4.10am and the alarms gone off - got to pick Dad up for a trip to a rock mark. We get to the spot just as the sun pop's it's head over the Moors.



One rod out each on peeler, and 5 mins and a typical dogfish bite gives the first fish of the day.




I forgot to do my hair before we left.........

I hate early mornings. My bad mood wasn't improved when I staggered out of my door at 4.30am to find my car encased in a layer of iron-hard frost. Still, the effort of scraping the windows woke me up a bit and by the time I met the others outside the tackle shop my mood had improved.

Today was to be our first River Mersey cod...

Another trip, another day without a tope, but the fishing's still been enjoyable and the craic was good. Evening is drawing in as we up anchor and head back to shore. Conversation dies and we lean against the rail, each lost in the beauty of the evening.

Going home is always one of the best bits of boat fishing. Gone is the excited anticipation of the trip out. Limbs are tired and...

Leaning against the rail of the boat, I'm lulled almost to sleep by the heat of the sun and the deep drone of the engine. The sea is like glass and it draws the gaze down and down into its blue depths. My head nods and I start awake and idly scan the horizon, eyes screwed against the harsh glitter from a cat's...