Innehållsförteckning för Issue 534 från Sea Angler

Adapt to the conditions Here’s a scene from our Penn Sea League final at Skegness when the anglers had hoped for a great session catching smoothhounds. Windy, northerly conditions put a stop to that, so the cream of British shore match fishing had to adapt their skills to hook other species. Find out how the match unfolded on page 118. YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT things had gone quiet on the subject of bass protection measures, such as those implemented for 2016. Well, I can tell you that various bodies are having their say behind the scenes in preparation for decisions later this year. For instance, proposals have been put forward by one organisation to ban the landing of bass by both commercial and recreational anglers in 2017, although another body…

NEED TO KNOW The Lilstock to Portishead area is reached from the M5. For instance, for Lilstock, leave it at Junction 24 and join the A39. For Sand Point/Middle Hope Bay, leave the M5 at Junction 21, or for Battery Point, Portishead, you leave at Junction 19. TACKLE SHOPS • Oliver’s Angling, 10 Alexandra Rd, Clevedon, tel: 01275 871590. • Reel Fun, Portishead Quays Marina, tel: 01275 848652 • Somerset Angling, 74 Bath Rd, Bridgwater, tel: 01278 431777. • S Veal & Son, Brunel Rooms, Unity St, Bristol, tel: 0117 926 0790. • Thyers Tackle, 1A Church St, Highbridge, tel: 01278 786934. • Weston Angling Centre, 25a Locking Rd, Weston-super-Mare, tel: 01934 631140.…

WITH THE WIND HOWLING from the south-east being accompanied by persistent rain, the talk as we tucked into our Irish breakfast was how to get away from the elements for a day’s shore fishing. Eventually, Jim O’Donnell, who runs a local charter boat, came to the rescue with a suggestion that we should try Dunnycove Bay because its neighbouring headland would provide some escape from the wind. Fortunately, it was only a 20-minute drive away. It was certainly a murky and misty day as we made our way from the Woodpoint Guest House, situated at Courtmacsherry on Ireland’s southern shoreline, along the narrow lanes leading towards Ardfield and nearby Dunnycove, where there is parking for half-a-dozen cars. As if by magic, when we pulled into the small car park the…

Summer time means that weed and kelp beds are in full bloom, which can make fishing tricky. One of the many benefits of using LRF tackle to fish in and around these snaggy areas is being able to feel the underwater terrain. By using braided mainline, you feel when your lure is in contact with weed and rocks, which means you can keep the lure out of the danger zone. There are also some great rigging options to enable you to fish in the weed. The two most versatile rigs I use are dropshotting and Texas rigging soft plastics. Dropshot rigs are great for working a lure just above the weed. To do this, set the distance from your hook to your lead weight so that the sinker sits on…

“The difference between the results gained by using artificials and natural baits is explained by three things” RECENTLY, I HAD A BIT OF A GET- together with a few fishing pals to chat about our forthcoming sessions. We sat in a corner of a local pub and used my laptop to look through some pictures of bass fishing over the past 50 years or so. First thing that became apparent was that I don’t catch as many fish as before. It’s not just me, of course, as rarely, if ever these days, do I hear of anyone regularly catching tens of big (5lb-plus) bass in a short session from the shore on lures. As always, one decent fish can still make the difference between a good trip and a poor…

Sunline, the largest Japanese producer of fishing lines, strives to develop the thinnest and strongest lines. Our winner gets a selection from the range: • Sunline Super PE 150m (4 strand): Hi-vis green, dark green and light blue. Low stretch for sensitivity and extra-tight braiding for durability. Special finish reduces guide friction. Superior control and response when using lures. Very tough when fishing rough ground. Knots are easy to tie. • Sunline Super PE8 150m (8 strand): Hi-vis orange. Resistant to abrasive structures. Sensitive, low-stretch design to capture delicate bites. Slick, smooth line surface for low guide friction and excellent castability. Knots effortlessly. • Sunline Momentum 4x4 150m (8 strand): High-grade polyethylene and high specific gravity ester mono with amazing specific gravity of 1.05. Less susceptible to the effect of…

SOMETIMES we get so bogged down with fishing, constantly trying to win competitions or catch specimen fish, that we forget the whole reason we started taking part in the first place. For fun! I am guilty of it and I know many others are too. Finishing a four-hour session soaked to the skin, with numb fingers, and icicles hanging off of the tip of your rod, isn’t enjoyable. But why do we do it? Fishing is an addictive hobby, and anglers seem to want to constantly better themselves and, more importantly, achieve their goals for those all-important bragging rights over their mates. The reason I stay out when most people are warm and cosy indoors is because I enjoy entering competitions. I like the banter and atmosphere during a match…

BACK IN THE 1990S, IAN BURRETT pioneered small-boat charter fishing, taking anglers aboard his 19ft Orkney Fastliner called On-Yer-Marks. Then, and now, these trips mostly targeted tope, huss and rays within Luce Bay, along with specimen pollack along the exposed western coast of the Mull of Galloway. Being trailer-based, Ian’s clients have always benefited from being able to launch at various locations around the bay and the peninsula, so, almost regardless of wind direction, Ian can usually find a lee shore and, most importantly, fish in both safety and comfort. In June I received an invitation to fish with Ian in the extreme south-west of Scotland, so I made my way from South Wales up the M6 to the Scottish Borders, followed by a two-hour jaunt through the gentle Dumfries…

IT’S JUST BEFORE 8AM, AND THE WEATHER is perfect; the sun is shining and it is not blowing a hooligan! The question was, were the fish going to play ball? There was a small party shooting out from Salcombe aboard Chris Roberts’ boat Anglo Dawn, a famous name in charter boat history, brought bang up to date with a Cheetah Marine catamaran, powered by two Honda 135hp four-stroke engines that, it has to be said, made the vessel nip along very nicely indeed. So far, 2016 had been one of those feast or famine years here in the West Country, but Chris had found some fish offshore the day before, so we were off to the same wrecks, in the hope that the fish had not disappeared. Salcombe is a…

Ian Tyldesley, from Ammo Baits (tel: 01736 797086. Web: www.ammodytes. co.uk ) knows a thing or two about UK sandeels because he’s been netting and selling them for more than three decades. I gave him a call to see what he thought about the Weymouth situation. DB: What do you make of the current lack of sandeels on the Shambles Bank? IT: I know they have been struggling to catch them in the nets off Teignmouth, which is just along the coast. In fact, it’s been the worst start to the season down there in 15 years. Last year was our worst season here in Cornwall, but so far this year has been brilliant, and I’m predicting a great year for the eels and Ammo.…

THERE CAN BE FEW ANGLING experiences more satisfying than the first sight of a brightly-spotted Skerries bank plaice as it is played up through the crystal-clear waters off South Devon, a golden-flanked pollack wending its way up from a deep-water wreck, or the stark, contrasting black and white of a Donegal coalfish. Let’s face it, though, in the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel, we are unlikely to encounter these delights. I understand that the prospect of spending a day’s fishing in water with the consistency and colour of oxtail soup with mushrooms, while travelling at the pace of a retired racehorse, is not everyone’s cup of tea, but sometimes beggars can’t be choosers. Do you know what, though? Your day out in the Bristol Channel could well surprise you.…

Ocean Signal M100 MSLD Ocean Signal has launched its new compact M100 Maritime Survivor Locating Device (MSLD). It can be easily fitted to lifejackets and immersion suits ready for automatic activation, and incorporates both Automatic Identification System (AIS) and 121.5MHz homing beacon to enable the crewman to be located. Once activated, the M100 will transmit an alert to all AIS receivers and AIS-enabled plotters in the vicinity, as well as sending out a continuous emergency homing signal on 121.5MHz, for a minimum of 12 hours. Waterproof up to a depth of 10 metres, the devices are operational between temperatures of -20°C and +55°C, and can be stored at temperatures between -30°C and +70°C. The compact MSLD, which comes with a two-year warranty, measures 132mm x 53mm x 28mm, ensuring it…

IT HAS BEEN SAID FREQUENTLY THAT TIME spent on reconnaissance is time very well spent, and I tend to agree. Having recently moved to a completely different part of the country, I now need to familiarise myself with my new surroundings. Rather than launch straight away, there are a few things I need to do and information I need to find out regarding my new locality. 1 One of the first things I do is find a relatively detailed map of the area and take time to study it. Sheltered bays can be noted, along with areas that may suit launching when a particular direction of wind is prevalent. Good maps of the coastline should also have obvious launching points, such as harbours and slips, illustrated. 2 The next step…

DAIWA J-BRAID X8 RRP: £17.99 FOR 150M SPOOL IF YOU ARE INTO LURE FISHING FOR BASS especially, and have got your head around the scary prices that some of the best eight-strand braids can cost, then you need to know there’s a new one that is great value for money. Yes, it’s true, and this eight-strand braid is just as lovely to fish with as the really expensive ones. It’s very thin, very smooth, casts beautifully and knots well. Indeed, I can’t find anything about it that I don’t like. So say hello to the new Daiwa J-Braid and make peace with your bank balance. I love fishing with a smooth-feeling and long-casting, eight-strand braid, but I don’t like some of the prices. If you look after your braid and…

Kayak angler Graham Smith battled for three hours with a porbeagle shark estimated at 300lb while paddling off the northern tip of Ireland. The Fish Dynamix ambassador, from Moville, County Donegal, was fishing on June 18 when his fishing companion saw a shark was chasing a hooked pollack. “Initially, I thought it was a basking shark,” said Graham. “But no, the ominous distinctive fin of a porbeagle came out from under his kayak.” After two attempts at catching the shark with a bait rigged swimbait style, Graham hooked a coalfish on one rod and pollack on another and began trolling the baits. “Within moments of trolling, up she came like a scene out of ‘Jaws!’, fin out of the water and creating an impressive wake as she charged after the…

A 64lb conger eel caught and released from open ground in the Bristol Channel was accepted as a new Welsh boat record. The fish fell to Tim Theyer, a member of a charter party from the Cardiff-based South Wales Sea Anglers fishing on Andrew Alsop’s White Water, out of Penarth marina. After being weighed and measured, the conger was returned. Evidence of the fish and the calibration for the scales was sent to the Welsh FSA. It was confirmed on June 18 as the new Welsh record, beating the previous best of 61lb caught in September 1995. The British record is 133lb 4oz caught by charter skipper Vic Evans in 1995 off Torquay, Devon.…

Three new records for sea fish have been ratified by the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee. Meeting on June 7, it approved: Jake MacGregor’s shore-caught 3lb 8dr Atlantic bonito at Hartlepool, on October 4, 2015. It beats the 1996 record of 2lb 10oz 5dr. An undulate ray of 22lb 13oz for Steve Juggins while boat fishing out of Weymouth, on January 16, 2016. The previous record was 21lb 4oz, set in 1987. The fish was kept alive during the day, landed in Weymouth and then taken five miles back to the place of capture and released alive. Charlie Tudball’s 10.9g Connemara clingfish at Ilfracombe harbour, on March 28, 2016.…

FANCY winning tackle from Shimano by catching a fish? Your target is to catch one over the weight given on our nominated species list. If you do, you automatically win a Mission Accomplished badge, as well as being in with the chance of winning a great monthly tackle prize. Each month we award a Shimano Nexave Surf 400 five-piece rod and a Speedcast XS-B fixed-spool reel, worth a total of £300, 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 Tyrnos 20 multiplier reel, worth a total of £320. Justin Malin, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Fish: 9lb 3oz 8dr small-eyed ray. Bait: Bluey and mackerel on a pulley dropper rig.…

• Whatever your destination, a little homework before you leave could save you a whole heap of trouble and certainly enhance your catch rate once you arrive. • Choose your airline with care. They all have differing baggage policies, some won’t even entertain sporting equipment. We flew with BA, which is great for extra bags and weight, but it does have a length restriction on rod tubes. Three-piece rods will be fine, but anything over 6ft 1in will be a problem. Baggage and weight allowances vary, and excess weight can be costly. • Tackle needs to be packed correctly and properly labelled. There are rod carriers available, but an adjustable ski tube is the ideal alternative. A standard plastic tackle box is fine for the rest of your gear, but…

GRAVESEND SOLE CHALLENGE Thames Estuary, Kent, 88 anglers Plenty of sun and light winds suggested perfect conditions for this event, but catches rates were poor. There were 34 soles caught, along with 22 flounders, 18 eels and three whiting. The big surprise was a 3lb 13oz bonito found flapping at the water’s edge by competitor Peter Dartnell. It was not weighed in because it wasn’t taken on rod and line. “This was a first,” said organiser Graham East, “as a bonito has never before been recorded as a visitor to the Thames.” Winner with three soles for 91cm was Lee Collins, of Gillingham, whose zone 4 catch included the event’s best sole of 1lb 5oz. Second was Tim Fagg, of Deal, with two for 56cm, and third place went to…

WITH OUR RECENT REFERENDUM democratically decided, we now await decisions and proposals for the successful future of our country, once the separate parties decide to sort themselves out and start considering the electorate. They will then need to focus on the longer-term goal. This should also be the aim of Recreational Sea Angling. The fact that, after 40-plus years of RSA representation to successive governments, bass remain overwhelmingly regarded and managed as a commercial species is frustrating to say the least. All the more so when we consider the numerous positive economic evaluations, by government, of RSA over many years. RSA has clearly not been doing things right. Those in Defra, our government department responsible for environmental protection, aren’t stupid? They know that behind those at the coalface of RSA…

“The further up the channel a fish is landed, the larger it tends to be” SECOND PERHAPS ONLY TO COD in terms of a seasonal species that is likely to inspire a trip to the coast, the smoothhound is the quarry that is likely to cause the biggest stir here around the Bristol Channel. Being a summer fish, it is usually in June that sea anglers expect news of the anticipated arrival of these fabulous, powerful fish, which are known for their fighting prowess and love of munching on the resident crab population. The traditional hound marks of the lower reaches remain a popular choice, but it seems that the further up the channel a fish is landed, the larger it tends to be. The popular west Somerset venues, such…

“Often you’ll see them working the water in front of you, and even taking the bait” SEVEN YEARS AGO I CAUGHT MY first golden-grey mullet, and since that day in 2009 they’ve fascinated me. They don’t grow big, a 2lb-plus fish is a specimen, but they make up for that in being hard fighters on appropriate tackle, and can be caught using a variety of techniques. What makes fishing for GGs so addictive is that you’ll be shallow-water sight fishing for them. Often you’ll see them working the water in front of you, and even taking the bait. While reasonably common in the southwestern English Channel, and along the Cork coast of Ireland, they are on the fringe of their northern migration. In Wales they can be caught from Aberavon,…

WITH EASY ACCESS AND THE venues being fairly close to each other, it is possible to fish all three of these estuary marks in one day. I teamed up with Scotland international shore angler Billy Buckley to get the lowdown on the best baits and rigs to get the most from the Greenock area of the Clyde Estuary. You’ll need rods that can cast up to 6oz for fishing at range, and reels carrying 15-20lb mainline. When casting at range, choose 6oz grip leads to counteract the tide run. For fishing closer in you are best with 25lb mainline, and here you can get away with lighter leads between 1-3oz. For fishing close, it is best to use a rotten-bottom device because it can be snaggy. T-MOBILE This part of…

NEW SERIES Get into lure fishing with Henry Gilbey YOUR CHOICE OF LIGHT LURE ROD is so much easier, efficient and nicer to fish with if it feels like an extension to yourself, rather than a stiff stick that works against you. For those coming from the bait side of sea angling especially, it can feel very strange when you pick up a lure rod that might be 9ft long and rated to cast in the region of 10-30g, compared to something, say, 13ft-plus long and rated to cast 6oz. How do you choose, particularly when anglers are increasingly asking one rod to do so much? Well, trust in my judgement, and I reckon I can save you time and money. I will advise you about the sort of lure…

BEING MAINLY A SHORE ANGLER, I don’t do much boat fishing, but when the chance of some uptiding comes along I’ll always seize the opportunity. My lifelong friend Gareth John runs his charter boat, Hurricane, out of Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. He acquired the Offshore 105 in 2010 and fitted a new 450hp engine in 2013. Apart from running his boat, Gareth, whose boat is licensed for 60 miles, has more than 20 years’ experience as a skipper for an offshore wind farm company’s crew transfer vessels, and skippering for Folkestone’s diving club. KEEP IT SIMPLE On this trip, we would target the Thames Estuary’s smoothhounds, using frozen hermit crabs supplied by Gareth. Our plan was to meet just before the high tide, travel to the mark,…

SOME sea anglers are able to thread a worm on the hook with ease, but for many, a baiting needle makes this awkward task so much easier. It’s essential with any worm bait to use a long-shank hook because these give you more metal to hold and manoeuvre. There are lots of different types of baiting needles. Blunt, long ones are best for large lugworms, while the thin, sharp types are ideal for mud ragworms. The medium thickness, sharp ones should be used for king ragworms. Tackle shops also stock an array of very fine Continental baiting needles. There are many types of baiting needles, from long and blunt, through medium thickness to thin, and even very fine. Check the needle that you require – a long, thick, blunt, pointed…

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: When I finish a shore session, I generally throw leftover bait in the bin. Do you think I could freeze it for my next session? STEVEN…

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THERE ARE plenty of species to target, but perhaps the most desirable are the nation’s two favourite fish – bass and cod. The Bristol Channel is littered with fish-holding marks, and there are no shortage of areas to choose from. During the summer it’s possible to target species such as smoothhounds, bass, tope, bull huss and rays with general uptiding gear. As we approach the winter, then it’s cod, conger eels and whiting that take centre stage. Cardiff Marina and Penarth Marina are on either side of the Ely river, and the majority of the charter boats sail from the Quay Marina at Penarth. It’s also worth noting that some of the charter boats listed here work out of Penarth from around October to late April, then…

• It’s always a jumper colder at sea. Make sure you are warm and dry. You can always take it off if the sun gets too hot. • Sticky buns and sandwiches are good; I get ravenous at sea, so make sure you have plenty to eat. • Drink plenty as well, particularly if it is hot. Most skippers will give you tea and coffee during the day, but sometimes that is not enough. Take your own flask or a bottle of water. Dehydration will give you a headache the next day. • Make sure you take sunglasses. Bright light from above and reflected light off the sea will also contribute to a nasty headache. • If you think it is roughing up a bit and you become concerned for…

“The average size of bass caught offshore is probably between 2-6lb” BASS ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT most of the UK and Ireland. Depending on the location and time of year, they feed on pretty much everything, notably small fish, sandeels, squid, prawns, many other types of crustaceans, marine worms and shellfish. Recent legislation has made it illegal for anglers to kill bass between January 1 and June 30, thereafter they are permitted to keep a maximum of one fish measuring at least 42cm in length per angler per day. SPECIES There is little doubt that bass are one of, if not the most, popular species of sportfish, with the vast majority of sea anglers fishing in the British Isles and Ireland. Providing great sport when caught on light tackle and often…

In the shallow waters, the advent of uptide casting in its proper format was probably one of the best things to happen for us here in the Channel. I say proper format because when I first realised the virtue of presenting a baited hook away from the scare area created by the boat, our methods were primitive, to say the least. Launching a 2lb sinker with a 50lb-class boat rod somewhere in the general direction of Ireland did nothing for the confidence of anyone in the close vicinity, although I can assure you it seemed to pay off. Today, the use of light rods, fine lines and wired grip weights specially designed for the job not only increases our chances of catching fish, but also makes doing so a damn…

“A stunning stainless steel rod rack is fitted to the cuddy roof ” THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOATS THAT you can immediately see has been designed and built by people who understand the needs of offshore fishermen. A classic, trailerable, open cuddy boat, the Admiral Pro-Fish 560 will have wide appeal with experienced boat anglers who trail their boats, as well as those who, when conditions allow, like to open the throttle, trim the bow, and head out beyond the horizon to fish distant marks. Built in Poland by Admiral Boats, the Pro-Fish 560 is based on a strong and durable hull. Cast a critical eye over the gleaming gel coat and, like me, you will no doubt admire the attention to small detail her manufacturer have put in…

THIS month’s deal showcases quality products from some of the best brands available, and the great news is, you’ll save £64.98 when you purchase it. Star item is the incredible Daiwa Sea Hunter X shore rod. It’s a carbon, three-piece outfit measuring 15ft and offers an outstanding performance on the beach. Designed to be used with a fixed-spool reel with a casting rating of 4-8oz, the hard-chromed aluminium oxide guides are not only lightweight, but also ideal for those days when you decide to use braid. Other features include under-wrapped whipping throughout, fixed screw-winch fitting and metal collars at each join. To accompany the rod is the Tronixpro Envoy 7000 fixed-spool reel. Gaining admirers all over the UK, it has a lightweight frame, six bearings and a huge aluminium spool…

With the uncertainty surrounding what the EU referendum result will mean for fish and fishing, the Angling Trust has pledged to fight for the best deal possible. It wants to ensure any new arrangements for sea fisheries management benefit both fish stocks and recreational sea anglers. The AT will press for existing EU environmental legislation, such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive, all of which are written into UK law, to be maintained and implemented in full to protect fish and their habitats. It will also press for sensible regulation of agriculture, and for subsidies to be linked to the achievement of improved outcomes for the water environment.…

Plans are afoot to create a British record sea fish list based on length rather than weight. The British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee is considering introducing a separate record list to provide for claims made in respect of sea fish that are either protected and may not be landed, or for those caught on boats and returned alive without being landed for weighing. Such a length-based record list is not intended to replace the weight-based version, but, if introduced, it would stand alongside it. It was agreed that the Committee will work towards introducing length-based lists on a staged basis, perhaps starting with a list for species that may not be landed, extending the scheme to other species or categories if the pilot is successful. The protocol for claims and…

Baiting up with a chicken drumstick for a joke produced a 5lb 8oz bass for Neil Griffiths while fishing at Sker Point, near Bridgend. The angler, from Newport, South Wales, explained: “The day had been going very slowly without a bite. Three hours in we broke for lunch and I brought out a pack of barbecue chicken drumsticks. “As a joke, and to liven up the day, I lashed a drumstick to my hook and cast it out. Much to the hilarity of my fishing companions Gerrainth Hayes and Richie Williams, within minutes my rod was bouncing all over the place and I reeled in this beauty.” Richie helped him land the fish which was returned.…

• This 3lb bass took a 25g Fiiish Black Minnow lure, worked by Josh White. The 14-year-old, from Watchet, Somerset, was fishing from the rocks at Barracane beach, North Devon, and returned the fish after a 10-minute scrap. • Reece Coombes, 14, from Weston-super-Mare and Jared Trice, 12, from Stevenage, both enjoyed good sport from Sally Ann Jo, skippered by Colin Baker out of Weymouth, Dorset. Reece (left) caught a 1lb 12oz black bream, while Jared bagged a 1lb 4oz fish. • Leo Burrow, aged four, caught this 8lb smoothhound during a session afloat on his father’s boat. The young angler, from Southampton, Hants, tempted the shark with a peeler crab bait on running leger rig while anchored off Hill Head in the Solent. • While fishing from the shore…

HISTORY WAS MADE IN THE PENN Sea League final when Chris ‘Bugsy’ Read secured back-to-back wins in the nation’s most prestigious shore match event. The angler, from Splott, Cardiff, was a popular winner among his peers, who recognise him as one of the rising stars of the match scene. He’d previously won the final in 2015 held at Warkworth, Northumberland. This time, having drawn peg 7 in zone A, he caught nine flounders for 208 points in the measure-and-release event with an 18cm minimum size. His biggest flounder measured 30cm. The win, against the cream of the nation’s shore match anglers, earned him a £1,000 Penn tackle voucher plus £350 pools With all anglers issued with the SAMF conversion chart, his winning catch would represent 4lb 5oz 11dr. The draw…

JULY • 30: Southern League and open, Lee-on-Solent, 7pm-midnight, book in 5pm-6pm, £15 entry, £5 optional pools, Justin 02392 812478, Darren 07919 073232, Nick 07870 922216, Mike 07983 579596 or Ian 07736 004714. • 31: Mainwarings Angling Centre Ultima SWWASAC open, North Channel, 8.30am-1.30pm, meet 7am at Burry Port shoreline, catch & release, pegged, three hooks, 20cm minimum size, Peter 07599 540822. • 31: The Burnham League rnd 3 & open, Burnham-on-Sea, noon-4pm, pegged, one rod, three hooks, measure & return, £6 per match, optional £5 pool, £20 optional league entry (best four of five results), draw 11am, book only, James Madsen 07900 651071. • 31: Yorkshire Summer League, East Halton, 3pm-7pm, 50 pegs, Neville Charlesworth 07764 151611 or 01964 536930. • 31: Lincs open, Trunch Lane, 2pm-6pm, measure &…

YEARS AGO I HAD A 15FT BOAT ON A trailer. It was called the Wandrin’ Star, and yes, I loved that song. This thing weighed over half-a-ton and, by the time the 40hp engine was on the back, plus four lots of fishing gear, she really was heavy. One morning at 2am, travelling up the A74 towards Glasgow with four of us in the car – me driving and the other three sound asleep – I heard a ‘knocking’ noise coming from the trailer. Pulling into a layby, I discovered that the rubber on one of the boat supports had come off and the boat was just bouncing around on the heads of the two bolts, which had been holding the rubber on and was starting to damage the bottom…

Top tips for finding a specimen smoothhound in the Bristol Channel • Tide – always fish where there is some. Slack water is unlikely to be frequented by smoothhounds. • Persevere – fish move around, so a blank on one tide could be turned around by a good catch on the next. • Location – concentrate your efforts on the upper reaches. You are less likely to locate a big fish west of Minehead. There will obviously be exceptions, but the upper Bristol Channel will produce fewer, though bigger, fish. • Fish hard – keep fresh baits in the water for as long as possible by double patting. Get into the routine of winding in, clipping off and clipping on a fresh trace. You should only be out of the…

GETTING THERE • Aberdovey – access is off the main A470 to Machynlleth, then turn right in the town. At Dovey Bridge, turn left on to the A493 for Aberdovey. Car parks at both ends of the town. • Abererch – the beach is positioned left off the A497 Criccieth to Pwllheli road. Car parking is on the Pwllheli side. Footpath access to the beach. • Barmouth – situated off the A487, taking the A496 at Llanelltyd signposted Barmouth. Sea front car park. • Borth – take either the A44 to Aberystwyth, then head north out of town taking the left turn on to the B4572 to Borth. Alternatively, use the A487 from Machynlleth heading for Aberystwyth, then branch right on to the B4353 to Borth. Parking available. • Llanrystyd…

WITH SUMMER SPECIES established inshore, you can really increase your lure-caught species count, particularly when the warmer water makes the fish more active and keener to take a lure. Calm seas also mean it is time to take advantage of the weather and get your LRF gear out on its natural home – rock marks. When fishing rock marks, I tend to use the upper end of the LRF spectrum, which means braided lines around the PE 0.6 mark, and with leaders from 6-8lb. LRF rods have a 1-8g casting range, which may seem under-gunned for rock marks, but this is what they are designed to do. With the right approach they are quite capable of landing the majority of fish that live there. I also take a solid tip…

Here are five lure rods, with prices ranging from about £70 to £180, that I believe work very well for our bass fishing: • Major Craft Skyroad 9ft, 10-30g (above), the best value-for-money 9ft lure rod I’ve ever come across. • Major Craft Firstcast 9ft and 9ft 6in, 10-30g – these are entry-level bass rods. Fantastic quality. Not quite as ‘crisp’ as the more expensive Skyroads, but they are still lovely rods to use. • Major Craft Skyroad Surf 9ft 6in, 5-28g – it’s absolutely outrageous how good this rod is. I have fished with 9ft 6in rods that cost far more, but I keep coming back to it because it’s so good. • TronixPro has some good entry-level lure rods, the 9ft 10-40g HTO Lure Game is a lovely…

‘SEA RECORDS MAY MOVE TOWARDS LENGTH’ We posted the news that the plans are afoot to create a British record sea fish list based on length rather than weight. • Des Kendall: I really like this new way of thinking, which does seem to support the safe release of fish. However, the fundamental reason for having a fish weighed on certified scales and often by a registered official is to stop cheats and those anglers who might get it wrong. One species where this rule will be very useful is sharks. Imagine a couple of mates out in their own boat who manage to hook and play out a large porgie, one that’s too big to bring inboard. At the side of the boat, the fish and boat are constantly…

MULLET fishing is particularly popular in summer when these crafty fish often appear in harbours, marinas and river estuaries. They can be caught with float tactics, spinning with small lures, or even fly-fishing, but it is the former that is most popular. When float-fishing for mullet with bread flake, it is essential to present very soft bait around the hook point so that if a mullet mouths it, it will be hooked. Avoid tainting the bread with dirty hands. Pinch the flake around the hook shank and eye (size 8 hook). Take care not to touch or squash the flaky section. Pull the hook into the pinched section to conceal it. It can be used with a bubble float part-filled with water for distance.…

Each month we’ll select a winning question from each of the shore/ LRF, boat/kayak and lure questions. Three lucky readers will get great gear prizes from sponsors Tronixpro. • BEACH: Tronixpro Centurion Rod, worth £149.99. • LURE: HTO Rockfish ML, HTO Rockfish 2000 reel, YKG G-Soul 4 ½ lb braid, HTO lure scissors & three Go! boxes, worth £118.93. • BOAT: Tronixpro Envoy Wave reel, Tronixpro seat box, Tronixpo Boatpro rig selection, worth a total of £109.88. HOW TO ASK A QUESTION • Q&A, Sea Angler, Media House, Lynchwood Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA • cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk • www.facebook.com/ seaanglermag…

UNTIL THE RED BREAM SUDDENLY disappeared from south-west waters in the early 1980s, it had been a mainstay at offshore wrecks and the great deep-water reefs off Cornwall’s English Channel and Atlantic coasts. Now, after an absence of more than 40 years, except for a few very small examples, big specimens are making a comeback to former haunts. A full return would give a huge boost to inshore charter boat fishing and private boat angling at the Eddystone Reef, Hands Deeps and the Hatt Rock, all in Cornish waters. The red bream’s record history is short but significant. When the British Record (rod-caught) Fish Committee was formed in 1973, the record was a fish of 7lb 8oz caught at the Hatt Rock, located roughly 10 miles south of Fowey, by…

I LOVE IT WHEN I GET ‘THAT’ PHONE CALL or text, the one inviting me out for a day’s fishing because it’s game-on. I guess that’s one of the perks of having been in the game for more than two decades and making so many good friends along the way. The invitation came from Jeff Clarke, the skipper of Weymouth charter boat Duchess 2, who knows I like nothing more than a day’s fishing for bream and turbot. The previous week had seen most of the UK baked in glorious sunshine, but on the eve of my trip the heavens opened and the temperature plummeted. I had driven through torrential rain, and then thick fog. As I approached the Dorchester turn-off, the fog cleared and the wind picked up. It…

POP INTO ANY WELL-STOCKED tackle shop and you’ll be faced with a massive selection of booms and brightly coloured beads. There are all manner of shapes and sizes available, but sometimes less can be more when boat fishing, especially if you’re fishing in clear, shallow water. The reason we need booms for boat fishing is to ensure the bait is presented without tangling, and is at the required depth. I rarely use booms these days, usually only when downtide fishing for the likes of tope and smoothhounds, but they are still extremely popular with boat anglers, so I’ll cover each style here. As far as beads are concerned, that’s a little more scientific, as I will explain later on, so I tend to always carry a reasonable selection of different…

WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE nation’s favourite charter skippers. Each issue we will throw the spotlight on a top boatman nominated by a Sea Angler reader. Use the form right (photocopies acceptable) to tell us the skipper’s name, boat, port and typical charges, along with the reasons you would recommend their services (use a separate piece of paper if you require more space). It’s your chance to tell Sea Angler’s readers why the skipper is so good and what a great service is provided. We’ll select the best entry for each issue and will award the winning operator with a special Sea Angler plaque that the skipper can display with pride on their vessel. This month’s winner: PAUL EDDON • Boat name: Trot On • Port: Whitby, North Yorks David White,…

“I was on seven species after an hour and 40 minutes” WITH A GOOD SELECTION OF prizes on offer in the second OK Classic, warm and bright conditions and the promise of a wide range of fish, there were 51 kayak anglers massed just out from the slipway at Plymouth’s Mountbatten Centre ready to head off at 10am. As the defending champion in this popular catch, photo and release species hunt in aid of Heroes on the Water on June 11, my plan was to head straight to the Mountbatten Breakwater. I’d float near the end to fish the rocks for mini species, and the deeper water around the run for those in open water. This spot served me well last year with eight species, so to secure my spot…

LEEDA ICON MPR M/FS ROD RRP: 12FT £89.99, 13FT £99.99 MODERN SHORE RODS THAT ARE capable of fantastic casting capabilities along with incredible bite detection are very few and far between. Couple that with lightness and balance and you really have to search to find the right rod. Leeda, however, has introduced a newcomer to its widely acclaimed Icon range by adding the MPR (Multi Purpose Rod) to its armoury. Available in two lengths of 12ft and 13ft, these two-piece carbon shore rods, priced at £89.99, and £99.99, offer superb performance for a wide range of species. Both are impeccably finished and look really impressive, showing off an attractive, glossy style. Its fully lined SiC guides are designed for use with either a multiplier or fixed-spool reel. I recently took…

• This 11lb smoothhound was a personal best for Chris Lambert, a plasterer from Exmouth, Devon, who caught it from a South West beach while fishing at range with a Pennell pulley rig with size 3/0 hooks carrying a crab and squid bait. • This tope, estimated at 25lb, was caught by kayak angler Trevor Oldfield, fromWigan, while fishing off Tywyn, Gwynedd. It took half a mackerel on a size 9/0 VMC circle hook and 200lb mono trace. • Jamie Roberts, from Anglesey, caught this 31lb tope on a whole mackerel bait on a size 8/0 Pennell rig during a fishing session on the island. He also caught a personal best 12lb3oz smoothhound on crab on a size 4/0 Pennell. • Nick Williams, of Bovey Tracey, caught and released a…

Proposals have been made to ban the landing of bass by commercial and recreational anglers in 2017. The advisory body, the International Council for the Exploitation of the Seas suggests a zero catch due to declining stocks of bass. The Angling Trust and the Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society warned fisheries ministers last year that their failure to take heed of the scientific advice and begin radically reducing the commercial catch limits would mean more pain in the long run as solutions would get ever more draconian. The two groups issued a statement calling for all bass netting to cease and for bass to be a recreational and sustainable commercial hook and line species only. They see no case for further restrictions on recreational bass fishing, and seek an urgent meeting…

SEVEN OF US ARRIVED IN THE Shetland Isles to be greeted with beautiful blue skies and wall-to-wall sunshine. As well as the glorious weather, we couldn’t have asked for a better start to our fishing holiday, with what turned out to be an awesome first day of our five-day trip. We were fishing aboard Oberon, skippered by Kenny Graham, out of Cullivoe, which is on the island of Yell, and kicked off by drifting the grounds around Muckle Flugga, landing plenty of coalfish and cod. Best of the day went to Ivan Maher, with a 21lb coalfish, and young Dylan Hough took a personal best coalfish of 13lb, plus a PB cod of 11lb, before promptly smashing it again with a cracking fish of 29lb. Most successful tactic of the…

SLINGING YOUR HOOK AT European destinations has become increasingly popular during the past decade. It’s challenging, exciting and adds a whole new concept to shore match angling when meeting like-minded anglers from around the globe. While many anglers may spend a few hours wetting a line on holiday, a vibrant overseas match-angling circuit has sprung up, with the Memorial Magrini open, held on the beautiful island of Sardinia, always at the top of a packed calendar. With Trabucco stepping in with a €10,000 prize fund this year, the 27th Magrini International attracted anglers from as far afield as South Africa. Unlike most international opens, which are normally one of two-day events fished over a weekend, the Magrini is spread over five days. It kicks off with a biggest-fish match, followed…