Thornback Ray Fishing, Deal Pier

Deal? Or No Deal?

Deal Pier, Deal, Kent, UK

Deal Pier, rods at dusk

A long old shift of 22 hours at work gave me an opportunity to have a evening fish, the weather was perfect, the gales had stopped, and the wind calmed to nothing but a breeze, the sun was out and the sea flat with a brown tinge to it. I had a freezer full of Blueys waiting the first venture of the year out searching for Thornback Rays. I gave my friend Warren a ring, who I consider to be a local Ray guru, by chance we both had time off, and we decided to give Deal Pier a bash from 3pm till 6pm. I made up a few pulley rigs, 60lb straight through to a single Sukuma size 4/0 hook, bait clip and stop knot and sequin to stop the bait travelling up the line away from the hook. I was all set and took a slow leisurely drive to one of the furthest venues I frequent.

Homemade Pulley Rigs single 4/0 

I met Warren in the car park at Deal sea front, we learned that a few Rays had been out along the arm which filled me with confidence, but we made our way to the bottom deck to fish the deeper water as the tide receded. within minutes, our first rods were cast out at range, the tide wasn't that strong during our trip, but being advised that it can be very snaggy, I opted to use a fixed wire 7oz lead real good for holding bottom, and if it got snagged the wire would just bend straight out releasing the lead. I held bottom without any trouble, I probably could have gone lighter, but I was comfortable and felt confident fishing so used it the whole session. We had loads of space, with only a couple of other anglers on the bottom deck and it didn't take long to get some action, my first and second baits were stripped by whiting, whilst Warren landed 2 Dogfish on his first casts.

1st Thornback Ray of 2016, Deal Pier

I never put a second rod out, and it was just nice having time to watch the rod tip and waiting for them bites. on my third cast my rod took a big pull down and then slack lined, the line was flapping in the breeze, and without moving the rod I reeled in till the line tightened, it had traveled a little way down tide, and with another pull down, I picked the rod up and struck. I was on, there was no doubt in my mind this was a Ray, and it put up a fair good fight, I wasn't sure if it was because of the deeper water than I'm used to fishing from the shore, but slowly and steady I bought the fish to the surface, I have to say it looked quite small looking down, but Warren had the drop net ready and landed the fish for me. Close up it was a bit bigger than I first thought, a female Thornback Ray weighing in at 8lb 2oz, well, for my first session for them this year, target caught, and a decent one at that, I was well happy.

The Rays Hayes

It didn't take Warren long to stamp his mark, taking the next Thornback Ray again on Bluey, this time a male at 5lb. We were both very happy now, with the target fish achieved, the only question remained, was "Are we to go elsewhere?" and continue fishing when the pier closes, We didn't, I really didn't have the energy, I had bitten more off than I could chew with a 22 hour work shift and only a few hours sleep, my body clock was smashed to bits. We fished right till the end with the pier attendant very politely ushering us off the pier in the dark. We had 2.5 hours of fishing and without snagging the bottom and losing any tackle with 6 casts each, we had caught a Thornback each and a mixed bag fish, with Warren's Dogfish, and a a Whiting and Pouting for me, the weather was glorious for the time of year albeit a bit cold, but I was dressed for the occasion. It's always a pleasure to fish with Warren and I'd very much enjoyed my first proper pier fishing trip, something I've always avoided due to not having a drop net, but probably if I'm honest, mostly because I try to avoid the crowds piers attract, allthough today we did had the whole of the deck.