Indholdsfortegnelse for 524 i Sea Angler

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE POINTING to a great season ahead for cod fishing. That’s music to the ears of sea anglers, who also witnessed superb catches last autumn and winter. Anyone worth listening to suggests the fish will be back in good numbers and, importantly, they will be even bigger. Here at Sea Angler we’re getting your reports of good fishing, particularly from well known venues like Chesil Beach, in Dorset. However, as well as the iconic shingle beach, we have heard of plenty of codling showing elsewhere, not only along the South Coast, but also into East Anglia and all the way up into Scotland. Over on the Fylde Coast, anglers are hoping for some onshore winds to bring in the fish, while I’m told that shore anglers are…

YOU MIGHT THINK I’M MAD, BUT I love going in search of cod in rough ground. Constantly battling against gear-grabbing snags and permanently pulling back on the rod, hoping to clear the tackle graveyard in front of me, can be tiring, but is, ultimately, a true test of nerve and skill. The thrill begins from the moment I chuck a huge cocktail of lug, crabs and mussels into a hidden mess of rocks and kelp. As it settles and I slightly tighten the line, I prefer to hold the rod upright. Then, slipping the mainline under my forefinger, I am hoping to feel for an unmistakable thump, or the line to slacken and drop back, as a hungry fish plucks at my scented offering before engulfing it and swimming off.…

• Weigh up the odds of catching when selecting a fishing venue, and be realistic. If you fish alone in midweek your chances are better than fishing among the crowds over the weekend. • Fishing close to the car park may be convenient, but it can’t be the best spot on every venue. A long walk and fishing alone can be worth the effort. • Bait gets in short supply in winter. Supporting your local tackle dealer on a regular basis can ensure you find yourself in favour when there is high demand for the available bait. • Avoid crossed lines when fishing with two rods by always using the rod cast to the shortest range at the uptide side of the rod cast the longest. • For very large…

MY LIFELONG LOVE AFFAIR WITH fishing in Ireland is no secret. This passion has seen me fish in virtually all areas of the country, but there was just one place where I was yet to wet a line – The Beara Peninsula. Being 30 miles long, it has a wealth of stunning rock marks and small beaches, meaning some inside information is always a key to success. Luckily, I was staying with Paul and Anne Harris at Dromagowlane House, near Adrigole. Paul is a lifelong angler and worked for much of his life promoting angling in Ireland. As a result, his knowledge of the area is second to none. Along with his visiting anglers, Paul has discovered a huge number of fishing marks stretching back over the years, all of…

HAVING ORIGINALLY ENLISTED THE help of two local guides, Simon Linch has spent many hours by the sea using what he has learnt to put a few fish on the beach. But, he would be the first to admit that, from time to time, luck has just not been on his side. The Chepstow angler is certainly not the first person to have found himself questioning his own ability. You know you are doing everything right, yet when it comes to hitting the target, you find that, for whatever reason, the end result is not a good one. I’ve known Simon for a year or so, and, having exchanged a few messages with him where he has shared his experiences on the beach, it became clear that, although he had…

IT HASN’T taken long for autumn to take hold this year. The long, warm summer evenings stopped as soon as September came, and I found myself needing to wear a jumper and a headlight by eight o’clock. The fish weren’t far behind this early front of cold autumn weather either. One of my evening pop-up fishing sessions for mackerel and scad in early September proved this. Just an hour in I went from catching a steady stream of mackerel to, you guessed it, a steady stream of whiting. I don’t know who was more surprised; me seeing these winter fish hanging off my rig intended for mid-water summer species, or the whiting who, for the first time, felt sand and water that wasn’t icy-cold. Seeing these fish reminded me of…

Q: We run a 20ft boat, fishing 10-20 miles offshore. Should we install a life raft? SIMON COOPER, BY EMAIL DL says: Most definitely, yes. Small, inflatable life rafts are now widely available to buy or rent, and are a tremendous safety asset aboard any boat, not to mention being invaluable for the peace of mind they give on any trip. I recently fished in Iceland aboard self-drive boats, and all of them were equipped with a life raft that fitted easily along the transom. Q: I seem to carry too much gear, so what tackle essentials should I take for kayak fishing? ROBERT ALDRIDGE, BY EMAIL GR says: It all depends entirely on what you want to fish for. If you find you are taking too much stuff, then…

For the first time in many years, small tope are showing in numbers along a beach mark in South Wales. Great news, I'm sure you'll agree, but this is only a result in the ban on culling sharks in the UK. There was a shift in thought that, luckily, led to a change in the law. Now we are seeing some evidence of tope fishing returning to the great days of the 1960s and 1970s. Similarly, we all wish we could catch a double-figure bass, and for many will not come true. Is it time that all recreational anglers obey the new laws set out this year to protect the bass stocks rather than hoping to find a way to bypass them? I urge all anglers to not only follow…

STRETCHING FOR A DISTANCE OF 96 miles, the Jurassic Coast documents 180 million years of geological history. It’s a spectacular piece of coastline that’s especially popular with shore anglers...but what about the boat fishing? Sitting in the middle of this expanse of coastline is Weymouth, probably the UK’s number one charter port, yet despite having fished from this port on many occasions, I’ve never fished inshore off the Jurassic Coast. The charter boats seem to turn right at the harbour entrance, then steam past Portland to fish the area’s rich inshore reefs or the famous Shambles Bank, or head out into the English Channel to target the countless wrecks. I mentioned this to Colin Penny, one of the port’s long-term charter skippers, and he explained that while the Jurassic Coast…

WITH DAYLIGHT RAPIDLY shortening and the weather taking on a less than friendly mood, there is little better on a frosty morning than to dig out the flotation suit, pick up your bucket of lugworms and head for your favourite charter boat. The target, of course, will be cod. From October through February, the Bristol Channel charter fleets will be flat out in search of what must be the favourite catch for British anglers. Our catch rates vary from season to season as the different year classes make their vital decision whether or not to visit the Channel on their winter migration. Of course, the force driving them is directly related to the quantity and quality of available food. With a staple winter diet of mainly mixed crustaceans and various…

YOU HAVE MASTERED FLAT WATER, you can fish on the drift, you might have tried dropping and hauling an anchor. You have been careful to go out in calm conditions, and you are becoming quite comfortable with kayak fishing. You get a free afternoon, a window of opportunity and you intend to use it. The forecast is for a light and onshore wind, which shouldn’t be a problem. You arrive at the beach to find that there are 3-4ft breakers hitting the shore. There is a light swell, but it would be very manageable if you could just get beyond the breakers. What are you going to do? Most people probably part company with their kayaks at some stage when launching or landing through surf. It is not a dangerous…

BEING ABLE TO CORRECTLY TRIM A powerboat is an essential skill that anyone who drives a vessel with an outboard engine needs to master. Used properly, power trim and tilt, located on the throttle, is a very effective, indeed, essential boat-handling tool. A boat with its engine leg raised correctly is faster, easier to control, more fuel efficient, more comfortable, safer at high speed, and moves through the water with a slightly bow-up attitude. Insufficient trim means the bow is continually trying to force its way through a bulge of water, rather than skimming smoothly across the surface. Too much trim and the engine forces the boat out of the water, causing the bow to ‘porpoise’ or slam as the weight of the bow battles the thrust of the engine.…

IMAX ARX-20 ICE THERMO SUIT SSP: £129.99 This fantastic suit offers value for money with a comfort zone to -20°C; perfect for UK winter shore or boat fishing. Outer jacket top features include: Two box pockets with handwarmer pockets behind, and single chest pocket Two-way front zipper covered by double wind fillet, with adjustable waist and hem High collar for protection and warmth Adjustable and detachable wire-peaked hood Ribbed inner cuffs with Velcro adjustable outer cuffs Inside zipped pocket Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL Bib and brace top features include: Two-way front zip covered by double wind fillet Two box and handwarmer pockets located behind Adjustable braces with strong buckles Waist elasticated at back for perfect fit Zipped gusset at the bottom of each leg with…

• A Sidewinder lure produced a 5lb 12oz haddock for Peter Skala when fishing off Scrabster, Caithness. The angler, from Failsworth, Manchester, was on a five-day trip that produced cod, ling, pollack and haddock while fishing aboard Chris Bennett’s charter boat Eun Na Mara. • Hooked GB group organiser Jay Oxenham has smashed his personal best for a blue shark with a 100lb-plus fish. Two weeks after bagging a 60-pounder, the angler, from Newbury, Berks, was again on Fast Cats Charters, out of St Agnes, Cornwall. “We watched her take the bait right at the boat, unaware she was hooked at first, but she immediately tore off 150-200 yards of 40lb mono and I knew I was in for a fight,” said Jay. • Kevin Knowles and Glenn Palmer had…

Match angler Andy Hornby bagged a double-figure bass in the Daiwa Irish Pairs specimen event. The fish measured 76cm long and was estimated to weigh about 11-12lb on a conversion chart. Andy, who lives in Blackpool, Lancs, caught it on a fresh crab bait on a pulley rig while fishing at Inch, County Kerry. The fish was returned. TOP CASTING EVENTS ROUND-UP UKSF Grand Prix 4 Huntingdon, Cambs, 40 casters Caster of the day at the UKSF Grand Prix 4 on September 13 was Jason Carter with a best cast of 253.53 metres with a 125g weight. He also topped the 150g and 175g categories. • Result: 1 Jason Carter, 253.53m; 2 Andy Copping, 245.43; 3 Danny Moeskops, 243.56. • 100g – Kristian Leslie, 226.39m; 2 Steve Swales, 222.89; 3…

• On his maiden shore trip, four-year-old Lewis Keall chose South Shields beach in Tyne and Wear to target a flatfish. The Tantobie, County Durham lad used ragworms on a two-hook flapper rig to beach this cracking 2lb 8oz flounder. • A shore session at Broad Beach, Anglesey, saw 12-year-old Cameron Haddock, from Northwich, Cheshire, beach this bass weighing 3lb 8oz. He used lugworms on a two-hook flapper rig cast close into a gully. • Chalfont St Peter, Bucks angler Christopher Allan recently enjoyed a productive trip to the Shetland Isles. Fishing near the Muckle Flugga lighthouse, he boated several cod and coalfish, plus this super 16lb pollack. • Evie Bell, 10, from Belford, Northumberland, used a set of feathers to catch this 4lb 2oz codling. She was boat fishing…

NORTH OF ENGLAND CODLING CHAMPIONSHIP Whitby to Flamborough, Yorkshire, 126 anglers The prestigious closing event of the 93rd annual Filey Fishing Festival was the North of England Codling Championships and, fittingly, winner Jon Richardson produced the heaviest catch during any day of the series of shore events between September 5-13. The angler, from Flamborough, won the £500 first prize thanks to his 21-7-1 catch, the best of the whole festival. Close behind was 2014 Penn Sea League winner Paul Medd with 19-11-6, followed by Dave Bielby with 15-12-0. Heaviest cod was Scarborough angler Dave Turnbull’s 10lb 3oz 2dr fish, which was also the heaviest shore-caught fish of the whole festival. Junior section winner Ben Scaife weighed in 10-3-2, which was the best shore total by a juvenile for the festival.…

OCTOBER • 24: Solent League, Stokes Bay, 7pm-midnight, catch and release, Allan’s Marine 02392 671833 or Dan 07549 849383. • 24: Bristol Channel FSA winter open, Minehead to Blue Anchor, 2.30pm-6.30pm, sign on from 1pm at Minehead Golf Club, measure and release (23cm), 07827 817119 or email: r.randall2004@btinternet.com. • 24: Scott McNicol Memorial Trophy, Balcary Bay Hotel to Creetown lay-by, 10am-4pm, registration from 8-9am at Monty's Bar, Castle Douglas, £10 entry, prizes for heaviest fish and heaviest bag, Davy Little 07721 736017 or Stuart McNicol 07872 128024. • 25: Blackdown SAC open, 2pm-6pm, sign on from 12am at Blue Anchor hotel, Ryan 07500 966999. • 25: Chesil Beach cod open, Abbotsbury, 11am-5pm, £1,000 heaviest bag, £500 heaviest cod, huge prize table, £15 OAPS, £5 juniors, Weymouth Angling Centre 01305 777771…

LAST DECEMBER BASS HAD A CAMPAIGN to email the EU Commission called: “Herr Bernhard Friess, please save the spawning sea bass”. It was a resounding success and helped to bring about a temporary ban on the trawling of vast numbers of bass when they aggregate in the winter months prior to spawning. In the spring we followed it up with a Save Our Sea Bass petition, encouraging people to email Defra and the EU Commission, asking for 80 per cent cuts in bass landings in 2015. Some 3,500 people took part, and this combined action ratcheted up the pressure and was instrumental in the EU Commission introducing vessel catch limits, a prohibition on retaining bass in the Celtic Sea, and an increase in the Minimum Conservation Reference Size to 42cm…

THREE DORSAL FINS There are three dorsal fins all close together at the base. WHITE UNDERSIDE The stout body is white on the underside of the fish. TWO ANAL FINS The cod has two anal fins, and all the fins lack spines. LATERAL LINE The lateral line is light and continuous. MOTTLED COLOUR The back and sides are a sandy/green mottled colour. BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COASTAL prospects pages of Sea Angler puts me in touch with lots of anglers around the country, and there is certainly some excitement about the cod season, especially after last year’s much improved fishing. Those fish will have packed on the weight and, this year, could be anything up to 6lb – a serious weight to pull any beach angler’s string, and certainly capable…

Great bait choices A top bait choice is lug on its own or with squid. Under cover of the night Fish tend to move closer to the shore in darkness. One or two hooks Try a pulley rig with a single hook or Pennell. Distance rig selection Try a clipped-down single hook rig for distance. Line should suit the venue On most clean ground venues, you can use 18lb mainline. Big-fish potential Try a livebait rig close in from a steep beach. Beach gear A standard 13-14ft beach rod is ideal. Set up your fishing camp It is possible to fish from one spot on a deep shingle beach. The arrival of autumn brings a massive change to the shore as weather patterns change and winter species start to arrive,…

THERE IS NO BIG SECRET ABOUT THE reason why Dungeness attracts anglers from all over the country – it’s the promise of great autumn and winter cod fishing. There are legendary tales of massive catches of cod from this popular headland on the coast of Kent. Its fame stemmed from the huge hauls of fish taken by anglers during the 1960s, and the venue has been a major attraction ever since. One of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe, Dungeness is of international conservation importance. The long shingle beach, sheltering the low-lying Romney Marsh, fishes at different stages of the tide. There are three key marks that I fish at Dungeness – the boats, the deep water around the point area, and the power station. The venue is a…

As I pulled up on the eastern side of the small harbour at Seaton in Devon, the chances of a bagging session seemed to be diminishing by the second as dark storm clouds gathered in the west, while the trees were arcing over in an unpredictably strong westerly wind. It was a far cry from the calm conditions that would seemingly provide perfect conditions for our quest of some big ballan wrasse by day, and then bull huss as darkness fell. Despite the weather conditions, I was met by Chris Chappell, who runs Seaton Angling/Kayak Centre, beaming with confidence that we would still find our target species, although he would not be joining us as the shop shuts late on a Friday evening. A few minutes later, as I supped…

Generally you don’t need heavy tackle to fish the Beara. A standard 4-6oz rod is fine, but go with a reel with some gear power and the ability to cast to long range, such as the Penn 525 or the Shimano Torium. Both have a fast retrieve, which is useful when bringing gear back over snags. That said, I lost only three rigs over two days. There are good conger marks here too, with fish in excess of 40lb, so consider a bigger reel such as the Penn 535 or bigger Torium loaded with 30lb line. Other options are rock ledge fishing for wrasse fishing using crabs or worms, and pollack when fishing artificial eels, shads or spinners. The numerous little harbours, sheltered inlets, creeks and salt pools offer superb…

It’s one of those casts that you absolutely nail. The Black Minnow flies out there, splashes down hard, and then you maintain contact as it drops through the water column just in case a fish hits you on the drop. You feel the lure hit the bottom, and then start that slow and controlled sink-and-draw. Everything about your setup helps you with maximum feel – rod, reel and braid combine so that you can even feel the tail of the Black Minnow vibrating as you draw the lure up, and then you follow it down with the rod and feel it gently tap the bottom again. You’re hoping for one of those unmissable hits. As your lure next bumps on the bottom, there’s a definite tap, but one you can’t…

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. ALAN YATES Contributing editor and former England international angler, Alan is your shore fishing expert. 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: Can you explain the best hooklength and breaking strain to use in varying conditions of the tide and sea? MELRAY BOULD, BY EMAIL AY says: My choice of hook…

Q: As I practice catch and release, why don’t lure companies put barbless trebles or barbless single hooks on their lures? Could you recommend a good-quality single barbless hook to replace my trebles please? DAI RICKETTS, LLANFARIAN, CEREDIGION HG says: I wish that it wasn’t even possible to buy lures with any barbed hooks. I see no reason to use barbed hooks for any of our lure fishing. Sure, some anglers worry that they will lose fish with no barbs, to which my answer would be fight fish properly and keep a tight mainline. Unhooking fish on barbless hooks is so much easier for the angler and the fish. As for a single barbless hook, I’d recommend the VMC Predator Inline Single Barbless 7238BN. Look for a size 1 to…

Cod off the red list (see page 102 ) • Robert Jones: As soon as any restrictions are lifted the same will happen again and they will slip into a decline. A balance of quantities taken must be kept or it will be a free-for-all again. Better a constant reduced take than a grab all and the stocks in an unrecoverable state. • A G Middleton: No fish caught on trawlers should be thrown back. Once caught they should be landed, the marketable fish sold, the rest sold as fertiliser or made into fish food for the fish farm trade. • Mark Crame: Above ‘dangerously low’ does not mean levels are high. Keep the commercial restrictions and plan for a recovery. Ullcatch Bait Weaver Elastic Bait Dispenser • John…

Choice of bait The species you’re after will determine your choice of bait. Pennell rig A Pennell rig presents two hooks, one at each end of the bait. Shockleader Casting shockleader connects to mainline. 50lb hooklenth Use a hooklength of 3-4ft long made of 50lb mono. Snap link The hooklength swivel connects to a snap link. Tubi boom Use a 4in tubi boom to carry the lead weight. Grip lead Weights need to be 7-10oz grip leads. MY FORMATIVE YEARS AS A SEA angler were spent casting into chocolate-coloured estuarine water from the seawalls and mudflats of the upper Bristol Channel. Many of my most memorable days afloat aboard my own boats have been spent in these same waters, and in 1995 I wrote a book on estuary fishing: ‘Estuary…

THERE IS NO WAY OF HIDING THE fact that it has been a hard season. The summer has been one not of bass, but of wind and no boating. Here on the west coast of Wales we have been battered by strong wind from every conceivable direction. In 10 years as a full-time bass guru I have never cancelled so many bass lure casting trips aboard 3 Fishes than this year. I was beginning to write off the 2015 season, when the weather came good…and at the very best time of year. I have never seen it as good for as many days on the bounce. Clear water, smooth seas, virtually no wind at all and a neap tide, all of which came together to provide some world-class fishing. I…

• Never have your paddle leashed to your kayak in the surf zone. If you do roll, there is a great danger of becoming entangled in the leash and, effectively, being tied to your kayak as you get rolled in the waves. By all means attach one when you are clear, but never in the surf. • If the boat starts to roll, try not to let the kayak get between you and a wave. The force with which water can throw the kayak right at the paddler can result in broken ribs or a nasty head injury. • When launching/landing for real, make sure all loose items are tied to the kayak. The occasional roll happens to us all, and by having your gear tied down, it will mean…

WONDER at the angling images and soak up the fishing information in the Sea Angler book ‘Guide to Rigs, Marks, Species’. Thirty chapters and 148 pages overflow with tips and advice from the best anglers in the business, as they explain how to catch all the popular seasonal shore species, reveal how to get to grips with all sorts of coastal terrain, and then guide you on the best boat-fishing tactics and tackle. Find out how rigs are built and how they perform underwater, with artwork and graphics to show in detail exactly how they work. The informative book brims with superb instruction panels, and pages explaining in detail how to tie hooks, swivels and leaders, as well as demonstrating the best way to mount perfect baits. The book is…

ARE YOU FED UP WITH YOUR regular PVC chest waders either tearing or just wearing out too quickly? If so, then it’s about time you discovered Bassboots. It’s no coincidence that many anglers are now turning to Bassboots for a decent set of chest waders. They are tough, extremely durable and long-lasting. The quality is so good, they come with a five-year manufacturing guarantee. England international match angler Bill Lindfield is so impressed with them he won’t wear any other chest waders. In fact, the Wirral angler is still wearing his original prototype. “Six years ago I received a call from Bassboots owner Malcolm Scullion asking me to try out his bespoke chest waders. “I’m still wearing the exact same set he sent me for all of my fishing and,…

Two anglers from Cambridgeshire bagged three common skate to 120lb during a shore session in the Scottish Highlands. Duncan Paul and Alan Pearce returned to a west coast loch mark they found last year, and where Duncan caught two big skate estimated to weigh above the 169lb British record. On the latest trip, the fish were all males, with Duncan’s brace being the same size, ches wide by 79 inches long, which put them around 120lb. A smaller one estimated at 80lb was caught by Alan, of Great Paxton. The duo used Cono-flex Nemesis rods with Penn 535 Mag reels loaded with 65lb braid fished straight through to a 7ft long, 300lb mono rubbing leader. This part of the rig was then cast out. The business end consisted of 12ft…

The European cod fishery that collapsed so dramatically in the 1980s has finally increased above dangerously low levels and hauled itself off a 'Fish to Avoid' list. North Sea cod are now rated at number four and amber, which means they are showing signs of improvement. “It’s fantastic to see this fishery finally off the red list. Years of sacrifice and a lot of hard work have led to population increases above dangerously low levels,” said Marine Conservation Society fisheries officer, Samuel Stone. “Whilst this certainly is a milestone for North Sea cod, the job is not done yet. Efforts of recent years need to continue in order for the fishery to head towards the green end of the spectrum.” He added that the population needs to increase above precautionary…

THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE Rosslare Small Boats Festival saw the Irish boat Screaming Reels win the event for a record fifth year in a row. The crew, from Rosie’s Sea Angling Club in Cork, beat 36 other boats from Britain and Ireland by catching 29 species. Screaming Reels (Martyn Rayner, Seirt Shults and Neville Murphy) proved their mettle once again, taking first with 29 species for 25.81kg. Second place went to Sandstorm (Nathan James and Ian Jenkins), from Porthcawl, with 27 species for 21.29kg. In third place was Dunlin (Andy Beresford, Lewis Radcliffe and Jonathan Roberts), from Southport Boat AC, with 27 species for 14.02kg. This first festival was in 1985, with five boats fishing, and this year 115 anglers on 36 boats arrived in County Wexford with high…

Now three years old, this 33-hour lure-only event produced 26 species during the weekend of September 12-13. A few changes were made this time. Firstly, it was extended to 33 hours and, secondly, the entrants were divided into local or visitor categories competing for their own first, second and third prizes of £300, £200 and £100 in cash. The weekend’s forecast wasn’t the best. Saturday’s rain cleared early, but there were Force 6 wind most of the time. It did ease overnight and into Sunday morning before increasing to a Force 4 to 5 during the day. Fishing was slow on the Saturday as a few banker fish were slow to show, with pollack and gobies proving elusive. Fish seemed to be caught in flurries, but those seeking the longest…

WHEN I HEARD THAT WORK was going to be done and a new beach created all the way from Clacton to Holland-on-Sea, my first thoughts were it would be a disaster for the fishing. Some people shared my opinion, but others argued it would be better. Rocks were placed to create groynes and sand pumped in from barges to create infill between the rocks. As a result, it made the high water mark about 50 yards further out to sea. This part of the Essex has always been a big favourite of mine, particularly in winter for coding along the promenade. Fishing was from a seawall on to a beach with broken, wooden groynes. The venues were named after the nearby roads, such as Brighton Road and York Road. The…

When a job is not completed or carried out properly it’s described as a bodge. Angling is full of bodgers. Small wonder that so many don’t catch much at all. Making do is the angler’s biggest enemy, especially the less-informed novice. Every effort you make to improve your results will pay dividends, while a bodger can only rely on luck. Here’s how to make sure the odds are in your favour… ESSENTIAL KIT You need a standard 13-14ft beach rod with a casting rating of 6-7oz, with a multiplier or fixed-spool reel loaded with 18lb line and suitable shockleader. There are several essential items for fishing at night, and some good lighting is the first. Nowadays, most anglers manage with just a headlight, and they are so good that you…

GETTING THERE Access is either on the coast road from New Romney, or from Lydd. Both roads converge near the Pilot pub, from where a single track road runs one mile south to the point. TACKLE SHOPS • Seagull Fishing Tackle, 4 The Parade, Greatstone, TN28 8NP, tel: 01797 366837. Web: www.seagullfishing.com • Mick’s Tackle, 1 Thirlestane Terrace, Hythe, CT21 6LB, tel: 01303 266334. TICKET TO FISH Access to some of the fishing at Dungeness is controlled by Dungeness Angling Association. Annual membership is £10 (£5 for over 65), renewable on March 1. Proof of membership is required to sign out a key for the locked gate. Membership is available by post (send fee and stamped addressed envelope) to DAA, PO Box 521, Ashford TN23 9RN, or from Seagull Fishing…

GETTING THERE • Located on Devon’s southeast fringe, this is easy to locate from the A3052 between Lyme Regis and Beer. TACKLE SHOP • The Tackle Box, 20 Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, DT7 3JF, tel: 01297 443373. Web: www.lymetackle.com The Tackle Box has the most up-to-date info on fishing the area, due to owner Darren Herbert's vast experience of fishing regularly in the area. With a massive range of saltwater tackle, and the best live and frozen bait to choose from in the locality, it is also the home of Lyme Kayak Hire, with a range of single and double craft. The shop is open seven days a week from 7am-8pm. • Seaton Angling/Kayak Centre, The Harbour, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4AA, tel: 01297 625511.…

ACCOMMODATION • Dromagowlane House is four star, Trip Advisor award winning bed and breakfast in Adrigole. Evening meals are also provided if required. B&B rate for high season is €35 per person per night, which at current exchange rates is about £25, which is great value. Paul has a small tackle shop, so if you run out of any items you can replace them easily. Rods and reels are available, as well as a well-stocked bait freezer and free guiding to guests. Contact Paul and Anne at Dromagowlane House, Adrigole, Beara Peninsula, Co Cork, tel: 00353 (0)27 60330. Web: www.dromagowlanehouse.com GETTING THERE • By car, your options are from Holyhead to Dublin or Fishguard to Rosslare. I used the Stena Line ferry to Rosslare. Website: www.stenaline.co.uk/ferries-to-ireland • The alternative is…

I’M NOT INTO GIMMICKS. IN FACT, IT’S quite the reverse. If anything, I’m very down to earth when it comes to my lure fishing. When things are a bit slow and others are changing lures to try and find ‘The Answer’ I’ll be flogging away with the same old reliable gadget. Of course, this isn’t to say that I never try anything new, but to find a place in my tackle box any device has to be an improvement on the tried and trusted. Over the years my dry ‘maggot flies’ have produced mullet over 8lb, ‘crayfish plugs’ have lured many big wrasse, while large ‘hybrid’ soft plastics have tempted exceptional bass from some ‘unfishable’ situations, even in the dark. There are quite a few other examples of novel tackle…

HIGH COST OF TACKLE I am a subscriber to Sea Angler and enjoy the magazine immensely. However, I do feel that I have to take issue with the product reviews in issue 522. First up was a review of the Century Eliminator T900-SGT beachcaster priced at £570, closely followed by a Daiwa Kenzaki Braid boat rod at £139.99, a Leeda Icon Light Bass rod at £129.99 and, finally, a portable Deeper Smart Fish-finder at £169.99. While, like other anglers, I am interested in reading reviews of products that I may never be able to afford to buy, I do feel that these items would deter many potential participants from taking up the sport due to the high costs involved. We all know that sea angling is a sport that can…

HAVING MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY , I’m two miles away from The Wash, so you can imagine how keen I was to get afloat and see exactly what’s on my doorstep. I’ve fished this vast area of water a few times over the years, mostly from a mate’s boat. He lives in Skegness, and we’ve often launched from the beach and gone off exploring. Sometimes we blanked in this bay-like estuary, but other times we had red-letter days on the tope, bass and mackerel. As luck would have it, my new landlord, Martin Shepherd told me about a small group of chaps who regularly go to sea on an old trawler, which is moored just down the road at Fosdyke, Lincs. Skipper Pete Timby is a former commercial skipper, and has…

THE LOOK ON STEVE BRADLEY’S face said it all, clearly confirming the thoughts running through my own mind for the past few hours. I’d crawled out of bed at four o’clock, revived myself with several cups of hot coffee, and made the drive west to Tenby all for nothing. Now, standing on the town’s stone pier, where we were sheltered by the land from the worst of the strong northerly winds, I felt as if what remaining hair I do have on my head was going to get scattered across Carmarthen Bay. Steve didn’t actually utter that immortal charter skipper morning greeting, “We’ll go and take a look at it”, but I could see what was running through his mind. That evening we were standing in the same spot, the…

THERE’S SOMETHING REALLY DYNAMIC in the kayak angling fraternity that I believe sets us apart, and that’s our habit of getting visual. Look at kayak angling websites and you see reports featuring numerous photographs of fish, kayaks, surroundings and people. With widespread adoption of waterproof compact cameras, this has meant fish pictures are in abundance, whether they’re that special catch or otherwise, and the prevalence of camera phones means there’s no reason to miss a photo opportunity nowadays. A pet hate of mine is a photograph of a dead fish in an alien setting. I admit, I’ve got my own from the distant past, such as a tray of whiting and dabs in the garden, mackerel hanging from the washing line...it’s hard to imagine what my parents were thinking when…

DESIGNED FOR SERIOUS SPORTS fishermen, the Pirate 21CC is absolutely perfect for fishing both at anchor or on the drift, say, for example, shark fishing. Built just outside of Neyland, West Wales, the undisputed centre of European shark fishing, by Pembrokeshire Yachts; the Pirate 21CC is a magnificent, eye-catching vessel that will turn heads at any marina. She’s one of a wide range of boats, all of which have been designed with the requirements of modern anglers in mind. On the day I drove to West Wales for my sea trial, we actually had two boats out on the water to play with, one fitted with a hard Bimini top and a 135hp Honda, the other a fully open version powered by a veritable beast of an engine, a 225hp…

AT LAST, IT’S HERE, THE BEACH ROD set to rock the world of shore angling everywhere…or should I say anywhere? The new Match Pro blank from Devon company Anyfish Anywhere has been unveiled. I remember a conversation I had on the beach many months back with the brains behind the brand, Julian Shambrook. His excitement was certainly noticeable as he confided in me that he had something special in the pipeline and, if I’m honest, I was excited too. “This is going to be the best rod we’ve ever produced,” he revealed. Intriguing words, because I remember when I first laid my hands on his flagship model, the Tournament Match, and reported that it was as near to the perfect beach rod as you could get. Now, six years on,…

FUNCTIONAL and extremely comfortable, the Fisheagle two-piece flotation suit will keep you snug and protected in the foulest of weather conditions. Add to that some super safety features too, and you have the ideal garment for wearing afloat or on the shore. Packed with added features, including a large, wire-peaked hood to fully protect your face from driving rain and spray. This can even be tucked away out of sight when not in use. Neoprene inner-cuffs prevent water from creeping up inside the sleeves, which is a big plus, especially when casting from the beach. Over the top of the cuffs there is further protection with extra Velcro fastenings over the wrist. A wide, adjustable waist belt seals off the upper body from the leg area, and this is just…

THE acclaimed Crossflow Pro two-piece flotation suit is seen by many as the pinnacle in the design of workmanlike and practical sea angling safety clothing. Sundridge, the leading company in this field for 25 years, is consistently rated, especially by users, as the manufacturer of the most inventive, effective, stylish and hard-wearing clothing in the business. The core of the suit is patented, breathable, featherweight flotation foam, cocooned in a tough, Tussor, nylon shell that is completely waterproof. A cut above other suits on the market, the Crossflow Pro is stuffed with features to improve your safety. Sizes range from S through to K and G. Dipping into the suit’s features’ list, you get polyester and Tricot body lining in the long-length jacket, with polar fleece-lined collar and hood, reinforced…

A three-year quest to land a tope from the shore came to fruition for Jake Wadey when he beached a 33lb 3oz fish. The angler, from Emsworth, West Sussex, was fishing one of the county’s beaches on September 25 during a night tide. He was packing away his gear after a fruitless three hours when the fish struck. Jake fished a Pennell pulley rig with size 5/0 Cox & Rawle Uptide Extra hooks on a 90lb wire trace. His bait selection included mackerel, scad, sandeels and Bluey. “After a three hours of ‘casting practise’ with big baits, my dad and I started to pack up as the tide was dropping fast,” said Jake. “Just as the spare rigs were being packed up I looked up at my rods. At that…

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 win a Mission Accomplished badge and the chance of a great monthly tackle prize. Each month we award a Shimano Nexave Surf 400 five-piece rod and a Ultegra Surf 5500SC fixed-spool reel, worth a total of £320, 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 Tekota 500LCM multiplier reel, worth a total of £280. Monthly winners SHORE: Gary Cornish, 44lb 10oz conger eel BOAT: Richie McGibbon, 28lb turbot Targets Catch a fish of this weight or above…

BASS ROCK SAC North Berwick, 14 anglers, 16/8/15 Result: 1 Steve Eyre, 5-12-0 (5pts); 2 Keith Bathgate, 4-7-0 (4); 3 Barry Mcewan, 2-6-0 (3); 4 Craig Ogilvie, 1-4-0 (0); 5 Stuart Fairbairn, 1-2-0 (1). BLACKDOWN SAC Blue Anchor, 12 anglers Result: 1 Rob Marshall (pictured right), 295cm (0pts); 2 Conrad Davis, 292cm (4); Nick Bawler, 108cm (3); 4 Simon Lomen, 160cm (2); 5 Ryan Williams, 145cm (1). DEAL 1919 AC Deal pier and beach, 10 anglers, 8/9/15 Result: 1 Graham King 5.220kg (0pts); 2 John Green, 4.470kg (4); 3 Sam Collier, 3.96kg (3); 4 Tim Fagg, 3.280kg (0); 5 John Chalk, 3.080kg (1). Deal beach, 12 anglers, 26/8/15 Result: 1 Louie Smith, 10.400kg (0); 2 Tim Fagg, 2.540kg (0); 3 Luke Hutton, 2.220kg (3); 4 Nathan Elliott, 1.610kg (0); 5…

TOP OF THE RANGE FLOTATION SUIT This is it! The ultimate flotation suit from Daiwa/ Sundridge using unique Crossflow breathable flotation foam. No more sweating as you walk along the beach, the Crossflow breathable foam keeps you warm, dry and 100 per cent waterproof. When it comes to casting, the exclusive inner panel design gives total freedom of movement. The Crossflow Pro costs £189.99, but you stand a chance of winning one in the giveaway on page 100. THE ULTIMATE CASTING MACHINE I have recently been resdesigning my range of beach rods and the first one is ready to launch. The Golds 14ft Super Wacka is made from ultra high-modulus graphite, as used in F1 racing cars, and is made by one of the very few manufacturers able to work…