Norfolk Naval Base Fishing

Not the usual view from a fishing pier.

Mighty USA ships in the back ground.

Hot Friday afternoon on the fishing pier.  Good to see so many out attempting to catch fish.  Everyone from lads with spinning rods, trying for half and hour, to a couple of lads who had enough kit to fill a fishing store.  I caught one small shad, and lost two more.  Lots were trying to catch crabs as well; dropping baskets baited with chicken legs.

Racoons raiding the bins at Botanical Garden

Raccoons up close

Walking in Norfolk Botanical Gardens the other day we came to the picnic site under the pines down by the lake.  As we walked towards the covered area I saw a ringed tail disapear into the bin.  Even closer we saw another masked bandit sneaking up the post of the shelter and hidding in the roof.

Not many walking round today as it was a showery day, so the wildlife was closer in than usual.  Below is a lovely white egrit we saw as we crossed one of the bridges.

For the first time this year we also saw dragon flies.  I am sure they have been out sooner, we have just not noticed them.  Below is a picture of one taken by the veg plot shed.

Norfolk Naval Base Skate

Norfolk Naval Base Fishing Pier.

Started fishing at 0615 after looking up the fishing tides for Norfolk.  This web site gives you tides and more and suggests the best fishing times.  As I have no clue as to the right time to fish over here I have stuck to its suggestions.

The weather was slightly overcast with enough wind to make casting difficult.  I cast out two pieces on squid with my pier rod and then set about trying out my new bait caster reel on my spinning rod.

Predictably second cast in resulted in a a bird nest of line, which I was thankfully able to sort out without too much trouble.  After resetting the reel drag and casting more carefully I soon got the hang of it.  And very nice to use it was too.

After an hour I tried the pier rod to find a fighting fish on the end.  After a good fight I was able to land a nice male skate.  15 minutes later I caught a fine female skate which I landed on the rocks as my rod and line were protesting at the weight.