We picked the timing for our fishing trip at the coast with care. The end of January and into February the themometers had hit their maximum of 50 degrees c and their little tubes were straining to go higher. Then it abruptly plummeted back below freezing and snowed. Lets go! said Alan with the vigour that only hardened fishermen and raving lunatics can muster. 

The fairweather fishermen of Cherkovo were roused with his warcry. "Bugger off" said Chris, remembering hours of icy misery in damp dingies in the North Sea. He hadn't ironed his thermals anyway, so couldn't come. So Dave and I tried our hand for the first time at beach fishing for the fabled two headed Chernobyl Bass and other fishy things that frequent these waters. Alan an experienced sea fisherman would show us how it was done.

We headed off to Duni, near to Sozopol and the fabulous sandy beach covered with near naked bodies in the summer looked a whole lot different now. Alan seemed oblivious to the icy gale blowing straight in from the choppy dark waters. Whichever way you looked at it, It really wasn't the time of year to be dipping your tackle into the black Sea.

Three pure white swans thrashed about in the surf losing their usual poise, and looked on at the morons on the beach setting up their rods. I heard one of the unfortunate birds muttering, "Let's go to the Black Sea, it's nice at this time of year, you said, there'll be Pelcans an all there, you said, it's like a big lake, only bigger you said." Only the wind moaned louder.

The smaller one said, "Dad, can I be a parrott when I grow up?" "Why would you want to be a parrott, Son?" "'Cause me feets flipping frozed Dad"

The icy swell took one completely under. It re-emerged, shook and said. "I told you Majorca, but oh no.........."

I couldn't earwig any longer, I had things to do. Dying of hyperthermia being the most pressing.

We had of course come prepared for the cold. For me, donning three coats and mutiple, multiple layers of jumpers soon had me completely immobolised and able only to effect a penguin like waddle across the wind swept beach.

For bait Alan had brought some small fish and mackerel that he had defrosted the night before. After a quick dip in the briny they were fully restored to their original frozen state.

We were encouraged by the first nibbles we were getting, but they diminished as the fish broke their teeth on the bait.

Dave has the practised cast of an experienced fisherman. I've seen him cast when we fish the lakes around the village and been in awe of the whistle of line sent out across the lake. Now with a sizable lump of lead he was casting waaaay into the distance. I wryly thought that with a little extra welly he could probably get that grappling iron sized hook through the window of a beach front house in Sozopol across the bay, and be off with a steaming Kavama from the table before they had time to blink.

Alan had set up his tent to shelter from the wind. Snug inside, he put the kettle on and Al's Cafe was in business. With Alan emerging from the tent in his fluorescent jacket with mug in hand there was no denying that it did appear that the GPO had just turned up and were digging a hole on the beach.

The survival expert Bear Gryls made an impromptu appearance on the beach. Using his honed skills he demonstrated to the world how to survive in the most inhospitable locations that the planet could throw at him. He surveyed the beach with the eye of the consumate expert. "Nope, you're gunna die out here."   He headed back towards the main road where he felt his chances were considerably better with the lunatic drivers. 

We retired defeated.

In summary, and joking aside, it was a great day out. Certainly blew away the cobwebs, but the only thing biting was the wind. Life is about these experiences and every one becomes a great memory (assuming you survive).

Our immense thanks to Alan for his patience and for lending his gear. We will return to the ocean and become fishers of the deep later this year when the birds on the beach are as hot as the sun that they bask beneath.

If you are interested in joining us why not drop us a line?