Innehållsförteckning för Issue 557 från Sea Angler

FINALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE BAD WEATHER IS BEHIND US AND WE can all get out and enjoy some fishing for the multitude of species appearing around our coast right now. Our spring species will be joined by a host of summer staples soon, so it should be a time of plenty for shore and boat anglers. Make the most of it. We’re bringing you plenty of great fishing in this issue, including plaice, cod, LRF, bass, spurdogs and much more. Look out for our 15-page Sea School section, starting on page 70, including our team of experts answering your angling questions. Check out our 21 pages of tackle, from page 88, including some great new rods and reels, 11 lures you need now, and a selection of boat multipliers.…

EVERY ANGLER WILL HAVE experienced sessions where the fish fail to play the game and you either can’t buy a bite or you catch only what some consider nuisance species. Yes, it’s not just you, for even the best in the business occasionally experience the session from hell – but what they do is adapt and catch what’s available. It’s a fact that Joe Arch, from Cardiff, is internationally recognised as being one of the top match anglers in the world, and his friend Roy Tapper is undoubtedly one of the top shore anglers in Wales. Both outstanding anglers, I’ve known them for around 25 years, so when I was invited to join them for a ray session at Witches Point, near Bridgend, I jumped at the chance because they…

NOW’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN I start to boost my species tally. Warmer weather brings an influx of different fish and can throw up surprises too. While much of my LRF year is geared towards catching large fish on light tackle, there are times when I want to catch what is there, and this includes mini species. LRF tackle is renowned for being ultra sensitive, which is extremely important when targeting mini species. This is not necessarily because we need ultra-sensitive bite detection, but more to do with getting the best presentation of your lure. The lighter the lure, the lighter your mainline and leader should be. When seeking mini species, I like to use a PE 0.4 braid, or one rated to 4lb, with leaders of the same…

GIANT COD TIME IN NORWAY! TOBY LEE AND HIS DAD PAUL (KNOWN as ‘Leepy’) have been taking advantage of the recent skrei cod run in Norway. The pair, who originally lived in Hartlepool, now operate a fish camp based in Tromso, called leepysleisure.co.uk. Using large pirks worked from a boat in deep water, Paul caught a cod of 79lb, while Toby caught a huge specimen at 81lb. An angler from Bristol also caught an amazing 72lb cod during a trip to a popular fishing area in Norway. Also getting in on the action was Anthony Georgiou, who was with a group that has been visiting Skjervøy, in the Troms area of Norway for more than 10 years in search of big cod, halibut, monkfish and other species. The fish was…

PLAICE SHORE Jack Brumwell, Canvey Island, 2-12 plaice, Seaford POLLACK BOAT Heber Crawford, Portsmouth, 12-0, Hayling Island RAY SHORE Mark Feller, Penrith, 10-3 thornback*, Dumfries & Galloway Kim Main, Leigh-on-Sea, 10-8 thornback*, Isle of Sheppey Matthew Mould, Dursley, 14-9 undulate*, Chesil Beach Darran Young, Newport, 5-1 spotted*, Ryde pier RAY BOAT Roy Freeman, Poole, 16-0 undulate*, Poole Pete Hammersley, Flint, 160-0 white skate*, Oban Giles Semper, London, 13-2*, Weymouth Steve Smith, Coventry, 22-2 thornback*, Minehead John Trevett, Castle Cary, 26-2 blonde, Weymouth SHARK SHORE Paul Hutchings, Westward Ho, 12-4 bull huss*, Combe Martin Brodie Phillips, Falmouth, 11-14 bull huss*, Falmouth Paul Phillips, Teignmouth, 10-2 bull huss*, Chesil Beach SHARK BOAT All caught at Weymouth unless stated Steve Edwards, Weston-super-Mare, 12-0 spurdog, Watchet Roy Freeman, Poole, 12-8 spurdog* Simon Oakland, Granborough,…

When the bass are shoaled up in the Thames, sport can be hectic. I’ve had days where I’m convinced I’ve caught more bass using a single rod than I would have trying to keep two going. Bites can be savage and quick, and if you’re not on the ball you can miss them. I’ve lost count of the bass I have missed with the rod buckled over and the drag screaming while I’m trying to bait up my other rod. Use your head, and, if there are lots of bass present, fish one rod and even hold it to feel for bites. You will learn a lot very quickly, and, more importantly, put more fish on the deck of the boat.…

WITH GALES BLASTING from an easterly direction battering the southern shores of the Bristol Channel, I was beginning to wonder whether I would ever get to sea again. A phone call from an old mate and fellow charter skipper John Barbeary confirmed that things were no better further down the estuary. He skippers a charter vessel, named Bluefin, out of Ilfracombe on the North Devon coast, and had been taking some amazing catches of spurdogs. I was hoping to join John for a day to sample this unusual fishery. I fish the grounds around Ilfracombe and Lundy Island a lot in the summer, but never venture that far in the winter/spring changeover period. We had both been watching the forecast for several days and had noticed a window in the…

“This final has the potential of being an incredible fishing competition” EVERY YEAR MATCH ANGLERS UP and down the British Isles fish open shore competitions in the hope of winning points in the Sea Angler Penn Sea League, with the ultimate aim of reaching the prestigious annual final. There are two league divisions and at the end of each calendar year the top 35 anglers from the Premier Division and top five from Division One qualify for the Penn Final. It’s a who’s who of match fishing, with arguably the best anglers in the country battling to win the final. This is a pegged competition held once a year on various venues around the United Kingdom and is seen as a very prestigious event featuring some of the best match…

AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE A never-ending winter and series of storms, along with a lack of traditional winter species, such as flounders and codling, along the South Coast, the angling grapevine burst into life. With reliable reports of plaice being caught at Brighton, I had that irresistible urge to wet a line. Plans were made, and a few days later I was up at 6am scraping the frost off the car windscreen before making an early-morning dash to East Sussex from my home in Hampshire. Joining me for the trip was Steve Lawrence, from Poole, along with Peter Farrell, from Portsmouth. We met up with England Youth International Dillon Thompson, who works at Prime Angling at Worthing, and George Cunningham, boss of Tronixpro, to pick up some fresh bait before…

ON A BITTERLY-COLD MORNING in Bodo, the ratchet on Dave Wood-Brignall’s multiplier suddenly broke the surrounding silence and screamed into action. A large herring bait that he strategically positioned in almost 200 metres of water had been grabbed by a halibut which was rapidly stripping line from the spool as it tried to escape. Bringing the powerful fish under control, Dave didn’t have a clue that his angling journey was about to head off in a new direction. Eventually, he landed the halibut and, even though his maiden fish weighed a mere 10lb, the excitement and thrill was enough to stop him in his tracks. Emotionally drained from it all, he paused, thought for a moment and then suddenly wondered where his angling future might be headed because he knew…

The potato famine between 1845 and 1852 saw an estimated one million Irish people die of starvation, and a similar number emigrate. With people starving, relief schemes were set up to provide paid work, and one such scheme was the building of piers. A large number of these ‘famine piers’, still remain, especially along the south and west coasts of Ireland. Some are as originally built, and others brought into the modern age, but most provide exceptional fishing for a variety of species. I’ve fished these famine piers for many years, and, prior to a trip I identify at least a couple to try. Finding the piers is simply a case of buying a large-scale map of the area you intend to fish and studying the coastline. You’ll see the…

• Three anglers fishing from a small boat had a good day’s spring cod fishing in the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel. Simon Davies, Stephen Jenkins and Leigh Woodington, all from Chepstow, launched Simon’s boat at Beachley, beneath the old Severn Bridge. They caught 14 cod, with the best weighing 8lb falling to Simon, who fished black lug and rag cocktails on a size 5/0 hook and leger rig. • Mark Scott, (below) of Workington, Cumbria, caught two thornback rays and a spotted ray while fishing the Solway Firth. The thornbacks weighed 8lb and 8lb 14oz. The spotted, his first, weighed an estimated 3-4lb. The fish fell to squid on an up-and-over rig. • Two short shore fishing sessions on the River Hamble produced four thornback rays for Jay…

BASS • Shore: 19lb 13oz 8dr John S 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: 6lb 9oz 7dr Ray Fallaize 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 TURBOT • Shore: 20lb 2oz Eddy Barham • Boat: 32lb 1oz Steve Scally BULL HUSS • Shore: 21lb 9oz M Urquhart • Boat: 23lb D Nicholson COD • Shore: 32lb Adrian Lloyd…

PORTSMOUTH HABOUR IS ONE OF THE few natural, large harbours in the UK, forged by a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent. At Portsmouth, you have the Royal Naval Base, while across the river at Gosport there is the Submarine Museum. The harbour is a busy one, being a major commercial ferry port with regular services to France and the Channel Islands. The boats fishing out of Portsmouth Harbour and Gosport’s Haslar Marina have simple access to the open sea, via the harbour entrance, and from here there is a multitude of marks within easy reach. The fishing in this can be superb, pretty much all-year-round. During the spring and summer, black bream and bass are the main quarry for many anglers. Fishing with strips of squid or with…

SITUATED IN THE CARIBBEAN BETWEEN the US Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico has long been a popular holiday destination, and in recent years more and more British anglers are starting to visit. Spanish is the dominant language in this unincorporated US territory, but English is spoken almost everywhere on this beautiful island. KEY SPECIES Tarpon and snook are the major inshore species, and both are abundant, especially within the vast system of mangroves, lagoons and interconnecting channels known as the Torrecilla Lagoons, which extend right into the centre of the capital city, San Juan. Good inshore fishing is available at a few other locations around the island. Large numbers of tarpon ranging from under 10lb to huge specimens well in excess of 150lb are caught. Snook are…

PAUL FENECH Sea Angler’s features and tackle editor Paul 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 queries. HENRY GILBEY Angler and photo-journalist Henry, based in Cornwall, will answer questions on lure angling. 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.…

SHORE HENRY GILBEY’S BEST ULTRA-SHALLOW DIVING HARD LURES Picking five ultra-shallow diving hard lures for bass fishing is a matter of personal taste, but I can’t imagine any shore-based lure angler in the UK or Ireland without at least a few of these choices in their tackle boxes. In the past, some lures cast so badly and dived so comparatively deep that I imagine there were areas of shallow rough ground that could not be properly fished – the available lures didn’t enable the angler to do so. Not anymore. Bass, of course, are often more than willing to hit lures that swim very close to or even on the surface, and these magnificent fish also like to frequent areas such as shallow reefs that will gobble up any lures…

Built along classic lines and featuring a simulated clinker hull, the Smartliner Fisher 23 is an exceptionally good-looking angling boat as well as being extremely spacious. She is one of a range of three boats that includes the smaller Fisher 19 and 21 versions that Sea Angler has already covered. The wheelhouse on the Smartliner Fisher 23 is accessed through a side-opening door fitted to port. Inside you’ll see the layout is basic, uncluttered and functional – exactly what you need aboard an angling boat. Seated to starboard, the helmsman benefits from excellent all-round visibility, and there is plenty of space to install a full inventory of electronics. Hydraulic steering is fitted as standard aboard the Fisher 23. Within the cabin, ventilation is provided by opening windows. You get plenty…

MAY • 5: Chesil League & open, Chesil Centre, 6pm-11pm, £25 league membership, new members welcome, book in by 5pm, Dave 07977 132951. • 5: Maryport & District SAC spring open, Workington to Maryport, 10am-2pm, heaviest fish match, David 01900 605765 or Jeff 01900 870624. • 6: Welsh FSA East Region Shore League, Ogmore & Porthcawl, 9am-2pm, nominated species pool for whiting, book in by 7.30am at Ogmore car park, Steve Chadwick 07777 689289. • 6: Scottish FSA open sweepstake, Erskine walkway, noon-5pm, register 10.30am-11am at car park, book only, Mike Kyle 07933 003985, Chris Horn 07872 944807 & Davy Neil 07831 192717. • 6: Lincs open, Humberston Creek, 9am-1pm, book in from 7.30am at car park, 18cm catch and release, £15 entry, booking advisable, Garry 07889 271115 or George…

FIFTEEN WINS IT • Fifteen fish for 4-1-0 secured victory for Ralph Crosby in the Asso Five Man League round 3 event at Hastings and St Leonards. He was on peg 4 in zone A. Runner-up was Brett Cotter, who won zone B, with 2-7-0. £1,720 RAISED • The 102 anglers fishing at the Holyhead Breakwater charity open on March 31 raised £1,720 to help children with meningitis. The longest fish match was won by Craig Middlehurst, of Llandudno, with a 31in conger eel. ALL FLOUNDERS • The North West ASAC Personal Members open at Brick Beach, Crosby, saw mostly flounders taken, plus a 24cm whiting. Winner was Neil Cutler, of Gateshead, with eight flounders for 269 pts. Longest fish was Alex Campbell’s 40cm flounder.…

OCTOBER 2008 • Mike Johnson, of Paignton, Devon, caught a British shore-caught record thornback ray of 22lb 11oz, beating the previous best of 21lb 12oz taken in 1985. He was fishing at Portlemouth, on the eastern flank of the inner Salcombe Estuary. It is still the shore record. • Fisheries Minster Jonathan Shaw announced he would not proceed with plans for a sea angling rod licence, which many considered a wave of common sense. Anglers felt the seas were not properly managed through the Common Fisheries Policy. • Former Sea Angler technical editor and casting record holder, Neil Mackellow joined Hardy Greys as its new sea consultant. • Dick Smith, from Alderney, Channel Islands, landed a 9lb 9oz mullet while fishing the local breakwater. He caught it on float-fished bread.…

I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE SPRING RUN of cod to be more prolific than the autumn and winter. Although you stand less chance of latching into the monster fish you may pick up in December, numbers of fish are certainly far more. Add to this the chance of an early bass and you have the recipe for some good sport. I would consider targeting the so-called ‘spring run’ from the middle of February onwards, and it is around this time that a number of other species may also be on the cards to target. Why, you might ask, do I rate this spring run? Well, every autumn, eager sea anglers take to the UK coastline in pursuit of cod. Traditionally a time of plenty, good bags of fish are landed…

AS A LAD, I SPENT MANY hours fishing from the banks of the Thames, and as I got older I’d be allowed, with a few friends, to catch the Gravesend ferry over to Tilbury, in Essex. It was a short hop across the river to fish the various marks along the Tilbury foreshore. We would strap our fishing rods to our bikes, sling rucksacks on our backs holding the bare minimum of gear – a few lead weights, a couple of traces, a score of lugworms and maybe a few peeler crabs – and off we would go for the day, trying to catch whatever took a liking to our baits. We would ride along the footpath that ran along the bank, trying various places we thought could hold fish…

NESTLED IN THE NORTH EAST OF Scotland about an hour’s drive from Inverness, Embo is a small village just a couple of miles away from the small town of Dornoch. At Embo, there is a holiday park called Grannies Helian Hame, which is an ideal base for the holidaying angler. With its safe and clean beaches, it makes an ideal venue to get the kids into a spot of beach fishing as well. The holiday park is open between the end of March and the middle of October, which coincides with some of the best fishing. Golden sands, stretching for miles, are interspersed with the occasional patch of rock and rougher ground. One of the great things about this area is that hardly anyone fishes from the shore here. Even…

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 issue we award a Shimano Beastmaster CX bass spinning rod or a Socorro saltwater 500 reel to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each issue, chosen on merit, gets a Speedmaster AX Boat Slim 20/30 rod or TLD20 multiplier reel. There is no choice of prize, which is awarded at our discretion. Ian Youngs, Bridport, Dorset.  Fish: 19lb spurdog. Bait: Squid and mackerel on a Pennell rig. Venue: Flamer IV (Colin Penny),…

The Thames is typical of most marks where bass are a seasonal species. Throughout the spring, summer and autumn, they can be caught in huge numbers, and to good sizes as well – there are plenty of double-figure fish caught every year. Granted, there are still the occasional one or two big fish caught throughout the winter cod fishing season, but as soon as the water temperatures begin to rise, around the end of March, the bass begin to move into the famous estuary. Most of these early fish are what we call school bass; they rarely reach above 5lb in weight, but the average size can be good, often around 3lb, depending on where you target them. One of my favourite tactics is to anchor up in front of…

ONCE THE MOST ABUNDANT small-shark species found in European waters, commercial pressure at the back end of the 1990s decimated spurdog populations to the point where catching one was considered something of a rarity. Thanks to the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN), who won EU protective legislation, spurdogs have made a magnificent recovery, with lots of them being caught and released all over the country each year. Along the south coast, the main run of spurdogs is from November through to the end of February, and it’s during these winter months that you stand the best chance of connecting with a 20lb-plus specimen. However, during the summer you can target spurs from most areas, including the Welsh coast and Scottish lochs. One of the most consistent places for decent…

CASTING MY MIND BACK TO THE middle of March, when a blizzard of snow was pelting the windows of the office, it was hard to imagine that soon anglers would be foraging far afield to target some of the most successful species available. Having seen charter boats lost in port to some of the most horrendous easterly storms I can remember in some 40-odd years of chartering, my first trip after the harsh freeze, which sent the water temperature plummeting to a bone-chilling 3°C, showed us the effects that a sudden change in meteorological conditions can have. The first five hours of torment produced not a bite, with the last three hours only livening up enough for my gallant crew to winkle out a few dogfish, a handful of whiting…

PENN PLUS WEYMOUTH ANGLING CENTRE & LEEDA ICON FLATFISH OPEN Chesil Beach, Dorset, 161 anglers In near-perfect conditions, except for slight colour in the water, the fish showed mainly in the West Bexington and Dragon’s Teeth section at Abbotsbury. With 25 anglers taking fish to the scales in this Penn Plus event, it was good to see most of the catch kept alive and returned. Finishing on top was Ant Davies (above right), of Southampton, with two plaice and a flounder for 102cm, which earned him the £500 top prize.Runner-up was Dave Lane, of Weymouth, with two plaice and a dab for 97cm. Dave also won the pairs with Danny Woodcock, with a combined total of 130cm, to share £150. A brace of plaice for 76cm secured third for Mike…