The following is a story piece written by Tim Bayliss a local Kayak Angler.
I hope you enjoy it.
British Bone Fish.
Maybe that's a bold boast, daring to describe the "Thick Lipped Grey Mullet" as "The British Bonefish". But it is a very elusive fish and probably the most challenging of sea fish to target successfully from our shores. On light tackle the fight from these fish is spectacular. A common site around estuaries and marinas, easy to spot, but since they don't have the traditional diet of Worms, Crustaceans or Fish, very difficult to catch. Well this was my first chance of the year, 20 degrees, cloudless skies and a 5 mph south easterly breeze, what an opportunity!! I'd recently seen Mullet feeding amongst the weed alongside the old Toll Bridge spanning Lymington River. Although still early in the year, 8th April, I find myself gliding silently into position on the fringe of the weed, as it gently caresses the embankment.
"Kayak" is the Inuit name for "Hunter's Boat" and what a perfect description that is. Mine has just allowed me to place myself in clear water upwind, enabling a delicate flick of the Allcock "Light Caster" to drop a small flake of bread on a size 10 hook, suspended beneath a crystal wagler with 10lb line, amidst the grey torpedo shaped beauties. I'd been trying to encourage them to feed all day long, crumb and ground bait mix having very little effect, but here among the relative sanctuary of the weed they seemed more confident.
The float dipped a couple of times, sending adrenaline coursing through my veins, my senses heighten and in apparent slow motion, on the next dip of the float, I seemed to have an eternity to lift the little cane rod and set the hook before normal time resumed and the Grey torpedo exploded from the weed, the line slicing through the water left and right stripping yards off the spool in seconds. With such a small barbless hook I was not going to be able to bully this fish, so I settled down to a truly delightful battle. Eventually it slipped into the net and pulled the scales around to 2lb 12ozs. Not big for a Grey Mullet, but my first and most satisfying from the "Hunter's Boat". Within minutes of the float returning to the same patch of weed, the whole process was repeated, only this one was three ounces lighter, no less fit and just as much fun. That was it for me totally satisfied in achieving my goal. The perfect end to a perfect day.
I was not alone in my quest that day, my friend and Kayak fishing pal Mick, had his first taste of Mullet fishing these waters and although he wasn't lucky on this occasion, I think he's keen to give it another go.
Thanks for reading - Tim Bayliss.
