Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 530 i Sea Angler

AS THE SPRING DAYS GROW longer and the temperature begins to climb, many anglers consider this to be the arrival of the new sea angling season, and there is no finer fish to symbolise this time of change than the decorative plaice. The dull shades of a grey winter become a faded memory as this brightly-spotted flatfish emerges from the clear shallows, shimmering in the warming sunlight on twinkling wet shingle. The beauty, and almost innocent appearance, of this fine-looking flatfish is a sight to admire, and it’s little wonder that this species becomes a catalyst for anglers dusting down their tackle and heading for the shingle. There is, without doubt, no finer venue than Dorset’s Chesil Beach to chance your arm at this time of year, with the western…

CLEARLY, THE THING THAT ANYONE wanting to take up lure fishing for bass will need is some gear. I guess that, these days, anglers check magazine advertisements, the Internet and/or various tackle catalogues. If we forget so-called bass rods, which are really light (100g-plus) beachcasters, a quick scan of the online shops shows me numerous spinning rods ranging from 7-10ft in length and casting weights from about 5g up to between 25-60g (1.5-2oz). The prices of such weapons can be anywhere from about £35 to £500 or more and you pay based on the depth of your pocket. Now, I wouldn’t say that you don’t get what you pay for, but the truth is that whichever rod you select probably won’t make a hell of a lot of difference to…

“It was a fantastic two days of fishing and the weather was good” AS WITH ALL FISHING, IT IS essential to get the right conditions. Planning trips two months in advance is fine, but for it all to come together you need luck on your side. The presence of fish and, more importantly, if they will feed, is dictated by tides and wind direction. Fish appear on a certain tide and, indeed, the right part of that tide. They may only be feeding for an hour over high water, or just after as the tide run eases. With plaice in mind, I’d been watching the forecast all week as the tides started to build, hoping for calm weather or offshore winds. I wanted to get my regular ‘Sea Angler Team’…

SPONSORED BY Sunline, the largest Japanese producer of fishing lines, strives to develop the thinnest and strongest lines. Our winner gets a selection from the range: • Sunline Super PE 150m (4 strand): Hi-vis green, dark green and light blue. Low stretch for sensitivity and extra-tight braiding for durability. Special finish reduces guide friction. Superior control and response when using lures. Very tough when fishing rough ground. Knots are easy to tie. • Sunline Super PE8 150m (8 strand): Hi-vis orange. Resistant to abrasive structures. Sensitive, low-stretch design to capture delicate bites. Slick, smooth line surface for low guide friction and excellent castability. Knots effortlessly. • Sunline Momentum 4x4 150m (8 strand): High-grade polyethylene and high specific gravity ester mono with amazing specific gravity of 1.05. Less susceptible to the…

• BEACH: Tronixpro Centurion Rod, worth £149.99. • LURE: HTO Rockfish Revolution ML 7-28g, HTO Lure Game 3000 reel and HTO Lure Game 20lb Braid, worth a total of £121.97. • BOAT: Tronixpro Envoy Wave reel, Tronixpro seat box, Tronixpo Boatpro rig selection, worth a total of £109.88. HOW TO ASK A QUESTION • Q&A, Sea Angler, Media House, Lynchwood Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA • cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk • www.facebook.com/ seaanglermag…

HISTORY-MAKING TALES OF BIG bluefin tuna caught off Wales in August and September last year amazed British anglers, but who really knows if those stunning fish will be back? For those seeking a guarantee, I can testify that Italy boasts a viable and most cost-effective tuna fishery. Yes, I will admit to being sceptical on the short two-hour flight from the UK out to the Ancona area on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Is it really possible to take a short flight and catch one of the hardest-fighting fish you could ever hope to hook, without breaking the bank, without needing to buy expensive specialist tackle, and, of course, with the added bonus of eating a proper pizza in the evening? Welcome to tuna fishing Italian style, and yes, this…

POOLE HARBOUR IS THE LARGEST natural harbour in Europe, covering 36 square kilometres. For this reason alone you can find some superb fishing in relatively sheltered waters close to home. There is offshore fishing, along with the famous Needles cod grounds a few miles’ steam in the winter, and some fantastic wrecks loaded with pollack and cod. Closer to home there is tremendous ray sport near the Old Harry Rocks, and during the summer months there are numerous sandbanks and reefs that can provide awesome bass fishing. You can fish lures or livebaits for the bass, and when they’re feeding it’s not uncommon to catch 30 or more decent fish in a day. Poole boats have produced some great sport with spurdogs in recent years, with many fish weighing more…

INVARIABLY THESE DAYS, THE SMALLEST fishing boat will have a GPS unit on board, and even the most basic of these is worth its weight in gold when required to bring you home safely or guide you to a fishing mark. While carrying GPS is a good thing, in no way should any electronic navigational device ever be considered as a replacement for a compass. Many boats are fitted with a GPS that incorporates a chart plotter, which is a massive aid to accurate navigation, but a plotter is never a replacement for carrying a large scale paper chart covering the area you fish. The fact is that while electronics are invaluable when they are working, they are useless if they break down, particularly if you find yourself shrouded in…

CEPOLA RUBESCENS – A BIT OF A mouthful, kind of like tagliatelle, which its elongated, ribbon-like shape vaguely resembles, except that it’s bright-pink with violet-tinged fins. Or, maybe, Cepola macropthalma, depending where you do your research. Let’s just call it Red bandfish, that’s easier. The first time I became aware of this oddity was a couple of years ago when I saw one in a catch report on a kayak fishing forum. I was quite taken by it and remember saying how I would love to catch one. Well, it seems that Plymouth is one of the places to be, as my mates Mark Radcliffe and Martin Collison had proved a fortnight before when they’d headed out with Liam Faisey, who is studying fisheries science there. With Ben Wallis and…

“Made from a hardwearing fabric and fully secured with a tough zip” TRONIXPRO REEL CASE RRP: £5.99 Ideal for storing your favourite fixed-spool reel after a session. Made from a hardwearing fabric and fully secured with a tough zip, it’s also great for transporting to and from venues inside your tackle bag or box. • For your nearest Tronixpro dealer, visit: www.tronixfishing.com PALM GLIDE PFD RRP: £79.95 This is the first ISO-approved inflatable waistbelt PFD. It’s ideal for kayak and boat (or even shore) anglers because it’s extremely slim and fits neatly around the waist. Easy to operate, simply pull the toggle and it inflates to 100 Newtons of buoyancy, and then you secure it over your head. • For more information, contact Palm Equipment International Ltd, tel: 01275 798100.…

BREAKAWAY MINI LINK LURE CLIP (RRP £1.74 FOR PACKET OF 10) BEING VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE clips I use to secure my lures to my leader, I have found the majority are missing something when it comes to working well with the different lures I use. Not only do I want the clip to be strong enough, but also I need it to be as easy to use with the small eyes on a hard lure as it is with the larger weedless hooks. As my use of soft lures grows, I also want enough ‘play’ for a single weedless hook to move naturally, and I don’t want lures to unclip while I’m fishing. I have used the 35lb size Delalande Agrafe Rapide for years without hassle, but it can…

• Yellowtail lug and a chunk of Bluey accounted for this 14lb cod in a personal best bag of nearly 30lb for Callan Stevens, of Whitley Bay, Northumberland. Callan, who runs Ollie’s Bait and Tackle in Whitley Bay, was fishing an ebb tide on February 23 at Newbiggin. • Dave Grantham, from Sidlesham, West Sussex, caught this 7lb plaice on March 23. He was fishing from a private boat out of Littlehampton, West Sussex. The fish took a black lug and squid bait. • Matthew Wilcox, from The Rhondda, shows off a personal best 14lb 14oz 8dr blonde ray caught on a sandeel at Ogmore.…

A popular free angling event for junior anglers will be staged again at Eastbourne, Sussex, on May 1. The 5th Fish 4 Kidz Open is a catch-and-release event for children aged five to 16. Fished between noon and 2.30pm, anglers must book in at 10.30am at Eastbourne AA and a responsible adult must accompany all children. There is a maximum 80 entries, with bookings required by April 24 at Anglers Den (01323 460441) or Tony’s Tackle (01323 731388). Enquires to Anglers Den or email Steve Frost: nomadsec@hotmail.co.uk…

APRIL • 9: Ardrossan SAC open, Corran (Ardgour), 11am-5pm, meet 10am at ferry terminal, 20cm minimum size limit, £15 entry, Stuart Miller 07868 732891 or mrstuartmiller@aol.com • 10: Bognor Regis AAS open, Pagham beach, 10.30am-3.30pm, draw 9.30am at Pagham Yacht Club, PO21 4SY, £8 seniors, £4 OAP/ juniors, £1 flatfish pool, £1 round fish pool, John Small 07799 762377 (after 5pm). • 10: Breakaway Teams of Five & open, Dunwich, 10am-3pm, Rob Tuck 07855 848967. • 10: West Bay SAC 44th Chesil Championships, Burton Hive to Dragon’s Teeth, Abbotsbury, 11am-5pm, sign on 9.30am-11am at Bridport Football Club, DT6 5LA, £10 seniors, £5 juniors, West Bay Angling Centre 01308 421800. • 10: Gravesend spring open, 1.30pm-5.30pm, book in from 11.30am at Ship & Lobster pub, £10 entry, £5 juniors & OAPs,…

NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING bass fishing for recreational anglers and commercial fishermen right across the Eurozone caused an outcry of disgust from the angling community. There would appear to be a widespread distrust of the fisheries scientists and a dismissal of what they are saying. Allow me to present my own thoughts on the ban and the state of EU fisheries as both an angler and a freshwater/marine biologist. We should all know the rules – anglers cannot retain bass before July 1, and after that date a bag limit of one fish applies recreationally, while commercial vessels are restricted to the amount of fish they can land per month. All of this was advised by fisheries scientists, which has led to much ire from anglers. Why did scientists have to…

BEING FRUSTRATING AND, AT times, seemingly impossible to catch are probably the main reasons why thick-lipped mullet have never been one of my real passions. However, my verdict changed after a trip to Ireland. This radical change of heart took place on the upper reaches of the estuary at Rosscarbery, County Cork, when I teamed up with Mike Hennessy from Ireland’s Inland Fisheries agency, and Martin McGowan, the founder of the Ullcatch bait system. Located in the shadows of the Celtic Ross Hotel, this is a seemingly unique part of the estuary. There is a fair rise and fall of tide throughout most of the water but, due to a bar that has built up over the years, it only drops a couple of feet in these higher reaches, forming…

“A venue that has something to offer all anglers” AT THREE MILES LONG, THE large expanse of Aberavon beach could be described as the perfect angling venue. A user-friendly favourite due to easy access, it produces fish for anglers of all abilities, so the surprise is that it’s not even more popular. Located in the north-east corner of Swansea Bay, sandwiched between the mouths of the River Neath and the River Afon, Aberavon beach is a venue that has something to offer all anglers whether they are experienced shore rods or beginners, match anglers or specimen hunters. Aside from very good fishing, the fact that access to the beach, near Port Talbot, is very easy, safe car parking is available right alongside the beach, and that you can catch fish…

“It seems that our catch rates go up when we put rattles into the lures” I WILL NEVER FORGET WATCHING AN angler catch three good bass in consecutive casts right in front of me a few years back. The fact that he was using a strange-looking soft plastic lure on a jig head completely dumbfounded me. I had fished various plastics for pollack over the years, but he was using a more specialist approach to bass fishing from the shore. He was fishing with the MegaBass XLayer, which soon became a staple part of my own lure fishing soon after that – especially after watching another angler land an 11-pounder on his first-ever cast in Ireland on one. I reckon a big part of this lure’s appeal is the little…

Bass eat almost anything that swims. Fish, squid, prawns, shrimps, squat lobsters, crabs, worms and a wide variety of offal and rubbish. Add to this the fact that it is pure speculation what any particular lure may actually look like to the fish, and the selection of a suitable artificial becomes almost random. It is probably not worth going in for exact imitation. So how can you select a suitable item to attach to your line? SNAG-FREE SEABED It is easy if you are fishing over clean ground because you could safely use almost anything. In these situations, the bottom is likely to be sandy, so the bass are often, but not always, going to be small, and the food items that they are searching for will most probably be…

Sea angling is what makes us buzz, so it seemed sensible to put all our expertise and knowledge in this sea angling book that not only inspires you to fish, but also shows you how to do it at the same time. With 30 chapters to read, there is a lot of expertise, excitement and knowledge ahead. The 148-page information-packed book is divided into three clear areas – catching seasonal shore species, expert advice on how to fish from classic shore marks and, finally, top tips on how to catch from a boat. To explain how rigs are built and work in the water, our artist David Batten has drawn a stunning series of graphics that show clearly what happens to the baited traces and lures underwater. Scattered throughout the…

IF YOU GET SERIOUS ABOUT TAKING UP BOAT fishing, the first thing you’ll want to buy is your own rod and reel. Choosing tackle is not easy, but it can be narrowed down by deciding what type of fishing you think you will be doing on a regular basis. If you intend going out on a charter boat, ask what species you will be fishing for and how much lead weight you will be using. These two considerations help determine the tackle needed. The staff at your local tackle dealer probably know as much about fishing as anyone, so talk to them; most will be thrilled to bring you up to speed with what’s being caught and what tackle is used locally. FIXED-SPOOL REELS The two main types of reel…

“The average size of plaice caught at most locations around the British Isles is from 1-3lb” A WIDESPREAD SPECIES OF flatfish found throughout Northern Europe, the plaice (Pleuronectes plates) is a hugely popular species with anglers. Plaice are typically brown skinned, with their back covered in bright orange or red spots. Flounders, which can also have reddish spots, are occasionally misidentified as plaice, but lack the distinct bony ridge behind the eyes that are a key identification feature of plaice. Like so many other commercially fished species in many areas, stocks of plaice are now classified as being overfished. SPECIES Nobody could claim that plaice are a hard-fighting species of fish, but when caught on light and sporting tackle, they can give a fairly reasonable account of themselves. The average…

WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE nation’s favourite charter skippers. Each issue we will throw the spotlight on a top boatman nominated by a Sea Angler reader. Use the form right (photocopies acceptable) to tell us the skipper’s name, boat, port and typical charges, along with the reasons you would recommend their services (use a separate piece of paper if you require more space). It’s your chance to tell Sea Angler’s readers why the skipper is so good and what a great service is provided. We’ll select the best entry for each issue and will award the winning operator with a special Sea Angler plaque that the skipper can display with pride on their vessel. Alternatively, enter by email, with the subject line Top Skipper, with the details listed on the coupon…

“It gave a good account of itself and looked about 6lb” HOLYHEAD IS MOST NOTED FOR its breakwater, as a ferry port and, until recently, the production of aluminium and the refining of bauxite. However, it can also offer smoothhound fishing that is, arguably, second to none. There are recorded catches of 40 hounds or more a day, and a steady stream of fish weighing more than 20lb. Surprisingly few anglers seem aware of this secret smoothhound nirvana. The first of these mini sharks can show in late April and run right through into early September, though the peak time is late May, June and July, with August still very good. To test the potential, I had arranged a two-day trip with Gethyn Owen, who runs his 32ft Aquastar, My…

KAYAK FISHING ISN’T FOR EVERYONE and, as my friends and work colleagues often tell me, I must be mad to venture out to sea on a “piece of driftwood”. They are even more surprised that I do it in the depths of a Scottish winter. For me, there is nothing better than heading to some of Scotland’s most scenic areas to catch a wide variety of fish. I live on the east coast of Scotland near some of the best cod fishing in the UK, and this is where I do most of my fishing, but the weather often puts a stop to that as the sea doesn’t tend to settle enough between the breaks in easterly winds. With this in mind, my best option is to head to one…

OVERSEAS THEY’RE LABELLED surf rods, but over here we refer to them as Continentals. So what’s the deal? The UK marketplace is rapidly filling with these three-piece, delicate outfits and choosing one is becoming a nightmare for shore anglers. Although our European counterparts use them to great effect, many British sea anglers may not be buying them for the right reasons. Ask yourself what exactly are you getting into? Are your needs such that a light and tippy three-piece beach rod will fulfil your requirements? What exactly are you planning to get out of this type of rod? For many, simply seeing a pegged match on a local beach is enough. Watching experienced match anglers launching long rigs armed with tiny hooks and specialist baits out of sight with a…

A 94lb cod caught from the far north of Norway is thought to be the biggest ever taken by a UK angler. The massive fish, initially believed to be 96lb on the boat was later recorded at 94lb by travel company Sportquest ( www.sportquestholidays.com ) , of Norwich, which runs the adventures to the venue close to the Arctic Ocean. It was caught on March 22 by Liverpool angler Bert Williams in the Soroya area, where the peak time for huge cod is March and April. Bert had already bagged fish to 50lb and added another of 62lb before the massive specimen took his 730g Westin Big Bob Blue Glamour lure.…

• Matthew Pean, 11, from Saltash, Cornwall, worked a 28g Dexter Wedge lure to tempt this garfish. He was fishing a nearby shore mark at Rame Head. • Samuel Buck from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne joined his dad for a shore session on the Northumberland coast. Using a chunk of mackerel on a single hook flapper rig, the five-year-old caught this 2lb 6oz turbot to round off a super day. • While she was fishing the River Yealm in Plymouth, Devon, six-year-old Evie Gallagher, from nearby Hooe, caught this 1lb 12oz flounder. Evie used lugworms tipped with rag on a running leger rig. • Sunderland, Tyne and Wear lad Rhys Liddle fished in the bunker on his local Roker pier to bag this cod weighing 7lb 15oz. The 15-year-old presented yellowtail lug on…

PENN PLUS ALAN PRICE TACKLE & BAIT OPEN Talacre, Flintshire, 110 anglers This match, celebrating double world champion Alan Price's venture into the tackle business from his new shop at Rhuddlan, attracted anglers from as far afield as Ireland, the Isle of Man, South Wales, the North East and south of England. As a result, the two-day event was quickly filled to capacity with some of the leading anglers from the British Isles. The winner was Gavin Owen, of Consett, with 1896cm and three zone points, with runner-up Andrew Dugdale, Isle of Man, on 1447cm and four points. Early casts recorded double and treble shots and set the standard for the two days. Joe Byrne, from Ireland, recorded 51 fish on the first day, a good return for early March.…

EAST LANE IS A MARK LOCATED JUST outside the town of Bawdsey on the Suffolk coast. Whether you choose to fish the rocky ground off the old gun emplacements, the clay beds towards the mouth of the River Deben, or the banks at Shingle Street, there is a mark here for all anglers, from beginners to the more experienced. Cod are the primary target during the winter, with thornback rays, bass and smoothhounds in the spring and summer. Rough weather has taken its toll on the coastline, and this stretch has new sea defences to slow the advance of erosion. THE OLD BATTLEMENTS The old battlements are located just in front of the car park. Many years ago, you were able to get down on to the beach here, and…

You need Mend-It (try Veals Mail Order) or a similar soft plastic glue, some 4mm glass rattles ( www.basslures.co.uk ), 5in white senko, 5/0 Lunker City Texposer weedless hook, knife and drill bit that is roughly the same diameter as the rattle. About an inch or so in from the end of the soft plastic lure’s tail, cut that section off the lure. Yes, you read that correctly – cut a section off the soft plastic lure on which you have spent your hard-earned cash. Don’t discard either of the two pieces. This is what your lure should now look like after you have cut off that bit of tail section. Now it’s ready to start the very simple task of inserting a glass rattle into the lure,…

It has been a long hard winter, but now it’s time to gear up and catch the influx of spring species. Warmer weather and more daylight means I can fish longer and harder, which equates to more fish in my net. At this time of year those trying light rock fishing start to catch some decent fish. This may be due to the baitfish being smaller and easier to imitate with LRF lures, or simply because the fish are keen to pack on the pounds after breeding. My top targets in spring are flatfish, pollack and scorpion fish. Here’s how I go about catching them. FLOUNDERS My predominant species in April has to be the flounder. Sight fishing for these flatfish in spring is an exciting style of fishing, particularly…

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE I read with interest John Tisdale’s article (Bass ban 2016, issue 528) and agree with many of his observations and sentiments. Recreational anglers, specifically those who target bass, face an uncertain future. A future, which, though dramatically influenced by non-anglers, does force us to question our own actions as sporting fishermen, hopefully, with responsible attitudes towards conservation. I suspect it has now become clear where conservation is leading. The introduction of minimum size limits is felt by most to be a positive move. However, there has not, as yet, been any move towards a maximum limit. Such a maximum limit would secure a mature breeding stock with great spawning potential and ensure that the sporting angler has a real chance of a fish of a lifetime. I…

ADAM KIRBY & DAN SISSONS The Portsmouth-based duo fish ultra-light from shore and boat. They’ll provide answers on light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic where size of fish is secondary to the fun of catching them. PAUL FENECH Sea Angler’s features and tackle editor Paul Fenech is here to solve your shore angling problems. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. GARY ROBINSON Galway-based Gary gets a thrill from fishing afloat on a kayak. Send him your kayaking problems. HENRY GILBEY Angler and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, will answer questions on lure angling. Q: I fish mostly into deep water and rough ground filled with kelp. I know there is lots of cod there, even in the summer, and wondered…

Have you ever attempted to mount a soft or delicate bait on the hook only to end up with a mushy mess hanging from it? The Bait Loader tool may just be the answer to your problem. This unique and rather simple item is ideal for loading the likes of frozen black lug and soft fish baits such as Bluey. Other baits like mussels and peeler crabs will be a doddle to fix to the hook. It’s extremely easy to use and enables you to bait up rigs in a matter of seconds. Bait presentation is the key to success and the Bait Loader will help you fill your hook perfectly, every single time. Loading a frozen black lug Make sure frozen baits are thoroughly defrosted first. Take a single…

“It could so easily have been called slow-throw jigging” HOPEFULLY, YOU NOW UNDERSTAND that slow means…well, slow. Jigging we understand, but what does the word ‘pitch’ mean in a slow-pitch jigging context? It’s nothing to do with football or sound, but a gentle throw. That, I think, is what slow-pitch jigging is all about, but it could so easily have been called slow-throw jigging. Rods built for this type of fishing must impart movement to the jig and are graded for, say, jig weights between 80-120g, or maybe 150-200g. When using the right weight of jig on the correct rod, the angler moves the rod from its tip pointing down to a horizontal position so it bends. In straightening the tip, the jig is lifted through the water, and it…

WITH SPRING UPON US ONCE again, the time is rapidly approaching to concentrate our thoughts on the rays. Of all the species available around the coasts of the British Isles, the thornback is probably the most widespread. In my part of the world, on the south-west coast, the good old thorny can be found virtually anywhere from shallow inshore mudflats, to deep-water and offshore gullies, often making good an otherwise moderate fishing day. There are tales of bygone days when local longliners would reputedly take large numbers of these fish, with individual specimens reaching well over 30lb in weight. Whether this is fact or exaggeration, we’ll never know. An explanation to authenticate the validity of these seemingly outrageous size claims could be that the fish our predecessors were catching were,…

“With its speed, robustness and economy, this model has a huge number of customisable equipment choices” DURING A TRIP TO PORTUGAL I stumbled upon this superb boat, the Levant 880, a 28ft beauty that comes in various guises with a wealth of uses here in the UK. The various 880 options feature the same V hull, designed for cutting through waves and giving a smooth ride for less power. It is laminated with woven glass and isophthalic resin, with a thickness of 25mm in the keel, 15mm deep and 9mm on the side. Internal structure comes from a one-piece mould, which is attached to the helmet with flexible structural adhesive. This gives unrivalled robustness and strength, yet allows a small degree of flex that absorbs the energy and vibrations transmitted…

THE Z-MAN LURE BRAND HAS gained a following with the UK lure fraternity in recent years due to its serious pedigree across the world and, in particular, on the US pro-circuit. A near 40-strong soft plastic range from 50mm to 250mm, in a wide choice of colours, ensures something for everyone, and includes the now famous Ned rig among others. With a full range available to UK lure anglers, I have been taking a look at the ingredients that set Z-Man apart on the US tournament fishing scene. These can certainly give UK anglers the edge. Toughness may not be an attribute that initially equates to more fish caught, but the theory is clear – the longer your lure stays rigged correctly, the more fishing time that you have. Valuable…

TRONIXPRO’S Medusa MT beach rod is that good, England international shore angler Saul Page has even put his name on it. The Kent matchman, who used it to fish his way to an individual bronze medal at last year’s FIPS World Shore Championships, held on the Algarve, Portugal, rates it highly. The three-piece outfit is 15ft (4.5m) long and lined with quality Fuji ‘K’ guides as well as a Fuji DPS reel seat. It comes supplied with three separate carbon push-in tip sections rated light, medium and heavy. There are also three glass tip sections rated the same and available at £19.99 each, but we are throwing these into the prize package too along with a Medusa MT baseball cap, all courtesy of tackle giant Tronix Fishing, which is also…

FLORIDA WINNERS Winners of our fishing trip of a lifetime to Florida competition are Peter Thornley, of Fulwood, Lancs, and Peter Reeves, of Orpington, Kent. They will compete in the 5th ‘Ding’ Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament in May. • A 22lb 5oz spurdog was caught on February 25 by an angler uptiding a whole squid over the Goodwin Sands. The angler, named only as Thomas from Dagenham, was aboard Roger Lennon’s Skerry Belle, out of Ramsgate. • This 21lb 8oz spurdog was caught by Ian Webb while fishing aboard Silver Spray II, skippered by Sam Cumming, out of Poole, Dorset. The same boat has also produced a 24lb 4oz spur. • Declan Petryna, of Cardiff, caught and released a 7lb 8oz bass at Cardiff Bay barrage on March…

• Fishing the banks out of Weymouth, Dorset, produced this personal best 26lb blonde ray for Chris Reekes. The angler from South Petherton, Somerset, was fishing aboard Jeff Clarke’s charter boat Duchess, out of Weymouth. • Daniel Wells, of Hythe, Southampton, caught what could have been a British record spurdog, weighing in at 26lb 4oz. He was fishing aboard Arthur Savage’s Private Venture from Lymington, Hants. The fish was caught on a mackerel fillet at a bank behind the back of the Needles, Isle of Wight. It was landed on February 16, and later released. • A candy red Sidewinder was the successful lure when Gavin Tyte caught this superb 20lb 2oz pollack. The Lyme Regis SAC member was offshore wrecking on March 6 aboard Dan Clarke’s Fins-Up, out of…

A longest cast of 254.14 metres put Jason Carter in top spot at the tournament season’s first UKSF Grand Prix. In the event held at Huntingdon racecourse, Cambs, on March 20, he made the winning cast with a 150g lead weight. Competing against 30 other casters, Jason also hit 249.22 metres to top the 125g weight category, but was second in the 175g behind Danny Moeskops, who hit 246.30m. Second overall was Martin Osbourne with 248.72m with a 125g weight. Owan Moyle was third with 248.58m with a 150g weight. Brian Kinnair increased his 100g record by more than five metres to 225.20m.…

FANCY winning tackle from Shimano by catching a fish? Your target is to catch one over the weight given on our nominated species list. If you do, you automatically win a Mission Accomplished badge, as well as being in with the chance of winning a great monthly tackle prize. Each month we award a Shimano Nexave Surf 400 five-piece rod and a Speecast XS-B fixed-spool reel, worth a total of £300, to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each month, chosen on merit, gets a Beastmaster AX Boat Slim rod and a Tyrnos 20 multiplier reel, worth a total of £320. Mark Duncan, Scalloway, Shetland. Fish: 46lb 8oz ling. Bait: Muppet baited with ling. Venue: Mareel (Owen Strachan), Muckle Flugga, Shetland. Date:…

The event offers £2,500 worth of Penn tackle, with individual and team prizes. Only 20 competition results count for the Clubman season (May 1, 2015 until March 31, 2016) and all your club events fished count against all members’ scores. Only three results can be entered or count per month. Matches must have a minimum of 10 competitors. Bonus points are awarded for larger entry events. • To enter, send in your club results by email. Please include an address and telephone number with the email address for the club captain or the match organiser. For information, a copy of the rules or to send Clubman results, contact: cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk BASS ROCK SAC Seacliff, 12 anglers, 17/2/16 Steve Burns had an exceptional night and handed in the club’s biggest ever scorecard…

BEACH FISHING’S POPULARITY rises and falls over the years, and interest in casting follows suit. At the beginning of the cycle, anglers cannot get enough of it. New rods and reels come along, all with the emphasis on better distances. Tournament casting is the spin-off, first little more than enthusiastic fishermen going into a field to see how far they can throw. Standards rise, champions appear and events go international. Distances go up and up for a while, and then stagnate as men and equipment reach their limits. By then, though, the mass of anglers has lost interest. They see no worthwhile connection between field and beach. Sometimes they lose interest in fishing as well. The first big cycle began around 1875 and ended by 1930. Sea fishing was a…

WHILE ON A FISHING HOLIDAY in Ireland a couple of years ago, it became obvious that bass anglers over there set great store by the effect of the phases of the moon on their fishing. This encouraged me to look into it further. For most anglers it’s a question of making the most of limited opportunities, so we try to stack the odds in our favour. I bet most pick spring tides when planning a trip, as these are perceived as the best times to fish. I used to think this was because of greater water movement on spring tides. While this is true for any given mark, this can vary considerably from one part of the country to another, depending on the tidal range for that area. Yet we…