...Sessions of 2017.
Had 3 shortish sessions in the last 3 days hoping to open my account for the year in style.
First go was Holyhead Breakwater for herring. I was flinging the sabiki's from the inside quite happily, but without success. With it being quite choppy on the inside, and from what I've read I thought that might have put them off. So I looked over the outside wall and it was a lot calmer so went for a couple of casts here. First one went out and came back no problem. Second one the wind caught hold of it and I watched the weight go a great distance, unfortunately that distance exceeded the amount of line on my spool and the lot was gone. That cut my session a lot shorter than I planned and giving me another purchase.
Second session was after bass around Holyhead. Digging worm was difficult but eventually I had enough and made my way to the mark. I wasn't exactly sure of where to fish but I pitched up at a likely looking spot and got drowning worms. I was slightly surprised to have a bite just 30mins into fishing, a good pull down took line against the ratchet, unfortunately the fish had dropped the bait before I picked the rod up. After another hour of fishing, a quick move and another hour I had no more bites and ran out of time, otherwise the car would have been locked in over night. Back at home the work wasn't done as I had to spread everything out in a suitable place to dry, as lets say it rained more than it didn't throughout the day.
Onto session 3 which was earlier today. With the wind dying down I thought it would be a better chance to bag a herring or two off the breakwater and try out my new LRF gear which had finally arrived. Arwyn was also up for it as it gave him a chance to try out a new spinning rod. Conditions looked good, nice and flat with little wind. On went the sabiki's on the LRF rod and a tiny 1/4oz weight. We worked our way along the breakwater, a quick catch with a chap just leaving confirmed that the herring were there, though at a fair distance out. I thought I might make it that far with my heavier spinning rod, but as two days prior there wasn't enough line on the reel to reach. Darkness fell with no herring for us, just a couple of whiting each.
Hard going but at least I've seen a fish now!
Saturday, 7 January 2017
Monday, 2 January 2017
New Year
A belated Happy New Year to everyone!
Just a quick update on the last session of 2016. I returned to the rumoured big bass mark the day before new years eve. Despite arriving bang on low tide I was a bit surprised to find no water in front of the mark I intended to fish. I set up one rod, took a wander and chucked it in, though I didn't expect to get anything I didn't want to waste time sitting round waiting. Eventually the gullys in front of me started to fill and I had both rods in with big squid baits.
I thought I'd seen a rattle, then keeping an eye on it the rod pulled down harder. Lifting in I could feel a fish on but it didn't feel much bigger than a whiting. Mean while the ratchet on the other rod made a bit of noise, however I put this down to weed in the current and dealt with the fish I already had first. Fairly surprised to find a small bass, only just bigger than the squid bait hanging on the end. Not nearly as big as I had hoped for but a bass in December is always a welcome sight.
By the time I got to the other rod it was snagged up, and I'll never know what happened to it. I fished on for a couple more hours but only had a few quick rattles that came to nothing. Happy with a bass but will be back at least once more for a big 'un!
Just a quick update on the last session of 2016. I returned to the rumoured big bass mark the day before new years eve. Despite arriving bang on low tide I was a bit surprised to find no water in front of the mark I intended to fish. I set up one rod, took a wander and chucked it in, though I didn't expect to get anything I didn't want to waste time sitting round waiting. Eventually the gullys in front of me started to fill and I had both rods in with big squid baits.
I thought I'd seen a rattle, then keeping an eye on it the rod pulled down harder. Lifting in I could feel a fish on but it didn't feel much bigger than a whiting. Mean while the ratchet on the other rod made a bit of noise, however I put this down to weed in the current and dealt with the fish I already had first. Fairly surprised to find a small bass, only just bigger than the squid bait hanging on the end. Not nearly as big as I had hoped for but a bass in December is always a welcome sight.
Wednesday, 28 December 2016
December Update
A belated seasons greetings! I haven't posted for a while due to being in work, holidays and a lack of fishing action.
In the run up to Christmas I had a few sessions, starting 15th December. With it being such a nice day I decided to take the plugs out for a rare soaking in the Strait. Probably not the best time of year to be trying this but at least it got rid of a few cobwebs. I tried a few different floating/sinking and diving lures but as expected it was a complete blank, no takers and no sign of fish.
The Saturday straight after was a planned conger hunt, and I was joined by Arwyn. We set up underneath Menai Bridge an hour before low with big mackerel baits. However it seemed we were there a little bit late as the current had already started running to the left. Two biteless hours we lasted until we moved before being cut off by the now rising tide, to a mark nearby. Expected at least a few fish but Arwyn managed 1 whiting, and I had an edible crab so we packed up after just an hour and saved ourselves for the Monday.
The plan was to hit a mark that has been mentioned to me in the past for producing big bass in winter. Myself, Paul and Arwyn arrived just on low to fish a good chunk of the tide in. Wasn't sure of the exact spot to fish but after a bit of gulley hopping we found some suitable ledges that wouldn't be covered for a couple of hours. The rod tips were getting sharp rattles which meant the whiting were around so instead of reeling in I decided to leave them out there for an extra 10 minutes to see if that could tempt a big predator.
Just as I was thinking of moving my gear back my plan seemed to work, with one of the lines dropping slack. I struck in to feel a decent weight and it began to shift, taking some line against the drag. Then it just felt like a dead weight, but seriously heavy. First thoughts were conger but as it edged closed it stayed deep and I was more convinced I had a decent ray on. It came into my torch light and sure enough it was a ray, a reasonable thornback but hooked towards the tail which explained why it took such a long time to bring in. Didn't bother weighing, but it was a reasonable specimen between 7 and 8lb, a quick photo and it was back in the water.
We moved round the rocks to a spot we wouldn't be cut off for a couple of hours but a side from a few whiting and dogs the action was slow so we packed in ready for the quite hefty walk back to the cars.
In the meantime I have treated myself to some new gear, mainly lures gear, to focus on this style of fishing a bit more and catch a better variety of species (and hopefully make the car smell less!).
In the run up to Christmas I had a few sessions, starting 15th December. With it being such a nice day I decided to take the plugs out for a rare soaking in the Strait. Probably not the best time of year to be trying this but at least it got rid of a few cobwebs. I tried a few different floating/sinking and diving lures but as expected it was a complete blank, no takers and no sign of fish.
The plan was to hit a mark that has been mentioned to me in the past for producing big bass in winter. Myself, Paul and Arwyn arrived just on low to fish a good chunk of the tide in. Wasn't sure of the exact spot to fish but after a bit of gulley hopping we found some suitable ledges that wouldn't be covered for a couple of hours. The rod tips were getting sharp rattles which meant the whiting were around so instead of reeling in I decided to leave them out there for an extra 10 minutes to see if that could tempt a big predator.
We moved round the rocks to a spot we wouldn't be cut off for a couple of hours but a side from a few whiting and dogs the action was slow so we packed in ready for the quite hefty walk back to the cars.
In the meantime I have treated myself to some new gear, mainly lures gear, to focus on this style of fishing a bit more and catch a better variety of species (and hopefully make the car smell less!).
Wednesday, 2 November 2016
Last last tope chance
Not been out for a few weeks, the couple of sessions previously were too wet and windy with nothing worth getting the camera for. However a day off today and decent, if a little cold, weather meant I was definitely getting out. Fishing a reasonably big tide down to low, and a northerly wind I didn't really fancy anywhere on Anglesey to produce what I wanted so I made a dash down the Llyn to try out some new territory. I left Bangor around 12 and after the mammoth drive I was down the rocks and started fishing just after 2pm with the plan to leave about 5pm.
I set up as usual, 8/0 hooks, short wire trace and half mackerel baits. Initially the current and swell kept the ratchets buzzing a bit too much and holding bottom was a struggle. First cast was out there for over an hour while I tried feathering for some fresh bait. I had already lost a rig to a snag on my second big rod and I thought the same had happened to the first rod but eventually it pulled free and there was a bit of weight on the end. I wasn't sure what I had on, as it slid onto the rocks I initially thought I had a decent gurnard but as I got down to it, it was obviously a meaty 3 beard rockling that had wriggled onto the big hook.
The picture doesn't really do it justice but its the best I could do with the self timer. I thought I might see more action now the current had eased but not so. A few lost feathers to the rocks as I unsuccessfully thrashed the water for mackerel and pollack. I was kept on my toes by the swell making it look like I had bites on the bigger rods. Other than that the most excitement I got was the appearance of a seal and a large bird, possibly a buzzard or just a crow on steroids flew into one of the lines as it tried to take one of my discarded mackerel baits off the rocks.
I set up as usual, 8/0 hooks, short wire trace and half mackerel baits. Initially the current and swell kept the ratchets buzzing a bit too much and holding bottom was a struggle. First cast was out there for over an hour while I tried feathering for some fresh bait. I had already lost a rig to a snag on my second big rod and I thought the same had happened to the first rod but eventually it pulled free and there was a bit of weight on the end. I wasn't sure what I had on, as it slid onto the rocks I initially thought I had a decent gurnard but as I got down to it, it was obviously a meaty 3 beard rockling that had wriggled onto the big hook.
The picture doesn't really do it justice but its the best I could do with the self timer. I thought I might see more action now the current had eased but not so. A few lost feathers to the rocks as I unsuccessfully thrashed the water for mackerel and pollack. I was kept on my toes by the swell making it look like I had bites on the bigger rods. Other than that the most excitement I got was the appearance of a seal and a large bird, possibly a buzzard or just a crow on steroids flew into one of the lines as it tried to take one of my discarded mackerel baits off the rocks.
After admiring the sunset over Bardsey Island I began packing up to get back to the car in the light. With one rod away the other started going beserk. I lifted into a decent weight and it was fish on! I tried to keep the line tight as I moved closer to the edge ready for landing, unfortunately as I was moving down everything went solid. I hoped the fish would pull itself free but it wasn't too be, the pull downs stopped and the fish was gone. I got the rig back but the session ended on a bit of an anti-climax, as the lost fish would have been a decent bonus at a new mark. Back out on Anglesey next week when the tides a move favourable, hopefully the weather holds!
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