Missed opportunities

Friday evening and with the forecast saying heavy rain showers Mick and I decided to give Cowes a go, as you can fish from your vehicle.
Not my favourite place as it can be snaggy.
We arrived and was set up by 8pm, crab on one rod mackerel the other.
Mick was into a fish almost straight away, a doggie and he quickly followed this with another.
Then my rod bent right over, I struck and was into some large, a big head shake almost pulled the rod out of my hand, and I struggled to retrieve any line, I managed to get it in 20 yards or so when I was locked up solid in a snag, time I got it out the fish was gone.
Mick then landed our target a 2lb 4oz smut.



And then another good bite for me, with the rod almost dragged out of the rest, again I struck and the rod bent double under the strain, big head shakes followed and yet again another snag, and this time I lost the lot, fish rig the lot.
We both had a few more doggies then as the tide turned it started to run hard so we moved to Gurnard, same baits and tactics.
After 10 minutes I got a good take on crab, fish on, half way in and I was snagged again, but managed to get it out, the fish didn't feel that big but in came a school bass of 1lb 8oz.



We stayed till 2am and had a few more doggies each.

Saturday was a comp held at Shanklin with 15 signing on.
We were set up ready for the start at 7pm.





I had just one rattle in daylight, but as dusk fell Mick pulled in this small Lobster.



And I got this bonus thornie, only small but a new species for the year.



Mick then had a large edible crab to go with the lobster and an undersize Bass.

An hour before the comp ended I finally get a decent take, the rod pulled round hard and lifting into the fish felt a good weight, definitely a Ray and a good one, with not much being caught this was the comp winner.
I got it in three quarters of the way before the line went slack and it was gone, the 3rd good fish I'd lost this weekend. Well the air turned blue, I was not a happy angler!!!!
The comp ended and was won with a couple of wrasse, bugger, but there's always next time.

unlucky dave good effort and a few fish to boot well done you guys

Well done Davey, hard luck on the snags and losing a couple but at least a few were landed