Blankety Blank...

Wearily, I managed to drag my carcase out of bed at 4 a.m. and squeeze into the jeep which was jam-packed with fishing gear and camping equipment..

Ahhhhh! sunny Wales...

...the destination was Barmouth in West Wales. I head out here every year to try and catch one of the large Bass that are (if the bait and tackle shop owners in the town are to be believed) caught 'regularly' around the Mawddach estuary. I'd also gone to meet a mate of mine whom I hadn't seen in 15 years plus. I'd been regaling him with fisherman's stories about how we were going to fill our freezers with shoals of fresh Mackerel and record breaking Bass, so he'd decided to take his younger daughter with him to see if she'd get the fishing bug.

Actually, when I arrived in the early morning, the sun was starting to come out, so while my buddy went sight-seeing with the sprog, I crossed the estuary to Fairbourne for some beach-casting action in the rolling surf.

In laymans terms, this involves basically banging a peeler crab or sandeel baited rig out into the surf in the hope that a patrolling Bass, cruising the beach, will impale itself on the hook. Sometimes the rod tip bends sharply as the fish takes the bait and runs or the line goes slack as the Bass runs into shore - another indicator of a bite.

Fairbourne beach was beautiful, long, sunny and very windy. Five hours I was there, staring longingly up at the white tip of the rod. Despite some tentative bites (probably crabs) - no fish.

The next day was spent at the shore of the estuary spinning lures, again hoping for a Bass, Mackerel, or at this point, anything. A beautiful sunny day again but no fish. Caught a wind tan though.

The 'old man of the sea' - Put them gnashers away!

The kid seemed to like the 'idea' of fishing though, even if we couldn't furnish her with an actual fish. On the way home I resisted the temptation to avoid humiliation by my other half and buy the biggest fish I could from Sainsbury's fish counter, claiming it as my 'catch of the day'.
Next time I'll choose a better venue...