HERNE BAY
Four great marks to try in North Kent.
Herne Bay is an overlooked venue, but anglers can experience some amazing sport all year round. Even in winter, when fishing in a northerly wind can be testing, if you are willing to endure the freezing temperatures the outcome can be rewarding.
In recent years it has become a popular venue for anglers looking to catch thornback rays, which show as early as March, but over the last couple of years have been caught throughout the calendar. The bigger ones are usually taken in early summer over high tide, day or night, but, be warned weed can be a problem in summer. Casting far isn’t needed at Herne Bay.
One of my favourite species is the smoothhound. Nothing excites me more than going on a hunt for them, which often involves a 120-mile journey to Selsey, in Sussex, in search of smoothies. However, close to my home is the shingle beach at Reculver, and one session proved the grass isn’t always greener at distant venues.
During a trip last year, the sun was out and the tide was starting to flood. Straight away I set up two rods and flicked out two pulley rigs at different ranges to try and find the fish. Weed was a constant problem, but I persevered, and I’m glad I did.
An hour before high tide the tide stopped ripping through and gave a window of opportunity, and it seemed the fish decided to start eating. After
putting fresh bait on both rods, it took five minutes for one to be ripped from the rest, line was stripping off and I knew I had hooked my target fish. After a five-minute battle, I was about to land the fish when the carnage started as my second rod showed a bite. Luckily, a friend was just setting up, so he ran over and dealt with the first fish. I struck into the second and quickly knew it was big – it ripped line off and didn’t want to stop.
After what seemed like an eternity, I landed my personal best, a cracking starry smoothhound weighing 16lb 4oz – not a giant, but still a lovely fish.
My friend and I both fished for the next two hours, landing small doubles every other cast until the weed proved to be too much.
Walking back over the hill past the towers, it made me realise that we always go the extra mile to catch a dream fish.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and it was definitely the case here. Catching a fish like that on your own doorstep is definitely more rewarding.