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I went out this morning and hit an estuary mark just before first light. With a full moon, I managed to set up without the headtorch. Low water was an hour and a bit away but I worked my way along the bank with nothing happening except the splash of some mullet. Day had just about fully arrived when I had a solid take on my baby Sasuke, a dour and heavy fight in the strong current resulted in a fish that would be 4lb in the pub but in reality was just shy of that weight.

However, as soon as I beached the fish it began bleeding profusely from the gills. I got him upright in the shallows but he didnt seem to have the will to swim away. After about 5 minutes of coaxing he was still turning belly up so I regretfully knocked him on the head. I cleaned him up for the photo. This is only the second fish I have taken this year (and I do like them to eat!) but I didnt see the point of returning him if he wasnt going to survive. Why is it that some bass bleed so much without any obvious cause? The fight wasnt long or arduous!
Mixed feelings - happy I caught a fish but saddened to have to despatch him.
Fished on and about half an hour later the same Sasuke was hit like an express train and damn near took the rod from my hands! My initial thoughts was I had a really good fish and it shot off taking line but quite quickly I realised I had a very spirited fish of a similiar size to the first one. The fight was very good and he certainly punched well above his weight but this time I was able to release him without a problem.

Its curious why some fish bleed on capture and some dont and why some fish fight like stink! The second fish was a few ounces lighter than the first but fought way better.
My regular Sunday morning tennis was calling and I had to pack up. Two nice fish in a few hours and I even won the tennis! Not a bad day so far!

However, as soon as I beached the fish it began bleeding profusely from the gills. I got him upright in the shallows but he didnt seem to have the will to swim away. After about 5 minutes of coaxing he was still turning belly up so I regretfully knocked him on the head. I cleaned him up for the photo. This is only the second fish I have taken this year (and I do like them to eat!) but I didnt see the point of returning him if he wasnt going to survive. Why is it that some bass bleed so much without any obvious cause? The fight wasnt long or arduous!
Mixed feelings - happy I caught a fish but saddened to have to despatch him.
Fished on and about half an hour later the same Sasuke was hit like an express train and damn near took the rod from my hands! My initial thoughts was I had a really good fish and it shot off taking line but quite quickly I realised I had a very spirited fish of a similiar size to the first one. The fight was very good and he certainly punched well above his weight but this time I was able to release him without a problem.

Its curious why some fish bleed on capture and some dont and why some fish fight like stink! The second fish was a few ounces lighter than the first but fought way better.
My regular Sunday morning tennis was calling and I had to pack up. Two nice fish in a few hours and I even won the tennis! Not a bad day so far!