make contact. I reeled up after a few minutes but the bait looked perfect.
I guessed a skate just swam into the line.
Down again.
The morning was cracking on but there was no sign of the breeze easing in fact it was getting stronger if anything. But skate bait was sent down again, I didn't get up that early for nothing.
More squid and scad and the old pain in the back side the doggies.
They where relentless, I even switched to squid and rag baits but they still found them just as quick.
As I fished away again the doggies vanished but as this was the third time it happened I let my guard down and sat there fishing away for small stuff.
CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.
Ye the moment in jaws when Quint's ears prick up after a couple of clicks of the reel.
Well this was the same but more exciting lol.
Light stuff reeled in quicker than a mackerel could ever catch and the big rod was grabbed as the line was slowly peeling off the reel.
Shaking with adrenaline,
As above that first reel down to see if it is still there, is heart stopping stuff.
I reeled the rod tip under the water and heaved like I was trying to pull the plug out of the sea.
The rod doubled over as I reeled, and heaved. FISH ON and I had her moving.
She was coming handy enough for about 30ft of line and I assumed she was a small one.
But that changed about 2 seconds later as she turned and dived like a submarine and as much as I wanted I couldn't stop her.
She hit the bottom and run for a bit then stopped and half circled, Then solid and I mean solid.
I heaved and heaved my 50lb class rod was bent double for what seemed like a solid 20mins and no move at all.
Stuck solid,
Was she still there, it was totally solid on the bottom and not a foot of line could I gain.
So I eased up on the pressure to see would she run, No not an inch. So I actually let the line go slack for about 2 mins and pulled the line by hand to get a better idea of what was happening, and yes she was still there, I could feel the line dragging around a boulder.
So pressure back on and I let the anchor go to paddle around in a semi circle to free the line.
We're away again.
I let the anchor go and the tide ran me the way I wanted to go so that was handy and before I could start paddling the line came free and she was fighting hard.
One submarine away, f##k she could go.
Very very strong. About 45 mins in now and my fore arm was acking. Full pressure on now for the best part of 45mins is tough going lol.
But she was coming up, but when you have so much pressure on for so long doubts start to creep into your head.
Is it really a fish, where those runs just swell and tide.
But hey what appeared but my leader end, nearly as good to see as a fish lol.
Soon followed by a massive white shape and I mean massive.
Shit pic I know, but when your on your own you just point and click.
They think it's all over.
Me hole, lol.
One look at me and she turned in a heart beat and powered down half way, but I piled the pressure on and got her coming up again.
Up she came white side then the brown side, she looked like a living room carpet coming up lol.
After a few mental attempts to get a good pic of her. I let the cameras run and I lined her up to get as close a measurement as I could.
One side was at my rod holder and the other side was at my forward hatch. So Skate released and I got the tape measure out and measured where she was and she measured in at 5ft 7' and according to Mike that's a minimum weight of 187lb. I'd well believe it lol.
The go pro pics make her look half the size but sure that's cameras for ye. I was more than happy, one of those fish that takes a day or 2 to take it all in.
Heres a couple of screen grabs.
She looks like nothing in this pic.
The video will be up very soon.
So that was no.4 of the big 4. Tope, blue shark, porbeagle and Common skate.
For me its the fantastic 4. And will look forward to trying it again.
So that's me happy for a life time, but will always try for more.
Thanks a lot for reading, and no doubt I will see some of you in the near future.
Good luck and be safe out there.
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