Family and friends day, today and with a north east wind blowing we decided to go at 4.00am – returning around mid-day.

On the way through the Medway I had the fishfinder on and the screen was full of sprats all the way out to our fishing marks.

It didn’t look very good for us but hey, it was a day out.

We started fishing the flood tide. It was comfortable rolling up and down in the swell.

We managed 5 small codling of 2lb and a few big whitings to start. But then Andrew Norwood (aka Nobby), my cousin,  asked me to cast his uptider for him. Well, I must have given it a lucky touch because he had a small bite which he left nibbling for a while. He then struck into the fish. It was nodding well and it looked a heavy fish. After a battle he got it to the side of the boat and I netted for him.

It was a cod that topped the scales at 15 1/2lb so another big double aboard the ‘Dentex’ this winter in the Medway/Thames.

After that fish and a few photos we headed back in.

Well, that’s the last report of 2009 so have a great New Year – 2010 – and remember to get your bookings in nice and early.

All the best, Skipper Steve

Jason White’s crew on board today. A mixture of work colleagues and friends. We were due out at 6.00am so I got down to the boat at 5.00 am to get things ready with Roy. Good job we did as it took us an hour to clear the deck of ice and snow to make it safe.

We then got underway with a fresh wind blowing from the west. It was a bit lumpy until the tide started to flood.

It was hard work and patience that got us a few fish. We managed 12 cod between 4lb and 7lb to bait of lug and squid but we also dropped a few cod as well.

There are still a few whiting out there too but the sprats are starting to show everywhere.

All the best, Skipper Steve