Team VMO Go To Sea

On Sunday, the VMO boys spent the day afloat aboard Minehead based charter boat, Alykat, skippered by Dave Roberts. In contrast to the weather of recent weeks, the sun shone brightly, the wind was light and the guy’s were set for a very enjoyable day.

The west Somerset port of Minehead on the Bristol Channel

As the boat left port, the guy’s had twenty minutes to assemble their fishing tackle before they hit the fishing grounds. Little did they know that another more experienced fisherman was ready and waiting for them, but more about that later!

Andy prepares his tackle as AlyKat leaves port

Before very long, Dave dropped anchor at a mark that was on good form for smooth hounds, rays and even occasional tope. The guy’s eagerly baited their traces, lowered or cast their baits, sat back and waited with much anticipation.

All eyes on the rods as the anchor goes in

It wasn’t long before Harry’s uptide rod signalled the presence of a fish as his rod tip sprung up slack and the line dropped away. After a spirited scrap, Dave scooped a fine looking smooth hound into the waiting net and all bets were off as to who would bag the first catch of the day.

Harry holds the first fish of the day

Next, it was Daves turn to bring a fish to the boat, once again in the form of a smooth hound of a similar size to Harry’s…

Dave wastes no time getting in on the action

But suddenly, off the back of the boat, a long sleek black shape was spotted. Although in this picture you might think it was a labrador, it was actually a large seal that was keen to see what all of the commotion alongside the boat was about.

A seal does its best labrador impression!

For the remainder of the trip, the guys enjoyed some pretty hectic sport with smooth hounds and dogfish, made all the more exciting playing the fish against the ticking clock as time and time again the seal moved in for the kill!

The race is on to boat the fish before it becomes seal food!

All too soon, the trip was over and it was back to the pub for a few well earned drinks. But not before Harry finished how he had started.

Skipper Dave lands Harry’s final catch of the day