“Kayak ownership offers the best bits of a boat without the cost”
CROSSWORD SOLUTION, AUGUST 18
IT’S WITH slight embarrassment I have to admit this week that a random assortment of my possessions still rest in the parents’ garage.
At the age of 41, I realise this shouldn’t be possible, but I’ve only recently moved from a flat to a house with better storage.
“Any chance I can have my garage back?” is a regular line of enquiry from my dad, who has absolutely no use for things like an early 1990s seatbox or random lures. I did recently notice that some of my old rod sections are now propping up his plants, though.
So it was to his relief recently that I removed the biggest obstacle of all, a kayak. To my shame, this has been sitting there idle for over a year, while I’ve juggled fatherhood, work and mostly shorter fishing trips.
A pity, because a kayak encompasses some of the best bits of owning a boat, but without the eye-watering costs. Or the horror of exchanging small talk with the sort of people who own swanky boats down here in Devon.
After a short eternity of digging out paddles, ropes and roof bars, however, I was ready to hit the coast. While I’d not missed all the faff involved in launching a kayak, the excitement was delicious.
Everything quickly got wet as I paddled through the surf, but that is normal for kayak fishing. And what a feeling it was to get out there, far from the madding crowds on the beach! Actually, when you look back at the shore anglers, it’s almost with a guilty pleasure as you head for the bits they can’t reach.
Within minutes I was casting into eerily clear, rocky water beneath the cliffs of Devon. I could have brought all manner of bait fishing gear, an anchor and even a fish-finder, but in the end I was glad I’d left all the clutter at home and opted for a simple drift and cast approach with lures. The first bite was typical of what was to follow – a sledgehammer whack, followed by the thrilling, pummelling sensation of a 1lb-plus wrasse that made my heart thump as hard as the rod.
That bone-crunching fight pretty much set the tone for the day, with the rocking waves and my slightly wobbly paddling skills only intensifying the excitement. I’d have been happy with the temper tantrums of those wrasse alone, but by switching lures I managed a handful of mackerel for tea, and even two beautiful bass, which were carefully returned.
It was only after getting back to shore, in fact, that I fully realised the punishment on my arms and lower back. Even so, these were a small price to pay for such excellent fun. Now that I finally have space to store the kayak, all I need is a suitable excuse for the wife. I just hope she gets a taste for mackerel.
“The pummelling sensation of a wrasse made my heart thump”
Across: 1 Grater 4 Traces 9 Oban 10 Heavy 11 Urge 12 Milsom 13 Bump bar 15 Scalpel 17 Gareth 19 Insert 21 Adaptor 23 Seaport 24 Coiled 25 Soft 26 Jerry 27 Glow 28 Rocket 29 Metres.
Down: 1 Gibbinson 2 Amnesia 3 Egham 5 Ray 6 Chubber 7 Sugar 8 Barbel Masters 14 Mugga 16 Patio 18 Torpedoes 20 Elastic 22 Trigger 23 Stour 24 Clyde 26 Joe.