Same sea, different boat.

Saturday was a grim, grey day. The settled high pressure that all of Scotland has been rejoicing in finally broke and a more typical summer returned. Sunday was forecast to be more of the same but instead it brightened up with only the prospect of occasional showers and a gusty wind.

Stuart gave me a call and said that Kev was going out in the afternoon to catch bait for his creels, did I want to come along? I didn't have to be asked twice. I grabbed my boat rod from the Heron and off we went on Kev's boat the 'Sea Breeze'.

You don't want to slip through there. There's a big brass propeller slicing away just a few feet below.

Out from Dunbar and off through the rocks. Phil was out sailing on his Hurley 20 'Hamara Jihaz'.  The big displacement of the fishing boat just pushed the sea aside as the diesel engine hummed away below. Quite a difference from the rolling of the Heron as the little two stroke 5hp screams on the stern.

In the wheel house I can understand the plotter, the VHF, the finder, depth and GPS but the rest is a mystery.  Oh, and the gauge for rudder angle, I know that one. And the voltmeter, and I think there is a compass in there and the oil pressure gauge, there's a lifeboat pager and an MOB sender. I think the big black screen on the right is a television.

Back outside and now that we were steaming along there was a more noticeable roll but never anything uncomfortable. At the first mark I was drawing a blank whilst Stuart and Kev got a couple of stray mackerel. We headed east and Kev offered me some very useful heavier leads as we were drifting faster than I had expected. I soon got into mackerel, then cod and a few pollock.

There was a wee squall and the waterproofs went on. A couple of hours flew by and although it wasn't a big catch, there was a box and a quarter as we headed home.

Tied up to land again and a familiar face appeared looking for a free meal. Harry McNeil the harbour seal.

An unexpected fishing trip in good company with some good laughs. Just really enjoyable afternoon out. I'm very fortunate in the friends I have.