Light overnight rain gave way to a cloud-laden sky before the sun had a chance to shine in the early hours of the morning...
as gulls followed their routine flight paths in and around the harbour...
where they are able to enjoy a few new square metres of new roof on the fish market...
not so lucky is this inshore trawler with discarded gear wrapped tightly around the prop...
stacked at least six high, the fish auction is well underway with both auctioneers competing for the attention of the buyers...
as a huge trip of hake from the netter Ocean Pride is sold...
inshore trawl fish from the Spirited Lady III included some cracking brill...
even bigger 'butt as turbot is called in these parts...
dozens of Dovers...
some magnificent monk tails...
and a handful of pristine pollack...
also up for grabs were a box of small Dory...
good sized cod...
superb red mullet...
and pristine plaice from the beam trawler Trevessa IV...
each box getting the once-over from some of the buyers...
bigger fish included this stonking tub gurnard...
coley or blackjacks...
a box of mixed...
and some huge ray...
just a few of the bigger fish from the first netter to land this tide...
while most of the beamer's fish were stacked seven high to save floor space...
it seems the prices were high enough for one of the buyers to wipe away a tear...
and make the others concentrate hard during the hectic bidding...
before the draggers move quickly in to take the stacks away...
sporting a fresh new summer plumage the last of the remaining turnstones is all set for the off...
the Stella Maris, a tidy little ship...
one half of a pair trawl set...
footrope with heavy rubber discs that replaced the old steel bobbins, combination fishing line and the bound wire of the trawl belly seized to a half a dozen rows of heavy mesh called guard meshes...
work underway on another recruit to the port...
first time visitor for the port, the Unity a newly registered twin-rig prawn trawler from Kilkeel in Ireland...
if her profile and bow look unusual that is because she was built...
in Norway as the Kirstine Vendelbo...
based in Hanstholm...
she takes her fish aboard on the starboard side through a hopper under the shelterdeck...
from two sets of twin-rig trawls on her stern...
at 850 tons it's no surprise that she draws nearly 4m up for'ard...
many of the big pots boats work two fisheries - whelks and crab...
rush-hour in the lorry park this morning.
