Innehållsförteckning för 525 från Sea Angler

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD a doom-monger tell you that fishing isn’t what it used to be? While science shows declining numbers of fish in our seas due to over-fishing and climatic change, both of which must be addressed, you’d be a fool to think it’s all a picture of gloom. While I accept that sea anglers rarely get big bags of double-figure cod from the shore these days, our readers are catching more than enough big fish to make it worthwhile to get out there and give it a go. Here at Sea Angler we receive plenty of reports of great fish to fill our catch pages many time over. I wrote last month that everything was pointing to a great cod season and, so far, your catch…

THE SURF BEACHES OF CARDIGAN BAY are a popular summer destination for anglers but, come October, they are quickly forgotten. It’s almost as if they think the fishing declines in cold weather, but the fact is that winter is every bit as good and can produce outstanding sport. Take flounders, for example. Often a forgotten species, yet these beaches can be alive with them. Fishing for them is best on these wild beaches from October to early March. I rate late November, December and January because it’s when the numbers are caught and bigger fish start to show. The pattern is more towards numbers between November and pre-Christmas, but mixed in with some quality fish to 2lb or more. Then, as the New Year begins, their numbers reduce, but the…

THEY’RE FAST, FEROCIOUS FEEDING machines that will dramatically reduce your 100 lugworms in no time at all. I’m talking about whiting – a total pain in the backside for every beach cod angler in the UK. No matter what your views are, though, on the good old ‘ting’, they do keep the rod tapping on a still, frosty day when the cod are nowhere to be found. Plus, of course, they make great eating fish too. Personally, I think whiting receive a raw deal from many shore anglers. Fair enough, we all prefer to step on to the beach and bag a cod every single cast, but how often does that happen? When conditions are wrong and the cod have performed a disappearing act, simply change your tactics, scale down…

In association with WHAT’S NEW FOR BEACH ANGLERS HOTFOOT Thermal neoprene waders with floating boots No more cold feet when wading ! Amazing HotFoot cellular foam technology keeps you warm and safe, even in near-freezing water. A world’s first from Hotfoot. Another exciting product from Daiwa/ Sundridge. Available in sizes 7-12, costing £114.99, you could get one FREE by entering our giveway on page 90. GO FISHING WITH GOLDSIE Here’s a unique opportunity – fish with Ian and learn about casting, tackle and baits, pick up expert tips and fish with one of the cleverest rods in British sea angling. Ian operates a guiding service along the Hampshire and West Sussex coast, so if you want a day’s fishing, call: 07900 462529 or email: goldsonbeach@aol.com THE ULTIMATE CASTING…

BAIT presentation is the key to hooking fish. Even with ultra-sharp hooks, fine-tuned traces and perfectly chosen weights, poor presentation means fish can mouth your baits and even pull them off the hook without the slightest chance of it making contact with the fish. You probably know that there is a huge variety of baits available to beach anglers, ranging from mackerel to crabs. All are regulars in our bait bags, none more so than marine worms. These worms are virtually our staple bait. There is no fish in our waters that will turn its nose up to a good old juicy worm. In fact, if I had to use only one bait every time I went fishing I would most probably choose ragworms. These toothy, wriggling worms are a…

Q: I paddle a lot in my sit-in sea kayak. Would this be suitable for fishing? TIM LANGLEY, LOUTH, LINCS GR says: I know of plenty of paddlers who will bring out a handline in the summer for mackerel. If I’m honest, I am only familiar with the sit-on-top variety. You know how stable your own boat is, and if you are comfortable sitting in it and fishing from it, then add a rod-holder or two. A longer and sleeker kayak will certainly eat up the miles and get you to the further marks with relative ease when compared to a purpose-designed angling kayak. If you are using a kayak that tends to tip easily, then you should stick to targeting smaller fish species. Q: Is there a DIY method…

I am replying to the article ‘Weights and Measures’ by Geoff Gonella and the Last Word piece ‘Length Matters’ by Mike Thrussell, both in Sea Angler 523. In 1973 I declined an invitation to attend the inaugural meeting of the Bass Anglers’ Sportsfishing Society in Weymouth, as I could see little point in discussing stock preservation, there being so many specimen bass to be had; thinking the good times would never end. How quickly I was proved wrong. By 1980 the huge shoals of bass that had gathered for generations along the coast of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall were gone, as were the 3kg-plus specimens I had delighted in landing every year. But it was the ever-shrinking mackerel shoals that slowly awakened me to the reality of the rapidly declining…

A GREAT MANY SEA ANGLERS HEAD to Norway and Iceland these days to target the great cod, coalfish and halibut that abound in these richest of seas. On their first trip, many invariably start off using tactics they would employ at home for the same or similar species, and while these will usually produce a few fish, fine-tuning their approach to one more suited to catching very big fish in very deep water will likely increase their results. When I first started travelling to fish in Iceland and northern Norway, I used pirks of various shapes, sizes and colours. Fishing a pirk in deep water is a highly effective, though very physical, form of angling; but when you are regularly hooking 20lb, 30lb, 40lb and bigger fish, you usually forget…

ONE OF THE MOST OVERLOOKED items on a kayak, the rudder is essential if you fish in areas of moderate-to-strong breezes and wind, which covers everywhere in the British Isles. Most kayak anglers that are relatively new to the sport, and have not experienced a day on the water assisted by a rudder, will generally assume that they are a fancy extra and not worth the money. I thought the same thing until I tried one for myself. Despite popular belief, a rudder has been installed on a kayak to keep the paddler going in a straight line. Most kayaks will track very well in flat conditions, and when the wind starts to pick up, there is little problem posed if the paddler is headed directly into or away from…

THIS ROD HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND for a few years, but this is actually the first time I’ve come close to one. I’ve read so many positive comments on various angling forums, I decided it was time to find out what all the fuss was about. If I’m honest, Ron Thompson isn’t a brand that would immediately leap out at me if I were in the market for a beefy beachcaster. However, hundred’s of UK users of the Axellerator can’t be wrong and, to be honest, my first experience of it was really pleasing. The most important thing I noticed with this rod is the fact it’s a total poker. It packs a real punch, and if you need to lean hard on a rod while heaving through some rough…

WHEN IT COMES TO BREATHABLE chest waders, it’s quite probable that you automatically think of the stocking-foot type that game anglers wear. So, it’s refreshing to see that there is now a set equipped with proper, attached boots and, even better, they are purpose-built for us sea anglers. Like many of the Vass chest waders available, they are tough and long-lasting, undergoing extensive and rigorous testing at some of the harshest venues across the UK by some of the best shore anglers, before they were unveiled. The remarkable thing I found when wearing these was just how versatile they are. Although they are extremely tough, they are very comfortable and cope with continuous kneeling down, casting and rock-hopping brilliantly. Protection has been improved, too, with the use of Vass-Ultra 25mm…

Plymouth Rodbenders SAC member Ryan Carter is claiming the UK shore record for the gilthead bream with a superb specimen of 10lb 7oz 8dr caught from a mark in South Devon’s Kingsbridge estuary. The previous record of 10lb 5oz, also set from the Kingsbridge estuary shoreline, had stood for 20 years, and it was only two months ago that the long-standing boat record was broken in the same area. Ryan, 30, of Plymouth, was fishing two hours before low water on October 22 with a three-way swivel rig carrying a 12lb Berkley Trilene snood and a size 1 hook baited with a lugworm. After hooking the big fish, a further 10 anxious minutes passed before the fight was concluded. On his previous cast, Ryan hooked a gilthead of 8lb 12oz.…

A small-boat angler landed a 40lb porbeagle shark on a set of mackerel feathers fished from a 10lb-class rod and a reel loaded with 20lb line. Tony Cotton (pictured right) was out on his son Lee’s boat Lauramy, an Arvor 215, out of Plymouth, Devon. “I decided to visit a few offshore wrecks,” said Lee, from Plymouth. “The fishing was extremely slow, to say the least, so my father decided to feather up some fresh mackerel bait, using a 10lb-class rod and a 7000 size real loaded with 20lb mono.” As soon as the weight hit the 230ft mark, Tony’s rod arched over. At first he thought the rig was snagged, but after a short period he was convinced he was gaining line. “After about 30 minutes of searing runs…

FANCY winning tackle from Shimano by catching a fish? Your target is to catch one over the weight given on our nominated species list. If you do, you win a Mission Accomplished badge and the chance of a great monthly tackle prize. Each month we award a Shimano Nexave Surf 400 five-piece rod and a Ultegra Surf 5500SC fixed-spool reel, worth a total of £320, to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each month, chosen on merit, gets a Beastmaster AX Boat Slim rod and a Tekota 500LCM multiplier reel, worth a total of £280. Monthly winners SHORE: Lew Marsden, 232lb common skate BOAT: Paul Bryson, 15lb 8oz bass Targets Catch a fish of this weight or above…

Clacton matchman Richard Burt opened his second day account with a dogfish and dab  England international George Smith found some bigger whiting to finish third overall  The warmer conditions on Day 2 saw other species turning up, such as this gurnard  Stuart Littlewood travelled from the Isle of Man and was runner-up in zone C on Day 2  Michael Rycroft bagged this bass at peg 73 on Day 2 in his first UK Master’s final  Bob Gascoigne, from Cramlington, caught this bonus dogfish at range from zone D…

BASS ROCK SAC Seacliff beach, 21 anglers, 14/10/15 • Result: 1 Steve Burns, 13 fish, 187cm (10pts); 2 Keith Bathgate, 10 fish, 148cm (8); 3 Barry McEwan, 118cm (6); 4 Craig Ogilvie, 103cm (0); 5 Shaun Gardener, 66cm (2). BLACKDOWN SAC 12 anglers, 10/10/15 • Result: 1 Nick Bawler, 75cm (5pts); 2 Tim Dyke, 70cm (4); 3 Conrad Davis, 69cm (3); 4 Simon Lomen (2); 5 Richard Jordan (1). DEAL 1919 AC Pier/Beach, 16 anglers, 07/10/15 • Result: 1 Dave Andrews, 3.690kg (5pts); 2 Louie Smith, 3.510kg (0); 3 Steve Hackett, 3.480kg (3): 4 Luke Hutton, 2.890kg (2); 5 Josh Hackett, 2.370kg (1). DUNGENESS SAA Rover, 21 anglers, 4/10/15 • Result: 1 Phil Tanner, 16 fish, 6-6-8 (10pts); 2 Dave Wood-Brignall, 12, 5-6-8 (8); 3 John Smith, 11, 4-12-8 (6);…

FOR SALE • Six-tray cantilever fishing box, shop £29.99, sale £11 ono; 12ft fishing rod with cork handle, offers; new Cadet Force fishing smock with hood, 40-44in chest, £7 ono; fishing videos, 60p each; wanted shore/boat DVDs, tel: 01273 591489 (West Sussex). • Zziplex M4 T £225 and HSM, £200, Zziplex bags, reel seats, three years old, built by Chris Dance, UK Hooks, or both £400, buyer collects, tel: 0114 2217823 or 07722 520052 (Sheffield). • Petzl Accu2 headlamp with spare battery, boxed and in mint condition, £150, tel: 0151 647 8883 (Wirral). • Samalite HL 600 LED flood 13AH, Ni-MH rechargeable battery with charger, harness, boxed, hardly used, cost more than £300, sell for £140, buyer collects, tel: 01493 722259 (Norfolk). • Daiwa Powerlift 12lb-class rod, 12ft 8in, immaculate…

DORSET’S CHESIL BEACH NEEDS little introduction and is a familiar haunt for many anglers during the colder months when the cod fishing can be nothing short of fabulous. Add to the mix as many whiting, pout and dogfish as you can shake a stick at, and you have the recipe for some memorable sessions. At almost 19 miles in length, there are plenty of options when it comes to choosing your spot on the shingle, and everyone has their favourite little patch to set up shop. When it comes to bait, though, are we perhaps a little too set in our ways? I like to keep the variants to a minimum, believing this to be the best way to put fish on the beach. Find what works consistently, stick it…

ONE OF BRITAIN’S LONG-DISTANCE footpaths is the Saxon Shore Way, which runs 163 miles along the coast, as it was in Roman times, from Gravesend, in Kent, to Hastings, in East Sussex. The start of this route gives access to Old Father Thames as it runs alongside the Eastcourt and Shorne Marshes. This stretch has been a favourite fishing haunt of mine since a very young age. There are plenty of marks on the Thames from the Ship and Lobster pub at Gravesend, going east to the Shornmead Fort and the lighthouse. Here are four within a couple of miles, but all so different. THE SAND JETTY This mark is named after a jetty where sand is unloaded from the boats. This mark is more of a high-water venue because…

MANY LURE ANGLERS WILL BUMP paddletails down the current, but it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realise there are multiple ways to use them for fishing. For shore and boat-based bass anglers, the paddletail is one of the most versatile lures we can carry. I’ve written before about bumping paddletails along the bottom in a current, but how about using them like a hard lure by simply whacking one out and winding it in? The tail on a paddletail is designed to vibrate as it moves, either with a current or with you imparting that movement. You can find paddletails in all shapes, sizes and colours, from tiny little things that are designed for ultra-light lure fishing to big lumps of soft plastic designed for any fish that has…

CORK HARBOUR IS THE SECOND BIGGEST natural harbour in the world, so, on reflection, it may not be the ideal venue for an unplanned light rock fishing session, but the challenge of throwing some lures around this huge expanse of water was an opportunity we did not want to miss. The question remained, though, could we catch a few species on lures with little or no knowledge of the venue? We would be accompanied by Tronixpro boss George Cunningham, a big fan of LRF. Finding a place to start an afternoon’s LRF session in Cork Harbour is not easy because you are spoiled for choice. However, on the drive over to Cobh, our starting point, a plan was hatched to hit some deepwater marks during daylight, with the hope of…

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. ALAN YATES Contributing editor and former England international angler, Alan is your shore fishing expert. 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: Can you please tell me the best LRF technique? SIMON TURNER, CARLISLE, CUMBRIA AK & DS say: Horses for courses. Different anglers swear by different methods and lures. Dropshot…

Q: If I replace the trebles on my lures with single hooks, will it result in me losing more fish? BEN ASHLEY, BY EMAIL HG says: I’m in exactly the same boat as you, as in I am fed up with treble hooks and the damage they do to fish and me. I also believe that we lose more bass through what are often poor hook-holds with treble hooks. I crush the barbs on all hooks I use in lure fishing anyway, but recently I have begun rigging my most-used bass hard lures with specialist single hooks and, so far, I can’t say that I have had any cause to worry with losing bass. Some fish come off regardless of what you do anyway, but I really like how, when…

HANDS UP WHO HAS A BRIGHT shiny new lure lying in their tackle box, a lure that has not seen the light of day, let alone been used in the years since you acquired it? Most likely it was bought on a whim, on one of those day’s when you walked into a tackle shop with some spare cash in your pocket, or perhaps late one evening while kicking around on eBay having enjoyed one too many glasses of your favourite tipple. I have several such lures, and one of these caught my eye during a recent trip while looking in my lure box for inspiration. It ended up going for a swim and… it caught a hell of a lot of fish. As much as my personal preference when…

DEALING WITH THE PRESSURE OF finding bass for my daily crew members is an everyday experience for me. The duty to deliver for each customer who comes on a bass lure-casting trip aboard 3 Fishes, is both unchanging and relentless. I am not complaining; after all, how could I moan when my office is 27 square metres of gleaming Cheetah Cat homed in stunning scenery and surrounded by some of the UK’s best wildlife and best fishing? Nevertheless, though, I do feel the pressure. However, I believe that to be a good thing, because it means that I still care and, therefore, always strive to do the best for everyone. To be frank, I cannot always deliver because, as the old adage goes; ‘fishing is fishing, not always catching’. So…

FISHING AT NIGHT CAN BE FAR more productive than during the day, especially in areas with shallow, clear water inshore. Not surprisingly, therefore, most dinghy anglers will eventually get the urge to fish a session at night. However, if anything goes wrong during the hours of darkness, working out a solution can invariably be far more problematic than during daylight hours. Minor engine problems, an anchor fouled on the seabed, a rope tangled around the prop, problems with the electrics, not to mention the danger of hitting large objects floating on the surface, will all need to be fully considered. Then, there is the problem of other boat traffic, especially commercial shipping. Many of the most productive and, consequently, popular fishing marks are located uncomfortably close to shipping lanes. My…

AS SOON AS I SAW THIS REEL emerging from its rather snazzy cloth bag I thought I recognised it, but I’d certainly never heard of the name ‘Truth’ reels before. A little bit of Google research confirmed my suspicions that this is, in fact, a ‘Release’ reel, which has been rebadged. Now then, at this point I must inform you that there’s no jiggery pokery going on, and everything is above board. The fact is Release had to change its trading name, so they changed it to Truth. The SG model name refers to Small Game. It is 100 perc ent USA built, and has been developed for light-tackle fishing for big-game species such as grouper, amberjack, and even striped marlin. Over here in the UK it’s perfect for just…

Expect no more cold feet when wading if you choose the Hot Foot thermal neoprene waders with built-in floating boots from Sundridge. In what is claimed as a world first, the amazing Hot Foot cellular foam technology keeps you warm and safe, even in near-freezing water. With sizes ranging from 7-12 and costing £114.99, these waders are great value and offer safety, warmth, durability and less weight than rubber boots. We’re giving away nine pairs of the Hot Foot neoprene waders with floating boots, and it’s so easy to enter (see panel below). Created using closed cell foam technology, these boots retain a large volume of insulating air in their outer shell to protect against cold down to -40°C with no signs of damage, even in extreme conditions. The air…

An awesome fishing session on the famous Skerries banks produced 20 blonde rays with the best (left) weighing a superb 34lb 7oz 8dr. Paignton Sea Anglers’ member Gordon Richards was fishing from his own boat with his pals Ross Stewart and Dave Winsborrow on November 1. The trio had left Noss Marina in the River Dart just before dawn to head out to the Skerries, which are off Dartmouth. At their first mark, Gordon, who lives in Paignton, Devon, caught a 28lb blonde, before Ross landed one of 22lb and Gordon added another of 24lb. Three hours into the ebb, Gordon’s rod slammed over and line poured from his Shimano TLD 15 reel. Thinking it was a big spurdog, he was surprised to see a large ray come to the…

Ray angler Mark Reed smashed the Cornish record with a stunning blonde spinning the scales around to 26lb 15oz. The angler, from Newquay, caught it on October 17 from an exposed mark on the coast of North Cornwall. “This venue can only be fished in flat seas, so I was very fortunate to have the correct conditions,” he said. The previous record dated from 1966 and weighed 24lb. “This is a crowning achievement for me because a blonde ray is a rare catch in Cornwall and makes it a quartet of county specimens,” added Mark, who has caught specimen small-eyed, thornback and spotted rays this year. Mark was using a Century Eliminator T900 rod, Penn Fathom 15 reel loaded with 19lb Rovex 10x line and a pulley dropper rig with…

• Nine-year-old Daniel Van Kempen, from Basildon, Essex, couldn’t believe his eyes after he reeled in this sturgeon that tipped the scales to 11lb 3oz. The surprise fish fell to a single sandeel during a shore session at Southend seafront. • A kayak trip out of Ladram Bay, Devon, saw nine-year-old Jessica Ward catch this plaice weighing around 1lb. The Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex angler used ragworms and a running leger rig. • Maisie Evans, aged nine, enjoyed her maiden kayak trip off Newgale beach, Pembs, recently. After catching a few mackerel, the Cardiff angler replaced her feathers with a Dexter wedge and was duly rewarded with this 3lb 7oz bass. • Aspiring boat angler Dylan Daniels bagged this thornback ray weighing 8lb 4oz during a trip out of Laugharne,…

THE GOLDEN EXPANSE OF SAND OF Aberavon beach was basking in bright autumnal sunshine, the distant waterline a shimmering silver line to the south. Certainly, the place was looking as pretty as a postcard…unless, that is, you took a sideways glance to the east, where the horizon is heavily blighted by the gigantic industrial sprawl that is Port Talbot steelworks, or west towards the muddy Neath River with Swansea beyond. Spaced out at equal intervals along the waterline, I could see almost 80 anglers, who my watch confirmed were now 10 minutes into fishing a Welsh FSA four-hour open. Included among their group were some of the hottest rods in the Principality, including former world champion and the world’s undisputed number one shore matchman, Joe Arch. I found the man…

NOVEMBER • 21-29: Weymouth Angling Society heaviest fish week, Dorset rover, fish may be weighed in at tackle shops or HQ after 7pm, book on by 2pm on Nov 21, last bag 10pm Sept 29, Dave, 07977 132951. • 21: Ian Reid memorial open, Leven beach, 10.30am-3.30pm, registration from 8.30am at Leven beach caravan site car park, book only, 80 pegs, Alan Combe 07872 899791 or David Dobbie 07940 111729. • 21: All Ireland Cod Championship, Youghal beach, 4pm-9pm, €500 for longest cod, John Diamond 00353 (0)85 1744320 or JP 00353 (0)87 7946518. • 21: Blackdown SAC open, 12.30pm-4.30pm, sign in from 10.30pm at Blue Anchor Hotel, Ryan 07500 966999. • 22: Welsh flounder open, Brian at Country Stores 01792 875050. • 22: East of Scotland Open Shore Festival, Dysart,…

SALTWATER CHAMPIONS From £3.15 to £4.80 per box of 30 One of the original Varivas patterns, these have a long shank and a special bend, making them extremely good for worm and fish strip baits. They are lightweight, with a small eye, which helps to prevent damaging delicate baits. Available in sizes 3-4/0. SEMI-CIRCLE From £2.50 to £5.65 per pack of 20 These have a unique bend and an off-set point to increase the chances of a positive hook-up. The semi-circle is not as curved as a full circle hook, but still works well to prevent deep hooking. Available in sizes 6-4/0. BIG MOUTH From £4.35 to £5.45 per box of 30 or single packs of 10 at £1.55 Probably one of the biggest sellers, these hooks have a medium…

NORMALLY I LIKE TO GO SOMEWHERE different for a week’s fishing holiday with some friends, but after a cracking time in South Wales last year, it was an easy choice to make a return trip. The target would be the area’s big blonde and small-eyed rays, and joining me were Richie Payne, Steve Perry and Robert Perry. Last year the Welsh dragon certainly roared because we were greeted with Force 10 winds from the south west at the start of the week, which made fishing at high water impossible. This time it was a different story, with easterlies putting hardly a ripple on the water; not an ideal situation, but it is what it is when you book a holiday session. Once we dropped off enough gear and bait for…

I’D BEEN TRUDGING ALONG THE SHORE for the best part of an hour casting and retrieving a black and silver Rapala jointed plug. Although there had been nothing doing, apart from a small wrasse that hung itself on and tried to plunge into a wrack-lined crevice, it was easy fishing. The 20lb braid behaved perfectly. Time after time the plug sailed out 20 metres or more, and on the odd occasion when the treble hooks contacted a frond of weed, I was able to wrap the line around my sleeve and a firm pull sliced the lure free. Even after the odd snag on a rock, a spot of slack line floated it back to the surface. Easy fishing! I thought back to when I started spinning for bass 50…

WINTER CAN BE A CHALLENGE for the LRF angler because weather conditions and cold sea temperatures conspire to make fishing harder, but choosing the correct venue and knowing what to target can save you from a dreaded blank. The trick is to make a few small tweaks to your tackle throughout the winter. For instance, when fishing light jig heads on the drop, I favour a solid-tipped LRF rod, but prefer a tube-tipped rod for working lures along the seabed (bottom bouncing) and metals. Both have casting weights up to 8g. I use smaller lures and jig heads, meaning I can step down my mainline, not because the fish are smaller, but for several reasons. Firstly, there is less weed growth, which means I can fish a lighter breaking strain…

DIY bait clips seem to cause headaches all around the country. Reader Peter Drummond sums up a common issue: “For fishing rough spots where rig losses are high, I prefer disposable DIY clips made from an inch of stainless wire and a plastic sleeve. They release most of the time on long casts, but at less than about 80 yards, the bait usually stays clipped up. What is the answer?” HEIGHT IS KEY TO CLIP RELEASING Why do bait clips sometimes release at long range but not at short distance? Casting height is a big factor. When a long, high cast hits the sea, the huge bow of line in the air instantly falls slack, which encourages the baited hook to escape from its clip. Short casts, which for most…

Q: How long should the distance be between the hook and the weight on a split shot rig? RORY MORGAN, ASHFORD, KENT AK & DS say: The split shot rig is a great, cost-effective way to fish for mini species and is super simple. However, the length of the line to the hook changes the way it fishes. Fish a short length – say 2in – and the lure will be tight on the bottom and remain near the shot. This is important as we’re absolutely certain that the noise and movement of the shot brings in the fish. How many times do you see a fish attack the shot? So, presenting the lure near this commotion will help. However, you can fish a different presentation if you lengthen the…

WELL DONE ENGLAND Our club member Steve Batchelor has found success as part of the England boat fishing team. He started his England boat team career after qualifying for the Home International team in 2012. Shortly afterwards he was picked to fish for his country in Stornaway in 2013, returning with a team gold medal and was second in the individual stakes. Steve’s form continued in 2014, when he fished in Ireland as captain, picking up a team silver medal. Then 2015 brought a new challenge with selection for England’s World Championship team, becoming part of a six-man team fishing out of County Donegal, Ireland. The other team members were Gary Galbrath, Colin Searles, Cliff Newbold, Mark Smith and Rolf Marschalek. Team England secured silver just behind Italy, with individual…

IT WASN’T ALL THAT LONG AGO, SOME 10 years , when we were all being told that ‘speed jigging’ was the way forward in UK waters. Sure, there were a few cod, pollack and bass caught by anglers who experimented with the method and the specially manufactured speed jigs, but it soon became apparent that the kit and tactics weren’t really designed for our rather sluggish UK seawater species. We simply don’t have the fish that can take advantage of long, thin jigs cranked at ridiculous speeds. In essence, UK speed jigging amounted to little more than overindulgent pirk fishing over wrecks and reefs. If only we had yellowfin tuna and amberjacks swimming around our shores. So, you can imagine how sceptical I was when I first heard about slow…

A RECENT ARTICLE IN THIS MAGAZINE on how to catch whiting - I can’t recall that being a struggle - elicited a response on Facebook about how to avoid catching them. Well, it just so happens that the avoidance of these fish was exactly what I was trying to do at that very time. October is a peak month for me on the codling off Suffolk, as they tend to move inshore around mid-late September. Catching codling from a kayak is easy… except when the whiting are shoaled up. In the last week of October they were showing in plague proportions. A week of strong onshore winds roughed up the seabed and drove the colour from the water, so it was as clear as it’s been all year, clearer in…

A FEW MONTHS BACK I WAS INVITED to Portugal by a Facebook friend, Mark Shreeve, to have a look at his new pride and joy – a custom-built 700 Sport Fishing from Levant. Little did I know what I was about to discover – one of the best small fishing boats that I have ever been on. I arrived at Faro airport to be greeted by Mark’s wife, Stephanie, and the boat’s builder Francisco Alexandre. They took me to the only hotel in Villa Real de Santo Antonio, where Levant Boats is based. It turns out that Francisco is one of only three naval architects in Portugal. After serving his time designing and repairing various hulls, he decided to start up his own business building pleasure craft. So, the 700…

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I’VE BEEN so excited about a new bass lure. Maybe it’s because I’ve been following the design and production of the Artic Eel from the onset, or maybe it’s because I have seen just how effective they have been during the extensive field testing and fine-tuning period. Suffice to say – this is one extremely productive and, in my opinion, essential piece of kit to have in your box if you’re a serious bass angler. The lure’s inventor, Pete Cook, designed it for catching bass, but, of course, it’s not the only species that the Artic Eel will catch. So far, apart from numerous double-figure bass, he has caught huge amounts of cod, pollack and ling on them, as well as a few wrasse…

• After a summer spent seeking smoothhounds, Lloyd Manning-James (above) broke his duck with a 14lb fish at Sker beach, near Bridgend. The local angler caught it on a mackerel bait on September 26, and also caught a near 10lb small-eyed ray on a sandeel and mackerel wrap at the nearby Ogmore beach on October 17. • Legered fish bait on a running leger Pennell rig with size 5/0 Sakuma hook produced this superb 11lb 9oz bass for Andy Sloane, of Christchurch, Dorset, while fishing at nearby Steamer Point. • Experienced angling journalist Dave Barham (pictured below) has joined the Sea Angler team. Dave, a former magazine editor, brings a wealth of experience with him and will complement the top team of sea angling experts at Sea Angler. “Having worked…

THIS YEAR’S SAMF UK MASTER’S Final saw 97 of the nation’s best competition anglers lining the famous Kent shingle stretch of Prince’s Parade near Folkestone. A persevering gale quickly diminished to leave an inviting crunch hitting the shingle and a good amount of colour in the water. With a bait restriction introduced, it meant only lugworms and fish could be used during the two, four-hour measure and release, weight conversion events. Whiting, dabs and dogfish were quickly landed, with some codling to 5lb, plus a couple of thornbacks over 6lb beached. In Zone A, Colin Crosby, from Hastings, caught steadily to end up with 13lb 7oz, just ahead of Dave Cook’s 13lb 6oz. Zone B saw Welsh angler Jimmy Price take the honours with 13lb 4oz, while Julian Shambrook, from…

WELSH FSA OPEN Aberavon, Neath, 77 anglers In-form Chris Stephens, from Bridgend, caught five dogfish and two rays for 386cm to win this event. Five rays for 289cm, including the event’s biggest fish of 80cm, secured second for Mark Cowell, of Llantwit Major. • Result: 1 Chris Stephens, Bridgend, 386cm (7pts); 2 Mark Cowell, Llantwit Major, 289cm (6); 3 Nigel Putbrace, Cardiff (5). WORKINGTON UNION JACK SAC HEAVIEST FISH OPEN Whitehaven pier to Grasslot pier, Cumbria, 101 anglers Dogfish dominated this heaviest fish open in Cumbria, with 38 anglers troubling the scales. Joint winners were Simon Hogan and Wayne Stephenson, both recording 2lb 5oz. Heaviest flatfish was a 1lb 10oz 8dr plaice for Steve Harkness. • Result: jt 1 Simon Hogan & Wayne Stephenson, both Workington, both 2-5-0 dogfish (both…

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE VENUES ON the Essex coast is Clacton pier because it produces some fabulous fishing for thornback rays and a superb run of codling. The latter were showing in late August into September this year, but usually thin out before moving back in to feed over the winter until the sprat shoals show, and then reappear for what is known as the spring run. The sea around this area is nearly always coloured due to the mud and clay seabed on this part of the Thames estuary, with the ebbing tides stirring up the bottom as the tides from the surrounding rivers empty out. For my recent trip to the pier, I was joined by my ‘Team Sea Angler’ member Darren Mills, who also comes from Kent,…

I’M JUST BACK FROM A WEEK’S SHORE FISHING in Ireland. October is the prime month for fishing the surf beaches of County Kerry for bass in south-west Ireland, and nowhere has more famous surf beaches within a short drive of each other than the Dingle Peninsula. With our base at Ballydavid, we planned to focus on bass and arrived with frozen razorfish and sandeels, both superb bass baits in the surf. In addition, we also arranged to collect fresh lugworms, and knew that we could dig more if required. We were well prepared, but it was such a shame that we had no control over the weather. Often when fishing in Ireland with the late Clive Gammon, he used to say that the saddest words in the English language were…

PENN RAMPAGE II SURF BEACH ROD 15FT 9IN RRP: £129.99, SSP: £119.99 At 15ft 9in, and with a progressive fast-tapered action, this rod is designed to achieve maximum casting performance when using simple casting styles, such as an overhead cast. It offers excellent bite detection at range, but has the power in the mid and butt sections to pressurise hard-fighting fish like cod, rays and bass. The rod is lightweight, retains a slim diameter and is fitted throughout with genuine Fuji rings. Rated to cast 4-6oz. PENN RAMPAGE II SURF BEACH ROD 13FT RRP: £109.99, SSP: £99.99 Designed to cast 4-6oz (113-170g), this three-piece, 13ft, 24-ton blank is fitted with Fuji rings throughout, an aluminium reel seat and features a shrink tube foregrip. Slim in diameter and light in weight,…

FISHEAGLE ABERDEEN HOOK CODE: TA1812 -19 GAC PRICE: £2.99 per 100 Available in sizes 4-6/0, this popular Aberdeen pattern is ideal for large worm baits and easy to unhook from a fish. A strong wire with a micro barb offers maximum hooking power. FISHEAGLE BAITHOLDER HOOK CODE: TA1828-35 GAC PRICE: £2.99 per 100 Available in sizes 12-1/0, these hooks feature a classic downturned eye and two barbs along the shank for keeping delicate worm baits in position. Also available with a straight-eye option. FISHEAGLE CHINU SPECIMEN HOOK CODE: TA1848 -53 GAC PRICE: £2.99 per 100 Available in sizes 2-12, these hooks offer unrivalled hooking power for smaller species like bream. FISHEAGLE SUPER STRONG HOOK CODE: TA1839-47 GAC PRICE: From £2.99 per 100 Available in sizes 4-12/0, these hooks have been…