Photographer shows he can fish too
MBY photographer Lester McCarthy was invited to take part in the Cobbs Quay Codfishing Championship – and went home with the top prize.
The annual event is put together by a party of boat owners from Poole Harbour, who every Christmas time charter an angling boat for a day’s cod fishing off the Dorset coast.
Lester takes up the story: “This day turned out perfect for me at least. Mild temperatures on New Year’s Eve and calm seas enabled us to steam out of the harbour to the cod fishing grounds, the sunrise breaking through the clouds.
“Anchoring off Old Harry aboard Mistress Linda, a Bullet 38, we defrosted the squid bait in buckets of seawater and took up our positions on the rail around the cockpit and fished.
“The first fish to show were whiting – known as ‘Channels’ – a few small pouting and several dogfish.
“I was catching fish all day long, the best a seven and a half pound cod heaved up from the depths after quite a struggle on reasonably light tackle.
“It is good to find out that your knots, line and hook can take that sort of pull.”
A 25lb Conger was caught later, but as Lester’s fish was the only cod caught on the day, he walked away with the top prize – a Sebago jacket, a good meal for New Year’s Day, and, naturally, the title The Codfather.
You can see more pictures from the day here .
