Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 546 i Sea Angler

WELL, IT HAS SEEMED A LONG time coming, but, finally, anglers have reached the point when they can take a bass home to eat. Yes, from July 1 to December 31, you are legally entitled to keep one bass in every 24 hours, providing it is above the 42cm minimum size. For some this is a mixed blessing. Many anglers want the opportunity to catch and keep bass all the time, and don’t agree with the six-month catch-and-release period from January 1 to June 30. Others believe in catch and release as a method of preserving fish to breed and create sport for future anglers. Where you stand on the matter is your choice, but it is unfair to criticise anyone who keeps a bass when it is legal to…

WITH A WEEKEND FREE AND fishing pass received for both days, a plan was put together to visit a mark with a wide selection of baits to target multiple species of fish. The weather and tide were perfect, bait obtained (1lb of rag, squid, Bluey and peeler crabs) and my spirits sky high. I pottered down to the mark for five or six hours of exciting fishing, with the possibility of catching soles, bass or big thornbacks all running through my head. Just past the fourth hour, I had my first and only bite, which resulted in a bass of about 4in long. Soon afterwards, I packed up and headed home to Woodbridge with my tail between my legs. After checking out how much bait was left, in particular the…

WITH THE GRAPEVINE buzzing with news of small-eyed rays putting in a daytime appearance at a mark in the west of Dorset, I suddenly had an irresistible urge to get a slice of the action. A few phone calls later and a trip was rapidly arranged for me to join Paul Munday, Ian Hooper and Kyle Blackmore at Seatown, situated midway between West Bay and Lyme Regis along Dorset’s western flank. Bubbling with enthusiasm due to thoughts of a bagging session, the road trip to Seatown passed in a flash. However, dark storm clouds gathering in the west, as I pulled up at the same time as Paul during the mid-afternoon, did dampen my spirits just a tad. Ian and Kyle, who are from Bideford, Devon, had arrived earlier and…

GETTING THERE • To get to Llangennith beach, exit the M4 at Junction 47 and follow the signs for Gower, and then the A4295 North Gower road, turning right towards Llangennith at the petrol station. At Llangennith, follow the signs for the Hill End campsite beach car park. There is a fee to park here.Fish can be caught all along the beach. Hotspots include in front of the stream near Burry Holmes and the White House further south. TACKLE SHOPS • Country Stores, 3a Church St, Gowerton SA4 3EA, tel: 01792 875050. • Mainwarings Angling Centre, 44 Vivian Rd, Swansea SA2 0UH, tel: 01792 202245.…

SUMMER is, without doubt, my favourite time of year. The air is warmer, evenings are lighter and, more importantly, the sea temperature is creeping up. Not only is it rewarding to ditch the winter thermals for shorts and a t-shirt, it also brings a wealth of visiting species. It’s the fish, such as those vicious little bream, acrobatic garfish and the fast-swimming smoothhounds, that really make it special for me. This influx of different species does come with one major drawback – the need for new rigs. As you might have guessed, I am not a fan of tying rigs; it’s a chore for me, but there are many who actually enjoy the task. These summer species generally require different rigs to winter fish. Forget smoothhounds and rays for a…

POOR line release troubles thousands of casters, who assume that they must be letting go at the wrong moment, but what seems to be bad timing is actually the sinker escaping all by itself, which is a very different matter. Accurate release is a natural reaction when we throw a stone. It happens cleanly and precisely on cue with no need to think about it. Try deliberately controlling how and when your fingers let go, though. It’s frustrating and just about impossible, but when you relax and go with the flow… perfect. Casting is the same. Although the occasional late release can happen to anyone for no apparent reason, regular early escape is a thousand times more common. Cold, wet fingers or casting a fixed spool without finger protection can…

CATCHING A SHARK FROM A KAYAK in British waters is probably the ultimate experience that any hardcore kayak angler can hope to achieve. It was a feat achieved by Mike Burnett and Greg Bowes and featured last year in Sea Angler. Having succeeded in some style with blue sharks, they were keen for their next challenge, which, after some deliberation, they decided would be qualifying for membership of the British Conger Club while fishing from a kayak. In order to qualify while fishing afloat, it is necessary to catch a conger of more than 30lb from open ground or a reef, or one weighing better than 40lb from a wreck. The fast-flowing Bristol Channel has a good head of sizeable eels, including fish that meet these requirements, and neither Mike…

IN RECENT YEARS, PANAMA HAS BECOME one of the most popular long-haul sport fishing destinations for British anglers, which is hardly surprising as this beautiful Central American country really can boast some of the finest sport fishing you’ll find anywhere in the world. There is excellent fishing available off both the Pacific and Caribbean coast of Panama, and here we are going to look at what’s on offer off the country’s Pacific coast. With a relatively small landmass consisting of just over 30,000 square miles, much of which is covered in dense jungle, Panama has long been a popular destination for American big-game anglers. In recent years, the huge increase in interest in popping and jigging among travelling anglers has seen many visiting sport fishermen focus on the inshore fishing,…

“Rough-ground cod anglers will love it and benefit when battling snags and weed” GREYS GR100S BEACH ROD RRP: £269.99 THIS TWO-PIECE, EQUAL - SECTION shore rod has a total length of 13ft 9in (another is available in 13ft 4in, with a rating of 4-6oz) when assembled. Rated to cast loads between 5-7oz, it weighs just 800g, but packs an immense amount of power. It’s beautifully finished and lined with lightweight Fuji guides that have been impeccably fixed into position with black whipping. Along the butt section, Japanese shrink-wrap offers a super grip, and you’ll find an adjustable sliding reel seat added for fixing your preferred reel into position. When I used to do much of my shore fishing up in the North East, I noticed that a lot of anglers…

• NAME: STEVE BROOKES • Age: 34 • Address: Boldon, Tyne & Wear • HOW LONG SEA FISHING: As long as I can remember, around 30 years. • FAVOURITE TYPE OF SEA FISHING: All of it, but especially lures and LRF. SONIK SKS BLACK SHORE ROD RRP FROM £89.99 I own both the 13ft 4-6oz (£89.99) and 14ft 5-7oz (£99.99), two-piece rods. They are reasonably thin, light blanks with quite a bit of backbone. Check out Sonik’s marketing blurb and you’ll see these rods touted as bringing the world of top-end surf rods to a whole new accessible level. Sonik says the rods feature upgraded, more powerful, yet lighter blanks compared to its SKS predecessor, and the powerful, carbon fibre blanks offer a smooth action to suit every casting ability.…

A recent session on Sandown pier on the Isle of Wight saw local angler Harleigh Abbott bag this fine plaice. The 13-year-old used ragworms mounted to a Pennell-pulley rig to tempt the 3lb 6oz flattie. • Leon King, aged 10, caught his first ever pollack during a trip aboard Haven Boat Charters, skippered by Dave Hancock, who operates out of Milford Haven, Pembs. Leon, who hails from Loughor, near Swansea, used mackerel feathers to lure the 3lb fish. • A mackerel head mounted to a flowing trace did the trick for Harris James when he boated this cracking 16lb bull huss. The 13-year-old, from Crawley, in West Sussex, was fishing aboard charter vessel Kayleigh L, skippered by Andy Harris out of nearby Littlehampton. • A shore trip to Tenby, in…

JULY • 1: SAMF GB Yorkshire Summer League, Barton viewing area, 10.15am-2.15pm, book on 9am- 9.45am, £15 entry & optional £5 pool, SAMF qualifier, two hooks, measure/weight conversion, 50 pegs, book only, Brett Bartram 07834 559265 • 2: Scottish Match League rnd 3, Abbey Burnfoot beach, Kirkcudbright, 10.30am-3.30pm, meet 8.30am at car park, Scott 07766 000139 or Isaac 07796 322831. • 2: Burnham League & open, 8.30am-12.30pm, draw 7.30am, £45 league entry, £7 match entry, £12 non-league entrants, book only, pegged, three zones, James 07900 651071. • 2: Whitby summer open, 4pm-8pm, weigh in by 8.30pm at The Fleece pub car park, James 07773 702111. • 8: Veals League & open, Littleton, 6pm-10pm, draw 5pm, pegged, one rod, three hooks, no white rag or maddies, £50 league (best six matches),…

WHEN IT COMES TO FLOAT - fishing in the sea, there are few anglers who can list many advantages over other angling techniques. It is commonly used for catching mullet or mackerel, but what about, for example, bass or black bream? From my experience of coarse fishing, I know that without a decent amount of quality feed, you can’t attract and keep the fish in your swim. I decided to experiment in the sea and discovered I could make a feeding technique work. Armed with 3kg of cheese-based groundbait, I first went to a pier known for its good population of bass and bream. The problems were obvious. Fishing in a depth of around eight metres, and with a bottom fish in mind, my only possible choice was to use…

GETTING THERE From Woodbridge, take the A1152. At the roundabout, take the second exit on to the B1083. Turn left on to Heath Road until you get to the crossroads at Hollesley. Continue straight over on to Rectory Road, and follow signs for Shingle Street. Park at the beginning of the marsh and follow footpath up the wall alongside the River Ore for approximately 15-20 minutes. TACKLE SHOP Stuart’s Clay Traps Ltd, 3a & 3b Wilford Bridge Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1DG, tel: 01394 385567. Saxmundham Angling Centre, rear of Market Place, Saxmundham IP17 1 AH, tel: 01728 603443.…

GETTING THERE • Very simple to find, it is located midway between Bridport and Charmouth. From the A35, turn off in the village of Chideock to follow the signs for Seatown. A narrow winding lane leads down to the shoreline; there is also a nice pub virtually on the beach. TACKLE SHOPS The Tackle Box, 20 Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JF, tel: 01297 443373. Web: www.lymetackle.com  Facebook: @lymetackle The Tackle Box in Lyme Regis has the most up-to-date info on fishing the ara, due to owner Darren Herbert’s vast experience of fishing regularly both from the shore and boat. With a massive range of saltwater tackle, and the best live and frozen bait to choose from in the area. It is also the home of Lyne Kayak…

• Bass: Summer bass can’t resist the natural dance of the baits that this rig gives in the tide. If you want fun with school bass, bait a blow lug on some 0.25mm line tied to a size 4 wormer. If you are after bigger ones, opt for some thicker 0.30mm line, a size 2 or 1 hook and a bigger bunch of lugworms. • Bream: This species loves worm, fish and squid baits. A ragworm tipped with a piece of squid or fish is a classic. Tie a size 6 or 4 wormer hook on to 0.25mm line with a small pop-up behind to make the baits dance enticingly in the tide. • Garfish: These are fussy feeders. They like a light hooklength, 0.20mm or lighter, with a size…

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: Whenever I prepare to cast my fixed-spool reel, the shockleader spills from the spool. Is there a way I can prevent this from happening? JONATHAN KERR,…

LURE FISHING FOR COD OVER THE many reefs, wrecks and rough ground marks around the UK offers something really special, particularly in summer. While winter fishing can often be a waiting game, warm-weather sport can be action packed. In recent years, UK cod sport during summer and winter has suffered, but there is still some superb lure sport to be had offshore from the English Channel coast, as well as along the north-east coast from ports such as Whitby. There are hundreds of lures available, so I will identify a few that stand out for summer cod fishing. More recently, the Fiiish Black Minnow and HTO Artic Eel have accounted for some fantastic days afloat. The quality and action of these soft-bodied lures, coupled with their articulated head design, has…

“It’s not cheap, but I believe that it’s worth every penny” • NAME: JOE HOWARD • Age: 54 • ADDRESS: St Leonardson-Sea, East Sussex • HOW LONG SEA FISHING? On and off for 40 years. • FAVOURITE TYPE OF SEA FISHING: Beach and lure fishing. SHIMANO TWIN POWER SW-B 4000 XG FIXED-SPOOL REEL RRP £359.99 The T win Power, which I use for my lure fishing, features a Shimano Hagane body and main gear with X-Ship technology, a combination that provides strength and power. X-Shield and X-Protect are used throughout the reel to give water resistance. Its powerful drag is controlled by X-Tough carbon washers for reliable performance. Features include shaded A-RB bearings, single-machined aluminium handle, one-piece bale-arm, rigid support drag, power roller, and Dyna-Balance. It weighs 650g, has a…

SHAKESPEARE’S Agility Surf beachcaster is ideal for both clean and mixed rough ground shore fishing, and comes supplied with a Fisheagle Saracen screw-winch reel fitting. At 14ft, this three-piece outfit can be used with either a fixed-spool or multiplier reel and features a fast-taper action, together with a supple tip for ultimate bite detection. A powerful butt and mid-section means you can achieve long distances with various styles of casting. It would normally cost you £99.99 in the shops, but it can be yours today for just *£40 – that’s a huge saving of £59.99 back in your pocket. Ordering couldn’t be easier, we’ve now created three simple ways (below). Don’t miss out, get yours today! SAVE £59.99! *Plus £6.99 post and packing, UK mainland only. Email for overseas rates…

GIVE ME FLAT CALM CONDITIONS during the day and I look for an estuary and a decent bit of current when seeking bass. Otherwise, I’ll go smash some wrasse on soft plastics. Give me those calm seas and a moonless night, though, and I am bouncing with excitement to seek bass on lures. Well, at least I am these days. That’s because of one single word, confidence, which I happen to think is so important when it comes to chasing bass at night with lures. Wander down to the coastline in the dead of night, whack out a lure, and then catch a few bass. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? It can be, but I would argue that without that all-important confidence to do so, you will find it hard. It’s…

FOR MOST SURF ANGLERS, BASS ARE the main target species and, given the right conditions, surf beaches such as Llangennith, on the Gower Coast, can be very productive for bass, flounders and other species. In recent years, one species – the golden grey mullet – has really become the focus of attention for many anglers fishing here and at several other beaches in the area. This hard-fighting and often prolific species provides tremendous sport when caught on the right tackle, which, when conditions allow, need be little more than a medium spinning rod and 4000 size fixed-spool reel. Perhaps, best of all, catching ‘goldies’ is invariably visual, as you can cast at fish feeding in the shallows right up to the surf line, frequently in water barely deep enough to…

IF THERE IS ONE SPECIES OF FISH I associate with summer, then it has to be wrasse. From the diminutive rockcook, to the brutal fights of big ballans, they provide colourful and exciting fishing. Being rock-dwelling creatures, it’s among boulders and weed where they forage for prey. All of them have teeth designed for smashing crustaceans, but they are capable of hunting out blennies and sandeels. Rock marks, harbour walls and pilings hold wrasse, especially in summer. They can be found lurking among weed fringes, particularly of harbour walls. Look for features in harbours, such as ladders, submerged steps and anything that breaks up the structure of the wall. Harbours hold the smaller wrasse species, but if you are lucky enough to hook a bigger specimen, then being directly above…

THE Palomar is a sturdy and reliable knot, which is easy to tie, and ideal for securing line to hooks or swivels, particularly with braided line and thin monofilament. It is important to avoid twisting the line when tying this knot. HOW TO TIE THE KNOT 1 Double over about 4-6in at the end of your line and slide on the component, such as a swivel or hook. 2 Tie an overhand knot by taking the end over the doubled section and then inside the loop you have created . 3 Pass the end of doubled line over the component, moisten line, and tighten by pulling component (1) and line (2). 4 Trim off the tag end with a pair of sharp scissors. SEA FISHING KNOTS – FROM THE REEL…

Each month we’ll select a winning question from each of our shore/LRF, boat/kayak and lure questions. Three lucky readers will get great gear prizes from sponsors Tronixpro. The sponsors reserve the right to send an alternative prize to an equal value. • BEACH: Guerilla Beach rod and Envoy Tournament Mag reel, worth £140. • LURE: HTO Lure Game rod, Lure Game 4000 reel and Lure Game 16lb braid, worth £123. • BOAT: Guerilla 20lb-class rod, Envoy Wave reel, 20lb Axia line, beaded spreaders, triple spreader, lumo hokkai and multiplier wrap, worth £123. 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…

It’s really encouraging to see young skippers coming up through the ranks. The port of Weymouth has more than its fair share of young guns, so when one of them, Luke Pettis, sent me a message asking if I fancied a day afloat on his new boat Snapper, I was happy to hop aboard. It’s certainly not easy out there at the moment, even for the most seasoned charter skippers, so being a mere 20 years old, Luke has a tough future ahead of him – albeit a bright and exciting one. Luke, like so many of the other younger skippers in the Dorset area, has spent most of his life working at sea from the port. He began crewing for Clem Carter on Wild Frontier when he was 14,…

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE weather is right and the sea smooth, I will take 3 Fishes offshore to hunt some distant bass-filled reefs with lures. Truth be told, most of my bass lure casting is done close to the coast, and for very good reason because casting lures into the hidden reefs and gullies of this stunning coastline is thrilling fishing. Sometimes, when fishing close in is off form, it is right to go offshore and hunt with lures. Approximately 13 nautical miles northeast of my home harbour of New Quay, in west Wales, is a patch of offshore reefs known locally as the Patches. It is a vast area of very shallow reef some six nautical miles offshore. It never dries, and the keel of 3 Fishes is within a…

AKIOS TOURNAMENT AIRSPEED SURF 435 RRP: £329 JUST AS I THOUGHT I WAS RUNNING out of superlatives and adjectives to use when it comes to testing Continental beach rods, along comes another that’s turned my head. The Tournament Airspeed Surf 435, from Akios, is the latest rod to enter into an already crammed marketplace. I reckon, though, it will certainly turn a few more heads on the beach, especially on the match circuit. Built with high-modulus carbon, the neoteric reinforced graphite (NRG) constructed blank, allows for much harder casts to be used when necessary, while still maintaining a large amount of delicacy. It’s a three-piece outfit with an overall length of 4.35m (a little over 14ft) and designed to be used with a large fixed-spool reel. Fully equipped with genuine…

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 issue we award a Shimano Beastmaster CX bass spinning rod or a Socorro saltwater 500 reel to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each issue, chosen on merit, gets a Speedmaster AX Boat Slim 20/30 rod or TLD20 multiplier reel. There is no choice of prize, which is awarded are at our discretion. James Waygood, Watchet, Somerset. Fish: 9lb 10oz small-eyed ray. Bait: Double sandeel on a pulley rig. Venue: Minehead, Somerset.…

PENN PLUS SILLOTH CHAMPIONSHIPS Silloth, Cumbria, 72 anglers There were five rays caught late in the match near high water, and the top three all included them in their catches. Winner was Simon Hogan, of Workington, with two rays and two flounders for 260 points. His best ray, with a 59cm wingspan worth 112 points, was the biggest fish. Result: 1 Simon Hogan, Workington, 4 fish, 260pts (10pts); 2 Dave Hutchinson, Morecambe, 3, 138 (9); 3 Joe Perry, Litherland, 6, 130 (8); 4 Chris Stringer, Whitley Bay, 8, 125 (7); 5 Mike Laycock, Workington, 7, 112.5 (6); 6 Neil Cutler, Gateshead, 1, 96 (5); 7 Antony Cole, Millom, 6, 85 (4); 8 Stuart Dewhurst, Preston, 5, 73 (3); 9 Gareth Griffiths, Barrow, 5, 67 (2); 10 Steve Smith, Whitehaven, 3,…