Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 605 i Sea Angler

TOP VENUE The location where Steve caught this huge halibut is literally a stone’s throw away from the apartments at Saltstraumen Brygge. Renowned for its big halibut, this mark also produces some really big cod and coalfish. In actual fact, the current world record shore-caught coalfish, weighing a massive 50lb, was caught from this particular mark in 1995. One thing that makes this location in Saltstraumen so special is the fact it’s located next to the world’s largest maelstrom. A maelstrom is an amazing natural phenomenon, which in basic terms can be described as a fierce vortex of water that creates huge whirlpools. The velocity of the maelstrom eases up for one hour either side of low tide. Such an energy of water creates a nutrient-rich ecosystem full of baitfish,…

GETTING THERE I travelled with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) via Oslo and the Norwegian Airlines connecting route to Tromso. There are various accommodation options available with Wild Pursuits. I stayed at the Reisastua salmon lodge where Jonny Stephenson manages all the aspects of the fishing. The lodge is only 40 minutes from the fishing boats and transport is provided to and from the lodge, as well as the local airport. I could have stayed at the fjord’s beach houses with the advantage of being adjacent to the fishing boats. The boats are set up for two anglers and one guide. Jonny can accommodate a maximum of six guests (three boats). Details of the fishing packages, guiding, tackle hire, airport transfers/ collection, and accommodation can be obtained from Jonny’s website (www.wild-pursuits.co.uk) or…

GETTING THERE Take the A4055 from Penarth towards Barry and turn off into Beach Road, which leads down to the coast, signposted to the Captain’s Wife public house. Park in the pub car park near to the access point to the causeway (there is a nominal fee during summer, which is redeemable on food and drink in the pub). It’s a bit of a scramble down from the Monkey Pole to the fishing ledge below, so be sure to wear suitable footwear. TACKLE SHOPS ■ Holton Road Angling, 242 Holton Rd, Barry, CF63 4HS, tel: 01446 679284. ■ Anglers Supplies, 172 Penarth Rd, Cardiff, CF11 6NL, tel: 02920 220723. ■ Garry Evans, 105-109 Whitchurc.h Rd, Cardiff, CF14 3JQ, tel: 02920 619828…

GETTING THERE The River Teign is located north of Torquay and flanked by Teignmouth and Shaldon. An easy approach is on the A380 and A381. The Teign estuary begins on the open sea side of the Ness Headland, which is accessed by a steep descending tunnel carved through it to the beach. The Boatyard beach is on the Teignmouth side above the bridge. Flow Point is accessed by a lane from the A381 (Teignmouth Road). Red Rocks beach is further upstream and reached by walking a pathway cutting opposite a car sales unit eventually bringing you to a railway crossing and the beach. On the Shaldon side is the caravan site next to Gravel Point. Further along is Charlie’s Beach, while Coombe Cellars is upstream from a car park near…

LYTHAM ST ANNES IS THE RATHER quiet neighbour to the brash Blackpool approximately five miles away. It is on the Ribble estuary and once had a thriving shrimping and salmon netting community. The area where the fishermen leave their boats and park their tractors is a safe and popular venue to target the flounders which can be caught in good numbers here. SEASONAL SPECIES Flounders start to increase in numbers in the spring and tend to peak when the crabs first start to peel. Traditionally anglers tend to fish mostly April to September, when concentrations of fish are at their highest. Other species are bass, eels, occasional plaice and soles, with winter producing flounders and some whiting. TACTICS The area consists of patches of mud, pebbles and mussels. Owing to…

WHEN SAT IN THE STIFLING heat of a Middle Eastern desert, helicopters and aircraft taking off 24/7 and the constant hubbub when on military operations, it was an easy decision to decide I needed a fishing holiday. But I needed to solve the where and when. I’ve had been very lucky to enjoy fishing around the world and have caught giant trevally, tuna, jacks, wahoo and others from Cape Verde, Zanzibar, The Azores, Mauritius and the Caribbean, but these had been fleeting glimpses into the world of overseas destination angling, often at the wrong time of year or done on an opportune basis. My father George’s birthday was approaching and we had a few ideas. Ascension Island had always been on my bucket list but we were not so keen…

Contains clear, concise, easy to follow step-by-step knot-tying illustrations by Andy Steer of recommended sea fishing/big game fishing knots and set-ups. This publication should help you to gain a solid base of reliable, tried and tested knots, enabling you to land more fish. It will also help you protect the environment and save money by losing less tackle. Disclaimer: No responsibility in any way is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.Paperback: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9071747271/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9M.MFbWMHPV9S eBook:www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S72QYX0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_FK.MFbZ4TKN89…

SHAKESPEARE SALT XT MX SURF RRP: £109.99 When distance, distance, distance was the driving force behind my choice of rods, I’d spend whatever it took to get the best. That was fine at the time and I have no regrets. What I do regret is that somewhere along the line I and other serious casters may have sown the seeds of what’s now a widespread conviction among beach fishermen, inexperienced ones especially, that only a top-end rod will do. The vast majority of budget beachcasters are fine. They cast and fish well. They’re easy to live with, won’t fall apart any time soon and you don’t need a mortgage to own one. Some prices are so low that you wonder how the pole in question can possibly be any good.…

With the 2021 Penn Sea League final standings due soon, are you registered to compete for a share in the annual £10,000 worth of prizes during the 2022 season? If you haven’t registered before, now’s the chance to qualify for the annual prizes. In addition, there is a monthly prize of a Penn reel for the angler scoring the most points for matches covered in each issue. Annual Penn tackle voucher prizes remain at £9,000, along with £1,000 for the winner of the annual Penn Final. The event will run in line with shore match events within the calendar year (January to December). In 2022, the League will be administered on behalf of Sea Angler by the Sea Anglers Match Federation (SAMF) and returns to one division. Therefore, the annual…

After catching what is potentially the new world record shore-caught halibut, Steve Ace landed another amazing fish during his latest trip to Norway. This massive 44lb 3oz coalfish isn’t far off a world record itself, the current record stands a 50lb and that was also caught at Saltstraumen back in 1995 Steve caught this coalfish on an 11cm rhubarb and custard Savage Cannibal shad. By all accounts the action was incredible, kicking off in the last half hour of daylight. It all started off when Steve spotted some major disturbance on the surface of the water and this turned out to be larger predatory fish smashing some smaller coalfish. Lures were cast in among the melee and the action was instant. Several coalfish around the 16-17lb bracket were immediately landed…

BACK IN 2014 , I WAS ROC fishing on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, targeting big black bream, when my old mate Gary Alner was light rock fishing. I hadn’t seen anyone do it and I was less than impressed as he pulled out micro-species. I kept telling him to get a bream bait out, as they’d be feeding soon but he carried on, relaxed and enjoying the fun on light gear. I hooked two bream in quick succession, one of 3lb 12oz (a personal best), which fought insanely hard, making me think it could be a big bass. At the time, I giggled at Gary for messing about in rock pools. The bream was the biggest he’d seen in person, so he regretted his choice but, in hindsight, perhaps I was…

GETTING THERE Approach from Porthmadog on the A497. At the roundabout in the centre of the town, turn left which takes you to another roundabout and the promenade. There is a car park running west along the front. Alternatively, turn left at the small roundabout as you come to the promenade, continue through the housing estate and you’ll come to a small car park on the right by the yacht club building with boat buildings on your left. This gives access to Gimlet Rock but beware of getting your car blocked in during tourist season. TACKLE SHOPS ■ D & E. Hughes, 24 Penlan Street, Pwllheli, LL53 5DE, tel: 01758 613291.…

AT THE HEAD OF FILEY BAY ON THE coastline of North Yorkshire is a short finger-like spit poking into the North Sea. Known as the Brigg, it is popular with shore anglers who fish it on an ebbing tide. It offers the choice of jumping on to various marks along its length and casting into deep, food-rich water. This is what many call rock hopping. Once spring arrives and the first moult of shore crabs occurs, it is the ground in front of you that is important, not the sea conditions. Indeed, a flat calm sea can be really productive. The beauty of the Brigg is adopting different tactics for various species and it really pays off. There is even some scope for a bit of Light Rock Fishing. The…

ON OCCASIONS THE VAST SANDY beaches at Southbourne can be frustrating but given suitable tidal and weather conditions they do provide some superb action. The Gordon’s Zigzag section is directly opposite Clifton Road, midway between Fisherman’s Walk and Solent Meads. It is one of many zigzag paths down from the cliff top to the beach. Towards the tail end of November, I sampled some typical action during two trips within a few days. Accompanied by Chris Rogers and Steve Lawrence, our first sortie was in flat calm conditions with small-eyed rays the only species caught during a five-hour session. It certainly did not show the venue’s full potential, although Chris Rogers did land a personal best small-eyed weighing just over 10lb. Our second visit only a few days later coincided…

GETTING THERE Approaching Lytham from Blackpool or Preston you take the A584. Seafield Road is just on the Blackpool side of the Lowther Pavilion. The postcode is FY8 5PY. There is parking in Seafield Road and Fairlawn Road. Walk across the road ,over the green and down the slip ,and the venue is in front of you. TACKLE SHOPS ■ Blackpool Angling Centre, 328-330 Church St, Blackpool, FY1 8QH, tel: 01253 283456. ■ Bispham Angling, 7 Red Bank Rd, Blackpool, FY2 9HR, tel: 01253 358194.…

BASS ■ Shore: 19lb 13oz 8dr John Locker ■ Boat: 19lb 4oz Wayne Milton BLACK BREAM ■ Shore: 5lb 5oz 1dr C Le Monnier ■ Boat: 6lb 6oz Tony Heart COUCH’S BREAM ■ Shore: 2lb 15oz 1dr Lynton Carre ■ Boat: 7lb Becky Lee Hodges GILTHEAD BREAM ■ Shore: 9lb 8oz Scott Smy ■ Boat: 10lb 2oz Roger Simcox PANDORA’S BREAM ■ Shore: 1lb 2oz Baz Wheater RAY’S BREAM ■ Shore: 6lb 1oz Jordan Colwell RED BREAM ■ Boat: 6lb 4oz Patrick Meegan BRILL ■ Shore: 6lb 12oz Mark Griggs ■ Boat: 13lb 10oz Tony Hayward BULL HUSS ■ Shore: 21lb 9oz M Urquhart ■ Boat: 23lb D Nicholson BALLAN WRASSE ■ Shore: 9lb 4oz Darren Swift ■ Boat: 9lb Glen Carter CUCKOO WRASSE ■ Shore: 1lb 13oz Joe Edward…

MOST EXPERIENCED BOAT owners take pride in their knowledge of seamanship and being able to tie nautical knots should be considered as a basic skill. Tying the correct knot quickly and efficiently makes life afloat a lot easier, no more so than when the time comes to untie the knot. It should be easy to tie, easy to release and should serve its purpose without damaging the line. There are many reasons why you need to be able to tie a knot or two during a typical day’s fishing. Knowing which one to tie can be the difference between losing a £20 fender or perhaps the rubby-dubby bag just as the sharks are starting to show an interest in your slick. Imagine returning to a moored boat only to find…

JAMES MADSEN Bristol Channel angler James Madsen is here to solve all your shore angling problems. MARK CRAME Suffolk-based Mark gets a thrill from fishing afloat on a kayak. Send him your kayaking queries. BEN BASSETT The Plymouth angler and blogger will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. HENRY GILBEY Angler, blogger and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, is our lure expert. HOW TO ASK A US QUESTION ■ Email: sa.ed@kelsey. co.uk or online: www. facebook.com/ seaanglermag By asking a question you are giving us permission to use your name and where you live in all versions and platforms of this magazine.…

Q I am new to dinghy fishing in winter. Should l wear a lifejacket as well as a flotation suit or would 300 Newtons be too much buoyancy? GRAHAM SHEPHERD, BY EMAIL DL says: A lifejacket is essential as its buoyancy, when inflated, ensures an unconscious person floats face upwards in the water. A standard 150N lifejacket will be more than adequate and, yes, you can wear it on top of your flotation suit. Q I prefer a two-piece flotation suit but is it safer to have a one piece. Surely if you went overboard the water would enter the suit and you would lose body temperature quicker, or am I missing the point? PHIL GODWIN, HAVANT, HAMPSHIRE DL says: Two-piece suits are more practical for fishing in the summer…

If you want to fish at extreme range and require your bait to arrive on the seabed in reasonable shape, then you have to stop the rig flapping around as it travels through the air. This is where bait clips are required. Clever innovations have seen rig components improve rapidly to allow anglers to clip down their hook snoods to gain those extra yards that can boost your results on some occasions. Clipping a hook snood close to the rig body ensures there is less drag and wobble during the flight after casting. Here we’re showing you the simple one-hook version of a clipped down rig, which is ideal for many fish, including bass, cod, rays, smoothhounds and much more, but always choose the correct hook size to match the…

SHAKESPEARE SALT XT MX SURF ROD RRP: £119.99 The Shakespeare Salt XT Long Surf is designed with a very powerful but slim blank to deliver maximum casting distance with both mono and braided lines. Rated to cast four to eight ounces, the three-piece rod is 12ft 9in long. By using a high grade carbon, the blank is very slim and responsive but has still plenty of power to launch your rig a long way. The tip offers outstanding bite detection, while the mid and butt section has the power to reach maximum casting distance with the easier overhead or off-the-ground casts, as well as fight a big fish. The rod has K-type guides lightweight guides, X-Shrink wrap casting grip and high-quality DPS reel seat. ■ Website: Shakespeare-fishing.co.uk SEA MATCH FISHING…

JANUARY 2012 ■ The drive from Cardiff to Dungeness proved worthwhile for Glyn Lewis when he caught a 21lb 10oz cod on a livebait. He fished a pulley dropper rig with a size 6/0 main hook with a 1/0 hook baited with black lug to catch a livebait. ■ Former Parliamentary angling spokesman, Martin Salter was appointed as the national campaigns co-ordinator for the Angling Trust. ■ Bournemouth garage owner Nigel Allen caught a personal best 30lb 4oz cod when fishing from his own boat out of Christchurch Harbour. Earlier in the session he’d caught a 20-pounder. ■ The magazine announced that Michael McManus, managing director of the Sussex-based rod company Cono-flex died on his 90th birthday. His sons Aidan and Stephen had been running the company, which started as…

Such an enormous fish certainly puts fishing tackle through its paces. Steve’s set-up obviously proved to be more than up for the task of landing a potentially new world record shore-caught halibut. The rod was a Century Fireblade, but maybe not the same rod which initially springs to your mind. This was the original 13ft Fireblade, which is now 30 years old. Made from high modulus carbon kevlar, it has an integrated GT tip, along with loads of power in the mid and butt section of the rod. Thirty years ago this was a top of the range, high performance rod from Century and would have cost you around £300. The reel was a Shimano Torium 20HG, which is actually a boat fishing multiplier that Steve has modified with a…

ONCE IN A WHILE I RUN INTO A lure fan who is dismissive of beach fishing. “Stick on a bait, chuck it out, wait and see. Where’s the skill?” There are surf anglers who fish for bass like that: a wired lead weight, tripod, comfortable seat and a cup of tea while they watch their tip-lights. I think we all should enjoy our sport the way we fancy but, if you really want to catch bass, you’re missing a trick or two because all my double-figure bass have come when surf fishing. Surf fishing calls for at least as much watercraft and skill as the promontories and weedy bays where I take my lure rod. It’s just a bit less obvious. With lures, you need to know your terrain, where…

GETTING THERE The Gordon’s Zigzag section (BH6 3PA) is midway between Fisherman’s Walk and the more popular Solent Meads. Driving along the Southbourne Overcliff Drive there is free roadside parking directly opposite Clifton Road, from where it is a five-minute walk down the zigzag path to the sandy beach. TACKLE SHOPS ■ 914 Tackle, 914 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH7 6DL, tel: 01202 463313. ■ Christchurch Angling Centre, 7-8 Castle Parade, Iford, Bournemouth, BH7 6SH, tel: 01202 48054…

MANY ANGLERS SPEND ELEVEN and a half months saving their cash for that big fishing trip, either in the UK or a Scandinavian adventure chasing huge coalfish and cod. My guilty fishing pleasure started 17 years ago at a fairly tender age of 23 when I headed to the West Indies. I’d heard Tobago had some pretty tasty fishing, which was one of the many reasons for venturing to this tropical haven. That initial trip was more of a romantic reconnaissance mission. My girlfriend at the time seemed convinced that it was just a fishing holiday for me rather than a romantic break together. It was difficult to argue when I was standing agog staring at gargantuan tarpon porpoising only a few feet from the edge of the beach. This…

Cold saltwater fishing on the drift with shads or pirks in spring, summer and autumn fishing opens up two fabulous destinations, North Norway and north-west Iceland. Wonderful places in their own right for superb scenery, they see little angling pressure. Most centres have tackle for sale or hire, although clients often take their own travel rods. All flights to Norway change in Oslo and it is a two-hour flight for each leg of the journey. SAS is the recommended airline, departing from Heathrow and some regional airports. Prime species at the well-equipped and friendly sea fishing centres includes big cod, halibut, coalfish and haddock. Quality plaice can be caught in the shallower sandy bays. Fishing is from self-use boats, therefore one person in the group must have boat operation experience.…

BASS BOAT ■ Leyton Higgins, Southampton, 13-2*, Isle of Wight, Nov 14 (picture in Young Rods, page 66) ■ Dave Phillips, Bournemouth, 15-10*, Poole, Nov 19 BASS SHORE ■ Dan Jameson, Eastbourne, 10-2*, Eastbourne Pier, Dec 5 ■ Hayley Reeve, Minehead, 9-4, Abersoch, Nov 19 ■ Ben Sellar, Telscombe Cliffs, 16-2*, Hove, Nov 27 BULL HUSS BOAT ■ Bobi Francis, Bournemouth, 14-4*, Poole, Nov 29 BULL HUSS SHORE ■ Robbie Gratton, Barry, 9-4*, West Wales, Nov 28 ■ Gary Knott, Torquay, 9-8*, Blackpool Sands, Dec 4 ■ Kev Madeley, Paington, 10-3*, Torbay, Nov 26 COD BOAT ■ Phil Bevan, Cardiff, 12-0, Cardiff, Dec 12 ■ Glyn Burniston, Barry, 13-15, Penarth, Nov 20 ■ John Butler, Chippenham, 16-9, Cardiff, Dec 10 ■ Danny Rouse, Leigh-on-Sea, 23-8, Minehead, Nov 29 ■ Kev…

ALTHOUGH NOT A RARE SPECIES OF shark, sixgills are infrequently encountered by anglers other than at a few destinations where they are targeted. Primarily this is due to the depth of water where these fish mostly live, which is usually well offshore. However, fish in those areas and your chance of success is high. The sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) can grow to 26ft in length and the current IGFA world record is held by a fish of 1,298lb caught in 2002 off Ascension Island. Many much larger fish have undoubtedly been caught and released. The sixgill or bluntnose is the world’s largest hexanchoid shark, that is a species with only one dorsal fin, either six or seven gill slits and no nictitating membrane in the eyes. TOP TACTICS When hooked the…

Q How do you go about deciding what species to target at each individual venue? RICH WESTHORPE, VIA FACEBOOK BB says: Normally by research. When I’m trying out a new venue I often Google the place or speak to anglers who have been there. Even comments by bait anglers can give me an idea of the species prospects. If I’m going without preparation then it’s about surveying the ground on arrival. As a rule, sand or mud with little snags means flatfish, gurnards and gobies, while weedy, rocky ground means wrasse, pollack and blennies. I can then tailor my approach to suit these species. There’s no point fishing for something that isn’t there, that’s why it’s important to adapt your approach for each mark. Q How would I go about…

1 Cut a length of 80lb mono line for you rig body, allowing enough for it to be about 80cm long after tying two knots. 2 Tie a Gemini Genie rig clip on one end, followed by a crimp, SRT spring, bead, 45lb snood swivel and bead. Now secure them all on the rig body by tying on an 80lb mainline swivel. 3 Tie a length of 40lb mono on the 45lb snood swivel. Cut enough line to allow for a knot for the hook, remembering it will need to finish the about the same length as the rig body. Then tie on the hook of your choice. 4 Add a lead weight to the Genie clip, attach the hook to the bend in the clip and slide all the…

If you’re looking for a distance casting multiplier, look no further than the Abu Ambassadeur 6500 C3 CT Premium Mag Elite for top performance and durability. Even more attractive is you can save £80 with this reader offer. This version of the 6500 C3 is a step up in performance, having seen a complete overhaul with new designs for the gearing, spool and drag construction, which are said to give a 30 per cent improvement on the very popular original reel. Incorporating a six-pin centrifugal braking system and Abu Garcia’s magnetic casting control, the Premium Mag Elite is very user-friendly. HPCR stainless steel bearings, a carbon matrix drag system that is almost impossible to wear out and strong Durabrass gears are only a few reasons why this multiplier is a…

RODS AND REELS  Late January, February and March can be the most difficult of times to catch shore fish. It’s called the “scratching” season because you’re likely to be fishing for the odd bite or two from smaller fish left inshore while the bigger fish are offshore on spawning duty. Here are some simple suggestions regarding tackle that can help you keep catching through this period. MAINLINE AND SHOCKLEADER Load the bigger fixed-spool reels with 20lb braid and add a 60lb braid shockleader to take the casting pressure. The thin diameter of the 20lb braid adds a lot of extra distance to your normal cast. It also has next to no stretch so bite detection is at its optimum so you can detect even the smallest of fish. On the…

COD OPEN Humber Bridge to Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, 40 anglers Most of the competitors in this single biggest cod rover match on the south bank of the Humber opted for the wall but a few travelled upriver trying for a bigger cod. As was expected the top ten all came from the wall as 11 anglers managed to weigh in a cod, with two Brian McKenzie and Adie Cooper both catching two each. Winner was Gary Baldrey with a codling of 4lb 11oz, with Andy Bates second with a fish of 3lb and Frank Sparkes getting a 2lb 9oz codling for third. ■ Result: 1 Gary Baldrey, Hull, 4-11-0 (10pts); 2 Andy Bates, Louth, 3-0-0 (9); 3 Frank Sparkes, Grimsby, 2-9-0 (8); Jt 4 Simon Currie, Waltham & Simon…