Scorchio

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:01 pm

Just back from two weeks in sunny Alicante, south east Spain. The area has been gripped by a heat wave since June and sea temperatures were approaching 30 degrees. Gear I took along for the trip included a Grey's Missionary travel rod, Snowbee waist pack, reel with floating line and neoprene flats boots for wet wading. Here is how I got on.

Monday 21st July - Arrived at the mouth of the Segura River where it gently flows through a large sand bar into the Med, at day break. Far out in the bay I could see double figure Dorada leaping high into the air, well beyond my wading depth. For some reason the large shoals of Mullet normally found at the river mouth were absent. Five hours of hard fishing in sweltering heat produced only one small Bass to a blue fry imitation. Perhaps the fish had moved out to deeper, cooler water.
The thought of a cold San Miguel convinced me it was time to head back along the beach. This involved a 20 minute walk along the local nudist beach, which although desrted at 6.30 am was now occupied by Penelope Cruz and her thousand cousins. Viva Espana!

Wednesday 29th July - Segura Bay at dawn. I fished the river channel expecting Bass but my flies remained unmolested. A large shoal of Mullet type fish appeared at the river mouth and I decided to target them with nymphs. The fish steadfastly ignored my offerings with the exception of a small Bass which grasped a blood worm pattern. Eventually heat and frustration got the better of me and I returned along the beach. To my horror, Penelope and her cousins had been replaced by their grandmothers. At least the sun was shining.

Friday 31st July - This morning I drove to Segura Bay as I did not like the way some of Penelope's grans were eyeing me up.
I concentrated on the break water, which can produce large numbers of Permit. Several hours effort proved fruitless. Large shoals of fish were active in the bay, which I took to be Mullet. I targeted them with a bread fly supplied by senor bassfly. The tactic involved throwing a large piece of french stick in the water and keeping the bread fly in close proximity. This resulted in many missed takes until I perfected my timing and landed four small Golden Grey Mullet. This was more like it, fun in the sun.

Saturday 1st August - Segura Bay, 7am. Massive Dorada were blitzing smaller fish in the bay, causing mayhem. I waded out and cast into the eruptions as they occured around me. Mullet of 2lb were leaping frantically through the air chased by Dorada up to 20lb in weight. Suddenly wet wading did not seem like such a good idea. The chaos lasted for ninety minutes during which time I managed three hard knocks but no hook ups. Frustrating! I retreated closer to shore to chase Mullet. Eventually one took pity on me and impaled itself on the blue fry fly. The fish was indeed a Mullet but with a flat head and blue circle around the pectoral fin.

Monday 3rd August - Returned to Segura Bay. Fished a team of nymphs this morning in an attempt to catch more flat head. Very few fish were evident and all I could manage were a few soft plucks . I moved over to the break water and immediately caught a small permit on the blue fry.

Many more missed takes followed before I realised that my leader was wrapped round the hook.

Wednesday 5th - Met fellow forum member 'fosma' at day break. Fosma and his dad -in -law were already spinning from the break water when I arrived.

Some large Dorada were showing in the deeper water much to fosma's excitement but they were not to be tempted.
I managed a small bass on the blue fry and a permit on a crazy charlie before tracking Mullet with a pheasant tail nymph in shallow water. From the corner of my eye I saw a large silver shape enter the left hand side of the bay, slowly swimming the circumference. My first cast landed behind the fish but the second landed perfectly. I saw the fish dart forward and felt the line tighten. The fish continued to swim through the bay as if oblivious to the hook. It then headed towards the breakers and the open sea. It felt unstoppable, especially on 4lb fluoro. I applied more pressure as the fish reached the breakers and thankfully managed to turn it. A few minutes later the fish was beached. It was a flat head Mullet of around 8lb. The fish was old with many battle scars and I carefully held it in the water until strong enough to swim away.

Friday 7th - Final day of the holiday. Today I decided to fish 'four mile' beach where , according to the map, a small river enters the sea. I set off on foot before day break, the temperature already 80 degrees. After walking for one hour I arrived at the River Vinalopo. Water flowing from the river was dark green and extremely warm. A shoal of very large fish called 'Espet' were sitting close to shore, feeding heavily. Unfortunately my flies could not tempt them. A challenge for next year! Some of these fish were four feet in length.
My flies did however tempt Bass and Permit in large numbers. The Bass were only up to 1lb in weight but game fighters. I enjoyed 'fish a cast' fun for several hours, working the river mouth. The long walk was certainly worthwhile. Suddenly some Spaniards appeared from the sand dunes with spear guns, targetting the Espet. They missed with their first shot and the fish instantly disappeared.

Monday 10th - Back to work worried

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 3:53 am

WTF happened on Tuesday the 11th.

Member Joined: Jun 05, 2009 Posts: 90

bassfly wrote:

WTF happened on Tuesday the 11th.

Or Tuesday the 4th, for that matter? Or Tuesday, July 22 - Tuesday, July 28?

(For dramatic effect, you need to make an X-File type tune in your head at this point).

Does CC really inhabit some parallel universe where there is no Tuesday?!... suprise

[/b]

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:53 am

well done on the fishing col good report mick

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:57 am

Nice report CC, glad you ended on a high.

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 6:58 pm

Back down to earth with a bump this morning. Met up with bassfly, silver fly and his dad( who I must say is a very interesting, well travelled and young looking for his age gentleman) at Hayling. Like Spain, the temperature was 35 degrees, only this time it was fahrenheit!! The coldness of the water almost made me choke on my whots-its and the 8mph winds forecast by the BBC were an underestimation of Michael Fish proportions. Its great to be back. The company was good though and tea from silver fly's flask revived us all. Roll on the summer!