Indholdsfortegnelse for 526 i Sea Angler

ANOTHER YEAR IS NEARLY OVER and it’s a chance to reflect on angling successes, and even the disappointments. Both scenarios have a role in helping you to catch more fish next year. It’s always worth recording your fishing highlights and failures, along with the conditions in which they were made. Comparing weather, tides, time of year, type of venue and your bait and rig combinations helps to pinpoint the methods for success. Whether or not you’ve collated such information, it’s certainly a good time to give some serious thought to the species and venues you want to target in 2016. Earmark the best tides for your favourite venues and plan ahead. Good planning has a habit of creating success, so make it your New Year’s resolution for your 2016 angling…

IMAGINE A PLACE WITH MAGNIFICENT VIEWS , steeped in history, easy fishing and lots of fish. Dream no more because such a venue exists and it’s called Sunderland Point. A small outcrop of land reached only by a tidal causeway, it is not the usual mark you might wish to fish, but then this is no ordinary place to either be or fish anyway. Constructed more than 300 years ago as a port, it has since been left to nature and the sands of time. Here you can fish the Lune Estuary for flounders and whiting in winter, with summer producing flounders, eels, plaice and bass. It’s a light tackle venue, where there’s no need for casting distance, with the best sport usually within 50 yards. Sunderland Point is at…

GETTING THERE • Head west from Seaton on the A3052, taking a left after approximately three miles. It will be signposted to Branscombe, but the roads are extremely narrow in places. Once in the small hamlet of Branscombe, follow the signs to the beach, which again is down a very narrow road. There is a good size car park, which is well regulated, that costs £5 for up to eight hours. There is also a cafe and toilets. TACKLE SHOP • Seaton Angling/Kayak Centre, The Harbour, Axmouth, Seaton, Devon EX12 4AA, tel: 01297 625511.…

I’VE DONE A LOT OF FISHING, BUT I STILL get excited when heading for pastures new. Different surroundings and new challenges really get my juices flowing, and the night before I headed down into South Devon, my mind was racing and I knew there would be little sleep on the cards. After an invitation came my way from local specimen hunter Rob Yorke, I was all over Google maps and making a few enquiries as to what fish might grace the rods. As Rob was to confirm later the same day, this was a trip with just one type of fish in mind – the blonde ray. Specimens from the South Hams coast are seriously big, and as Rob reeled off a seemingly endless list of twenty-this and twenty-that pounders,…

YEARS AGO I USED TO FIDDLE ABOUT with bass plugs in an attempt to improve on the (then) limited range of lures available. One or two of them were extremely effective, but it took more time and effort than I was prepared to put in because I am not a Do It Yourself fanatic. Since then the market has been flooded with attractors of all shapes and sizes. Many originated from largemouth bass fishing in the USA, and the variety is now enormous. Needless to say, some manufacturers have tried to cash in on the interest among the UK’s bass fishing fraternity and, as a result, costs have often gone through the roof. These days it’s not unusual for a lure to cost more than £20. Anyway, I’m a mean…

• JIG HEAD: Soft plastics rigged on jig heads are great for working lures all through the water column. They are my go-to method for hunting in rock pools. A jig head rig gives you excellent control of the lure. The only constraint on jig head rigs is hook size, with most LRF jig heads only going down to a size 10 hook. This will be fine for the majority of species, but there are quite a few with very small mouths. So when targeting the really mini species, it is best to use a split shot rig. • SPLIT SHOT RIGS: A great way to target fish feeding on tiny food items. This is my method for the smallest of species. This rig is adaptable, offering the ability to…

Q: I’m looking to get a fish-finder for my kayak, but am unsure of what type of battery I should be using. What is the best? JIM PORTER, SOUTHPORT, MERSEYSIDE GR says: What I like to use for my fish-finder/chartplotter is a 12V 7ah battery. This is a battery that is will supply 12 volts for 7 amp hours. The battery is relatively small and will power my unit for a whole day if fully charged beforehand. Any electrical suppliers, DIY shop or motor factors should sell them as they are usually sold to power house alarms and motorcycles. Q: What is the best way to store my kayak? BRIAN GRAY, STROUD, GLOS GR says: The best option is to keep it indoors in a garage or shed. However, our…

• To book a day with James MacSweeney visit: http:// lurefishing ireland.com You can also book a guide to accompany you for your first day or two aboard the self drives, perfect if you are new to either the area or boat handling. • My trip was arranged by Anglers World Holidays, which offers a wide variety of angling packages throughout Ireland, including the Bella Vista Hotel at Cobh. For more information visit the website: http://anglersworld.tv • This is a great location to fish aboard the hotel’s excellent and superbly equipped self-drive boats. For more information visit: www.bellavistahotel.ie • We travelled to Ireland using Stena Line from Fishguard to Rosslare, Cork is around a three-hour drive from the ferry terminal. For more information, visit: www.stenaline.co.uk…

Two-hook cod rig Rig body A one metre length of 30lb or 40lb mono carries the zip slider and has a swivel at each end of the line. Sinker choice Use a watch lead rather than a ball or Bopedo-style weight. Lead carrier Place a bead on either side of the zip slider. Stand-off The silicone tubing acts as a stand-off to prevent tangles. Stop beads Do not crimp the short snood, but use hard rubber stops. Two beads Place a bead on either side of the snood swivel. Avoid tangles Silicone tubing on the short snood cuts down on tangles. Short snood A size 6/0 hook is attached to a 6-8in length of 40lb fluoro. Fluorocarbon main hooklength The main hook snood is made from 40-48in of 40lb fluorocarbon.…

KAYAK FISHING IS DIFFERENT FROM a lot of other types of fishing because of how close to the water you and your gear are when afloat. In most cases you will not be more than a couple of inches above the surface. Even if waves are not breaking over the bow or stern of your boat, spray will be carried across you by the breeze and, before long, you, your kayak and all your gear will be covered in a fine coating of sea salt. Any of you that have neglected to rinse and clean reels will know exactly how damaging and corrosive salt can be. The virtues of cleaning and maintaining tackle are well documented. What I would like to cover are a few pointers for getting a longer…

BUILT IN CHINA AND IMPORTED INTO the UK by Dorset Fast Fishing Boats, the DFFB 5.3CC is just one of an extensive range of trailerable boats that will be of interest to many sea anglers. Manufactured from welded sheet aluminium, this is a tough, business-like range of boats that have been built to be used and, dare I say, abused on a regular basis. Several models within the range can be described as being sleek and sporty, as you can see by the images illustrating the 5.3m centre-console version in this review. It’s a bit of an eye-catcher, built along the lines of a traditional offshore sports fisher. Take a quick glance around the cockpit of the DFFB 5.3mCC and you will quickly see that this boat has been designed…

MITCHELL AVOCET IV SALT 6000 FIXED-SPOOL REEL RRP: £39.99 This spinning reel comes equipped with four stainless steel bearings and an aluminium spool. The high-density foam knob offers superb comfort when winding at a decent crank of 4.9:1. A front drag is easy to operate when needed and, capacity-wise, you can expect to fill it with 220m of 0.30mm line. For your nearest Mitchell stockist contact: 01665 602771. • Web: www.mitchell-fishing.co.uk NOMURA GUANTI THREE FINGERLESS GLOVES RRP: £19.99 Featuring a comfortable and stretchy construction with a gripped and textured palm, these are excellent, especially when you are spinning. Two forefingers and thumb are halved, while the remaining fingers are full. Available in sizes M, L, and XL. Available from Glasgow Angling Centre, tel: 0141 2128880. • Web: www.fishingmegastore.com BUNGEE SPONGEE…

A potential new shore-caught Scottish record ling has been taken from Loch Etive, while a record-breaking spurdog was taken from the Sound of Mull. Glasgow angler Ross McKay caught the 18lb 11oz fish on November 21, when he fished a large mackerel bait on a Pennell pulley rig. His ling beats the previous record by more than 4lb. The 19lb 14oz spurdog trashed the Scottish record by more than 4lb. It was caught by Paddy Dillon, of Paisley, while fishing the Sound of Mull with a launce, bluey and squid cocktail on a size 6/0 pulley rig. The spurdog was returned, so it will not be an official record.…

After being plagued by small pouting, Chris Lambert switched to a Pennell pulley rig and bagged a 15lb 8oz cod. The angler, from Exeter, visited Budleigh Salterton, Devon, where he was plagued by small pouting, so he switched from a two-hook rig baited with rag and squid to a Pennell pulley carrying a pouting as bait. An hour into darkness Chris had a gentle take that resulted in his first cod, at 15lb 8oz. The letters page will be back next month – send us your views on the big stories – including the bass ban.…

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: Ross McKay, 18lb 11oz ling BOAT: John Collings, 19lb undulate ray Targets Catch a fish of this weight or above…

BEDLINGTON STATION SAC NORTHUMBRIAN OPEN Craster to Tynemouth, 180 anglers Two cod for 8-3-0 from Marden rocks at Alnmouth secured victory in this popular roving event for Steve Potts, of Gosforth. Second-placed Steve Williams, of Jarrow, caught four fish for 7-14-0 at Cullercoats. • Result: 1 Steve Potts, Gosforth, 8-3-0 (18pts); 2 Steve Williams, Jarrow, 7-14-0 (17); 3 J Bridgett, two fish, 7-7-0, including heaviest fish, 4-13-0 codling. (16). BRITISH OPEN CHAMPS Deal and Walmer beaches, Kent, 217 anglers On his first visit to the Deal and Walmer beaches, Dorset angler Richard Cleal won the British Open Shore Championships. The angler, from Charmouth, caught codling, whiting and flatfish in his 5.990kg total from zone A. • Result: 1 Richard Cleal, Charmouth, 5.990kg (20pts); 2 Chris Snow, Worthing, 5.420kg (19); 3…

BLACKDOWN SAC 12 anglers 1 Conrad Davis, 7.07kg (5pts); 2 Ken Flint, 1.72kg (4); 3 Nick Bawler, 0.960kg (3). No one else weighed in. DEAL 1919 AC Deal beach, 11 anglers, 29/10/15 Result: 1 Ken Withington, 5.610kg (5pts); 2 Martin Jenkins, 5.070kg (4); 3 Dave Andrews, 3.850kg (3); 4 Graham King, 3.830kg (2); 5 Luke Hutton, 3/070kg (1). DUNGENESS AA Rover, 11 anglers, 8/11/15 Result: 1 Alex Veel, 16 fish, 13-14-0 (5pts); 2 Dave Wood Brignall, 15, 11-6-0 (4); 3 Phil Tanner, 15, 10-12-0 (3); 4 Graham King, 16, 10-9-0 (2); 5 Nathan Elliott & Stuart Joy, 16, 10-0-0 (0, ties not permitted). EASTBOURNE NOMADS SAC Eastbourne, 13 anglers, 14/09/15 Result: 1 Dan Wood, 3-4-12 (5pts); 2 Tony Kirrage, 2-15-8 (8 fish) (4); 3 Joe Plumstead, 2-15-8 (6 fish) (3);…

LOOKING FOR A VENUE BLESSED WITH a decent tide run, deep water close in and where, if you catch it right, you can even fill your boots with cod. Look no further than Orford Island. This hotspot in Suffolk is regarded by many as the Dungeness of the East Coast, due to its shingle bank cod fishing and, as a result, is regularly visited by shore anglers. The downside, I suppose, is the fact that it’s extremely exposed, and, if the fish aren’t in any mood to feed, there’s nowhere else to go. The shingle spit, known as The Island, is roughly six miles long and offers plenty of open space to make a base camp. Getting there is easy – or tough – depending on what method you choose.…

GETTING THERE • Access from the south is by either the A6/M6 exiting at Lancaster (junction 33) and following the signs for Overton, a small village that eventually leads you to the tidal causeway and then onwards to Sunderland Point. If visiting from the north, exit the M6 at junction 35 and travel down the promenade on to the A5105 and then the A589, following the signs for Heysham and on to Overton then the causeway. When you get to Sunderland Point you will see a set of public toilets, where you can park close to these, but do not obstruct the private road for the residents to access their houses. This is a tranquil place, so respect the local residents and ensure you take your litter home. Being privately…

BARMOUTH, KNOWN AS THE ‘Gibraltar’ of Wales due to its backdrop of rocky cliffs and mountains, is flanked on the south side by the Mawddach Estuary, but has a long west-facing surf beach running the full length of the sea front with spectacular views across the north of Cardigan Bay. It is a popular tourist destination in summer, with the best fishing late in the evenings and at night because the main beach can be packed by day, but in winter you often have the beach to yourself. The area, and its individual marks, offers a wide variety of fishing throughout the year, and easy parking and access. NORTH BEACH Head north along the sea front until the road ends with a car park. Walk the shingle beach to the…

GETTING THERE • This stretch of coastline, from Salcombe in the east, round Bolt Head and Bolt Tail, past Bigbury Bay, to Mothecombe in the west, has earned a reputation for some prolific ray fishing and is easy to access in most areas. Follow the M5 southbound until it splits just past Exeter and take the A38. Leave the A38 on the A384, following signs for Totness. Next take the A381 to Kingsbridge and follow the signs for Salcombe. Once in Salcombe, follow Cliff Road in a south-westerly direction. If you have a Sat Nav, tap in TQ8 8LL, which leads to the South West Coastal Path, near Splatcove Point. From here there are many marks accessible on foot. TACKLE SHOP • Ashby’s Easy Stores, East Charleton, TQ7 2AP, tel:…

EVERY YEAR I SET MYSELF A TARGET to catch as many species as possible using LRF tactics, so now, as we approach the end the year, it is time to look back and see how it all panned out. During the last few years I’ve travelled all over the place to track down different species. However, I wanted to catch this myriad of species as close to home as possible, and concentrating on my local area paid off. Not only have I increased the species count, but also it has given me a fantastic knowledge of my local coastline and benefitted my fishing. By keeping written notes on when and where I caught the various species, I have gained a priceless insight into what is available and when. I managed…

1 Top rig for all cod fishing is the Pennell pulley. Its two-hook paternoster arrangement suits all rig styles. A large, long bait requires a Pennell, so there is a hook at each end. 2 Onshore westerly or south-westerly winds along the English Channel coast, Bristol Channel and South Wales are usually most productive for winter cod. Easterly and north-easterly winds are best on North Sea coasts. 3 A big bait is often the way to go when seeking big cod from shore or boat. A large bait won’t be taken by a smaller fish, but is harder to cast to long range. 4 Set up a feeding frenzy of whiting or dabs by consistent and accurate casting with a baited three-hook rig and, eventually, a big cod will muscle…

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: How long should my leader be for LRF? ALAN BOND, SOUTHEND, ESSEX AK & DS say: I would recommend roughly the span of your arms –…

Q: Can you please advise me on lure fishing for bass at night? MATTHEW DEAKIN, BY EMAIL HG says: While I am fairly new to catching bass on lures at night, I would advise you to fish the same sort of marks at the states of tide that you know can work for bass at other times of the day. I tend to like calmer conditions at night for bass fishing, but that is from my limited experience of doing it over in Ireland, where we have had some excellent fishing. I really like using the white senkos at night, and if there’s a bit too much chop on the water to fish them properly, switch to something like the IMA Komomo SF125, in the pollack colour especially. Q: Why…

WATERCRAFT IS UNDERSTANDING when and why certain things work, and then being able to repeat that with a degree of accuracy. It’s what separates the men from the boys in big-fish angling. Have you stopped to think why the term ‘big bait, big fish’ is true? A bigger bait is easier for a fish to locate, while any extra scent is a stronger attractant. But is that the whole picture? There are definite times to use bigger baits. Summer is a great time of year for species. The air is warm, the water is warm, food is plentiful and the species we target are frequently on the move, eating little and often. In winter many fish species become lazier, move around less and have an appetite for larger meals. I’m…

WITHOUT DOUBT, A WHOLE cuttlefish is one of the most consistent big-cod catchers along the south coast for boat anglers. It’s messy to prepare, but its catching qualities make it worthwhile. Being one of those ‘sit-and-wait’ baits, more often than not it’s a big fish that will take it. I quite often fish a whole cuttle on one rod while experimenting with other baits on another, but it is a waiting game. You’ll have whiting, dogfish and the like trying to nip bits off the cuttle, but, generally speaking, it will stay out there for a few hours before you need to wind in a rebait. There’s a nifty little variation on the theme, which is the baby cuttlefish. Rather than using a whole cuttle or severing it in half,…

• Europe’s first boat show, now in it’s 62nd year, will be taking place from January 8-17, 2016 in London. Be the first to see, and try, the latest boats, engines, kayaks and boating accessories for 2016 from among many of the world’s best boating-related brands. The popular London Boat Show is at ExCeL London and promises a stunning showcase of all things marine. The annual event, situated within ExCeL’s South hall, will host the latest launches, products and marine brands, as well as offer a wide range of activities that will entertain the whole family. There will be something to suit every taste and budget. Book your tickets either online at londonboatshow.com or by calling 0844 776 7766. Calls cost 5p per minute plus network extras. If you are…

IAN GOLDS SUPER WACKA BEACH ROD RRP: £350 I HATE THIS ROD! THERE, I’VE SAID IT…BUT hold on a minute, I only hate it because I like it so much, and that’s all to do with a couple of moans I have. When I first got my hands on the Super Wacka beach rod, a new creation from former world champ Ian Golds, who lives in Portsmouth, Hampshire, I must admit to being pleasantly surprised with it. It’s a two-piece, 14ft equal section outfit that is designed to work over all types of ground. The noticeable carbon cross-weave is evident throughout the blank, and I like it. Fitted with genuine Fuji ‘K’ guides that are whipped in metallic grey-like colours, it’s all rather understated and, again I do like that.…

IT SEEMS THAT ALMOST EVERY DAY SOME techno-minded boffin comes up with yet another application for the smartphone or tablet and, increasingly, this includes functions and features of use to anglers. Recently, I came across a funky little unit that will be of real interest to many sea anglers, especially those with their own small boats, or even kayaks. Manufactured by Vexilar and distributed throughout the UK by SMG Europe Ltd, of Plymouth, Devon, the Sonar Phone T-BOX (SP200), which costs £184, should be permanently mounted in a boat with access to a 12-volt power supply. As the name implies, SonarPhone turns your smartphone or tablet into a fully functional sonar system, using patented WiFi signal technology to transmit to smart phones or tablets. You don’t need cell phone coverage…

The traditional big cod grounds around the Isle of Wight are producing some large fish, including specimens of 32lb and 22lb. Brian Vincent, 74, from Southampton, was fishing the grounds off The Needles, aboard the Lymington charter boat Manta Ray, skippered by Terry Alan, when he caught a 32-pounder on a whole cuttlefish. The same area produced a 22-pounder for James Parker, of Bournemouth, Dorset, while aboard his own boat. Fishing with his pal Mark Brand, James caught seven of eight cod boated, and the duo added 15 rays, three congers and a trio of smoothhounds. During the session, on November 23, the pair caught spotted, thornback, blonde and undulate rays, with their best being an 18lb undulate for James. • Find out how to bait up with cuttlefish on…

Sea Angler contributor Alan Brown caught five rays to 14lb during a cod session at Selsey's east beach, West Sussex. The local angler arrived early on November 7 and headed for the Park Road end. Initially, Alan caught a few dogfish, but, while hoping to catch some cod, his next bite produced a surprise 7lb thornback ray to his squid/black lug wrap on a Pennell pulley rig. Ten minutes later he added a 10lb undulate ray on squid mounted on a up-and-over Pennell rig. As the tide started to move, he caught another undulate of 14lb, closely followed by a 10-pounder, both on squid/black lug wrap on up-and-overs. As the tide ebbed fast, Alan started to pack up, but caught a 12lb undulate on a squid bait. A nearby angler,…

THERE’S A TERM USED IN SEA MATCH fishing that says you’re only as good as your last match. In Geoff King’s case, it certainly rings true after his latest open match success. After winning the massively attended Newbiggin open just a week earlier, the Cramlington angler followed it up in style by taking the top honours in the Sonik Seaton Sluice open with a three-fish bag weighing 12lb 13oz 9dr. With a huge roving boundary, stretching from Tynemouth to Seahouses for the 170 anglers taking part, Geoff decided to return to one of his favourite rock marks at the small village of Cambois, near Blyth, in Northumberland. Using cocktail baits comprising of live and frozen peeler crabs, he coaxed two cod and a dogfish from the productive rough ground venue…

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... 1 Only matches fished at weekends and Bank Holidays can qualify for Penn points, but no other weekdays. 2 Multi-day festivals (maximum five days) will be accepted (one day must conform to rule 1), with points awarded for the overall result only. 3 All events must be open. League, pairs and team competitions are allowed if they have a separate individual event. 4 Matches only to be organised by an angling club with public liability insurance. 5 A maximum of six matches may be held by any one club or organiser per year. Federations get a maximum of 12 events. 6 All PSL nominated matches, date and details must be sent to Sea Angler magazine, by email only, two months in advance so they can…

IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT ENGLAND’S Youth and Junior anglers won three medals at the recent World Championships, and that we’ve obviously got some talented youngsters coming through the match fishing ranks. However, some people reckon there are fewer junior sea anglers these days, due to lots of other hobbies vying for their attention. It seems fresh sea air doesn’t hold as much appeal as playing computer games in the comfort of a warm house. While most of the guys I fish with took up the sport as youngsters, usually joining local clubs, I wonder what the future holds. It was a subject that sprang to mind during a recent codling session at Clacton, Essex. I had met my mate Matt Clark on a beach mark where local anglers…

WHAT’S NEW FOR BEACH ANGLERS BIGALOO 2016 SHELTER WITH DOOR Here’s an even larger version of the IGLoo beach shelter. Its new frame and shape gives a larger floor area up to 2.25 metres and big enough for two anglers and all of their tackle. Exceptionally easy to put up, even in high winds, it offers plenty of headroom so you can sit on your tackle box, even wearing a headlamp. You can even stand up in it! This shelter has full width doors and has enough room for you to lay down, even if you are tall, with plenty of space to spare. The BIGALOO 2015 Shelter with door costs £149.99. THE ULTIMATE CASTING MACHINE I have recently been redesigning my range of beach rods, and the first one…

GETTING THERE • To find Orford Quay, take the A12 out of Ipswich and follow the signs to Woodbridge. Take the A1152 until you see the signs for Orford then take the B1084 to the quay. There is a pay-and-display car park at the venue, as well as a small café with toilet facilities. THE FERRY • For more info on how to book your ferry across to the island from Orford Quay, contact: Peter West, Orford Marine Services, tel: 01394 459984 or 07900 230579. You can leave at 8am and be picked up at 4pm or, alternatively, you can be dropped off at 4pm and picked up the following morning at 8am if you prefer to fish throughout the night. FRIENDLY CLUB • Holt SAC hold regular friendly competitions…

AS I BATTLED MY WAY THROUGH heavy traffic heading for Branscombe on the South Devon coastline, I was more than a little apprehensive. Four days of bright sunshine and little wind had left the sea as flat as a pancake. With the exception of a few small wrasse, would anything be stirring in the gin-clear water? I was very doubtful. After negotiating a series of narrow twisting lanes leading to the car park at Branscombe, which lies midway between Seaton and Sidmouth, I met up with a trio of local anglers, Paul Munday, Scott Cooper and Andrew (Froggy) Franklin. A few minutes later, laden with gear, we stumbled out on to the beach and headed west for approximately 400 yards, just where the beach huts end. I sat pondering for…

EAST SCOTLAND Fishing should be consistent until the end of February, with codling caught from the rock marks all along the Aberdeenshire coast. Popular spots include Souter Head, but areas both north and south of this mark are good. Cove harbour should be good during heavy seas, while the high marks to the south of Cove should produce fish around the Gritter area. Inverbervie beach fishes well in a dying easterly sea. Be careful when fishing these marks, with local knowledge essential in some areas. There are reports of cod to 7lb at North Berwick beach, with flounders and turbot to 4lb at Portobello and Gullane beaches. • Mike’s Tackle Shop, 46 Edinburgh, tel: 0131 657 3258. NORTH EAST Cullernose Point should come into form for cod in January. There…

How many times have you done your best to predict sea conditions and water clarity, selected what bass lures you are going to take fishing with you, only to get to your spot and find your selection is unsuitable on the day? Frustrating? Maybe, but not if you are carrying a virtual tackle shop’s worth of lures. Some of us, I am sure, take our complete lure collection out fishing ‘just in case’. These days, however, I am trying to cut down what I take with me, even if at times that leaves me beating myself up over a pattern that I wished I had brought along, or even left behind to make more space for a different one. It’s fine if I am fishing a really shallow mark that…

• January: Long-spined scorpion, short-spined scorpion, coalfish and pollack. • February: Pollack, long-spined scorpion, short-spined scorpion and the first flounder of the year from my local harbour. • March: Scorpion fish, common blenny, coalfish, flounder and sea trout. • April: Flounder, rock goby, scorpion, codling, eelpout and sea trout. • May: Flounder, coalfish, scorpion, common blenny, corkwing wrasse, rock cook wrasse, ballan wrasse, sand smelt, pollack and codling . • June: Coalfish, pollack, flounder, scorpionfish, codling, common blenny, tompot blenny, sand smelt, corkwing wrasse, giant goby, turbot, lesser weever, flounder, ballan wrasse, launce, pouting, dragonet and bass. • July: Pollack, flounder, scorpionfish, plaice, mackerel, ballan wrasse, codling and coalfish. • August: Pollack, coalfish, sea trout, flounder, dab, corkwing wrasse, ballan wrasse and mackerel. • September: Pollack, coalfish, flounder, scorpionfish, mackerel,…

AN INTRIGUING question from Martin Avons, of Warminster, Wiltshire: “I’ve noticed that most casting techniques involve multiplier reels, so wondered what the best casting techniques for fixed-spool reels are?” Reel choice easily becomes a complex issue, so I’ll stick to the basics. Serious casters, whether field or beach, prefer multiplier reels and some variation of the pendulum style. Pendulum casting is generally better with a multiplier because the reel is more compact, better balanced, easier to grip and more comfortable than a fixed-spool reel flapping around on the rod handle. That is not to say that you can’t pendulum cast a fixed spool very well. NUISANCE On the beach, up to 130 metres at least, there is nothing to choose between the two reels distance-wise, however you cast. Yet the…

Q: As a newcomer, I’ve had fun feathering for mackerel from my local breakwater. But small fish nibble all of the bait, so how can I avoid this? IAN FERGUSON, PORT BANNATYNE, ISLE OF BUTE PF says: The simple solution is to change venue. If there are lots of tiny species at your mark, it’s probably a fact that there aren’t many bigger species around to terrorise them. Alternatively, try casting your bait further out away from the structure into deeper water. Bigger fish tend to take refuge near rocks or kelp, so targeting an area like this may just help you locate a bigger fish. Alternatively, switch to LRF tackle and tactics to enjoy catching these tiny species. There is a lot more to sea angling than feathering for…

A BONE CHILLING, NORTH-EASTERLY wind had whipped the surface of all but the most sheltered areas of Cork Harbour into a latte-like froth, with a leaden sky and occasional heavy bursts of rain adding to the picture of autumnal gloom. Ordinarily, I don’t suppose we would have gone fishing, most likely settling for a leisurely breakfast at our comfortable digs in the hotel Bella Vista, followed by a walk into Cobh town to visit the Titanic exhibition, then probably an early pint or two before heading back to the hotel bar. Time spent thus had infinitely more appeal than getting tossed about in small boats while chucking lures in the vain hope of catching a bass. That much of the south coast of Ireland has outstanding bass angling is no…

• Bass: Try a mackerel head (pictured) or whole squid. For livebait, I suggest a scad, fished hard on the bottom. • Cod: Sticking with livebaits, big cod find a live whiting irresistible in winter. In the summer when wreck fishing, try the biggest, brightest shad jigged close to the bottom. • Conger eels: Another unconventional deadbait is a mullet. Half a 1-2lb mullet fished hard on the bottom is deadly for big congers. • Flatfish and rays: Pile on the worm baits (pictured) and/or use big fish baits. Flappered launce and a long strip of garfish are two of my favourites. • The big brutes: For a huge conger, common skate or a shark, try stuffing a large fish, such as a 3-4lb pollack, full of fresh mackerel for…

THOUGH MY SUMMER WAS REALLY outstanding for its bass and smoothhound sport, I always look forward to anchoring up and sticking the baits hard on the seabed for cod. The kids were back at school in September, the bass had moved away from my inshore lure marks, the hounds were thinning out and the sea was filling with sprats and herring, the latter being what built Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft where I fish. Codling were moving inshore for the winter. I had not bait-fished for months, although it felt like years, and I had to find my heavier 12/20lb-class rods, lever-drag multipliers with the 40lb braid, size 2/0 and 4/0 running leger Pennell rigs and that bag of sinkers. I’d got a few leftover wraps of frozen blacks in the…

AS ELECTRONIC PLOTTERS, WITH high-definition screens, become the norm on even the smallest of private angling boats, many dinghy anglers neglect to carry a paper chart. When this is the case, eventually, you run the risk of becoming totally reliant upon your electronics, and coming unstuck if those electronics cease to function. Furthermore, in order to get the very best out of your electronics, it is useful to have a basic understanding of latitude, longitude, courses and bearings, and other key elements of coastal navigation, including being able to interpret what a chart is showing you. A good, large-scale chart of the area you are fishing can very quickly reveal a mass of incredibly useful information, which will certainly help you locate and catch fish – details such as the…

Former England shore international Ian Golds has recently been redesigning his range of beach rods. Just launched is the Golds 14ft Super Wacka, costing £350, which is made from ultra-high modulus graphite, as used in F1 racing cars, and created by one of the very few manufacturers able to work with this expensive material. It will launch a 7oz weight massive distances and can get both fish and tackle out of the roughest ground. It’s sure to become a classic. WANT TO WIN Go to www.gofishing.co.uk and click ‘Win’ in the toolbar to enter, and then locate the giveaway for the Super Wacka prize draw. Simply type in your email address and click ‘enter’ to be in with a chance of being of of the three lucky winners selected at…

WHEN A HIGHLY RESPECTED England international boat angler collaborates with an Italian tackle company, you can expect the end product to be something special. It was in 2013 that Bluezone Fishing Ltd was established by Neil Bryant, an experienced boat angler and two-times World Boat Team Champion, who now concentrates his efforts on managing the England boat squads. Having started the business as an agent for a number of high-quality brands that were introduced into the UK, since then the Bluezone brand has grown with the introduction of many of its own products. Now the impressive range caters for the entry-level angler right up to those who want exclusive, personally-designed rods handmade in Italy. Neil describes his Bluezone Telepower 300 rod as “the ultimate in lightweight telescopic rods suitable for…

• The Bembridge AC boat record for bass came within an ounce of being broken when member Martin Dye caught a specimen of 15lb 13oz 8dr. He was fishing in his own boat south of the Isle of Wight. The current club record of 15lb 14oz was set last year by John Racket, beating the previous best that had stood unbroken for 23 years. • A pirk baited with mackerel produced a 14lb 3oz bull huss for Evan McGovern, of Shanakiel, Co Cork, while fishing in Cork Harbour on November 1. • Team Breakaway from East Anglia won the Tronixpro National Sea League final, held at Eastbourne, East Sussex. Thirty teams from all over the UK fished in terrible weather conditions. Zziplex Match Squad were second and Prime Angling third.…

Jack Reece, chairman of the former National Federation of Sea Anglers from 1986 to 1999, has died. Aged 86, he passed away on November 2 at a care home in Hastings. A former policeman, who lived in Hastings, Jack led the investigation into Brighton’s Grand Hotel bombing in 1984. As a result, he received the Queen’s Police Medal. Born in Yorkshire in 1929, his father was a miner, who died in an accident, and his mother, who was originally from Hastings, returned to the town. Jack, who was married to his wife Daphne for 63 years, was a well known figure in angling and held several world records.…

A shore session on the River Thames, close to the Dartford Crossing, produced 11 cod to 8lb 8oz. Local angler Craig Williams arrived for a 6am start to fish the flood tide and set up two rods with Pennell rigs with size 4/0 hooks baited with frozen black lug. Casting one rig short and the other long, Craig got an instant bite and landed an 8lb 8oz fish, his first cod of the season. “Every cast resulted in a either a huge whiting to 37cm-plus or a cod. I couldn't believe what was happening,” said Craig, who, by high tide had five cod, the smallest weighing 4lb 2oz. “By the time I had run out of water I was up to 11 cod and 15 big whiting. It was an…

• Northern Ireland lad Ashley Martin caught this pollack weighing 6lb when he presented a Sidewinder lure. He was aboard Boy Matthew, out of his local harbour at Portstewart, Co Londonderry. • After reading a feature on pumping lug in Sea Angler, Toby Kinder was inspired to go out and collect his own bait prior to a session on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Presenting his worms on a single-hook rig, the 11-year-old, from Huddersfield, was rewarded with this ballan wrasse. • Carmen Dewing, from Wangford, Suffolk, used a lug and squid cocktail to catch this 8lb 8oz cod while on a charter trip out of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, aboard High Flyer. • Eleven-year-old Jack Towns, who made the journey from his home in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, to…

Match winner Geoff King with his three fish that included a good cod weighing 7lb 14oz  Hartlepool angler Michael Gibbon fished Hauxley to finish second with 12lb 2oz 4dr Sunderland’s Lee Burton chose Seahouses and bagged the heaviest cod at 7lb 15oz Chris Stringer, from Whitley Bay, battles against the kelp at Cullernose Point Newbiggin SAC member Ryan Smailes won the junior section with a total of 7lb 4oz 4dr Geoff King with his trophy and cash prize after his second open win in two weeks…

WHAT IS A PENN PLUS MATCH? Extra points to 10th place overall will be awarded for designated Penn Sea League events, chosen by Sea Angler magazine. DECEMBER • 19: Weymouth Angling Society Christmas fayre, Chesil centre, 2pm-8pm, Dave 07977 132951. • 20: Blackdown SAC open, 11am-3pm, sign in from 9am at the Blue Anchor Hotel, Ryan 07500 966999. • 20: Open competition, Elie io St Andrews, noon-6pm, register 9am onwards at Anstruther Golf Club, George Harris 07801 951805 or Rab Kelly 07704 672899. • 27: Weymouth Angling Society bangers and beans harbour open, 2pm-7pm, book in from 12.30pm in clubhouse, last bag 7.30pm, Dave 07977 132951. • 27: Watkin Jones charity open, Foryd, Caernarvon, 3pm-7pm, £10 entry, pools, prize table, Mike 07775 846712 or Steve 07526 979873. • 27: Gower…

Livebaiting for cod has always been a top method for catching bigger cod from the shore or a boat. For instance, early in the New Year at Dungeness, in Kent, the cod diet turns mainly to fish before they move offshore to breed. Using live fish is a good tactic, particularly when fishing in front of the power station up as far as Dengemarsh. Lots of winter cod are caught when anglers bait up with lugworms and, unnoticed, a whiting takes it. Later, if you are lucky, the rod tip pulls over as the cod nails the whiting. I’ve found that by using a standard Pennell rig, as you do for lug baits, lots of cod are lost because the top hook is too far up the snood to hook…

John-Baptiste Colbert, Finance Minister to King Louis XIV, said: “The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest amount of feathers with the least possible amount of hissing,” The EU Commission fishery managers are trying to reduce bass landings to a sustainable level as quickly as possible, with the minimum of squawking from EU Member State Fisheries Ministers, commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. On November 10 the EU Commission published its proposals for the Council of Ministers to consider on December 14-15 (after this issue of Sea Angler went to press). These proposals have caused much confusion for two reasons. Firstly, the press release states that in the first half of 2016 there will be no fishing for bass by commercial vessels targeting…