Innehållsförteckning för Issue 603 från Sea Angler

ROSS MCKAY (OR ROSSCO AS HE’S known) is the go-to guy for rod builds and top quality repairs. He’s now one of the most highly regarded craftsmen in Scotland and, indeed, the UK. A top angler as well as the organiser of one of the most fun sea fishing competitions seen in a long time, Rossco is one of the world’s ‘good guys’. Joe Whyte spoke to him about life, angling, rod building and everything else in between. Q Firstly, tell me about your first steps into sea angling? Did someone get you in to it early on? RM: I started fishing at the age of three. My dad gave me this lifelong hobby and to this day we still fish together when he’s up for it. I used to…

GETTING THERE Exit the M5 at junction 20 (Clevedon), turn left at the roundabout and follow Central Way. Head straight over the next roundabout and join Southern Way. Turn left on to Strode Road and keep straight until you join Lower Strode Road. Follow this until you reach a sharp left-hand bend where you’ll see a gate and footpath leading to the wall. Parking is at a premium and there is a reasonable hike involved from where you park. TACKLE SHOP ■ Reel Fun, Portishead Quays Marina, Newfoundland Way, Bristol, BS20 7DF, tel: 01275 848652.…

GETTING THERE To get to Loughor, exit the M4 at Junction 47 and follow the signs through Gorseinon to Loughor. There are plenty of parking places around the river bridge, and just upstream near the Loughor Boating Club. Most anglers fishing Green Banks park near the blue foot bridge several hundred yards after the Loughor Bridge. Cross the bridge over the railway line, and the path takes you to Green Banks. TACKLE SHOP ■ Anglers Corner, 80 Station Rd, Llanelli, SA15 1AN, tel: 01554 773981. ■ Country Stores, 3a Church St, Gowerton, SA4 3EA, tel: 01792 875050. Mainwarings, 44 Vivian Rd, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 0UH, tel: 01792 202245.…

SITUATED IN A STUNNING PART OF the Duddon Estuary in Cumbria, the fishing is from a sea defence wall that stretches from Haverigg across towards the end of Millom beach. Made from tiers of huge concrete blocks, the Hodbarrow seawall at Haverigg is a breakwater protecting the former iron ore mine from the sea. The area behind it flooded when pumping stopped in the 1960s and formed the enclosed Hodbarrow lagoon. The area is now an RSPB reserve. There are a restored lighthouse and derelict windmill near the site of the old mine. SEASONAL SPECIES Fish that can be caught here are mainly flounders, plaice and bass. TACTICS The seawall can be fished at various stages of the flood and ebb but ideally you want to try the first of…

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

STEP 1 First peel the skin from your squid. You don’t have to, it’s just my preference. STEP 2 Begin by weaving the squid on to the bottom hook of your Pennell rig like this. STEP 3 When you have woven the body of the squid on the hook, pass the point of the hook through the head, right between the eyes. STEP 4 Secure the top hook of the Pennell in place by winding the trace line around it three or four times. STEP 5 Pass the point of the top hook through the tip of the squid and pull tight to straighten the bait. Now you’re ready to catch some cod.…

WHILE MOST ASPECTS OF small-boat handling can be practiced under controlled conditions, this is rarely the case when learning how to operate in rough seas. Most of us learn this lesson the hard way. For many years I have stuck to a personal rule that if I develop even the slightest doubt about the weather, regardless of the forecast, I either move and find a more favourable area to fish or head for home. When caught out in conditions that are going to test your boat-handling skills, the first thing you should do is to put on your lifejacket. Ideally, we should all wear one at all times when afloat, but it is not a perfect world and few do. Depending on your location and the distance from either your…

JAMES MADSEN Bristol Channel angler James Madsen is here to solve all your shore angling problems. MARK CRAME Suffolk-based Mark gets a thrill from fishing afloat on a kayak. Send him your kayaking queries. DAN SISSONS The Portsmouth angler will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. HENRY GILBEY Angler and photo-journalist Henry, based in Cornwall, will answer questions on lure angling. HOW TO ASK A US QUESTION ■ Email: sa.ed@kelsey. co.uk or online: www. facebook.com/ seaanglermag…

Few rigs have made such an impact on the match scene as the bomber, which came to mainstream beach fishing when Essex angler and tackle dealer Richard Holgate used it to great effect to win the 1992 SAMF Masters at Southwold in Suffolk. We’re at that time of year when hordes of whiting move inshore when dusk arrives. They can be out of reach for some anglers, but with the right rig, you can land your bait right among them. The bomber is perfect for this and much more. This rig features two snoods – short and long – and both sit neatly on the same clip, making it is easier to cast and eradicate wobble during the flight. With two hooks clipped together, the bomber is streamlined for casting…

TRONIXPRO COMPETITION PERFORMANCE  RRP: £399.99 Well, the bag is quite impressive. Knitted mesh material, Velcro fastener, comfortable padding. Unlike the typical cheesy rod bag, this one is also smartly embroidered with Tronixpro Competition Performance. If first impressions count, we’re off to a good start. The rod is three-piece, each section tucked safely in its own partition. Plugged together they make a 4.2 metres (13ft 9in) beach rod that weighs a tad over 480g, featherweight even by modern standards. There is also a 4.5m version. And it’s slim. The 23mm diameter butt tapers to 21mm at the reel seat, the mid-section goes from 17mm to 15mm, the very tip shrinks to a minuscule 1.92mm – and that’s measured on top of a generous layer of reflective finish. According to Tronixpro, the…

MODERN SEA ANGLING Dr Phill Williams referencing F.D. Holcombe RRP: £19.99 First published in 1921, ‘Modern Sea Angling’ by F.D. Holcombe remains an informative if not essential read for anyone interested in sea angling, its history and the evolution of our great sport. Much of Halcombe’s original tome is outdated yet a surprising amount of the original text rings as true today as it did when he first put pen to paper 100 years ago. Dr Phill Williams, a leading sea angling photo-journalist whose work has featured in numerous publications, said: “Until I read it, I hadn’t appreciated just how well informed anglers a century ago actually were, or what good fish they were able to pull out, despite the quality of some of the tackle they had to work…

DRY BACKPACK PART OF NEW OSEA RANGE Check out this new dry backpack from technical clothing and accessories manufacturer Typhoon International. The Osea Dry Backpack not only looks supercool in its combo graphite and black colours, but also it’s extremely tough and 100 per cent waterproof, even at the seams. Because these are welded it will keep all your essentials dry while you are out on the water. The backpack comes in two sizes – 20 litres and 40 litres, costing £52.45 and £62.95. Each features a roll-top closure, waterproof front zip pocket for those needed-in-a-hurry items, front bungee cord attachment and mesh side pockets. It is really comfortable to wear too with its adjustable shoulder system and ‘whistle buckle’ chest and waist attachments. This means it is both safe…

THE ICONIC LOCATIONS OF SAINT Mawes and the St Anthony peninsulas in the heart of Cornwall provided the setting for this year’s UK Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival, affectionately known as “The Salt”. Covid caused the cancellation of the 2020 Festival, so the 2021 event, held over the weekend of September 16-19, was extra special for organisers Tim and Amelia Whitaker, and participants. Held over a long weekend, the itinerary involving demonstrations, talks and gatherings on the first day and then the two days of competition. Key themes included a hands-on introduction to saltwater fly-fishing, skill sessions, and an opportunity for everyone to fish a friendly competition in a safe environment with a variety of topography and species, and to ensure catch and release and safe fish handling practices. Anglers were…

MY FAVOURITE RADIO programme is the Shipping Forecast. The names of the sea areas are so evocative: Rockall, Malin, Hebrides, Bailey, Fair Isle... I’m happiest of all when the bulletin begins with the words, “There are warnings of gales”. I feel guilty smiling at the prospect but storms mean bass. Mostly a heavy blow’s about good fishing. This may seem obvious but it’s worth asking why. The other week I popped into the village shop after an early morning outing in a wet Force 5 or 6. The owner was surprised I was daft enough to stand around in a horizontal monsoon. “Perfect conditions,” I told her as I dripped rainwater and flecks of seaweed on to her floor. The bass population doesn’t increase when the barometric pressure drops. It’s…

CHECKING OUT A VENUE OVER LOW water is always a good tactic and particularly relevant at Seaton Hole, where I was hoping to catch bull huss and even conger eels during darkness. This venue is at the extreme western end of the Lyme Bay, where I planned to meet Paul Munday and Pete Fone, the manager at Seaton Angling Centre. Travelling with me after being out of action for a few months was my fishing buddy Steve Lawrence. With high water around 9pm, our intention was to fish from 5pm to 10pm. Arriving a couple hours early we popped into Seaton Angling Centre and chatted with Pete. It soon transpired that we could be wasting our time in daylight but I decided to target a few ballan wrasse until dusk…

THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF COASTAL quarrying at Berry Head left a legacy of a flat stone base at the edge of the sea giving access to deep water and very good fishing. It was while going down the very long lane that leads to the base of the Headland that I encountered what I am certain was a black panther. Several other reports exist of such an animal being in the area. The half-mile long Brixham Breakwater is justifiably popular not least for its accessibility SPECIES Garfish and mackerel are constant throughout the summer and autumn months. During the winter, whiting and codling are present in numbers and specimen size fish are recorded each year. In addition to mackerel and garfish, Berry Head also produces big wrasse, bull huss, pollack,…

FAMOUS FOR ITS 13TH CENTURY medieval church situated 20 metres above the high tide mark among the sand dunes, Llandanwg beach is a popular summer tourist venue between May and September, but can often be deserted except for walkers from late September to April. It offers sweeping views west along the Llyn Peninsula and is popular out of season with anglers seeking solitude. SEASONAL SPECIES Although the bass are resident all year, it’s April before the season really gets going with May and June good months when fishing with baits among the rougher ground to the north side, and again in September to November. The clean sand to the south side offers flounders, dogfish, occasional thornback and small turbot. A few small smoothhounds are caught among the rocks in June…

FANCY WINNING SOME QUALITY mono, braid and fluorocarbon from Sufix by catching a great fish? In our catch competition, your target is to catch one over the weight given on our nominated species list. If you do, enter our contest and you automatically stand a chance of winning either our shore or boat bundle. Each issue we award a superb Sufix package to the captor of the best shore fish and best boat-caught fish, both chosen on merit. There is no choice of prize which is awarded at our discretion. Cian Driver, Greystones, County Wicklow. FISH: 60lb tope. BAIT: Mackerel on a pulley rig. VENUE: Newcastle beach, County Wicklow. DATE: September 29 Scott Jenkins, Morriston, Swansea. FISH: 13lb 15oz smoothhound. BAIT: Whole squid. VENUE: Barry. DATE: September 3 Tom Hughes,…

BY LATE AUTUMN AND WITH THE onset of winter, reef fishing is a mile apart from that of summer. The available food supply is much less widely spread and, as a result, the fish change their feeding habits. We need to do the same by adjusting our tactics if we want to reap the rewards. In the summer, and through to late autumn, the fish are widely spread as their food is plentiful. But as the winter starts to dig her claws in, nourishment becomes less easy for them to find and breaks up into smaller concentrations within specific areas and the predators have to do the same. Cod, ling, pollack and coalfish that were recently actively hunting food have to adapt. If they charge about across a wide area…

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MY phone buzzers. I rarely answer it at night but a glance at the screen confirms the caller is Sam Narbett, owner/skipper of the West Country charter boat Bluefin. I guessed he had some exciting news so I answered and I was glad I did. “Dave, what’s the earliest you can get down here, the tuna fishing is incredible,” he enthused. “Today we released 13 big bluefins between 160-400lb, tagging 12. You’ve got to get down here and witness what we are seeing.” It was too short notice to make a trek to Newlyn the following morning but I was available the day after, Friday. It’s just over 200 miles from my house to Newlyn so I was thankful when Sam informed me that we would be sailing…

NOT A SPECIES THAT RECEIVES A LOT of attention from sport fishermen, the tripletail is widely distributed across tropical seas, especially the Indonesia region and in US waters. The IGFA all-tackle record for this species is held with a fish of 42lb 5oz, which was caught in 1989 off South Africa. Juvenile tripletails (Lobotes surinamensis) are coloured a mottled yellow, brown and black, while the adults are jet black. They are well known for their unusual behaviour of floating just beneath the surface with one side exposed, mimicking a leaf or a piece of floating debris. This is thought to be a feeding strategy because of the locality of their prey items, and the floating structures associated with this behaviour. This is also when recreational fishermen have the opportunity to…

Each month we’ll award a prize to the best shore, boat and lure/LRF question. ■ The shore winner receives two spools of Sufix Tritanium Neon Orange mainline two spools of 40lb to 80lb Sufix Zippy Shockleader and two spools of Sufix Shock Max 0.18mm-0.50mm tapered shockleader worth £52. ■ The boat winner receives a 300m spool of Sufix 50lb X8 Stealth Green braid and a 250m spool of Sufix 50lb Matrix Pro braid worth £53. ■ The lure/LRF winner receives five of the new Rapala MaxRap lures worth £65 To view the full range of Sufix and Rapala products, visit: www.sufixfishing.fishing and www.rapala.co.uk T&Cs: * One prize per winning question will be chosen by the editor. Prizes cannot be exchanged and no correspondence will be looked into. We reserve the right…

1 Tie the Genie Rig Clip on a 60lb or 70lb rig body, which will finish about 68cm (27 inches) long, and add your sinker. 2 Slide on a crimp, SRT spring, bead, 45lb snood swivel, bead, crimp, SRT spring, bead, 45lb swivel and another bead. 3 Tie a strong swivel of at least 80lb breaking strain at the head of the rig body line. 4 Now tie on the longest snood of 20lb line to the top 45lb swivel. It will end up about 66cm (26in) long. Tie on your hook. You have the option to add a sequin before tying the hook and then create a stop knot above the sequin. 5 Tie on the shorter snood of 20lb line, which will be about 36cm (14in) long, to…

AKIOS SPYRO RS RRP: FROM £84.99 The Akios Spyro RS is a high spec lure and bait fixed-spool reel. Built on a tough and rigid frame, the Akios Spyro is built to last. Featuring a smooth and powerful carbon drag system, this reel makes light work of taming hard-hitting bass or deep-diving pollack. A sturdy Rotor Balance System (RBS) powered by a stainless steel main shaft and brass pinion provide a powerful retrieve and impressive fighting ability. There are 8+1 bearings to ensure silky smooth mechanics and extra internal protection against corrosion. Fitted with a CNC machined aluminium folding handle with ergonomic EVA soft grip, the Spyro is available in 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 sizes, meaning there’s a choice for LRF, lure fishing, and bait fishing enthusiasts. The reel…

MAINLINE A braid mainline is essential. It has a much thinner diameter for the same breaking strain than mono and needs less lead weight to reach the bottom and keep it there. It does not stretch much either, so it’s the best for bite detection and for setting the hook. We’d recommend 30lb is a good all-round choice, with 40lb to 50lb braid for heavier fishing. ■ Berkley X9 Braid RRP: £44.99 UV TORCH When using luminous lures or lead weights, also lumo beads and tubing on ling rigs, use a UV torch to activate the luminescence before dropping the tackle to the seabed. This supercharges the luminous effect making it both brighter and longer lasting and its quicker than exposure to natural light like the sun. ■ Tronix UV…

PENN PREVAIL II SURF 423  RRP: £129.99 The Prevail ll Surf 423 is another great low budget beachcasting rod from Penn. It would be ideal for someone new to sea fishing or anyone looking for a general all-round beachcaster. At 4.20 metres (14ft) long, it’s a three-piece rod ideal for a fixed-spool user. The blank has a fast, forgiving action and a soft glazed tip, which offers good bite detection. Rated between 100-250g, I most enjoyed using it to cast a 150g lead weight with bait and could fish comfortably with up to 170g. This rod is best suited to an overhead thump or off-the-ground technique, which makes it ideal for someone new to the sport who is learning to cast. BUILD QUALITY The build quality is very good for…

SEA LEAGUE FINAL FELIXSTOWE, SUFFOLK OCTOBER 23 AS WHITING SHOWED UP IN LARGE numbers in what will be remembered as a very competitive Penn Sea League Final, those anglers who could catch the bonus fish were bound to dominate. So it proved with thornback rays, a few dogfish and even a codling making all the difference. The match, held at Felixstowe in Suffolk, attracted 39 of the nation’s top anglers to fish the town’s shingle and sand beaches down towards the River Orwell and in the shadow of the town’s massive container terminal. Covid had forced the cancellation of the final in 2020, so those taking part had been the leading anglers in both the 2019 and 2020 Penn Sea League. They fished in three zones – Manor (zone A),…

I WAS TALKING TO A WELL-KNOWN artist recently. The fact that he is an artist is probably irrelevant (although his paintings of bass are particularly striking) but we were discussing how to catch big bass, and that certainly is relevant. David Miller has caught lots of bass, but he knows he is only beginning to scratch the surface of fishing for them, and wants to know how to catch bigger ones. The fact that he hasn’t started to catch larger ones is beginning to trouble him, and he was worried he was doing something wrong – or that he was just unlucky (not a good trait in an angler). It’s a question I’m sure we have all asked ourselves: how can I catch larger bass? Do I need to do…

MANY OF US WILL BE FAMILIAR with squid and cuttlefish on Mediterranean restaurant menus during our summer holidays abroad but, as a sea angler, we may only see very brief glimpses of these cephalopods. If you’re a fisherman who uses livebaits such as pout, mackerel, scad, coalfish or pollack for cod, tope or bass, you may notice sometimes your baits come back dead. If there is a lump missing from the back of their heads, it’s usually ample evidence that a cuttlefish has been the culprit. Likewise, if the livebait comes in dead with its underbelly torn out, it’s evidence that a squid has had a go at it. Some of us fishing from piers or breakwaters with lures or jigs may at times accidentally hook squid and cuttle and…

SITUATED IN THE HEART OF NORTH Somerset, Kingston seawall is a mark on the Bristol Channel, running from the outskirts of Clevedon up to Wick St Lawrence. Comfortable fishing can be found from the wall, along with a series of grass banks and boulders that act as additional sea defences. This is a high water venue, best fished on spring tides, usually for a couple hours either side of high water. You will see a series of mud gullies running out directly from the grass banks and the wall. After that you will be casting on to some reasonably flat mud and clay. The mudflats in this area of the Bristol Channel are full of life and hold a good range of different species of fish. Masses of mudworms and…

GREEN BANKS IS LOCATED AT Bynea on the Llanelli side of the Loughor Estuary, just down river from the railway bridge. It consists of a series of grassy banks that start near the road and railway line, before continuing for about a mile towards the mouth of the estuary near Burry Port. Over high tide the whole area provides comfortable and safe fishing from the grassy banks. One of the major advantages with this venue is that distance casting is unnecessary, indeed it can be a handicap. Many if not most fish are caught by anglers lobbing their rigs no more than 30-40 yards. SEASONAL SPECIES It is from September through to early February that most anglers concentrate their efforts fishing this area, as this is the time when the…

THE PICTURESQUE CUMBRIAN village of Arnside nestles among low limestone hills, marshy plains, thick woodland and aside the River Kent estuary, making it, justifiably, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Its sturdy stone pier recalls times past as a fishing port, while the area was also a popular tourist destination for the Victorians. These days Arnside still attracts lots of visitors, while for anglers there is also plenty on the menu too. Although you can fish from the promenade and pier, both of which offer great easy-access fishing, my preferred venue is New Barns Bay, just outside the village. This is a sheltered cove offering some excellent fishing all year from a mixture of grass, cobbles or mud into the estuary channel. Access is relatively easy with roadside parking before…

BASS BOAT ■ Mike Cave, Southampton, 7-0+*, The Needles, Oct 13 ■ Luke McKell, Southampton, 10-5*, Lymington, Oct 23 ■ Laura Williams, Freshwater, 13-8, The Needles, Oct 8 ■ Andy Wray, Lyme Regis, 7-0+, Lyme Bay, Sept 18 BASS SHORE ■ Richard Collins, Cardiff, 8-8, Lavernock Point, Sept 30 ■ Dean Dowdall, Hereford, 12-0, Goldcliff, Oct 23 ■ Corey Duke, Isle of Wight, 9-3*, Shanklin, Sept 26 ■ Grzegorz Hofman, Brighton, 12-0, Hastings, Sept 27 ■ Vincent Leong, Crosby, 8-8, Crosby, Sept 10 ■ Alex Payne, Penarth, 13-0*, Cardiff Barrage, Sept 29 ■ Jordan Williams, Camborne, 11-5*, Loe Bar beach, Oct 7 BREAM BOAT ■ Carol Beasley, Watchet, 3-14*, West Bay, Oct 15 BULL HUSS SHORE ■ Richie Fisher, Wallasey, 12-2*, Perch Rock, Oct 7 ■ Dean Harris, 11-7*, Falmouth…

FOR MANY AREAS OF THE UK THE winter cod fishing has been very poor in recent years especially along the South Coast, yet the main tidal estuaries, in particular the Humber and Bristol Channel, have been producing some hectic sport to uptiding tactics. When the fish are present, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re prepared for a good day afloat. With the last few winters’ average stamp of fish being far larger than in previous years, it’s time to think big, especially with the very real chance of a large bass on the cards too. Many anglers seem to have lost sight of the original thinking behind the technique of uptiding, as developed by Bob Cox and John Rawle many years ago. They solved the problem of…

The 15 professional charter fishing vessel owners/skippers selected for the 2021 season were authorised under a newly designed ‘scientific licence’ created by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to catch, tag and release bluefin tuna from mid-August through to mid-November. Participants were selected based on a range of criteria operated by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas). This included the suitability of the vessel, the skipper’s experience catching large pelagic fish and data collection, access to experienced crew, plus the commitment to adhere to the operational requirements and terms of the contract vessel owners/skippers would be required to sign. The overall aim was to establish a fleet of experienced charter vessel operators with some experience in this field. The application pack was available directly from CEFAS, more details, including…

Contains clear, concise, easy to follow step-by-step knot-tying illustrations by Andy Steer of recommended sea fishing/big game fishing knots and set-ups. This publication should help you to gain a solid base of reliable, tried and tested knots, enabling you to land more fish. It will also help you protect the environment and save money by losing less tackle. Disclaimer: No responsibility in any way is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.Paperback: www.amazon.co.uk/ dp/9071747271/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9M.MFbWMHPV9SeBook: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S72QYX0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_…

Having been treated to a sneak preview of the new sea products from Sonik Sports, I can reveal the company’s saltwater range will include nine new shore rods during 2022. Having concentrated mainly on expanding its range of carp tackle in recent years, Sonik is hitting the ground running in an effort to cover the higher volume medium price band (£75 to £160) rather than produce a few new ego-led higher end products. No doubt it’s a sound base to build on for the coming years. What the launch means is quality products at an affordable price, covering most shore anglers’ requirements. The nine new rods will complete a stable of 11 when you include the company’s two existing and more expensive Gravity XS and XS HT models, which sell…

PENN RAMPAGE II 20/30 BOAT ROD  RRP: £84.99 Aboard my charter boat AlyKat, based at Minehead in Somerset, I have a selection of Penn rods being used on a regular basis by both beginners and experienced anglers alike. One of the most popular is the Rampage II Boat. It is an excellent choice for the general bottom fishing that is the mainstay of angling around the Bristol Channel coastline. Described by Penn as a new generation of light but powerful rods, for use with braid or mono, the 24-ton carbon construction creates a thin diameter blank making it lighter and more ergonomic. Being made in four-pieces makes it very useful for stowing and transporting. As with any travel-type rod, the ferrules tend to give the rod a slightly stiffer action…

COX & RAWLE ABERDEEN MATCH - SCR27  RRP: £2.50 PER PACKET I am a massive fan of the Aberdeen Match hook and it is one of my go-to patterns when fishing for flatfish and bass because it is really sharp and comes with an offset as standard to create a higher percentage of hook-ups, especially when targeting flatties. Basically, Cox and Rawle has taken a classic Aberdeen hook pattern and made it lightweight using a finer diameter of wire. Don’t know about you, but I also prefer a longer hook shank when using worm baits. I find the longer shank on an Aberdeen gives me a better presentation and reduces the chance of my hook getting turned. The turning of hooks occurs when a fish takes in the top of…

ALDEBURGH BLIND OPEN Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 99 anglers Three bass, a trio of whiting and a dab for 8-4-0 secured first place for Dan Eagle on peg 62 in zone B. Fishing was tough in this well-organised, annual charity event with only occasional sizeable fish for most anglers, although there were some nice bass caught. Second went to John Austin with five fish for 5-3-0 at peg 14 (zone A). His catch include the biggest fish, a 3lb 11oz bass. In-form Nathan Elliott was third with nine fish for 4-4-0 at peg 28 (zone A). Zone C winner was Robert Stebbing with two fish for 3-14-0. ■ Result: 1 Dan Eagle, Leiston, 7 fish, 8-4-0 (9pts); 2 John Austin, Ipswich, 5, 5-3-0, including biggest fish, 3-11-0 bass (8); 3 Nathan Elliott,…

Your at-a-glance match events planner NOVEMBER  11-12: Weymouth Pairs Species Charter Boat open, £1,000 1st, Andy Selby 01305 777771. • 13: Gerry’s/AFAW League rnd 3, Five Bar Gate, Cleveleys, 4pm-8pm, pegged, 15cm minimum size, £20 entry, book in from 2.30pm at Five Bar Gate, booking essential, David 07472 249294 or Tony 07702 229015. • 13: Holyhead & District SAC open, breakwater back wall, 3pm-8pm, 80 pegs, £20 entry, measure & release, £400 1st, £100 longest fish, £100 most species, pay by Nov 10 via PayPal (danimmjones10@gmail.com – use friends/family option), Dave Cave dafydddogof@icloud.com • 13-14: SAMF National Sea League Final, Skegness, 10am-3pm both days, qualifiers only. • 13-14 Ian Reid Two-day Memorial, 11am-3pm Sat, noon-4pm Sun, 60 pegs, measure & release, lug & mackerel only, all fish count, minimum hook…