Adjust your outing to suit the conditions
The forecast was a little strange, as I was analyzing the area that day. So I thought it might be worth my while to go and see for myself, and I was right. Sometimes, it's a good idea to interpret forecasts and adjust them to your spot, which often has its own specificities. Such was the case on this particular day, when the forecast called for gusty winds of 60/70 km/h with a good 20/30 established.
When I got up and looked outside, I was a little worried that the wind direction wasn't as advertised, which was a complete game-changer. I'm lucky enough to live less than 5 minutes from my launch on this part of the harbour, so to be on the safe side, I might as well go and see what's really happening on the water. That's what earned the title of the little video at the end of this article: stolen session.
Squid and cuttlefish
Of course, right now, temperatures are quite low and clothing needs to be adjusted accordingly. I've already talked about this in several articles that you'll find in kayak section . It's a small coefficient of 31, which is another reason why the forecasts ticked me off. In general, the wind in the harbor is fairly calm. And indeed, when you launch, it's calm as calm can be. Most of the harbor is sheltered from the wind. The water is cold, down to 8.5°C with the cold of the last few days, and generally speaking, cold water is good for looking for cephalopods. Heading for my squid spots, as usual, I drag a bib lure (a 110 Deep Diver) in the wake of my kayak. It didn't take long for the lure to be caught, and it turned out to be the first nice squid of the day. It's been stung by one of his hunting tentacles, which, when the hooks are good, means you're bound to get bitten.
As soon as I pass the shelter of the riprap, the water is a little more lively, but nothing more, and the wind is strong, but not disturbing. I take out my jigs, but as the water is a little turbid, I choose cloth jigs. This allows me to use a booster spray (Flash attack from Flashmer) which impregnates the fabric well and reinforces the jigs' attractiveness, so don't get any on your fingers...
I use a slow trolling technique, with a 60-gram sinker, which allows me to cover a wider area. Squid and cuttlefish follow each other. After a while, I don't need to pedal anymore. The wind has picked up a little and the drifts are getting faster, which helps me drag my lures through the lower layer of water. I've done my squid fishing and the wind picks up again, so I decide to return to the sheltered area.
A nice bar
As soon as I cross the polder, the sea is calm again. I've still got an hour to spare, so I head for the marina's floating pontoons. There are often a few fish hanging around. And there's no shortage of them, with a nice, wide-meshed sea bass once again grabbing at the Deep Diver in an 8-metre depth zone, taking it down to around 5 metres. After this last fish, it's time to head for home, but not without taking advantage of this great opportunity to find a small sandy beach for the traditional end-of-session snack.
In conclusion, if I'd only listened to the forecasts, I'd have stayed home. It's good to listen to your own experience from time to time, which is what allowed me to enjoy this stolen session...
