Started well

17.11.13,  6am, someplace in Dorset. The rod slammed over, big head-shakes all the way in and a little disappointed to find it was only 52cm. The lure was inhaled, back of the throat job. A good start, and a false one.

I don't mind to much, this time of year you have to acknowledge the numbers will drop,
the hope is the size will increase dramatically.    

Last Few Weeks

Numbers if not size have picked up over the last few trips. Catching fish consistently at night, catching on softs, and in particular, catching on the Fiiish Black Minnow are new experiences for me.

This seasons seen a different approach to our fishing, bumping softs on the bottom, and fishing in the dark, neither of which match the excitement of having a Bass smash your lure on the surface in daylight. But you can't argue with the success other's in our group have had (if not me) and it looks like these methods will be a major part of our fishing for the foreseeable future.

     

A 3 pounder caught at dusk, again demonstrating my ability to make a fish look smaller.

It should have been awesome

Back down Dorset to fish a mark that was going to fire, and didn't. First light, and the conditions just weren't quite right, but we gave it a go and all four of us caught, the minimum. Moved on to a different mark with a quick breakfast on the way, Joe being the only one of us adding to his tally.

 So with Mark having commitments in the afternoon, Malcolm and Frodo departed. Quick coffee at Chesil Bait and Tackle, a few more lures added to the rucksack, and on to mark 3.

Conditions were far from ideal, Mediterranean conditions, but as soon as we arrived a fish moved. Straight on with the Bone Gunfish, 3rd cast, and finally I hit a fish that pulled back. At a plump 55 cm to the fork of the tail, a fish of just over 4lb. Spirited fight, but I did everything right apart from getting a photo that did it justice. I seem to have the knack of making fish look half their actual size.

And that was the last of the action, we fished on without a touch.


Beach Sculpture

Why does this piece make me feel uncomfortable ?

Irish Bass Festival 2013

Just back from Ireland with Mark and Joe, after 4 days of some of the most hard and unrewarding fishing you'd ever come across. The fish were scarce, the weather was Mediterranean and the tides were small.  After a sleepless Wednesday night on Stena lines flagship the Marathon began. Thursday was a look around day, fishing a couple of marks, Padders taking a nice Sea-Trout, popping into Absolute Fishing to meet Cian, James and the staff. Chinese, more fishing and a couple of hours sleep. The Competition started Friday, and it got tougher.

We knew the fish were thin on the ground, and we tried everything, covering marks anything up to 35 miles apart. Fish were found and better returns could have been had if we stayed on certain venues, but these fish were small and the competition was all about the biggest fish. Saturday night while Ireland partied we fished until 2am, chest deep in a receding tide for a bite-less session. Over the 5 nights I got 8 hours sleep. Marks snoring wasn't helping. He didn't take his waders off for 2 days and when he did he seemed to have Trench-foot.

Mark did the best, catching consistently throughout with the best around 55 cm ( I think). We all caught fish, nowhere near big enough to worry the eventual winner. No storeys from us of lost monsters, but no moaning either. For all the money, effort and sleep deprivation this was a great experience. A well run comp, and the help and friendliness extended to us by the Irish was awesome. We know our way around a bit better now, and we know the fish are there, and that will get us back.

The seasons finally starts. 9.6.13

After 2 trips in Kent more out of hope then expectation, a date was set for a trip to Dorset. No sleep Saturday evening, setting off at midnight to pick Joe up, and meeting up with Malcolm and Mark at 2.45am at some place remote. ( I'm sure my wife thinks I'm going clubbing).

I'm the only plugger I know who hasn't caught on the Feed Shallow, the shallow diver everybody goes to first. I put that right on the 5th cast when the rod bent over for the first time in 6 months. Things looked promising, the 4 of us well spread out, but an hour later when we met up again it was the only fish caught. With the the tide dropping Joe moved away from the group and it was at the next met up we learnt he'd had 16 fish in 30 minutes, 3 times he had 3 in 3 casts, and once 4 in 4. Certainly made the overall tally for the day look good, because the fish never really switched on. I picked up another 5, one on my banker shallow diver again, and 4 off the top. Mark had 6 too, Malcolm 2 with Joe adding another 4 to his 16, the best of which went 4lb 8oz.. So the seasons starts, with a 6 fish haul, nothing wrong with that. Here's a pic of the first fish of the year.

I'm a bit of a tart when it comes to quality, and Mark Padfield isn't.  So when we sat down to lunch, the majority of which Joe had provided ( thanks Joe) Mark started taking the piss out of my £125 Costa Del Mars while I had loads of material in the £3.99 pair of women's sunglasses he had on. Apparently he'd lost the expensive £15 ones. "I'd rather have these then the Costa Del Mars, never worth the money, let me try them , Oh Fuck, these are brilliant, I want some". They're worth every penny. Best bit of gear I've brought all winter.



  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tarpon again

Just back from a fortnight in Cancun, and managed to get one trip out on the Lagoon after the Tarpon again. Conditions were far from ideal as the wind had coloured up the Mangroves, and we saw just 3 fish sub-surface. I wouldn't have seen them without the new Costa Del Mars. (Awesome Polaroids).
Eventually spotted a few fish moving spasmodically on the surface and after dropping the first managed to boat one, as did the guide, Mau.

Bring on the BASS.

Playing catch-up, 10.11.12

Joe felt conditions were bang on in Dorset for a Saturday session, as he put it "we'd be silly to miss it". 
Things looked perfect, clear water and only the 2 of us on the mark. An hour and a half later we both felt we had completely mis-read it. It was with that thought going through my mind that I looked up to see Joe finally into a fish. Two minutes later I started to think he's making a meal of this one, but a couple of minutes later I started to give him the benefit of the doubt. Starting walking towards him I steadidly increased my pace as the fight dragged on. 5 minutes later I arrived just as Joe surfed this 9 lb fish onto the single.

Check out the O ring on that centre hook, totally wrecked, as was the treble. First major fish we'd heard of on the newly arrived Gunfish 135, just change the metalwork before use. To say Joe was thrilled was an understatement, mission accomplished, and always a little sweeter when off the top.


Fish safely returned 10 minutes later I had a schoolie of around 2 lb, and I commented to Joe how well it has fought. 5 minutes after that I hooked into something that really wanted a fight. With my  Gataride 20 foot from the shore everything locked up then started heading towards France. Against a very tight drag it kept going and going, run after run, back and forth along the gully until a larger wave gave me the opportunity to crest it onto the beach. At 7 lb not a match for Joe's, but a great consulation fish.  Swam off like Micheal Phelps on speed.

Fished on for a couple of more fish each, best I had a little over 3 lb. What was noticable though was how well all the fish went, even the schoolies. Great Day Out.
And a couple of idiots on a certain forum question why we make the trip...........................