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!