Kent Spring Meet 2010, England

I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago that I had organised a kayak fishing meet in SE England . Well last weekend it all happened and it all turned out brilliantly   Much to everybody's surprise the sun shone   , the seas remained calm and the rain stayed away. Even more shocking the fish fed and everybody caught. We launched and camped a few miles away  
As per usual its pretty much copied and pasted from a British forum so it may read a bit strange from the west coast of the USA   .


Arriving at the camp site at 9 Friday morning I was surprised to see half a dozen tents already set up Blimey you lot were keen ! The sun was shinning and it was great to be greeted by so many smiling faces I handed out some welcome packs containing ; tide tables, addresses and postcodes of venues and tackle shops, directions to Westgate and a laminated A4 sheet with a chart of the venue.
Steve arrived and it was time to put up the marquee ........it was HUGE There were many willing hands, it was like the Amish putting up a barn but without the beards . :




Once the marquee was up and the freezer plugged in it was time to 'go fishin' . So a quick trip to the tackle shop and then of to Westgate to launch in front of the Swan pub . The local constabulary took an interest . Luckily Amos distracted the officers while Snapper stripped off ;D



The fishing was good and the seas a bit choppy but well fisherble . We had a good haul of fish, with thornbacks, whiting and dogfish coming to most, if not all kayaks.



Back ashore we made a trip to the supermarket for barbecue meat, beer and erm well just beer and meat really .





After a few beers and few very entertaining yarns [ did you know dogfish belly flaps are considered a delicacy in Germany ;D ] We retired to our tents and got some sleep before doing it all again the next day.
DAY 2

It was another sunny day on the Isle of Thanet when we got up on Saturday . Snapper had got out the Ultra so we could all have a good look . I must say it looked good with a lot of ingenious and well thought out features for the dedicated kayak angler .










While we munched bacon butties and slurped mugs of tea, Snapper suggested fitting a sail to my Elite . Well never one to turn down an offer like that, I whipped it off the car and placed it onto the impromptu grass workshop.




With the sail fitted we headed off to Westgate to launch. There was a stiffish breaze blowing out of the East that scuppered Lozz and Richi's plan for an offshore excursion. Although I think Richi and Steve still made it out past the East Margate buoy.
But every cloud has a silver lining and the breeze was ideal for a spot of sailing. ;D





It was great fun sailing up and down. With the tide going west and the wind going east I sailed all morning without having to paddle at all. Brilliant ;D
Word came over the radio that Lozz was filling his yak up with Thornback rays so Snapper, Matt and myself hoisted our mizzens/spinnaker/mainsail and zoomed off downwind. We were there in a jiffy. I arrived just in time to see Kieth get his first Thorny off a yak



Most caught TBR's, whiting and dogfish. Mike Sinden even managed a couple of school bass . It was a great day out on the water and although a bit choppy, still fisherble.
Back at the camp site it was time to skin a few doggies ready for the barbie :-/




Soon the evening was filled with banter, beer and burgers. The socializing did not go on too late and soon we were all turning in ready for the journey home or for the dead keen,another day on the water .



DAY 3

First job Sunday morning was to bring down the marquee and pack it all away in Steve's van. It was a surprisingly quick task with plenty of eager hands making light work.



Lots of goodbyes and handshakes followed as the assembled yakers started there journeys back to home waters . This left a hard core of die hards and locals who set forth once again from in front of the Swan pub Westgate. It rained as we set up on the well cut grass, but by the time we had paddled out the sun was breaking through and the sea was as smooth as glass.
We anchored up with Ben and Andy heading a little further out than the rest of us . But it soon became apparent that the fish were feeding in the shallower water . [ About 18-20 ft I think ]




I think we all caught Rays , the sun shone and seas were calm . Suddenly Alex let out a yell....a seal was trying to get in his kayak The seal, which we quickly named 'Dave' after dave the dolphin, then moved across to Steve's kayak were it was fed with bait before trying to steal a fish out of his tank well ;D It was very entertaining



Soon it was time to head back to shore, 'Dave' escorted us back until the water was just a foot or two deep.
Once ashore we packed away our kit and helped each other lifti the kayaks onto the vehicles. Then it was final goodbyes and the end of the Kent Spring Meet 2010. I would like to thank all those that attended it was terrific fun and great to meet so many like minded nutters like you lot ;D............I think we should do it all again next year
So a video of the paddle back, near the end you can just see 'Dave' behind the kayaks.
Bit of Nick Drake with this one .

Great report! Looks like we have a lot more in common besides kayak fishing! We also like to camp out, eat, drink and enjoy each others company.....

This is how we do it..

Fish 'n Chill @ Lake Del Valle 2007

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,10356.0.html

Fish 'n Chill @ Lake Sonoma 2007

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,12389.0.html

Fish / Hunt 'n Chill @ Lake Sonoma 2008

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,15487.0.html

Fish 'n Chill @ Lake Del Valle 2009

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,16993.0.html

Fish n' Chill @ Lake Sonoma 2009

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,17339.0.html


Fish n' Chill @ Lake Mendocino 2009

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,21631.0.html

Fish / Hunt n' Chill @ Lake Sonoma 2010

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,22359.0.html

Fish n' Chill @ the Forebay 2010

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,22828.0.html

nice looking get together. Looks like a ncka style hook-up for sure.

That new ocean kayak looks interesting...                                                                                 

Another stella report!  Thanks for the report, video, and pictures Mueller.

Always a blast seeing your report TM. Thanks for sharing.

Jedmo

Great Report....

 Thanks for sharing, Interesting Trident you have there....

I paddle an ocean kayak Elite 4-5 and the kayak we were all admiring on the grass is the new OK Ultra 4-7 .Both the Elite and Ultra are made in New Zealand.  Neither model is, I believe, available in the US. The Ultra would be ideal for those of you who paddle the Pacific, as it is designed for the ocean and surf launches/landings. Of couse it would be wasted on those swamp rats that paddle about in the mangroves down in the Gulf of Mexico . 

Both the Elite and Ultra are made in New Zealand.  Neither model is, I believe, available in the US.

That's unfortunate   I would have loved to have one!!!

Both the Elite and Ultra are made in New Zealand.  Neither model is, I believe, available in the US.

That's unfortunate   I would have loved to have one!!!

Weren't you just complaining about how todays kayaks have too much bells and whistles?   

Both the Elite and Ultra are made in New Zealand.  Neither model is, I believe, available in the US.

That's unfortunate   I would have loved to have one!!!

Weren't you just complaining about how todays kayaks have too much bells and whistles?   

Yup....the sonar shield was one of 'em. All the kayak really needs is a narrower rod pod and it would be golden....IMO at least. And if they kept the specs of the original P-15, it would even be better.

Nice gear you Limeys have over there!  Thanks for the great report.  Come on over to Norcal sometime.

Dave