The Grand Fishing Adventure S02E01
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CreativityTranscript
00:01Who picked November slash December to come to Spain?
00:04We haven't got long to go, and we've got a catch of £30 each.
00:11Let's get over there boys.
00:13Two friends.
00:14Boom.
00:15Look at that.
00:16On a fishing bucket list tour.
00:18Want a piece of this action, Bob?
00:20Footballing fisherman Bobby Zamora.
00:22And that's more likely.
00:24And me, Ali Hamidi.
00:26I'm an Iranian wrestler.
00:28Abracadabra.
00:29Woo.
00:30This series we're touring Spain and France.
00:33Look at that.
00:35On our greatest mission to date.
00:37Did you see that?
00:38Well done Tesla.
00:40It won't all be plain sailing.
00:42I'm actually scared.
00:44It's a stingray.
00:45But we will be trying to catch the biggest and best fish.
00:49What a beast eh?
00:50What an achievement mate.
00:52Yes.
00:54This is the grand fishing adventure.
00:57Yes.
00:58There it is.
00:59On the surface.
01:00Oh yes, Bob.
01:01You've caught one.
01:02Don't lose the chorizo mate.
01:03All this year I'm off to sunny Spain.
01:04Evviva España.
01:05I'm taking the Costa Brava plane.
01:08Ah, we're here son.
01:09We are here Dasna.
01:10We're in España.
01:11We're on roads.
01:12Are you looking forward to fishing here?
01:13I am mate, listen.
01:14I have seen and heard so much about Spanish fishing and I've seen some of the photos that
01:15you've shown me of some of these Spanish fish.
01:16Mouth is watering.
01:17More than if I put a piler in front of you.
01:18Presently I'm really excited and I've had some of these fish.
01:19I've seen some of the photos that you've shown me of some of these Spanish fish.
01:20Mouth is watering.
01:21More than if I put a piler in front of you.
01:22Presently I'm really excited and I've had plenty of food on the plane on the way over.
01:28So no, I want to fish it.
01:29We're in Spain.
01:30You're in Spain, you're in Spain.
01:31I'm taking the Costa Brava plane.
01:32Oh we're here son.
01:33We are here Dasna.
01:34We're in Espana.
01:35We're on roads.
01:36Are you looking forward to fishing here?
01:37I am mate, listen.
01:38I have seen and heard so much about Spanish fishing and I've seen some of the photos that
01:40you've shown me of some of these Spanish fish.
01:41Mouth is watering.
01:42More than if I put a piler in front of you.
01:44Presently I'm really excited and I've had plenty of food on the plane on the way over.
01:49plane on the way over so no I want to fish first bang a couple of giants out and then we're on to
01:53paella and you better sort that. Oh the food would have to wait because Spanish fishing was the
02:01priority. One of those countries not too far from Blighty but I haven't fished here that much a few
02:07short trips so I'm really excited to go into the depths the heart of the heartland of España get
02:13stuck into some fishing. Fished in a few other countries in Europe and other parts of the world
02:18at Never Spain so it's a completely new experience for me and I'm hoping to get off the mark as soon
02:25as possible. We've driven five hours southwest of Madrid airport our first mission was to catch a
02:32special Spanish species a mysterious breed that I'd always had my heart set on catching. Do you know
02:39how excited I am about fishing for this species? Whole childhood looking at magazine articles with
02:46whoppers of these I'm so excited. Well I don't know too much about them pal you've shown me a few
02:51pictures and obviously you're a hell of a more passionate about these than than I ever was when
02:55as a kid I was watching Match Attack I was looking at Match Attack but anyhow listen I'll desperately catch
03:01one as well pal don't worry about that. Neither of us have ever caught this species this is a fascinating
03:06thing. The fish we were after gets caught at certain times of the year like early winter and we were
03:13here in prime time. They're only found at a few special venues like this one. This is us. Look at that.
03:21That is us. Unbelievable Jeff. Oh it's toes in the head. It's got in the Guadiana River.
03:35This was the Guadiana River. Its total length is 483 miles starting in Spain and ending in Portugal
03:44as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This particular remote and wild stretch near Badajoe is known to hold the
03:51special fish we are after. The Comixobarble. This prehistoric looking fish is native to Spain
03:58and Portugal. They inhabit deep and slow water and can reach up to 40 pounds in weight although a
04:05Comixobarble over 10 pounds is classed as a specimen. So this would be our mission.
04:16We were chomping at the bit to get started and we were heading to a spot we'd been tipped
04:21off about that holds these incredible creatures. All our kit had been driven ahead and was all
04:27ready and waiting for us.
04:28And wow the river was looking mighty inviting. We are here our big giant Chorizo Barble. That's right Bob. Them Comixobarble.
04:35I'm so hungry y'all. They are a fish of my dreams and they are out there and not only are they out there.
04:41There's also carp run right through this river and big ones mate. It's a complete and utter unknown. Wild river.
04:47Exciting. But because you have got food on your mind I actually think you could catch a Comixobarble on
04:53Chorizo and that should be your target. For sure. And the fact that you have called Chorizo and
04:59you have got food on your mind I actually think you could catch a Comixobarble on Chorizo and that should be your target.
05:06For sure. And the fact that you have called Chorizo I think you should put it on all your rods tonight.
05:12Okay. We now faced a race against time to get set up and get the rods out before it got dark.
05:31The Comixobarble, a species that I have read about. I've looked at pictures. I love that.
05:39I've looked at pictures.
05:41I love UK barbel, but to catch these would be really special.
05:46A fish I've never caught,
05:48so it is 100% on the must-do list of life for Little Pamebe.
05:54My personal mission here, obviously,
05:56to get off the mark, a Camiso barbel,
05:59but really I'd love a double-figure barbel.
06:01That's a real size, so that is a personal target for me.
06:05Rig-wise, we were going pretty beefed up
06:08as the river apparently had many underwater snags.
06:11The tackle approach was quite like cartfishing.
06:14I was using heavy 5-ounce weights to hold bottom in the flow,
06:18tough 35-pound blend-coated hook links,
06:21strong lock hooks and stinky boilies
06:23to send scent trails to the Camiso.
06:26Bob was going big boilies, strong Cassian-style hooks
06:29and 20-pound blend fluorocarbon hook links,
06:32which is strong and almost invisible in water.
06:35The free bait was a mix of sel, spicy crab
06:39and isosweet-flavoured boilies, maize, tiger nuts and hemp.
06:43Local anglers, however, had recently been catching
06:45using tiny amounts of freebies.
06:48Time to get the rods out into the Spanish agua.
06:51The echo sounders would be priceless in understanding the riverbed
06:55as we look for ideal spots to drop the rigs.
06:58I'm just looking for the deepest part of the marginal shelf,
07:02so where the margin is, just coming down
07:04and the deepest part before it starts to gradually go back up.
07:08That's where a lot of the natural food will come along from the current
07:12and I'm hoping to pick them off just now.
07:14Bob dropped two rigs in close proximity
07:17opposite his swim in about 12ft of water.
07:21His third rod went long out to the left
07:23just off a large reed bed
07:25and Bob P and Bob went against local advice
07:28with lots of free bait on all of his rods.
07:31So I'm going for a little bit more than what they put in.
07:35Don't go crazy.
07:37Let's see if I can lick a couple more bites.
07:38A bold bait move, Bobberto, but would it pay off?
07:43All of his rods were now in position and sitting pretty,
07:47ready for the commit zone.
07:49I was going to fish two rods
07:51as I had access to less water than Bob.
07:54Both were positioned just off the marginal shelf
07:57with a small handful of freebies around each.
07:59I was also locked and loaded
08:08with less than an hour before dark.
08:11We'd been tipped off that all commit zone bites
08:14had recently been coming during the hours of darkness.
08:18Not ideal as we were both absolutely shattered.
08:25I'm so tired.
08:27I could just literally just drop down and go to sleep now
08:29and I'd like a nice kip and a bite around 7 to 8 a.m.
08:37I know what you mean, mate.
08:39It's been a long, long day.
08:40Listen, I'll tell you what, I'll do you a turn, right?
08:43If I get a bite in the night, I won't give you a shout.
08:45No, I'll come out.
08:46I'd love to.
08:47I want to see one of them comizzo's on the bank.
08:50Listen, if you get a little bit of time tomorrow,
08:51pop down the supermarket and get me a nice bit of chorizo, pal.
08:53It's going on the rods.
08:55Ah, the chorizo.
08:57We mustn't forget the chorizo.
08:59I'll let you off tonight.
09:00Tomorrow, you're getting your chorizo game on.
09:03But for now, we'd have to wait to see
09:05if the comizzo barbel liked our boilie hook bait or not.
09:09Well, we are off, Al.
09:14Is it fine?
09:16Did it start with, no, it's not.
09:18Tell me, I've never had one, I wouldn't know.
09:20Well, I don't know if it's a chorizo yet.
09:22Yeah.
09:23There it is, on the surface.
09:26There it is.
09:26Oh, yes, Bob, you've caught one.
09:30Don't lose the chorizo, mate.
09:32Bob, he's got to swim straight in the net.
09:33Go on, lad.
09:35Thank you very much.
09:36Yeah, well, that's quite a nice one.
09:38Get in there.
09:39Go on, Dazzler.
09:40Love it, my mate.
09:41Oh, I've never caught one of them.
09:42No, you have.
09:44I have.
09:46I'm a little bit dazed, to be honest.
09:49Woke me up out of my sleep.
09:50But it is a lovely surprise and a lovely wake up
09:53to have my first chorizo.
09:55Chorizo.
09:57Comito.
09:58Fish.
09:59It's comito.
10:01Anyway, how heavy was it?
10:03Could it be a specimen over the 10-pound barrier?
10:07Oh, Bob.
10:08Have we got over 10?
10:10Yeah.
10:10Have we?
10:11Yeah.
10:11No way.
10:12Yeah, proper over 10.
10:14Go on.
10:14Nearer, like, go on.
10:16Higher, lower, higher, lower.
10:1814?
10:19Yeah.
10:20Yes.
10:20Higher than that.
10:21No way.
10:22Yeah.
10:2316?
10:24No, lower.
10:2714, 8.
10:28Oh, that's magnificent, isn't it?
10:31Come on, that is pucker.
10:32Good game, good game.
10:35Look at this.
10:37Let's have a bit of dorsal fin.
10:39Look at that.
10:41You buzzing?
10:42Oh, mate, absolutely chuffed.
10:44I didn't actually think it was that big, but now, seeing it as well, yeah.
10:47You know what they say in Spain, don't they, when you're asking what the weight is saying
10:51it is?
10:51No.
10:51La quinta, por favor.
10:53That's the bill.
10:57So the first Kermitso Barbel on a grand fishing adventure goes to Sammo.
11:0314 pounds and 8 ounces as well.
11:06Get in there.
11:06Well, I don't think we're going to get much sleep, Bob.
11:16Go on, Dazzler.
11:19Hey.
11:20Hey.
11:20Hey.
11:22Yeah.
11:23Get in there, Bob.
11:25That is numero dos.
11:2811 pound five.
11:30Kermitso number two for Sammo.
11:32That's two doubles in two bites.
11:35Amazing achievement, Dazzler.
11:37We need to have another one.
11:41Kermitso masterclass.
11:45Yeah, number three.
11:48Lovely, Bob.
11:50The Dazzler's extra free bait plan had worked wonders at Kermitso hat-trick.
11:55This one was about 8 pounds.
11:58Maravilloso, Senor Zamora.
12:01Coming up, I get my first bite of the trip.
12:05Oh, it's a bigger one, Bob.
12:07It's a Kermitso.
12:08It's bigger, isn't it?
12:18Our Spanish adventure had kicked off on the mighty Guadiana River
12:22with the mission of catching my childhood dream fish,
12:26the magnificent Kermitso barbel.
12:28Bob was off to a fly with three already,
12:31the biggest being 14 pounds.
12:34What a start for me.
12:35I'm so, so happy.
12:38My first Kermitso barbel.
12:40And my pal on the other side, unfortunately,
12:42he's having what's called a Spanish white session,
12:46also known as El Blanco.
12:50Blank, get it?
12:51Nothing, zero.
12:53But I had a plan up my El Slevio.
12:55And part of my plan was cooking for the Kermitso.
13:00So welcome to Ali's Bait Kitchen Live.
13:05I promise you, this is not a last resort.
13:07I have been thinking about this
13:09because sad fishermen lay in bed at night
13:11thinking about making bait.
13:13So I'm going to make a paste
13:16inspired by the river and Spain
13:19and a little bit of English bait heritage.
13:22So we're going to get cracking first with some eggs.
13:25Like that.
13:26Six eggs.
13:27Here we go.
13:30Eggs are in.
13:31Now for a little bit of flavour.
13:34We're going to go off the bat
13:35with something called Activate.
13:39Then a splash of Pacific tuna flavour.
13:42A drop of sweet aid.
13:44Three spoons of hemp oil.
13:46Most fish love the old hemp oil.
13:48And a big handful of salt.
13:52Time for a cheeky whisk.
13:55Right, now this is called base mix.
13:58So this is what you normally make boilies with.
14:01And we're going to add this activated base mix in.
14:05This will bind our paste.
14:07We need this as the base
14:08because we're going to add some Spanish
14:11and river love to it.
14:13Next, fresh crushed crayfish from the river.
14:17Shells, claws, the lot.
14:19Let's get the whole lot in.
14:20Who cares?
14:21Tentacles, God.
14:23And the final ingredient.
14:25Some chorizo.
14:26A nice big handful of sausage.
14:31Finely mixing it all together into a smooth paste.
14:37Bit more powder.
14:39Adding more base mix if it's too sticky.
14:42Then get your hands in and bind.
14:44And that's it.
14:46Oh, yes.
14:49That is ready to go.
14:51A little bit tacky.
14:51It's going to dry out in a bit of air.
14:54Ready to be moulded around the hook bait
14:56or the lead.
14:58And there's only one thing now left to do.
15:00And that is eat a bit.
15:04Oh, it's nice.
15:06It looks actually quite nice.
15:07I definitely wouldn't advise this, folks.
15:11Look at that.
15:13Moulded around the lead.
15:15Moulded around the boilie.
15:16I think that is seriously a meal fit for a king comitzo.
15:23Bob had also finally got his hands on his own Spanish secret weapon.
15:29It has arrived.
15:32Chorizo for my comitzo.
15:36Hell of a lump, that one.
15:36Spicy, meaty, and this.
15:41At least one of these is going out tonight for the big girl.
15:46Just before dusk, all rigs were refreshed and deployed.
15:51My Spanish paste bombs went on both of my rods.
15:58And Bob banged Chorizo hook baits on two of his rods.
16:02Would these new twigs give us an extra edge?
16:05And would my childhood comitzo dream come true?
16:19Unfortunately, it's not a Chorizo.
16:22Oh, that might be a little.
16:25Was it not on the Chorizo, no?
16:26No, unfortunately not.
16:28It looks all right, though.
16:29Well, mate, you're catching all of the comitzo's.
16:32I'm making up the numbers.
16:33I'm becoming a good spectator.
16:35I'm enjoying it, though.
16:37Yes.
16:37Oh, how are you?
16:38Come on, Bob.
16:39Yeah.
16:41Comitzo crazy.
16:42Nine pound two and another comitzo barbel for me.
16:46I am absolutely loving Spain.
16:49Feel sorry for him over the other side, though.
16:52The dazzler was again living up to his name.
16:56Adios.
16:58I was praying that I got at least one chance of fulfilling my childhood dream.
17:04I finally got a bite.
17:07On the paste.
17:09Is this my first ever emitsubarb on?
17:14Let's put the torch on just to see.
17:17Laugh, it's a cart bomb.
17:22Oh, it's a bigger one, Bob.
17:24It's a comitzo.
17:25It's bigger, isn't it?
17:27It's much bigger.
17:28It can't be a comitzo.
17:29It's a comitzo, mate.
17:30That's a bigger one.
17:32Oh, my lord.
17:33I didn't think I was going to get one, you know.
17:36I thought I was going to have to start running downriver and looking.
17:40It was in close and about to reveal itself.
17:44It's a carp.
17:45It's a carp.
17:47It's a carp.
17:49You couldn't watch it, Bob.
17:50Oh, you absolute duffer.
17:53I thought I had the biggest comitzo in the history of my life.
17:56The only one.
17:58Oh, you couldn't make it up.
18:02You couldn't make it up, Bob.
18:04You couldn't make it up.
18:06Now, there's not many times you could call a king carp a nuisance fish.
18:11Oh, no.
18:18Well, it is the biggest comitzo in the river, right,
18:23that's gone to a fancy dress party as a common carp.
18:26Hey, look at that.
18:30Wicked.
18:31Absolutely buzzing, mate.
18:32Right, time to take that costume off, yeah?
18:34Sweet.
18:36At least the pace was working.
18:41Well, I'm into my fish.
18:45I'm hoping for a chorizo comitzo.
18:49But it was another carpio.
18:56Not exactly what I wanted,
18:58but the chorizo has got me a lovely Spanish common.
19:02What did you say you called it on, Bob?
19:05Chorizo.
19:06Just double checking.
19:11Bobby had now caught four comitzo to my zilchio.
19:15All the barbell seemed to be coming from downstream,
19:18getting to Bob's rigs first and not getting to my area.
19:21With one night left,
19:23I felt my childhood ambition was slowly slipping away,
19:26but I had a plan.
19:27Adios, amigo.
19:34Heading downstream, are you, pal?
19:36I'm heading somewhere.
19:38Have a good one, pal.
19:39Good luck, mate.
19:39I'm just going to try not to catch the line.
19:41Oh, oh, oh, oh.
19:42And...
19:43Go as far as you like.
19:47Had to see for all our care.
19:52I hope he catches it.
19:54Otherwise, he is going to be a nightmare.
19:56Me?
19:57A nightmare?
19:58Never.
19:59I was heading about 700 metres downstream of Bob
20:03to a swim on the bend of the river.
20:06This was supposedly another notorious comitzo area,
20:10but also for carp.
20:11It had a lovely reed-lined far margin
20:14that just screamed fish to me.
20:16I wasted no time getting the rod sorted.
20:19For speed and less disturbance,
20:20I utilised my bait boat.
20:22I was going to use three rods
20:24with my special Spanish paste on all of them.
20:29Two rigs were deployed close to the far margin,
20:33with a third nearer to the centre of the river
20:35in deeper water next to an underwater snag.
20:39Ah, time's ticking.
20:40Bobby, the man who didn't even know what comitzo barball was
20:44before he got here,
20:46leaves with a bundle of them.
20:47And me, currently,
20:49could be leaving empty-handed
20:51with a fish I've always dreamt of catching.
20:55That would be sad, wouldn't it?
20:57Would be a sad tale.
20:58Zamo, on the other hand,
21:00was loving life
21:01and was doing what the Spanish do best,
21:03having a siesta.
21:05I am desperate for him to catch one.
21:07We've obviously come a long, long way.
21:08It's been hard work.
21:10Him getting up every bite I've had as well in the night,
21:12so he's very, very tired.
21:14I'm desperate for him to catch.
21:15I really don't want him to blink.
21:17A little over 12 hours now remained
21:20before we had to pack up and head to our next destination.
21:24This night would be comitzo or bust for me.
21:27Yes, it's a big one.
21:35That is big.
21:37Is it a carp or a camiso?
21:40Oh, no.
21:44Would you, Adam and Eve,
21:45how is your luck?
21:48Well, for someone who loves carp fishing,
21:52I've never been so disappointed to catch a carp.
21:57Another golden deceiver.
22:05Close, but no cigarro.
22:07Was that my last chance gone?
22:11Going to be another common, no doubt.
22:13Sadly, not a comitzo,
22:15but it was something new for me.
22:19My first ever Spanish mirror carp.
22:23What a fine thing.
22:25Bobby hasn't had one of them.
22:26I popped her in the sling to show off to Bob
22:29once it was light.
22:33That was the final fish caught on the Guadiana
22:37and my boyhood dream had burst.
22:39Bob had smashed it, though, with four comitzo
22:42and I'd caught a rare Spanish mirror,
22:44so every cloud and all that.
22:46And what a beauty of a mirror carp it was, too.
22:52It weighed in at a very respectable 23 pounds and 12 ounces.
22:56My first mirror carp from España.
23:00First mirror carp from Spain.
23:02Yeah.
23:02It's bittersweet, bro, you know.
23:05Yeah.
23:05You know how much that meant to me, that comitzo, don't you?
23:09Yeah, but listen, mate, we're here together.
23:12I'll tick the box for us.
23:13So I'm the comitzo king.
23:15You certainly are the carp king.
23:16Ah, there you go.
23:18Well, it has been a lovely, lovely experience on the Guadiana.
23:24But a small little kick in the El Nados of Hamidi.
23:28So for me, a real success.
23:32Enjoyed it, caught a good few comitzo.
23:34Just didn't catch a comitzo on the chorizo.
23:37Instead, I caught a carp on that.
23:40A gutter to not catch one, but 100%.
23:44I'll be back, desperate to catch one of these comitzo barbles.
23:49I'd have to put the comitzo return on ice for now
23:52as we were about to head off
23:53on the next part of our current Spanish grand fishing adventure.
23:58Coming up, our next mission,
24:03a £30-plus carp from a Roman lake.
24:07Go on, Bob.
24:10Yes!
24:18Our first Spanish mission had been a 50% success
24:22with Bob banking four comitzo to £14.
24:25Oh, mate, absolutely chuffed.
24:28I didn't actually think it was that big.
24:30But I only managed to catch carp.
24:33Now, there's not many times
24:34you could call a king carp a nuisance fish.
24:37But carp were ironically going to be our next target species
24:41and we were on route now.
24:44Bob, are we going carp fishing?
24:45We're going carp fishing.
24:46On a lake?
24:47On a lake.
24:48Are you happy?
24:49In Spain.
24:50I like it, Bob.
24:52I like it when you're excited.
24:55Just through these Spanish lanes
24:57was a lake that was the centrepiece
24:59to the town of Mérida.
25:03Lake Proserpina.
25:06Created by the Romans in the first or second century
25:09after they built an impressive dam
25:11which still survives today,
25:14this is the oldest Roman reservoir in Spain.
25:17And it's home to some big Spanish carp.
25:21The exact stock numbers are unknown
25:23but apparently the average size anglers catch
25:26is around the mid-20 pound mark
25:28and mainly commons.
25:30But carp have been caught up to 60 pounds
25:33and the rare mirrors it holds are stunning too.
25:36Our mission here would be
25:38to both catch a carp over 30 pounds,
25:41a tough challenge in early winter.
25:43We needed to set up camp quickly
25:46as the evening was fast approaching.
25:49Never fear, I had a trick up my sleeve.
25:52Time is ticking.
25:53We have the very large white unicorn of Tackle
25:57and that white unicorn has now given me magical powers
26:01whilst we've been in Spain.
26:02I'm not joking, mate, right?
26:04What would you say
26:05if now I've developed these magical powers,
26:07if I was to say abracadabra
26:10and all of our staff magically appeared all set up?
26:14No, no chance.
26:15You have certainly had too many sangria.
26:18Abracadabra!
26:22Told you, didn't I?
26:23Mate, that is magic.
26:25The fishing part,
26:26I haven't got any magic sorted for that there.
26:27We have to manually put the rods together
26:29and set some rigs up.
26:31I didn't realise, Ali,
26:32I had Dave and Blaine powers.
26:34Hopefully he can sprinkle a little bit of magic on me
26:36or he can catch a few big 30s.
26:40I'll tell you what,
26:40I couldn't add a few more degrees as well.
26:42It's freezing.
26:43It is nippy.
26:44Obviously, it was the next day.
26:45My magic took about 12 hours to work.
26:49The lake here, we were told,
26:51had many snags and boulders,
26:52so we first switched to braided mainline
26:55and snag leaders.
26:57Next, on to the business end,
26:59the rigs.
27:00We were both going for the same tried and tested
27:03big carp tactics.
27:04On all three rods,
27:05I'll be using a spinner rig,
27:07so this little pop-up will sit up
27:08just off the bottom.
27:10Hopefully, a big greedy carp will come along
27:12and gobble it up.
27:13The only difference with my rigs,
27:16I was using a slightly bigger hook
27:18as carping lakes with hard, rocky bottoms
27:20tend to have tougher mouths.
27:23Bob was going to fish on the left of the double swim.
27:27The locals said the area near the dam wall
27:29was a carp hot spot,
27:31but Bob needed to avoid the underwater snags,
27:33so using his sonar on the boat would be vital.
27:36It is a hard bottom,
27:40so sandy bottom with big boulders
27:42here, there and everywhere,
27:43so it's a case of finding our spot
27:45in and amongst those rocks
27:46and fishing effectively.
27:49Bobby deployed two rods near to the dam
27:51on clear spots,
27:52with the third just off to the right
27:54in open water.
27:56Several handfuls of boilies
27:57were scattered around each rod.
27:59All of Bob's traps were now set.
28:01I went looking for a spot
28:06at around 200 metres,
28:08an apparent clear area
28:10in about 20 foot,
28:12just off the back of a rocky patch
28:13on the lake bed.
28:14Once I'd located it,
28:16I dropped a marker pole
28:17to mark the spot.
28:19Ali's having to avoid
28:20the rowers out there this morning.
28:23It's all go.
28:25Next, about five kilos
28:26of ice to sweeten cell boilies
28:28whole and crushed,
28:29plus maize and tiger nuts
28:31were spread around the area.
28:33Two of my rigs
28:34were dropped close to the marker,
28:36with the third 20 metres
28:38or so off to the right.
28:39Everything was now locked and loaded.
28:42Bring on the Spanish 30-pounders.
28:53What are you thinking?
28:54Are we going to catch?
28:55Yeah, we're going to catch for sure, mate.
28:57For sure, we are going to catch
28:59I'm going to catch more than you
29:01and they're going to be
29:02ahead of a lot bigger as well.
29:03Nice.
29:04Well, the locals love
29:06that left-hand side,
29:07don't they,
29:08and that Jean-Claude Van Damme?
29:09Correct, but you are Ali Hamidi.
29:12Yeah, but I can't...
29:14Well, I have mystical powers,
29:15as you have seen now,
29:16but what I cannot do
29:18is control carp
29:20and where they swim.
29:21But, yeah, I don't know.
29:22I'm confident,
29:23but if it gets to the morning
29:26and I haven't caught one,
29:27then I'm going to decline rapidly.
29:29Real, like,
29:30and then I'm going to start eating sweets,
29:31I'm going to start,
29:32like, what is there to eat?
29:34And the onset of depression is quick.
29:36So what you're saying is
29:37eating is your happy place.
29:40What else is there to do?
29:41We're sitting here.
29:42We can do some press-ups, mate.
29:44Sit up.
29:44No, eating's better than press-ups.
29:46With the sun about to set
29:50on our first evening's fishing,
29:52we were hopeful of a car,
29:54although I did have my eye
29:55on some Spanish saucisson
29:57in case we didn't.
30:09After a sub-zero night
30:11and a brisk morning,
30:12absolutely nothing.
30:14My confidence was already
30:16starting to dip.
30:20I don't think my pal Ali's
30:21in a great place
30:22and he's turned to comfort eating.
30:26Last thing he needs, you know.
30:27My mind was already racing.
30:30Were the spots we were fishing right?
30:35Time for some divine intervention
30:37from an angel.
30:39Well, actually, Angel,
30:40a local carp angler
30:42who'd come to give some tips
30:43on the best fishing spots.
30:45You keep telling me about this area
30:47in front of this point.
30:49You think it's a good spot?
30:50Yeah, yeah, yeah.
30:51I think it's the best.
30:52I'm going to call it
30:53the rod of...
30:54Not angel.
30:56I'm going to call it
30:56the rod of angels.
30:57Yeah?
30:58You understand?
30:59You understand?
31:00My Spanish humour
31:01is incredible.
31:03Yeah?
31:03It's really bad.
31:03Yeah?
31:03Incredible.
31:05He took me to an area
31:15way out to the right.
31:17Another big clear zone
31:18that he's caught
31:19from this time of year.
31:21Worth a try
31:21with my right-hand rod.
31:24He also showed
31:25a few spots to Zamo.
31:26They weren't too far
31:27from where Bob
31:28had already placed his rods,
31:29but an inch can be a mile
31:31when you're fishing
31:31and you just can't ignore
31:33trusted local knowledge.
31:35Angel, our local guide,
31:37has given us
31:37a little bit of information
31:38on a few spots.
31:40Fingers crossed
31:40it reduces the bite.
31:50Oh!
31:51Go on, Bob!
31:51Wait, wait, wait, go on.
31:54Yes!
31:55One of Bob's new spots
31:56was away.
31:57Go on, Bob!
31:59Oh!
32:00Oh, no!
32:05Gutter, Bob.
32:07Gutter.
32:08A nightmare start
32:09for Zamora.
32:10A horrible feeling
32:11to lose a fish.
32:13Yeah, very gutted.
32:15A hook pull
32:16would have been
32:17my first carp
32:19out of this lake.
32:20I wanted to land one,
32:21obviously.
32:22Oh!
32:23Take the positives.
32:24Take the positives.
32:26Yeah.
32:26Take the positives.
32:26There's actually fish in here.
32:28Yeah, and we've got a day bite.
32:29And it's daytime.
32:30Yeah, and the wind is coming in.
32:32Yeah.
32:33And you only just did the rods
32:35a little while ago.
32:36Yeah.
32:37So that's very positive.
32:39Yeah.
32:39As positive as I can make it for you.
32:42That's even more positives.
32:44My side, not yours.
32:45Oh, yeah, yeah.
32:46Well, there is also that.
32:47Bob wasted no time
32:50getting back out
32:51in the boat with Angel
32:52to drop a fresh rig
32:53back on the new spot
32:55where the carp
32:56now on the feed.
32:57Yes, it seemed as though they were.
33:10Less than an hour later
33:12and Bob was away
33:13on another new spot.
33:14A chance for retribution.
33:16Oh.
33:18Oh.
33:19Cut off?
33:20No, hook, pull.
33:22What is that all about?
33:23Never seen it in my life
33:24to lose two.
33:25Two hook, pulls like that?
33:26Nah.
33:27Mate, it's on.
33:27On.
33:28Do you know what I mean?
33:28What a nightmare.
33:31What is that all about?
33:32Two hook, pulls
33:33and two lost carp
33:34on the bounce.
33:36Devastating.
33:37So losing that fish
33:38for not the first time
33:40I've decided to go
33:41up a hook size.
33:43Really get it in there.
33:44A real good,
33:45strong, hard hook
33:46and get them nailed.
33:49Lakes with such hard bottoms
33:51normally cause the carp
33:52to have tough mouths too.
33:54The bigger,
33:54cone-style hooks
33:55should result
33:56in better penetration.
33:57I just hoped
33:58he got another chance
34:00and that I had one as well.
34:01Just two nights
34:02now remained
34:03and we both needed
34:04to catch a 30 pound
34:05plus carp
34:06which now looks
34:07a very tall order.
34:16Well,
34:17we have hooked
34:18into a carp
34:19finally.
34:21That's lasted
34:22more than
34:22a couple of seconds.
34:26Got a bit of nerves
34:27now,
34:27I'm not going to lie.
34:30Yes,
34:30Dazzler.
34:33Yes.
34:34A few goals down,
34:35aren't we?
34:36Yeah.
34:36There's a football
34:37analogy for you.
34:38Oh, mate,
34:39you're so good at them.
34:40Come on.
34:45I'm going to go down there
34:46and get towards
34:46the front,
34:47near that rock.
34:48You're going to stay up here,
34:49yeah?
34:50Me?
34:50Yeah.
34:51My grandpa.
34:52Staying elevated
34:54helped to keep
34:55the line away
34:56from some of the
34:57huge rocks
34:57on the lake bed.
34:59Bob needed to
34:59concentrate
35:00as he had to
35:01bring in the fish
35:01from over 200 yards.
35:03Would the bigger
35:04hook hold?
35:05Nervy times.
35:06I've seen a carp.
35:08Where can we get it?
35:08Oh, yeah.
35:09I'll tell you what,
35:13you've pumped that
35:13in from so far,
35:14Bob,
35:15that needs a passport.
35:16Hello,
35:17passport control.
35:19You want to see us?
35:21Focus.
35:22Bob,
35:23I think this one's
35:24got in here
35:24from the river.
35:26Here's it,
35:26a long,
35:27lean cricket bat.
35:30Yeah.
35:33How do we finally
35:34go on?
35:35Get back
35:36to the Guadiana,
35:37yeah?
35:37What are you doing
35:38in here?
35:39Our first fish.
35:42Is it going to be
35:4330 pounds?
35:43I don't think so,
35:45but it's going to be
35:46close.
35:47A couple of hours
35:47and we'll see.
35:48Either way,
35:49he'd managed to land one.
35:51Well done, Zamora.
35:53Coming up,
35:54Bob's rich vein
35:55of form continues.
35:57That is 100%
35:58as a 30.
36:00Oh, yeah.
36:01Is it?
36:02I think so, Bob.
36:03You've done it, mate.
36:03We'd had a shocker of a start
36:13to our carp mission in Spain
36:14to both catch a 30-pound-plus carp
36:17as I was blanking
36:18and Bob had had two hook pulls.
36:21But in the very early hours,
36:22it was third-time lucky.
36:24Ah, we finally go on.
36:29Dawn was now upon us
36:31and as soon as the chilly
36:32mist started to burn off,
36:35Bob went to retrieve his prize
36:37that had been chilling
36:38safely in the retention sling.
36:40The question was,
36:41did it surpass
36:42the 30-pound mission target?
36:4524-9.
36:47Got a bit of work to do,
36:48haven't we?
36:50Not half.
36:52Unsurmountable.
36:53Well, well,
36:54this is what one of them
36:54Spanish carp look like, pal.
36:57Bronze, golden,
36:58bar of gold
36:59caught in the winter splendour.
37:04Nice day, isn't it?
37:04Oh, mate, I'm so,
37:05so, so happy now.
37:07I can relax.
37:08You can't, mate,
37:10because you haven't
37:10caught a 30-pounder.
37:11Oh, yeah.
37:12Check, we've both
37:12got to catch a 30-pounder.
37:13We've both got to catch.
37:14Who picked November
37:15slash December
37:16to come to Spain?
37:17We've got our work
37:18cut out, mate.
37:19We've got,
37:19we haven't got long to go
37:20and we've got to catch
37:22a 30-pounder each.
37:24We've got some work
37:25to do today
37:25and let's make it up.
37:27I can't even get a bite, mate,
37:28let alone catch a 30-pounder.
37:31That has given me a buzz.
37:32I am so psyched for it today.
37:34I've got positive mental attitude
37:36and I'm definitely
37:37going to get a 30-pounder.
37:38P.M.A.
37:41We were off the mark
37:42as a team
37:43and Bob's bigger hooks
37:44were working well.
37:45I just needed some action now.
37:47We both refreshed our rods
37:49and spots
37:50in anticipation
37:51of another bite.
37:59And it wasn't too long
38:00before Samo
38:01was away again.
38:03Go on, Bob.
38:03another common carp
38:12nailed and landed.
38:15Yes.
38:16Ticking them off.
38:17Not a 30, though, mate.
38:18I'll take the whole day long.
38:20A small mid-double common carp,
38:22about half the size
38:23of our 30-pound target.
38:25The important thing was
38:26Bob was now converting
38:27his chances.
38:29An hour later,
38:30he was into another.
38:31Samo was on a roll.
38:33Oh, it's definitely on.
38:34Which resulted in a bigger common.
38:40Oh, yes.
38:44Big size two.
38:46Nailed.
38:4725 pound.
38:48Five pounds short
38:49of our target.
38:52Angel's spot tips
38:54and Zamo's rigged tweets
38:55were now paying off.
38:57Bobby is now converting
38:58every fish he hooks
38:59with a change of hook size
39:01to the larger size two.
39:03His spots were rocking.
39:05Could he convert four on the bounce
39:07and was this the carp
39:09he was after?
39:10Come on, Dazzler.
39:12Let this be the 30-pounder
39:14and then
39:15we can do a little prayer
39:17that I just get a random bite
39:19out of nowhere
39:19and it's 30
39:20and it's mission accomplished.
39:22Bigger?
39:23I think so, yeah, mate.
39:24I think this might.
39:26Well, you might.
39:26Imagine if a big set
39:27of shoulders came out.
39:28Oh, I'll tell you what,
39:29you've got 30-pounder, Bob.
39:30100% I reckon.
39:32Yeah?
39:32I reckon you've got 30.
39:34I reckon you've got
39:35a dirty 30 at least.
39:37Go down there, Bob.
39:38You're not going to have
39:38to land it over here.
39:39I was convinced
39:40this was a target-smashing car.
39:43Oh, yeah, definitely a 30, Bob.
39:45100 pesetas.
39:47Remember when it used to be pesetas?
39:49Yeah, I do, actually.
39:50That is 100 pesetas of 30.
39:54Oh, yeah.
39:55Is it?
39:55I think so, Bob.
39:56You've done it, mate.
39:57I reckon you've done it, boy-o.
39:59And it's a mirror.
40:01It's a what?
40:01A winter of a mirror.
40:02A mirror?
40:03Yeah.
40:04Oh, I'm nervous.
40:05I'm nervous now.
40:07Go on, Bob.
40:07That's a really nice fish, mate.
40:09Although it now looked
40:10a bit smaller.
40:11Maybe 29.
40:12It needs a bit of depth, Bob.
40:16It's got the length.
40:18It's got a little bit of girth.
40:20It wasn't as big as I first thought,
40:23but it was going to be close
40:24to our target.
40:26That's a really amazing carp.
40:28And I think, my friend,
40:29that is yours.
40:31Yes.
40:32Get in there.
40:35Oh, it's a belter.
40:37Look at that.
40:38It's certainly more of a looker like me
40:40than an athlete like me.
40:43Absolutely buzzing.
40:44Don't know if it's going to be
40:45over that 30-pounder,
40:47but by all accounts,
40:48it is an absolute stunner.
40:51Ring the changes.
40:52Small hook, no.
40:53Big hook, yeah.
40:54And it's paid off.
40:56How big do you think it is?
40:5931.
41:01Mate, you need to get back down to gym.
41:0326-7.
41:04No!
41:06They've got to start feeding these fish
41:07in Spain, haven't they?
41:08That is one of the most beautiful carp
41:10you're ever going to catch in your life.
41:12Yeah?
41:13But, yeah, I do agree.
41:15The Spanish anglers need to feed
41:16their carp more food.
41:19Not 30-pounder, Al,
41:21but it is an absolute stunner of a carp.
41:26Spanish carp.
41:28Exactly, and I've gone through my whole life
41:30telling everybody I meet
41:31that size doesn't matter, Bob,
41:33when beauty is the king.
41:37Look at that.
41:40I'd still love a 30, though.
41:42And me.
41:44So, four carp now banked by Bob,
41:46the law of averages surely meant
41:48the next was going to be over 30 pounds.
41:51We'd like to think so, anyway.
41:55With just one night remaining
41:57before we had to head off,
41:59would we get another chance?
42:01Last night,
42:09I've had a very enjoyable time here.
42:13Ali, not so much.
42:16I really, really, really hope
42:18that he catches tonight,
42:19or first thing in the morning.
42:22I have a sneaky feeling, though.
42:24He's got this one.
42:26He always pulls a rabbit out of the hat,
42:27or a fish out of the lake.
42:30I think, maybe,
42:32even though it has been bad
42:34on my side,
42:36that something could happen.
42:39I've pulled it out of the bag before.
42:50I'm into a fish
42:51at Proserpina.
42:53Come on.
42:54How's it feel, though?
42:58I don't think it's big.
43:00I don't think it's 30.
43:01It's coming in far too easy.
43:05Swimming into me now.
43:06Listen,
43:07let me get the landing there ready.
43:09OK, Bobby.
43:10OK, Bobby Dazzler.
43:12I didn't care about the size.
43:14I just wanted to land it
43:15to save a bank.
43:18That's definitely not
43:19breaking any records.
43:20You lift it over,
43:21I'll just lift it straight up.
43:22Yeah.
43:23I think...
43:24Well, you saved a blank.
43:28You've not helped our target.
43:31You've caught, though, mate,
43:33so I'm very, very pleased for you.
43:39Blank save!
43:42Only just, though, bless it,
43:45literally seen centipedes fatter.
43:48You look like a mullet.
43:49Ali, how does this one feel?
44:00It was 5am and I was cream-crackered.
44:04A bit bigger than the first one, I thought.
44:06Can't be smaller, surely.
44:10I reckon I might beat the five-kilo mark for this.
44:14It was coming in pretty easily, whatever it was.
44:18No records were going to be broken here.
44:26A tired supporter only hit the post,
44:29but scores on the rebound, phew.
44:31Doesn't tick the box, that fish,
44:35but it's possibly our last fish from this lake.
44:39So, with about an hour left of daylight,
44:42put it in the sling,
44:43get some little goodbye shots before we go home.
44:46Mmm.
44:47That was, in fact,
44:56the final bit of action
44:58from the urban lake,
44:59Proserpina.
45:01We've come out at a tough time of year.
45:03It's the onset of winter,
45:04plummeting temperatures,
45:05but you know what?
45:06We did well for numbers of fish and bites.
45:09Really unlucky with the size,
45:11but you can't pick
45:12what picks up your bait.
45:14That's what fishing's all about.
45:15You've got to keep going.
45:17So close to that 30-pounder.
45:19Lost a few fish along the way as well,
45:21but we'll never, ever know.
45:23But still,
45:24looking forward to seeing
45:24what else Spain has to offer,
45:26so I'm looking forward to this journey.
45:28Seeing what's next.
45:29Two mates having fun.
45:31That's the key.
45:33Who knows where we're going to go next?
45:35One thing's for sure,
45:36it's going to be a grand fishing adventure.
45:38Ha, ha, ha, ha.
45:40The future's not ours to see.
45:54Que será, será.
45:58What will be, will be.
46:03Que será, será.
46:05We'll be.