h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have been asked to write a short 300 word article for publishing in a new on line kayak fishing magazine . The article is to be accompanied with photographs and video , also to be supplied by me .
Any comments or constructive criticism would be greatfully recieved .

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Kayak fishing is not always golden sandy beaches and clear sparkling seas , sometimes it's murky mud filled estuaries , factories and abandoned wharves as a backdrop . There are advanteges to such places , they can be quiet and lightly fished , plus they can also hold a few suprises . The river Medway becomes tidal after Allington lock just below Maidstone . But this is not the end of the course fishing , for several miles down stream it is still possible to catch roach , dace , bream , pike and carp .
The course fish are often found near freshwater outfalls . Severall small spring fed streams enter the upper estuary , along with the outpourings from 2 paper mills and a sewage treatment works . It is in these areas I have concentrated my efforts . Most trips I have targeted the carp , using large cage feeders filled with method mix and large bright orange , tutti-fuitti boilies as hook bait .
It was soon after dawn one summers morning , that I caught my first Esturine carp . It was low water and some hard ground had become exposed at the edge of the river . So I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and answer the call of nature . Sitting on the edge of my yak drinking a coffee , I was shaken from my reverie by a my baitrunner reel bursting into life . Putting the reel into gear I bent into the fish . It stayed hard on the bottom and doggedly refused to come up . It went on a few powerfull runs and fought quite hard . Eventually it began to tire and and once its head was up , I eased it into my landing net . I let out a whoop of joy and did a little jig . There was no one to see me , just a seagull or two or a passing heron .
I had no scales with me but I would guess it weighed 12 lb or so . A bit of a snub nosed brute of a thing , but it lived in a tough place and I thought it was beautiful . I took a quick photo and then eased it back into its watery home . I paddled back to my launch point with a big grin on my face that day . I have yet to catch my second estuary carp , but I keep trying .

Tod,
Here's my take on your article. I've addressed SPAG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar), with a few questions about the content and structure. ADDITIONS are marked with (parentheses), DELETIONS with [brackets], COMMENTS are in {braces}. Feel free to use or discard any of my suggestions.
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Kayak fishing is not always golden sandy beaches and clear sparkling seas[ ,](; ) sometimes(,) it's murky mud(-)filled estuaries[ ], {Since you've made it a point to give space between words and punctuation, I suspect you wanted us to verify their "correctness", by setting them apart as you did. I expect you'll "close the gap" in the real document.} factories(,) and abandoned wharves as a backdrop[ ]. There are advanteges to such places[ ,](; ) they can be quiet and lightly fished[ ], plus they can also hold a few suprises[ ]. {I won't mark the rest of the gaps. You'll take care of them in the Final Copy.} The river Medway becomes tidal after Allington lock just below Maidstone . But this is not the end of the course fishing , for several miles down[ ]stream it is still possible to catch roach{loach?} , dace , bream , pike(,) and carp . {It's still preferred to insert a final comma in a list of items, just before the word 'and'.}

The course fish are often found near freshwater outfalls . Several[l] small spring(-)fed streams enter the upper estuary , along with the out(-)pourings from [2](two){spell it out} paper mills and a sewage treatment works . It is in these areas I have concentrated my efforts . Most trips I have targeted the carp , using large cage feeders filled with method mix and large(,) bright(,) orange , tutti-fuitti boilies as hook bait .

It was soon after dawn one summer(')s morning[ ,] that I caught my first Esturine carp . It was low water and some hard ground [had become](was){Try to minimize Passive Voice wherever possible.} exposed at the edge of the river . So I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and answer the call of nature . Sitting on the edge of my (ka)yak drinking a coffee , I was shaken from my reverie by [a ]my baitrunner reel bursting into life . Putting the reel into gear(,) I bent into the fish . It stayed hard on the bottom and doggedly refused to come up . It went on a few powerful[l] runs and fought [quite] hard{Add more description of the struggle; flesh it out; make it LIVE!} . Eventually it began to tire and and(,) once its head was up , I eased it into my landing net . I let out a whoop of joy and did a little jig . There was no one to see me , just a seagull or two [or](and) a passing heron . {No one was there to witness the event, so you can embellish by stating it as fact. Just don't lie.}
I had no scales with me(,) but I would guess it weighed [12 lb](twelve pounds) or so .{Spell it out, unless the magazine you're writing for normally edits such statistics as numerical data.} A bit of a snub(-)nosed brute of a thing , but it lived in a tough place(; ) and I thought it was beautiful . I took a quick photo and then eased it back into its watery home . I paddled back to my launch point with a big grin on my face that day . I have yet to catch my second estuary carp , but I keep trying .
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Well done. It gives a little "slice of life" view of your exploits while kayak fishing. Be sure to state you'll only recount a single incident that happened to you, early in the text. If you intended to do a more thorough treatment of estuary kayak fishing, it would require listing many more variables, gear one should have available, conditions to prepare for, and a 'laundry list' of tackle and gear needed for success. Thanks for sharing the vignette, and thanks for enlisting our aid in editorial suggestions. Now it's up to you to hone it into shape! Happy writing!

B4ibecomeyetsomeoneelsesgalleyslave

B4, thanks for giving it a go over , I will no doubt employ much of what you have noted . I will put up a link if and when the article comes out .

That'll be a pleasure to see, Tod. Looking forward to it.
Bless,
TJW

B4youbecomeafamousjournalist&ihave2comeroundbegging4afreebeer