Cod Fishing Aboard Peganina

Big Baits For Bucket Mouths

Peganina launched from Rye Harbour

Peganina, Dungy bound

What can I say.....Its now November and still! there has been hardly been any wind from the South West stirring the south coast sea into a muddy lumpy mass dislodging all manner of sea life which the Cod come in close to shore to feed on, instead we have the opposite, easterly winds clearing the water to the colour of gin, its unseasonably warm still, and mackerel in abundance chasing Whitebait on to the beaches. I've had my winter shore fishing gear ready since September, but I'm still scratching around for bits with the continental rods in summer like conditions. I was growing impatient to say the least, but if the Cod wont come to me, then I was going to have to go them! and I wasn't going to mess about either!

Bait station ready

Some of our best inshore Cod fishing is at Dungeness, And I knew that a few Cod were being caught out in the boats, so with a few days notice I booked my self aboard the chartered fishing boat "Peganina" skippered by Ant Hill. On the day of the trip in stark contrast to the recent summer like conditions, and although the wind was just a puny pathetic cool breeze and still from the wrong direction, alas the air temp had dropped to just above zero degrees Celsius which is half way to Cod season at least. it didn't matter too much, wearing thermals on top of thermals, I hardly felt the cold at all. We left Rye Harbour at 7am, and within a hour arrived at our mark and anchored up, which coincidentaly was just off shore where my favourite shore Cod fishing spot is, if only I could cast 1000 meters, I could reach the fish, but it was nice to know they were very close to the shore, and when conditions turn the Cod wont have far to swim.

First fish and large Whiting

Anyways, I fished 2 rods, 1 uptide rod and 1 downtide rod, both were 60lb flowing 5' long traces with 7/0 and 6/0 pennel, bait was gonna be half a Cuttlefish and Black Lugworm wrap, I cut the Cuttlefish in half and stuffed about 3 worms into the body, and bound together with elastic then threaded the hooks through the bait, normally I like to be a bit more deft, but I was going big for big fish and was not going to be messing around with the small fry, the baits were massive, twice the size of anything I'd ever presented to the sea before, they were like exploding scent and ink bombs hitting the water, I reckon the scent alone from one of these would be picked up by fish in France, now all I had to do was wait. The inevitable rattle rattle on both rod tips gave away the ravenous Whiting pecking away at the baits, but I was confident it would take a good 20mins for a shoal to demolish the baits. after 10mins, my dowtide rod was indicating something a bit better was biting, I suspected a dog fish, but it was a Whiting! but a 2lb 4oz Whiting! dam, biggest I'd seen for a long time, and at least I had dinner sorted with the first cast which cant be bad!

New PB Cod 8lb 8oz

The next few hours saw a succession of small Whiting, normally 2 at a time and Dogfish landed, uptiding was proving a little bit difficult as it was low water on top of a neap tide, so very little water movement, definitely not enough to bow the line, I was practically shore fishing from a boat, with a straight line from my rod tip straight to my lead, which was holding bottom where ever I had cast it, at least I could cast around a bit searching for fish. It worked, dead on low water the uptide rod took a slow deliberate pull down, and again, then a tell tale double knock from a Cod, I picked the rod up, and felt another pulldown to which I replied with a firm and controlled strike putting a big bend into the rod and holding it, knock knock I felt, It was fish on! and a Cod for sure, I gentle teased the fish up to the boat and netted my biggest ever Cod!!! the scales bounced around 8 to 9lb as the boat rode the waves, so I took the weight of the fish to be in the middle at 8lb 8oz, a new PB, I was over the moon, and it was early, I was confident of more!

Another PB Cod, now at 9lb 8oz

After the excitement of the Cod, things seemed to quieten down, even the Whiting rattles got less and less, with only the occasional one suicidally impaling itself on a hook that was bigger than it's head. The tide had turned, well, I presumed it did, and if I'm honest I never even noticed due to lack of tide. Time was cracking on and bites were hard to come by, the down tide rod had been out for at least 30mins, I had been holding the rod most the time, feeling for bites, but I got distracted by a rattle on the other rod and set it down in the railing rest, and just then a big pull down followed by knock knock, I ignored the rod thinking it maybe just the lead bouncing on the sea bed, but again it pulled down and definitely out of time with the waves, I picked the rod back up and on the next pull down I lifted the rod hard to set the hooks, yes! I was in! as I played the fish it seemed very lively, especially compared to the other Cod, I suspected a Bass, but then out of the depths my fish hit the surface showing its self to to being another big Cod, as much as I wanted to make it 10lb, I couldn't the scales readings bounced between 9 and 10lb in the waves, and giving the same law as before, 50/50 put the fish weight at 9lb 8oz, well, another PB and a fine partner to my other catch, a perfect brace!

Bucket Mouth Hovers

I actually didn't catch another fish after that,but I was extremely content with what I'd caught, Time was up and we all reeled in for the last time, hoping that maybe a Cod was attached, but alas, all baits returned half intact and fish less. I wasn't complaining, with a new PB Cod twice over and possibly a new Whiting PB that I need to investigate, I had caught what I'd come for and had 3 keepers for the dinner table, although I only took one Cod home as I gave one to another angler on the boat who didn't catch a cod, just something that had been done for me in the past on previous trips, and seemed only right that we all got a share of the bounty. Well, I can certainly relax a little now over the lack of a Cod season so far, catching Cod from the shore is a very different beast to catching them from a boat, and now I'm going to wait patiently whilst eating my Cod and Chips for that weather to turn, and bring the same Cod I was catching today to within casting distance of the shore, where I will be hopefully ready and waiting for them.

An awesome brace of finest English Channel Cod

Bass Fishing, Hythe

Silver Bars From Heaven

Hythe, Kent. UK

Well it should be winter and the Cod season should be in full swing, but it isn't. With a long warm summer, the sea temp is still very warm, and of coarse the wind direction is completely coming from the wrong direction, all though this wouldn't stop me from at least trying. My rigs are ready, reels serviced, batteries all replaced, new line, and with 60 finest Dungeness Black Lugworm and a box of Squid, I made my way to my intended mark, looking out to sea the surf was awesome, with a ferocious side wind of 35mph gales, this was gonna be a tough little fish I thought, I phoned a friend who was possibly coming fishing, and found out he was all ready fishing at Hythe, Mackerel were bubbling in the sea, he and his friend were catch Mackerel with feathers and using them as live bait and getting bites from big Bass, well what could I say, I looked out at the mean sea at Dungeness and thought, a more sheltered fish where I had company and fish were showing now! It was a no brainer, especially combined with the fact I really wasn't confident of catching a early Cod. I set off with speed and great expectations to Hythe.

Perfectly presented whole squid on 6/0 pennel

As I arrived at Hythe, my friends had both caught a Bass each of around the 4lb mark, unfortunately they had lost a fair few too, but things looked promising and the Mackerel were still along the shore line, obviously being corralled against the beach by the Bass and giving their location away by the diving seagulls hitting the sea. Dam I didn't have feathers, why would I? I was going Cod fishing! Alas, I set up my rods one with 1 single large Black Lugworm, and the other with a whole Squid, both on 6/0 pennel pulley rigs. both cast out at 10 and 20 yards, I sat and waited. I had 1 bite within 10 mins, but I missed it, the Mackerel shoal seemed to dissipate all though a few brief show in front of me gave me hope, All was quiet, then the joyous screaming from my friend Warren, I knew something was up, so I ran over to see him just land a monster Bass, and the biggest Bass I'd ever seen, A new PB for him at 9lb 8oz, a beast of a fish, I was made up for him, so happy, that's what I love about fishing is it doesn't matter who catches what, I like the banter but I've never been jealous, it's the joy it brings to other people, that make me happy too.

First Bass of the night

The next hour was quiet, apart from the odd Whiting I dragged in. A very happy Warren had not surprisingly decided to call it a night. All though it had gone quiet, I decided as I had bait and time, I was out for the night, I prepared for the night, and decided to revert back to try for a Cod, big Lugworm and Squid baits to be fished at range. The Lugworm seemed to attract Whiting and Pouting one after the other, whilst the whole squid bait seemed to be left alone, I soon got fed up of the pesky Whitings, and both rods were now baited with whole Squid, one at range and one close in, because as low water come and past the wind picked up dramatically giving rise to similar surf I saw earlier at Dungeness, I sat there thinking this now looks like perfect Bass fishing, and I sat quietly confident. It wasn't long before I had landed 2 Bass, one from far out, and one from close in, they were both around the 2lb mark, but even still, I had a feeling I would either get a Cod, or a Bigger Bass and maybe even a Ray.

Gonna need a bigger tape measure

I wasn't disappointed, the rod at range had a few sharp pull downs, then a classic slack line, I reeled in to take the slack, and immediately the fish on the end was pulling back hard, I was using my 7oz big bait casting rods, and not the most refined fish rods, but I knew that the fish was pulling very hard to put a bend in the rod. I first though a big Cod, the fight was pretty short lived with the end tackle I was using, as I dragged the fish out the water up the shingle, I had to look twice maybe 3 times?!? first I thought it was a plastic bag, then I though a strange shaped fish, as I focused and worked out what it was, I realised I was just looking at a very big round fishes head straight on, with it's mouth opening and closing, the reflections of the scales and darkness inside the mouth was quite distracting. I literally threw my rod down, and run over to the fish and then I realised what it was, the excitement took over, I grabbed the fish, it was a monster of a Bass, definitely the biggest I'd ever had caught, a new PB for sure, I weighted and measured the fish, it came in at 72cm long and 9lb 8oz. It was immaculate, a pure beast of a predator, a perfect silver bar, I struggled taking selfies with the fish, and I wish there was someone to take my trophy photo of the fish, but after working out my phone didn't have a timer mode, I made my way to the water and released him without a second thought.

9lb 8oz Bass, a 72cm bar of silver, beautiful!

Wow, what a fish!, I was in shock, and my heart was still pounding, I laid my back on the beach, in the now howling wind, I looked up to the stars, and I believe I spoke to and thanked my god. What a night, I had seen 2 of the biggest Bass I'd ever seen, and had caught maybe a fish of a lifetime! I had no intention of continuing fishing, yes I may have caught more, but I didn't care, I didn't fish, I didn't even go home, I just sat on the beach with my tackle in a total mess around me, my 2 rods laying badly on the shingle like matches throw down, without a care in the world, savouring the moment for as long as I could.

Sole Fishing

Summer Sole Searching

Hythe, Dungeness, Hastings

Traps set, now to wait till dusk

This blog is a bit different to the previous ones I post, I have been searching for Sole since late June and it's now September. not only has this been a challenge, but thrown up some lovely fish and a few welcome surprises along the way, this blog is over 11 sessions and a few venues. The plan was simple enough, to fish small hooks and small worm baits close in during dusk and night. and to pin the baits to the sea bed where the Sole are more likely to find it. I had made myself up plenty of 2 hook boom rigs with size 4 Aberdeen hooks in preparation. One of the things about summer fishing, is the fact the calmer sea allow you to lighten up everything, 12lb main line, 50lb leaders, Bass rods rated at 2 to 4oz, and small leads makes for a much more enjoyable and less strenuous session, something which I very much look forward too after the brutal strain and stress that winter fishing into a stormy sea, in bitterly 20 to 30mph winds and rain.

Best Bass of the summer

2 hook boom rig, size 4s

Now having a full time job where I work the same amount of hours again in overtime doesn't leave me much choice in when I can go fishing, so with limited free time and sometimes I was lucky enough to have my last job of the day by the coast also gave me a opportunity to go, rather than the tide, weather and sea conditions, this was where my tackle was ready at a moments notice and I would be taking every opportunity when I could within reason of coarse, but if I'm honest, sacrificing a nights sleep on a work day isn't beyond me either, well my job prepares me well for sleepless long days. Ideally weather would need to be hot and a sunny day with high pressure and a gentle Northerly wind with a clear water and fish a rising tide. I think the first 4 sessions I done, the only thing that was right was that I was fishing in the dark, conditions were not hot, and the sea was angry with stiff Southey wind giving rise to a very muddy and angry sea with big surf, more akin to Bass fishing.

New species Horse mackerel

Although conditions were not right for Sole, The fishing was good, I fished multiple places along Hythe and Dungeness, catching Bass with a few nice keepers for the frying pan, also plenty of Rockling, Pouting, Dogfish, a new species for me Horse Mackerel and more Eels than I've ever caught in my whole life, now I'm not a Eel hater, and I'm happy they seem to be making a big comeback after becoming a protected species, but seriously they are rig wreckers and hard work to unhook, twisting the rigs into slimey "tangballs" (my invented new name for this particular tangle ) which results in it being chucked away. needless to say, the bigger Eels that I caught of around 2.5lb gave brilliant accounts of themselves on the light gear and heavy surf, that definitely gets the adrenaline going.

Biggest Eel of the year

Still Soleless, I decided to try a different bait, I'd been fishing local black Lugworm, but had my suspicions that Ragworm maybe the right bait. This in itself created a new problem, my local bait shops did not supply Ragworm, so I used a online store to deliver live Ragworm to my home address the day I had planned to go fishing, this did not go smoothly. the first delivery ended up at the wrong address, where a elderly lady accepted my delivery of live Ragworm, and opened it up in her kitchen believing it to be a new kettle, I would of loved to be a fly on the wall when she reached in and found the worms, needless to say, now with a traumatised complaining neighbour and having to send my wonderful wife on a peace keeping mission to collect the worms, I did get to go fishing with Ragworm as bait which resulted in my first couple of Sole this year, both were very small and released to grow, but very welcome none the less. Convinced the Ragworm was the difference between catching Sole and not catching Sole, I ordered twice again, but both deliveries failed, and left me baitless and unable to go fishing, I don't blame the online shops, but the parcel companys that seem unable to deliver to my address, and make a purpose made process where getting in touch with them to complain or locate the parcel is almost impossible.

Its a start, a little Slip Sole

Although I'd found a couple of small Sole, I wanted to do better, at least get a keeper to take home and cook!. The next lot of sessions were Soleless even though the weather conditions seemed perfect, back to locally bought Black Lugworm I just continued to catch Eels, Bass, Whiting and Pouting, by now I had worked myself all along Hythe beach front over the summer, fishing a different mark each time, I'd fished close in and at range, I'd fished 2 marks at Dungeness with no avail, I was confident of my tactics and bait, even though the Rag had worked, there was no doubt in my mind the Lug would be taken by Sole if they were there, so more the question was what was I doing wrong? It had to be locations, and work came to the rescue and offered the chance to fish Hastings, obviously I would have to repair a chiller in a store along the sea front, but damn it would be rude not to take the rods with me for after.

Slimey tangballs

After procuring some local Lugworm, a lot smaller than the Dungeness Blacks I'm used to, but they were top quality live Lugworm, and the absolute perfect size for a small size 4 hook and small mouths of the Sole. Setting up on my favourite mark the wind was ferocious, the surf was big, again I thought Bass rather than Sole. I struggled with the light Bass rods, they bounced about all over the place making bite detection almost impossible, but the fishing seemed the same Whiting, small Bass, and yes even more rig wrecking slimey sea snake Eels! I had almost given up hope of a Sole, as I sat there way later than I had anticipated, I had now changed one rod to a live bait rig, which Whitings were happy to attached them selves to, in the hope of a big Bass nailing it during the darkness in the rolling surf, and my other rod still a boomed Sole rigs cast about 15 yards out. Then bang, a big pull down followed by a slackliner on the Sole rig, the biggest and most definite bite for the night!, as I reeled in I knew a fish of a bigger stamp was attached, a bass or big Eel I thought, but no! finally my target species! a 36cm Sole, a plump fat keeper, perfect for dinner for 2!, I was over the moon, it didn't stop there, I had another 3 more smaller Sole in the consecutive casts, until I ran out of bait, and I'm sure I could of had more.

Biggest of the year Dover Sole

Well what have I learnt?, this has been one hell of a challenge catching a Dover Sole, let alone a decent sized one, I tried my hardest, and 10/10 for effort, I'm sure I was just unlucky, or possibly was fishing the wrong venues or tides, I just haven't nailed this Sole fishing quite yet. But I was catching fish, and lots of them, with new species of Horse Mackerel, some lovely Bass, and Eels, on top of the normal species, the surprising thing was how close these fish get to the beach, most of my fishing for Sole was around the range of 10 to 30 yards out, and many of the better fish were taken even closer in! Using the Bass rods light lines and leads was a sheer pleasure, I also enjoyed the warm summer nights and appreciated them knowing the pending winter season is closing in. And I definitely haven't had a very successful Sole hunt this year, but the one bigger one I did catch, was well deserved, I enjoyed sharing this top class eating fish with my wife, and who knows although winter has started, we have just had our hottest day of the year, so maybe just maybe I may get another crack this year before the winter comes.

Beach Fishing, Hayling Island

Who Hit The Chaos Switch?

Inn on the Beach, Hayling Island PO11, UK

daytime recon

With one fish still eluding me, the humble Black Bream, a difficult catch around my fishing area, but with a visit to family who live at the beach on Hayling Island, which is further west around the coast and offers the chance to fish well known Black Bream holding areas. I just couldn't help myself, but have a go to catch them. I visited the beach during the day for a scout around, and with a few fruitless casts with a rod, just in case. Having got there a little later than planned, I didn't get to see the lay of the beach properly as the tide was half way in, but what I did see was the beach where I planned to fish was a fairly shallow and sandy beach, which didn't bode too well with me, remembering disastrous fishing trips on shallow sandy beaches before. but none the less, armed with 1lb of live Ragworm and with the spare time, I decided to return later for the flooding tide during the cover of darkness.

tiny hooks and bait for tiny mouths, what could go wrong?

My target was Black Bream having never caught any before, my plan was to fish 2 rods, both identical rigs and baits, but at different ranges to help locate the fish. the rigs I choose were boomed rigs with  2 x size 6 short shanked Aberdeen hooks baited with 1" sections of Ragworm, not a bad choice to cover a few other species as well if the Bream wernt about, because the venue screamed flat fish to me, and the small hooks and baits would also do well for flat fish, especially if any Dover Sole were about, as the hot humid stormy weather is always good for bringing them onto the beaches to feed. I cast out 1 rod as far as I could, and the other rod I literally dropped 10 meters out. conditions were calm, the sea was flat and clearing. with a clear starry sky, but with dark stormy sky's in the far distance, maybe a sign of things to come?

Hey they cute, new species the Black bream

With virtually no tide run or weed both my rods sat motionless in the stands, and it wasn't long before the close in rod rattled away, I lifted into the fish and landed would you believe it, my first Black Bream all 8" of it! lol it may have been small but it was a new species for myself and the target fish, I was over the moon, all the bites were coming from the close in rod, not lots but every 15mins or so, so I bought the other rod and cast at the same range to increase my catch rate, I had landed 4 Black Bream now, all about the same size, it was a lovely easy fish in perfect conditions, all alone on a empty beach, I was happy as Larry and could of sat there all night totally unaware that the fishing gods had other plans for me, and had unleashed something that was going to test my skill, rig components, sheer agility and luck with a tornado of chaos.

With both rods out with tiny hooks and baits at about 10 meters out, I happily sat on my box waiting for a little rattle rattle on either of the rod tips, it never happened, one rod got pulled down so fast and hard it ripped the rod rest out the ground, forcing a running dive from myself where I had to catch some seriously nice rods and a rod stand, 1 from getting dragged into the sea and the other from smashing into the shingle. I caught all! and all at the same time, I adjusted the drag on the rod with a fish on, re stood up and re positioned the rod stand and placed the second rod back on it. accident adverted! Now to get playing the fish! and boy did it just scream off, tearing line off the drag at a ferocious speed, Bass 1 thought to myself, and a seriously strong and powerful fish, now I was playing a big fish on a tiny flimsy size 6 hook on 10lb snod, the chances were well in the fishes favour, although one thing in my favour was a nice softer continental rod to help play the fish bending into the fish unlike a stiffer rod, I couldn't pull hard at all, the hook would of just bent straight or pulled out! run, after run, after run, but the fish was still hooked and I had gained back all the line it had taken.

This is when the fishing gods turned up the chaos level, the other rod tore off, again I caught it before it catapulted itself into the sea, I now had a rod in each arm with big powerful fish hooked with tiny hooks tearing around the shallow beach in front of me!!! I was playing the fish like this for about 3 minutes before after a few powerful lounges the fish freed himself off the second rod, I was glad if I'm honest, I rested the rod back onto the rod stand and preceded to play the first fish, it must of took another 5 minutes to gently tease the fish close enough to land, I could of guessed what they were, and wasn't surprised to see a dorsal fin sticking out the water in the surf, Smoothhound! a lively starry! I grabbed the fish, it was a beast possessed, with one hand I could not control the fish so I had to put the rod up on the rod rest and preceded to unhook and weight the fish which came in at 9lb 6oz!

A beautiful chaotic starry smooth hound 9lb 6oz

Then again the fishing gods were being mischievous and again turned the chaos level up anther notch!! what did I do? all of a sudden whilst trying my up most to get a nice picture of the fish, crash bang wallop!!! my rod stand smashed into my head! and yet again for a third time I caught both my rods before they either got dragged out to sea or smashed onto the shingle!!! dam another hound must of picked up the second hook bait as each rig had 2 hooks! I now had a angry hound in one hand with its tail under my armpit, and clinging on to a rod for dear life with the other hand as another fish tore off stripping braid off the spool, unable to reel in I walked out into the surf and put the hound in the water, now I was soaking wet to my knees, but I was able to keep the fish upright and between my legs whilst I played the other fish to give it time to recover to release safely, Again this fight was long winded due to end tackle, but slowly I gained on the fish till the tapered leader was on the reel, I saw the fish, another big hound, it swam straight across in front of me, then the hound between my legs kicked off with a ginormous splash as he powered off actually joining his hooked friend who then spat the hook, I watched with relief and exhaustion, wet and in pain as the two dorsal fins sticking out the water swam side by side together back out into the sea!!!!

What the hell just happened! from calm tranquil perfect fishing to absolute chaos in a millisecond that lasted 30 minutes, as quick as the hounds arrived they left, even the Bream left, hardly surprising considering the commotion. I never had a bite for the next hour of the rest of the session lol. What went wrong? well, nothing to be honest, I'd caught my target tiny Bream, I'd saved the rods 3 times, I'd landed a large hound on ridiculously light tackle, and safely unhooked, photoed weighed and released him, I'd only ever purposely fish one rod for hounds by myself for this reason as they patrol in packs, and double hook up are common, also fishing at such close range with braid the takes were so ferocious as there was no stretch, They just took me by surprise, like a hit and run attack this time, but no harm done, You know noone ever says whilst your tidler bashing remember to set the drag. But one thing I will take from this is I will always loosen the drags regardless of target species being fished from now on, I had just gotten complaicent and you just never know! This is certainly going to be a trip I don't forget!

Beach Fishing Chesil Beach

Birthday Surprises

Chesil Beach, Dorset. UK

Yuki taylor Q7 is a casting dream

Having survived to the ripe old age of 40, I had a plan to go away for a few days and enjoy some birthday fishing. Having been to beautiful Weymouth before when Chesil Beach was unfishable due to horrendous weather, this was a chance to return and hopefully get my chance to fish this iconic venue. And as it turned out, the wind was slightly breezy with white clouds dotting a blue sky, it was absolutely beautiful! But how would it fish? I wasn't really sure what to target, and the rigs I had made in preparation were as varied as the bait I bought, Squid, Ragworm, Hermit Crab, Sand Eel and Mackerel would give me many options, maybe a few too many to all try properly, but I felt confident, and although I was told Ray and Hounds were around, all I really wanted was to catch some new species, and my thoughts were for the humble Black Bream possibly a Gilt Head or even a Trigger Fish. All species that are very rare around my bit of coast back home.

Spider Crab!!!

I turned up at low water, and made my way onto the beach from the visitors center, my god this beach is big and long! A man made spit of epic proportions that dived deep down into the sea at a very steep angle, but the sea state was fairly calm and clear. I had bought 2 rods to fish a Yuki Taylor Q7, a powerful continental rod excellent for lighter lines, I had a 3 hook clipped down flapper with size 4 chinu hooks more suited to hooking fish with small hard mouths such as Bream, baited with half a Ragworm. My second rod would be an experimental rod, a brand new birthday present, a Tronix Pro Cobra GT, I started off with a pulley pennel with 2/0 manta hooks baited with mackerel. With both rods cast out and fishing, I excitedly sat on the beach waiting with anticipation. Within minutes gentle tugs showed to both rods, with the braid I instantly recognised it as crab tugging, and I wasn't wrong, finding a small spider crab tangled in the flapper rigs, with bare hooks, these crabs can be a problem! Even snipping off 5 hooks through out the day, but worst still they were stripping my baits off the hooks in minutes if not seconds.

Perfectly presented Squid on pennel

Although I was willing to work hard with the Yuki rod for Bream, I was unwilling to work hard with both rods, so I decided to bait the Cobra rod, with a whole 6" squid, a tougher bait wrapped in elastic which hopefully would keep the crabs away for longer. I also had another small obstacle to overcome, floating weed was constantly floating along the shore line which over 5 to 10 minutes collected around the line in sufficient quantities to pull your rod tip down and bounce up and down in the surf. Normally this weed would be well underneath your line if fishing anywhere else that I could think of, but the beach being as steep as Chesil is, the line seemed to dart straight down into the surf and weed, distance casting was essential here, as the further out you fished the less weed collected on the line and the longer the baits would stay out, luckily holding bottom wasn't a issue the whole of the flooding tide and a 6 oz breakaway with braid main line, tapered leader with clipped down rigs were the order of the day.

Undulate Ray, new species and PB 10lb 12oz

A grunting Red Gurnard

Whilst literally feeding the crabs with the Ragwom on the Yuki, the Cobra held still for at least 20mins, maybe the crabs didn't like squid or I was just lucky, but then a the tip gave a big wobble, I thought here we go again more crabs or weed, but the wobbles got bigger and were more frequent than the crabs, I readied myself at the rod, the tip was definitely bouncing around due to a fish. Then a massive pull down! I grabbed the rod as the line went slack, I held the rod still for about 30 seconds, then reeled in slowly taking up the slack, the rod bent over again, and I raised the rod to set the hook, It was fish on!! and immediately I knew it was a big fish, the Cobra handled it perfectly, I could feel every lung and knock down the braid and the rod tip was fast enough to keep in constant contact with the fish and more than enough power to pull back when needed. After a good old fight I saw a Ray pop up on the shingle ridge the incoming tide was making, as I climbed down and dragged the fish onto the shingle out the water, I realised just how big it was, and not only that it was a species of Ray I'd never caught before, a Undulate Ray!! It was lightly hooked in the lip, and the hook came out easy, I weighed the fish in a sling and it came in at 10lb 12oz!!! Whatever happened now, this one fish had made my day! A new species, a double and on my new rod, all on my 40th birthday, I couldn't have been happier!!!!

All Bass are beautiful even the small ones

Bites were few and far, I had 2 bites and hooked and landed 2 fish so far, the second coming on the Yuki rod with Ragworm, another new species for me a Red Gurnard! The weather had turned from good to absolutely glorious! The wind even died down to a gentle breeze, what was Chesil going to throw at me next? I stuck to the plan, one small hooks and bait and the other big baits and hooks, although I tried many combinations of baits, I was struggling to get bites. Coming close to high water, the weed died down enough not to be a nuisance and even the crabs seemed to have disappeared, with the rods cast out and staying out longer than they had all day, I really hoped for more! And I wasn't disappointed, a last final bite on the Yuki before packing up saw me land a very welcome and beautiful small Bass. I never found my Bream, but what a day! The Ray was an awesome catch, if unexpected. I knew this was a fish of a lifetime for me, as the chances of me even fishing areas where they could be caught were slim if not non existent, and the fact it was a double too was the icing on the birthday cake! I thoroughly loved fishing Chesil, the contrast from when I was last here was immense, from a very dangerously angry and swollen white sea in 50mph winds throwing sea spray and cargo from a overturned ship for at least 100 meters over the high shingle bank, to blue sky, blue sea, and the gentle lapping of wavelets on the shingle. Thank you to the fishing gods! Chesil Beach is truly a unique place to fish, and hopefully our paths will cross again.

Chesil Beach, the first section of 18miles of awsome beach

Smoothhound Fishing, Reculver

Release The Hounds

Reculver, Herne Bay, Kent CT6, UK

Reculver at night

The weather has settled a bit, and as the country blooms and turning green, the anglers are turning their attention to summer species. mackerels, garfish, soles, bass have returned to within catching distance from the shore, including the Smoothhound! Only one problem, it's May, and that means May water, May weed, May rot, whatever you know is as, it's a fishermans worst nightmare, an algae bloom which happens around May resulting in billions of tiny strands of weed floating around in the tide, they soon clump together around your fishing line and wrap themselves into tight knots forming tight balls of weed that takes an eternity to pick off as its so tough, its stops you reeling in as it wont pass through the rings, it smells, and most will get sore finger nails picking the stuff off. It can ruin any fishing trip and takes some dedication and a slightly different way of fishing to tackle it head on when its at it worst.

Peeler crab, top bait for Hounds

Well, even though I knew the May water was about, I also knew the Hounds were having their first run along the North Kent coast, coming in onto the beaches to feast on the first moulting crabs of the year. Having just bought 50 live peeler crabs to use as bait, I couldn't resist, It was to be a short 2 hours up to high tide and 2 hours down session, fishing in the darkness, and Reculver was to be the venue, renowned for it's Smoothhound fishing, a mixed ground, shallow venue, naturally full of Crabs and Ragworm. I arrived at 10.00pm, it was fairly busy, so I opted not to fish the railings and walked to the right, and found a nice big space along the shingle beach. I set up 1 x continental rod, and 1 x beach caster, with pulley rigs, 60lb mono straight through from lead to hook, which was a single 2/0 Mustad Big Gun hook, baited with a whole peeler crab only taking off the back shell, then wrapping it to the hook with bait elastic, and cast both rods out.

First Hound of the season

Well, the tide was kind, and holding bottom was no problem at all, but after 20mins, one rod was being dragged downtide slowly, reeling in revealed clumps of May water every meter along the line for at least 50meters!!!, this took me almost 20mins to clear, I was cursing much, knowing the second rod was going to be alot worse. but then it took a big knock down, and bounced around a bit. luckily I had my brother along, although he wasn't fishing, he grabbed the rod and started the process of reeling it in, picking the May weed off, it was at least 10 minutes before both rods were full reeled in and deweeded, and luckily the small 3lb Smoothhound pup which had taken the bait was still hooked, my brother obviously claimed the fish, which I didn't mind I was just glad for the help. Baiting up both rods and renewed with optimism that more Hounds were to be caught, I decided to beat the May water, the best way would be to fish 1 rod, and keep it out no longer than 5 minutes. I cast 1 rod out, and waited 5 mins, I then cast out the second rod, immediately I reeled in the first rod rod, deweeded the minimal weed that had started to gather then re baited and recast, fishing like this meant I always had a bait fishing in the water, although hard work, constantly reeling, deweeding, baiting and casting, it was the perfect tactic for beating the Maywater over a short session, only down side was I did use a few more crabs, than I would of liked.

Single 2/0  Mustad Big Gun Hook, never let me down

Now I felt like I was fishing, and it worked, I missed a bite, a ferocious pulldown and violent rattles, definitely not a Smoothhound bite, I suspected a Bass, but failed to hook it. a few casts later resulted in a classic Smoothhound take, the rod tip wobble, a slow big pull down and then line being stripped from the spool on the light drag. I let the fish run, when it stopped, I tightened up the drag, and reeled in the slack line, then lifted the rod hard and to the side to confidently set the hook, I was on, and on the continental rod too! it wasn't the best fight I've had, but considering the light rod, it was fun, even tricking me to believing the fish was bigger than it was A Starry Smoothound weighing 4lb 14oz, a testament to how good a sport Smoothhound are to catch! Although still a small hound, I was delighted to catch one so early in the year, and things will only get better! The next cast resulted in a small Bass of about 1lb 8oz, And then the tide stopped, the weed had disappeared, and then I thought this is it, now with 2 rods out fishing, I thought here we go! but nothing! not a touch or a wobble, the tide turned and the weed returned 2 hours later, signalling home time, A lovely little session and target species achieved, and even better was, they are only going to get bigger, spurring me on to target them again, looking for them bigger doubles.

Float and sabiki fishing Samphire Hoe

Never Too Young

Samphire Hoe, Dover, Kent CT17 9FL, UK

Start em young I say,  is he even paying attention?

It's been a hectic few months lately with the arrival of a new member to the family, and I can't wait till he's old enough to handle a rod, but for now, the sun was almost out, and we needed some fresh air, even if only for a few hours. After some thought to ease of access with a pram, toilets, small coffee shop, Samphire Hoe stuck out as a good venue considering the circumstances. I'd fished Samphire Hoe a few times in the past, and knew a great tactic to catch various species straight down the sea wall edge, but a trip late last year which left me clinging onto my rod for dear life as without doubt the largest fish I've ever hooked sea fishing took a live bait, then stripped near to 50yards of line off the spool, before snapping the 60lb leader, the memory of "the one that got away" or more precisely "the one that nearly pulled me in!" had giving me optimism to fish Samphire Hoe with 2 rods, a light spinning rod with baited sabikis for small stuff and to catch the live bait, and a second rod float fishing a live Pouting.

Garfish, loving the fight these put up

Tompot Blenny, these got some bite for wee fellows

I set up the spinning rod using a 3 oz lead ball, sabiki rig with size 14 hooks, baited with tips of squid tentacles, I gently lowered the rig straight down the side of the sea wall, until the lead rested on one of the large boulder that are stacked up against the bottom of the wall, I set the drag very light, and left the little one in charge of watching for bites. The rod was motionless whilst I set up the second rod, with a large sliding float, without a bite for 10mins now and several recasts, I decided to fish a smallish slither of squid on a size 7 carp hook on the float rod whilst I waited for a small pouting to bite the sabiki rig. well this wasn't going to be easy, It had been a hour and not a touch, I tried further out, closer in, left and even right trying to locate some fish but nothing, a little bemused, I convinced myself that in 10mins the tide was at its lowest and the fish would come out to play then. Then I hear the drag go on the float rod, a short sharp pull that then stopped, I looked at the tip and it bent over and rattled quite violently, I excitedly picked the rod up and struck into a fish, it was quite a good little scrap, and the culprit then surface in a explosion of water splash, "Mackerel" I said, but no, as it came over the wall and I got a proper look I could see it was my first UK caught Garfish weighting 1lb, was a fish that made the trip worth while. a long slender body with a sharp bill bristling with needle sharp teeth, it was a welcome catch for sure.

Corkwing Wrass gets my vote

The little one still hadn't had a bite, I decided to change bait and instead of squid I baited the sabikis with tiny sections of Lugworm. Instantly the rod rattled away like I been expecting, then the fish started coming one after the other, Corkwings, Pouting and Tompot blennys cast after cast, was it the bait change? or my original though of them coming out to play over low water, it didn't matter, they were out in force. I used a small 3oz Pouting as live bait, 60lb florocarbon hook link and a 4/0 circle lightly nipped through the top lip, and gently lowered down the side of the wall so as not to stun or hurt the live bait, and left drifting down tide bouncing along the sea wall. setting the drag a light as possible just in case of a violent take. All attention turned to the sabiki rod, more of the same cast after cast, bouncing the lead around gently under the rod tip till it found a deep hole between the boulders and in some instances the rig was dropping another 2 meters deeper, making me wonder how big the boulders actually are!, but this would ensure a bite within seconds.

Pouting, great live baits!

It had been a frantic 30mins, then disaster struck, I got snagged and lost my sabikis, and without a spare set, things were about to change, I was happy I'd caught some fish, and had a lively live bait still patrolling the sea wall. So I decided to try some Feathers and see if I could catch a Mackerel. allthough I tried for 30mins, I didn't feel a knock or anything. It had been short session, and it was time to get going and get the little one safe as the wind had picked up and thicker clouds put a slight chill in the air. Although I'm sure the little one will not remember his first ever fishing trip, it was more about the sensory experience, fresh salty air, the sound of the sea, the seagulls squawking, and the peace and quiet Sampire Hoe offers in stark contrast to the town in which we live, that I sure he enjoyed.  I myself have always enjoyed fishing light gear for small fish at Samphire, it's such great fun! and even still to this day throws up new unexpected species for me. I also know there are monsters of the deep lurking between those big boulders too, and although one teased me last year, and today they avoided me, but I'm really, really looking forward, to gearing up heavy and doing a over nighter to see what comes out to play after dark!

Plaice Fishing. Hastings

Right Plaice, Wrong Place

Hastings, East Sussex, UK

Spring has sprung, Hastings

In all my fishing it had dawned on my that there was a species that had eluded me, I'm not sure how but the Plaice has managed to avoid me for a long time, to be fair I hadn't really targeted them specifically, more so I had just targeted flat fish in general. Now that the Plaice was firmly on my radar this was now the time to start trying for them, with an exceptionally warm winter I was guessing that they would appear early and with some settled weather the Northerly winds clearing the water, conditions looked good. Now all I needed was a venue, a few stuck out but with only a few Plaice being reported so far this session and that was only hear say, I decided to pick my venue on a hunch, venturing further west along the coast I felt would give me the best chance of a early Plaice and Hasting struck out to me as a low water venue fishing a sand bank good for flat fish, would the Plaice be there? I didn't know but there was only one way to find out!

Homemade rigs are the best

I arrived as early as the bait shop opening times would allow me, with 60 fresh Black Lugworm and a box of Squid I arrived at my mark at 8.30 am a few hours after high tide, my intention was to fish all the way down and up a little for a 6 hour session. upon arrival I had the pick of the beach surprisingly I couldn't see another angler at all. I set up next to a concrete groin where I had had some good sessions before. I fished 1 rod at range with a single 1/0 Aberdeen hook on a up and over rig with beads and sequins to attract the inquisitive sight predatory Plaice, baited with a whole Lugworm and a slither of squid to tip it off, I used a plain lead and cast out as far as I could uptide and let it roll across in front of me seeking out any dips or gullys where food would congregate and hopefully find the waiting fish. the second rod was a simple size 2 hook flapper with size 1 Aberdeen hooks with a gripper lead baited with half a Lugworm, which I cast about 40 -60 yards straight out off the end of the concrete groin, from previous visits on bigger tides, I had seen that there was a gully where the tide flowed stronger around the end of the concrete groin, which I believed any fish swimming from one section of the beach to the other would swim along it.

The Rock Slugs are back!!!

Well, it was fish from the off, both rods were only out a few minutes before the tips were rattling away, small Dabs and small Whiting were out in force keeping me so busy I barely had a chance to have both rods out in the water. Then on the close in rod a bite that was notable bigger than the rest, I struck and lifted into a weight that put a big bend on the light Bass rod, excitedly I slowly reeled in and landed a larger Whiting at 33cm and large Dab at 26cm, 2 keepers right there! Now firmly finding my place to cast to, I recast the close in rod to it, again within seconds rattle rattle the rod tip went, and again a bigger bite than the previous, it bent over again, and I struck, yes something a little bigger maybe a sizable Whiting, but as the fish approached the beach it skimmed across the surface, it was a flat fish and a decent one at that, I expected a Flounder, why I'm not sure I was targeting Plaice!, and a Plaice it was at 34cm, I couldn't believe it,my first Plaice! mission accomplished and the session was only early, so I set myself another mission, as family were over visiting, I thought it would be nice to catch enough fish to put on a Sunday spread.

The Flounder

With in the next 3 hours I had another 2 target Plaice at 33cm and 37cm, a Flounder at 35cm, several Rockling, lots of Whiting and another larger keeper, and lots of very small Dabs, but also another bigger one which I kept. It had been nonstop all day and as the tide turned the fishing very much slowed, there were still plenty of fish biting,but now I was having to wait 5 mins for a bite and frustratingly missed a lot. Whilst most my action and all the keepers I'd caught had been on the close in rod with a plain flapper, the distance rod with a purpose made blinged up drifting Plaice rig had only been picking off Whiting at range of approx 120meters, But It did account for 1 Plaice dead on low water, and the biggest of the 4 that day at 37cm a new PB weighing in at 1lb 1oz.

The days bounty soon to be sunday dinner

Biggest Plaice of the day

I fished the flooding tide for a few hours as planned, and amongst the tiny Whiting and postage stamp sized Dabs with the odd bigger one, i did pluck out my 4th and final Plaice at 28cm, I fished till I run out of bait. I have to say there are some sessions that you hate, some session you love, and some sessions like this one, where you just really enjoy yourself, which is what I did, it seemed the winter cold and dark with gales and heavy rods and line was over, the sun was out, the wind was calm, I was fishing the continental and bass rod both very light rods and back to using braid instead of mono, ok it helps with casting but even more so it makes the bites from little fish exciting. I can honestly say this was a pleasure trip to remember and its not very often I take fish home for the table, but I had 3 Plaice, 2 Dabs and 2 Whiting to take home, just enough to feed the family on Sunday. And not forgetting I had finally found my illusive Plaice, and considering the rigs I used and the range I was casting to, I really cannot believe I've never caught one before as this is exactly the way I've fished for Soles and Dab for many years now, but hey, maybe it was all about location, or maybe as I suspect the Plaice normally turn up a little later in the year when the dreaded May water is about, which is a time where my rods stay firmly in the shed.

Thornback Ray Fishing, Deal Pier

Deal? Or No Deal?

Deal Pier, Deal, Kent, UK

Deal Pier, rods at dusk

A long old shift of 22 hours at work gave me an opportunity to have a evening fish, the weather was perfect, the gales had stopped, and the wind calmed to nothing but a breeze, the sun was out and the sea flat with a brown tinge to it. I had a freezer full of Blueys waiting the first venture of the year out searching for Thornback Rays. I gave my friend Warren a ring, who I consider to be a local Ray guru, by chance we both had time off, and we decided to give Deal Pier a bash from 3pm till 6pm. I made up a few pulley rigs, 60lb straight through to a single Sukuma size 4/0 hook, bait clip and stop knot and sequin to stop the bait travelling up the line away from the hook. I was all set and took a slow leisurely drive to one of the furthest venues I frequent.

Homemade Pulley Rigs single 4/0 

I met Warren in the car park at Deal sea front, we learned that a few Rays had been out along the arm which filled me with confidence, but we made our way to the bottom deck to fish the deeper water as the tide receded. within minutes, our first rods were cast out at range, the tide wasn't that strong during our trip, but being advised that it can be very snaggy, I opted to use a fixed wire 7oz lead real good for holding bottom, and if it got snagged the wire would just bend straight out releasing the lead. I held bottom without any trouble, I probably could have gone lighter, but I was comfortable and felt confident fishing so used it the whole session. We had loads of space, with only a couple of other anglers on the bottom deck and it didn't take long to get some action, my first and second baits were stripped by whiting, whilst Warren landed 2 Dogfish on his first casts.

1st Thornback Ray of 2016, Deal Pier

I never put a second rod out, and it was just nice having time to watch the rod tip and waiting for them bites. on my third cast my rod took a big pull down and then slack lined, the line was flapping in the breeze, and without moving the rod I reeled in till the line tightened, it had traveled a little way down tide, and with another pull down, I picked the rod up and struck. I was on, there was no doubt in my mind this was a Ray, and it put up a fair good fight, I wasn't sure if it was because of the deeper water than I'm used to fishing from the shore, but slowly and steady I bought the fish to the surface, I have to say it looked quite small looking down, but Warren had the drop net ready and landed the fish for me. Close up it was a bit bigger than I first thought, a female Thornback Ray weighing in at 8lb 2oz, well, for my first session for them this year, target caught, and a decent one at that, I was well happy.

The Rays Hayes

It didn't take Warren long to stamp his mark, taking the next Thornback Ray again on Bluey, this time a male at 5lb. We were both very happy now, with the target fish achieved, the only question remained, was "Are we to go elsewhere?" and continue fishing when the pier closes, We didn't, I really didn't have the energy, I had bitten more off than I could chew with a 22 hour work shift and only a few hours sleep, my body clock was smashed to bits. We fished right till the end with the pier attendant very politely ushering us off the pier in the dark. We had 2.5 hours of fishing and without snagging the bottom and losing any tackle with 6 casts each, we had caught a Thornback each and a mixed bag fish, with Warren's Dogfish, and a a Whiting and Pouting for me, the weather was glorious for the time of year albeit a bit cold, but I was dressed for the occasion. It's always a pleasure to fish with Warren and I'd very much enjoyed my first proper pier fishing trip, something I've always avoided due to not having a drop net, but probably if I'm honest, mostly because I try to avoid the crowds piers attract, allthough today we did had the whole of the deck.