SUNSET SPECIAL

Visiting a new mark promises much, but this time Nature provided its own spectacular show

Tackling the wrasse at Portland.

With the sun starting to dip towards the horizon, we were greeted by a spectacular sunset. It was superb and one of the best I have witnessed. At the same time the inshore water started to erupt into a frenzy of action.

Mackerel, scad and bass began chasing the whitebait inshore. Chris Rogers needed no encouragement to change tactics and connected with a number of hard-fighting mackerel, which not only provided great sport on the light tackle, but also some fresh bait. On this occasion the bass eluded him.

I was happily snapping away with the camera as Steve Lawrence and Chris, both from Poole, fished for the mackerel in nearperfect conditions, when, out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed the tip of one of my rods curving over. Something on the other end was trying to make a dash for freedom. After a spirited fight I landed the culprit, a reasonable-sized ballan wrasse with fairly dark colouration. The photograph on this page, with the spectacular sunset behind, was rather special. Steve is learning how to use the camera.

Words and photography by CHRIS CLARK

G V E N U E S L I N G A R E E A S T T S A E E R G G I L S E U N E V G N