Doing The Conger

Surprise Strap On

Princes Parade, Hythe CT21 6AQ, UK

A short blog this time, admittedly this was a half hearted attempt for a early Cod, I had picked Hythe to fish as at this time of year as it had the possibility to throw up so many species, from Eels,, Mackerel, Scad, Pouting, Whiting, Dogfish, Sole, Dab, Flounder, Plaice, Gurnards, Bass, Rays, Hounds and Cod, in fact I could even add Squid to that list. And what I was gonna land wasn't even on my rader ever, let alone on that list! the plan was quite simple, one rod at range pulley rigs with 3/0 hooks baited with lug and squid or fish baits for Cod/Rays and maybe Gurnards and live bait rigs fishing live pout or whiting close in targeting big Bass.

Well fishing was constant, the Whiting I tried to catch for live baiting were few and far between, but the Dogfish were out in force, eventually I had a live bait kicking away in the surf, unfortunately no bass took a liking to it. The other rod kept me busy, a few Whiting, Pouting and a small Hound pup, but mostly Dogfish, every bite had me hoping and praying for the double knock tell tale sign of the Cod. And I had hope all night, and then it happened!!! a firm but gentle pull down quickly followed by another, and then another leading to a slack liner, I picked up the rod and gently reeled in the line to remove the slack, I felt the fish knocking, I lifted into the fish to set the hook, immediately I knew I was into something different, and I really thought it was a Cod!, to my dismay an Eel surfaced and slide onto the beach, but it was big and then I realised that it was my first ever Conger Eel, a tiny strap conger of around 3lb 8oz. Now I know this fish is small by Conger standards, ok even tiny!, but it was my first ever!! and can only get bigger. It was shore caught at a venue that I don't thing anyone in their right mind would even think they are. And I suspect very few anglers can claim to catching a Conger off the beach in Kent, even if it's just a little strap, so I was very happy angler.