Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Sea Angler

One of the joys of working for Sea Angler is discovering new things from unexpected places that will interest you, our wonderful readers. This month was just such an occasion when I was reading Arthur Van Tienen’s piece on the evolution of hybrid beach rods and came across the Dutch term for fishing with hybrid, multi-tip rods. The English translation for this is sea ‘feeders’ or sea ‘ledger’ rods due to the similarity with feeder, or ledgering, rods in coarse fishing. As with most things in any sport, technological developments and trends tend to be driven by the elite competitors which then trickle down to the grass roots. Fishing is no different and it’s the international competition scene which seems to have driven the trend towards lighter, multi-tip hybrid rods.…

A sharp reduction in engine revs stirred me from a deep sleep and with bleary eyes I glanced at my watch; it was a little after six in the morning. Half climbing, half falling out of my comfortable cocoon, I stumbled my way across a mountain of fishing and camera equipment, making my way towards the vertical wooden ladder providing access to the deck above, and made my way to the port gunwale. There I took several deep breaths in an attempt at purging the rank odour of stale fish, sweat and the inevitable whiff of diesel from below decks that had been almost overwhelming. A snap of frost hung in the still air, this being late September, but thankfully the sky was clear and just as we had been…

So many anglers can relate to fishing next to another angler; you have cast in virtually the same place, and he goes home with more fish than you by a significant margin. When it happens, there are few things more frustrating. It’s a cop-out to put it down to luck; the reasons are often much more scientific. In my time fishing, I have learned that even the smallest details can profoundly affect your catch conversion rates. But what are those details? WATERCRAFT It may look like he or she is cast in a similar spot to you, but are they? Is there an underwater gully, a reef, a back eddy, a mussel bed or some other fish-holding feature that means they are in the thick of the fish and you…

Lure fishing in late winter and early spring can be some of the most challenging angling you can find in the UK. Even in LRF (light rock fishing) where we target almost anything, the pickings can be slim when the sea is at its coldest. During these times, it is easy to stick to what we know, using our usual artificial baits like Berkley Gulp or Marukyu Isome. But there is a thrill in the challenge of trying new lures, in new ways, but you have to pick your moments carefully; and on one late February evening, I picked the right moment to encounter some of the stranger harbour inhabitants. SUTTON HARBOUR Making a mockery of last summer’s drought, this winter has been a deluge of rain. The two rivers…

In association with HOW TO ENTER Email only to sa.ed@kelsey.co.ukPlease supply these details: angler’s name, age, address, telephone number, email, type of FISH, weight of FISH, where caught, DATE caught, BAIT/rig, whether caught from shore or boat, if from charter boat, give name of boat, port and skipper. Please state if the FISH was retained or returned. Send us your entries and win some great prizes ■ SHORE LURE OPTION: Solaris 4000 or 5000 reel, RRP: £60, Epixor 15-50g rod RRP: £80 ■ SHORE LURE OPTION: Solaris 4000 or 5000 reel, RRP: £60, Epixor 15-50g rod RRP: £80 ■ BOAT: Classic CLX, RRP: £60 Cortez Boat Rod, RRP: £90 ■ SHORE BAIT OPTION: DSA reel RRP: £60, Wave Power surf rod, RRP: £80 YOUR TARGETS... Catch a FISH on this…

Fishing from Eastbourne is some of the most varied in the channel – and since the Government sanctioned the introduction of a Marine Conservation Zone in a 195km² box from Beachy Head to Hastings, skirting round the now decommissioned Sovereign Lighthouse, the variety and numbers of fish do seem to have improved noticeably. There are hundreds of private recreational angling boats accessing the area and four charter boats operating from Eastbourne Marina. Two of these boats, Deep Blue and Manx Belle, often operate as a team running species hunting competitions throughout the spring and summer. A variety of fishing clubs and groups come to Eastbourne to take part in these events, and I was lucky enough to get out on one of these with the Hampshire Police Angling Club. The…

Red gurnard are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean ranging from southern Scotland, and very occasionally Norway, south to Mauritania, including the Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands. They are also found throughout the Mediterranean. They are typically caught in depths ranging from 50ft to over 1000ft, although their usual range is 100-800ft. Favoured habitat includes a seabed consisting of sand or gravel, especially sand and shingle banks, although red gurnards are occasionally caught over rocky or even muddy ground. The British record is held by a fish caught at Falmouth in 2011; it weighed just over 3lb 2oz. Tub gurnard are often wrongly identified as being red gurnard as both species are predominantly red in colour. With a little experience accurately distinguishing between these two species should not…

REVIEW If you don’t already, can I suggest you start using slush ice? Whether it’s to keep your bait frozen, or your catch fresh, the appliance of this little piece of science must be right up there in the list of ‘most useful tips’ for sea anglers. It’s also so stupidly simple: simply mix ice (preferably crushed) with sea water in roughly equal parts. The magic happens because the salt depresses the freezing point of water before it turns to ice. Saltwater can actually get to -21°C before if freezes. What that means for us is super-cooled saltwater slush that is perfect for keeping bait, and your prize catch, in near perfect condition – colder than ice but not frozen. It’s used by commercial fishing boats to keep their catches…

Check out the step-by-step video at: youtu.be/0Lx3yhd-MGI WIRE LEADER KNOT - MONO If you are looking for an easy-to-tie knot for heavy-duty fishing, without the need for any additional or specialist tools, then the wire leader knot creates a super-reliable connection from a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to a wire leader without the need for crimp sleeves or a crimping tool. Here’s exactly how to tie it. Step-by-step A. Create a double overhand knot in the wire trace before lubricating it and tightening to form a figure of eight knot. B. Pass the mono or fluoro line through both loops of the figure of eight. C. Pull tightly on both ends of the wire, using pliers if you have them, until the wire tightens around the mono or fluoro.…

TM: You’ve been fishing for a long time – what got you hooked on fishing all those years ago? CC: My fishing adventures first started at the age of six using a World War Two tank aerial as a rod trying to winkle out some wild brownies from the local brook. This set me out on a 70 year angling journey. I was ten when I sampled my first sea fishing sortie, a trip out from Falmouth on a charter boat; the first sea fish I caught was a humble pouting. While hooked on angling at a young age I did not start match fishing until after I got married in 1971. TM: As a former World Champion angler, you have a long history in match angling. Which of the…

I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked over the last six decades which fish gave me the greatest pleasure and satisfaction in landing. The one that stands head and shoulders above the rest is the 3lb 14oz plaice I was lucky enough to catch whilst fishing one late summer on a rock mark at the head of the Gower Peninsula. This event was memorable because not only was it so unexpected, but it was also my first plaice and although it wasn’t particularly big, it was a nice size. At the time, I was in fact fishing for smoothhound using a cocktail of peeler crab and king ragworm mounted on a 2/0 hook. Judging by the distinct bend of my rod, the pronounced bouncing…

SHORE TOPE May is a good month to target early shore tope off the deep-water rock ledges. It will be mainly pack tope to 25lb, but there’s always the chance of bigger fish too. TIDE TALK The smaller to middle sized tides from the 13th to the 21st offer a wide window, but the rising tides between the 17th and the 20th look prime. The dropping tides from the 27th to 31st could also produce if the weather is settled with light winds. These tides offer a reduced tide flow that produces more small fish activity and a greater chance of tope being present. Tope typically show from low water slack and for the first three hours of the new flood. The first hour being the peak period on many…

In association with £25 TACKLE VOUCHER WINNERS Fishingmegastore.com awards a £25 voucher prize to each of two winners - the youngster with the best shore fish and another with the top boat catch. The winners can use the voucher to select tackle from Fishingmegastore.com which is based in Glasgow and Edinburgh. ■ Send your Young Rods entries by email to sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

The winter months keep most of us off the water. We can’t go boat fishing, all we can do is think about it, watch videos, read magazines, books and dream about that big fish. When we do come out of this the first thing you’ll be asking is: is my boat ready for a new season? Every year it’s important to do some vital checks on the boat, and so here are a few tips to follow including advice on safety equipment you will need. Some of this is relevant to smaller dinghy owners, some of it to all boaters. Whatever kind of boat you have, make sure you run through the check list to ensure you enjoy your angling in 2024. 1. CHECKING THE HULL, CLEANING AND TIDYING UP…

ASK THE EXPERTS When sending your question, please remember to include your name and address CHRIS KENNEDY Chris is a specimen hunting specialist based on Sark and answers shore fishing questions. DAVID MITCHELL David is Sea Angler’s editor and is an expert on sea angling policy and conservation . 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. BRIAN PASK Brian is a qualified sea angling coach and casting tutor who works with young people and experienced anglers to improve their fishing skills. SHORE ANGLING Q I have broken…

Anyone unfortunate enough to have a personality type which is predisposed to addictive behaviour would be well advised to steer clear of this funny little boat rod. At just six feet long this one-piece micro jigging rod looks like a bit of fun but nothing to be taken too seriously as a piece of kit to fish afloat with. Essentially, it’s an LRF boat rod, rated to fish lures up to 40g, for a bit of fun with mackerel, wrasse and the whole myriad of micro-fish that LRF specialists and species hunters get inappropriately hot under the collar about – isn’t it? Well, yes – and it does that job finely. The first sign that you may be developing a habit could be, like me, when you find yourself with…

I pretty much live and die in waders. As a saltwater fly angler they enable me to close the gap on the fish I’m targeting, whilst allowing me to stand for hours on end in waist-deep water without the fear of resulting hypothermia – wet wading has its place during the finer summers, but it’s a rare thing for the water to be that balmy (and that’s not even addressing the issue of chafing!). My waders are therefore an absolutely essential piece of kit, but they take quite a beating too. Saltwater, sand, rocks, barnacles, fishing on my knees – it’s undeniably punishing on fabrics, seams and water-resistance. OPINION SPLIT For saltwater fly and lure anglers, waders are often a major and carefully considered purchase. There are two schools of…

NOCO GENIUS ON BOARD BATTERY CHARGER If marine batteries are not charged or well-maintained, the potential impact on the safety of the vessel, and those on board, could be life threatening. The American based company NOCO has developed a range of battery chargers that have been designed specifically for marine applications: the NOCO Genius GEN range. These compact multi-bank on board battery chargers independently charge and control each battery bank on board. With selectable charging modes the chargers are suitable for a range of battery technologies including AGM and lithium batteries. Rated to IP68 and 100 per cent waterproof, they are built for extreme conditions and can withstand hours underwater. Using high-frequency switch-mode technology, the NOCO chargers efficiently convert A/C power into D/C power for battery charging. The improved start…

MAY ● 5: WCAC Spring open 3.30-7.30pm Minehead to Blue Anchor. Book in sign on and presentation at the Royal British Legion, Watchet TA23 0AR. For more info contact Steve, West Coast Angling Centre, Watchet: 01984 634807. ● 5: Westlands Angling Centre Spring Charity Open in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Fishing 10am-4pm. Biggest fish competition, 42cm minimum size limit, entry fee £15, £5 to YAA. Boundaries: Sewerby steps to Paull lighthouse. No smoothhound to be weighed in. Contact Westlands Angling Centre: 01964 541192 after 15th April. ● 11: Excelsior Sea Fishing Club Open, Marine Beach 11.15am-3.15pm. Contact Jay Cityzen: 07999 416559. ● 11-12: Holt Sea Anglers Bass Festival, Bacton. For booking and more information contact Mike Watts: 07858 758669 or Tony Thomas: 07780 793141 thomasamt@btinternet.com ● 12: Newport &…

HOW IT WORKS ■ With £10,000 in tackle prizes the points, based on entries, are awarded to the top three plus section winners and captors of the largest fish caught in each designated Penn match. Penn also awards a prize of a Spinfisher fixed-spool reel to the angler scoring the most points in matches shown in each issue. If there is a tie, the winner will be the angler whose total is from the greatest number of results and is then chosen on merit by the Angling Trust. An angler can win only one reel during the year. To win a prize you must be registered with the Penn Sea League – supply your name, address, phone and email. Send fixtures, results and league registration by email to Ian Bowell:…