Sharky Shakes!

Fishing’s been quiet again and I still have the duck!
 

Just had the first of my annual jollies, North Devon again and a spot of Smoothhound terrorising was first on the cards.
 

It was an early start to catch the last couple of hours of the dropping tide, I think I got it just right as shortly after casting out the first of my soft crab baits, I was busy trying to unravel my second trace to bait up ready for the next cast, the rod ripped off to the music of a screaming ratchet. The tip was bouncing all over the place as I made a lunge for the rest, grabbing the rod before it took off. I switched off the music, flipped the reel into gear and braced myself as the weight of the fish pulled a very healthy curve into the rod and it continued to pull very hard in its bid to reach the far side of the bay. When you only fish for a particular species once a year you forget how good it feels to hook one and this first fish fought all the way to the rocks, every twist, turn and rapid beat of it's tail had left me shaking after lifting the sharky shape onto the rocks, it's fins lit up by the rising sun.
 

All lit up.

 

This was a good fish as well, must have been close to ten pound and definitely the biggest I've had from this spot.

 

A scrap and a half from this one.

 

I had another common smoothy half an hour later and a smaller Starry Smoothhound at around low tide.
 

I was back at the caravan for eight thirty, all smiles and had breakfast ready on the table for when the girls got up.
 

What an excellent start to the day.