2021-02-01 Sea Angler

BOAT ANGLER Words and
photography by
MIKE THRUSSELL

fisbheinsAtgrpienlyatcoheue? SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594
50

Asfihsahllocwauwghatteinr HOW Lawrence
Chisnall was

happy with

TOthis ray
HUNT
HALIBUT
If you’re planning a trip to Norway to fish for
these huge flatfish, we’ve made it much easier
for you to discover the hottest marks  N 

visions of big cod come
instantly to mind. Yet, talk to
anglers who visit the country
for the first time and the fish

Tthey really want to catch is the
usually small sections of chart, applicable to the
likely area you will fish, on board. If not, check
with the camp guide/leader and ask for a print-
out of the local chart. It is worth asking for
details of a few consistent areas for halibut and
use these as basic information to get started. It
mighty halibut. Some succeed, is unwise to rely on marks already plotted into
but others have not felt the power of this the boat sounder because these will be mostly
monster flatfish. general fishing areas. Some are good and others
While the fishing camps are generally not so good. In fact, they are only as good as the
excellent and the staff will happily answer any anglers that put in the details, and they might
questions you may have, there is only so much also have different expectations than you. ey
they can do about finding fish for you. Guides may also be places that produce fish in April
help but add cost, and some anglers prefer or May and you’re there in July or August. It
a holiday doing it their own way. Once you is much better to make your own judgement
accept the keys to the hire boat and venture and pick out places that look like they will
out to sea for the first time, you’re going to specifically hold halibut.
be looking for fish by your own wits. If you’re
unsure how best to hunt halibut, here are some

SEASONAL MOVEMENTpointers that might help you put that elusive
big fish on your species list. ere is sometimes an illusion that this fish
does not move far, but the opposite is true.
Halibut travel as required to adjust to food
PREPARATION TIME availability. If your trip is early spring, say
Social media pages and websites dedicated April or May, then expect most of the halibut
to the venue you’re visiting can provide catch to be in the deeper water, say from 100 feet
reports and other information, but, generally, to 300 feet. e band between 125-200ft is a
these won’t be much help about specific areas good one to investigate at this time.
to fish. If you use this source, then do so only By June they are moving into shallow water
for the month within which your trip falls. as the water temperature rises slightly and the
ere is no point looking at halibut caught prey fish move shallower and become more
in September if your trip takes places in July active. July and August often see halibut move
because the fish will have moved. into water as little as 25ft deep, sometimes even
e first real step is to load Navionics on to less, and these can be big fish well in excess of
your phone to get access to the ground features 100lb, though the majority are up to 50lb.
in the area you will fish. Alternatively, buy the By September, there will be fewer halibut
Admiralty or Imray navigation charts for the in the shallows and most start to move into
area. It’s good to have both Navionics and a deeper water. If you are not catching in deep
hard copy chart, but the chart lets you see a water, try shallow or vice versa.
bigger scale in detail prior to the trip and you e exceptions are the very big fish well
can identify ground that might be of interest. over 100lb. ese halibut tend to stay in deeper
When you take charge of the boat, there are water up to 200ft deep, positioning themselves

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 51

BOAT ANGLER

Don’t always trust the well-fshed marks MOVING TARGET PLACES
TO FIND
where there are natural transit routes for cod, I’m not looking at tackle here because it has HALIBUT
torsk and haddock that form a large proportion been covered many times before, but one of the
of their diet. For the most part, the very big fish, best tips for halibut is that they like a naturally 1 RISING HUMPS: e type of ground
the real lumps over 200lb, tend to be in water in moving bait. Smaller pirks, especially with a feature you need is any rising area that comes
excess of 200ft, but there are always exceptions. luminous green muppet on the hook, work off the seabed lifting towards the surface.
Halibut over 25lb, and especially the 100lb-plus well just to get you on the score sheet. One of
fish, tend to be solitary creatures and dominate the best is the Abu Sillen. ose who have visited Norway may have
a large patch of ground. I was told this by a noticed that much of the rising ground tends
Norwegian commercial fisherman a fair few For general day to day fishing, you can’t beat to be rounded off and not necessarily the
years ago and it turned out to be true. It’s not a jighead such as the Sea Waver Giant Jig sharp pinnacles seen in UK waters. ere
the case though, with smaller fish up to 20lb head, which is designed to take a rubber shad will be a gouge or what looks like a hollow
because two or three of these can be taken in mounted in the nose and comes in sizes 200g notch or wedge cut into the rock not too far
areas the size of an average garden. to 500g. e shape looks like a fish and creates below the peak of the structure. Sometimes
a big silhouette, while the big tail of the shad there are two of these below the peak and
creates vibrations irresistible to the halibut. these almost always hold a halibut. If you see
You will catch bigger cod in huge numbers, too. structure like this, mark it.
It’s by far my favourite lure.
To fish these rising humps, judge the wind
If you really want to be single minded and and the tide, and create a drift that brings
target just one huge 100lb-plus fish, then you right over the top of the pinnacle and
consider using a fresh coalfish of about 1-2lb over the notch. Watch the depth reading
mounted on a boom and a mono trace (about on the sounder as you drift and release line
3ft long) with size 10/0 hooks. is approach accordingly to keep the lure working about
requires patience, but will get you a big halibut six to 10 feet above the ground. is near
sooner or later. contact with the ground is vital to success.
Halibut have their eyes on top of their
LIGHT LEVELS Fishing with a pirk should take a halibut heads and are looking upwards, so they are
A luminous muppet is good in low light watching for silhouettes that pass overhead
You’re on holiday and it’s very tempting to
fish office hours, but it will cost you a lot of
fish. Halibut are not lovers of bright skies and
clear sunshine. In deep water you might stand
a chance, but your chances diminish quickly
in water of 150ft or less. e best days are
those with cloud cover or when there is rain
predicted. e water in the ords is very clear
and light levels penetrate a long way down,
so bear this in mind when selecting marks on
bright days.

In summer, there is no real darkness in
Norway and not that much in late spring and
early autumn, so use the twilight periods of
dawn and dusk as much as you can. A good
option is to fish from 8pm to 4am, come in,
get something to eat, sleep, then fish for other
species from 10am to 4pm. Yes, it’s disruptive to
your sleep pattern, but if you want to maximise
your chances of a halibut then needs must. e
period either side of midnight is also best for the
bigger cod too.

The best days This fish fell to a jig
are those with head and giant shad
cloud cover
52 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

and will lift off the seabed to intercept passing keep deck noise to a minimum, but the area was Jig heads and shads
items of food, such as cod. packed with halibut. Try to use any wind and do well for smaller fish
tide to drift across these flatter areas, but on the
When drifting like this, you’ll catch the cod calmer days you have to use boat power to keep The Abu Sillen pirk
more frequently between 25-75ft deep and the adjusting position and to cover more ground. is a popular choice
halibut the same, though the halibut can be a 4 MIXED GROUND: In some ords you find
little deeper if there is suitable feature for them that one side is very deep and the other offers a
to find. Once you go deeper than 75ft, then band of shallow, flattish ground with a depth
catches fall away slowly. Again, this is a general of no more than 40ft, sometimes less. is is
rule, not absolute, but it illustrates why the usually made up of a mix of rougher patches
halibut like this type of feature because it gives with muddy sand or sand in between. ese are
them ideal cover to ambush the cod within a good areas to try in the warmer months of July
depth that concentrates their prey fish in their and August. It seems numbers of fish do not
biggest numbers. move into this shallow ground, but individuals
2 DEEP WATER UNDER CLIFFS: do. I think they are looking to take advantage
Another good spot for halibut is directly below of less competition for food from other halibut.
sheer cliffs, especially if there is loose rock that
has tumbled down the face into deep water This halibut with
at the base of the structure. Look for depths mottled markings was
from 50-150ft as being ideal. Check out the caught in 20ft of water
stone that makes up the cliff face, especially if
there is loose scree evident. Smaller boulders
fit together better and create generally flatter
ground and therefore provide the halibut with
comfortable places to rest. Bigger boulders,
say half the size of a car, are harder for the
bigger halibut to lay on and areas where bigger
boulders show will tend to hold small halibut.

3 THE SHALLOWS: In the July and August Small bar pirks
period when the halibut move into the shallows, with muppets
you need to locate areas where the dry land
feature is not quite so sheer with no evidence of 5 SANDY BAYS: If there are any sandy
loose scree. Areas of flat rocks can be a summer bays, bear these in mind too. Water depth
hotspot for the halibut, and especially in the can be critical here because the fish get
more northern regions of Norway. spooked easily in anything less than 20ft
during daylight. ese are not big-fish marks
One July I once found such a spot near in my experience, but if you hit bad weather
Havoysund and enjoyed amazing results with and are looking to catch a small halibut, then
halibut to 35lb in only 20ft of water along a drifting through these bays fishing a small,
half mile of coastline. I was setting up the boat weighted shad on a Whitby rig can produce
drift just 25 yards off the shoreline. It was so numbers of smaller halibut. e rig is simply
shallow that once we’d found them I was scared a strong American snap swivel tied to the
any boat noise might spook them. We had to leader with your lead weight clipped to the
snap link. To the same eye the leader is tied,
Marks close to the camp attach your length of fluorocarbon and then
can produce fish, but may the lure to this.
be fished the most often 6 DEEP WATER: e big question is what
do you look for to target big halibut in deep
water? Frankly, they are not predictable.

e best areas seem to be anywhere around
islands where there is some tidal current,
but, generally speaking, the water needs to
be well in excess of 150ft. Look for those
flatter areas where a big halibut can lay up
comfortably, but stick to rough ground
rather than clean ground.

It’s the same in the deeper water of the
open ords, where you should seek out deep
water and rough ground and keep drifting it
to find individual fish. I’m not saying halibut
living over flat mud doesn’t happen, but they
prefer rougher ground for cover. e flat
muddy ground is often devoid of fish except
for a few torsk and maybe wolf-fish. n

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 53

BOAT ANGLER Words and
photography by
ALISTAIR CAMPBELL

F    I  Targeting common skate to 200lb in
remember, my angling 500 feet of water and a decent tide flow
routine has followed the requires strong gear. is needs to be a
same general path every year 50/80lb-class stand-up stick with 50lb
of going from competition mono, 2lb of lead weight, 250lb trace line
to competition. With and a size 14/0 hook carrying hefty bait.
Covid-19 causing the
cancellation of my usual events last year, a While the others fished for the skate,
new plan was required to get my fishing fix. I tried for other species using smaller
mackerel baits and a 3lb watch lead at
It was the perfect opportunity to visit the bow of the boat. I was soon catching
some different ports, try new marks at double shots of dogfish and spurdogs. e
well-trodden venues and practise various only limit on the numbers caught was my
methods. My buddy Scott Gibson stamina. Hauling up two 5lb spurdogs
suggested visiting Oban. ere, his friend and 3lb of lead weight is exhausting.
Ronnie Campbell who operates Laura
Dawn 2, had employed a new skipper With the tide slackening, it took about
called Leigh Taylor to help him keep his an hour before our first skate run. e fish
successful charter business going as he fought for 20 minutes before shedding
takes a step back from frontline duties. the hook. We feared the worse when
it happened with a second fish. Soon
Normally when you visit Oban for a
day’s charter fishing it will be to target SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594
some of the best common skate fishing
available, but if the weather is poor you
will be in Loch Etive seeking spurdogs,
whiting and gurnards. e waters around
Oban also feature islands, deep-water
trenches, reefs and rarely fished bays.

POLLACK ACTION

Our first trip in August with Leigh
concentrated on the islands in the Firth
of Lorne, where we hoped to find some
good fishing for pollack and wrasse when
drifting under the cliffs in 20-50 feet of
water. roughout the day there was a
steady stream of these species coming over
the gunnels, with the best pollack around
8lb. ere were no doubles this time. Live
ragworms on small leadheads worked best.

For this fishing, use an 8-10ft spinning
rod with some backbone, or a light uptider.
My choice is an old Daiwa Whisker salmon
spinning rod or a Greys Advent uptider,
coupled with a medium-size fixed spool
with the smoothest drag you can find. I use
12-15lb Daiwa Hyper Sensor mono line,
which gives an ideal level of strength versus
stretch when matched with those rods, and
allows me to keep the fish out of the kelp
while still making the battle enjoyable.

For the next trip we fished some of the
wrecks in the Firth of Lorne. As we were
not set up for anchoring for congers, our first
attempts were on the drift. We tried various
methods, from slow retrieving artificials
and ragworms to standard jigging and bait
fishing, which produced mainly pollack,
wrasse, gurnards, whiting and pouting.

ese wrecks have real potential and we
hope to test them in various tidal conditions.

SKATE SESSION

On our next trip we fished for skate at
one of the deepest of our standard marks.
I hoped to catch some black mouth
dogfish, which are found in a few deep-
water marks.

54

OBAN’S FULL OF
OPPORTUNITY

Testing the water with the new skipper of a famous charter boat

aSnwcdoitttohtpGaeisb(klseaofttne) All the skate were measured, tagged (if not
already tagged) and released. e common
skate fishery is a beacon of how targeted
conservation activities and the involvement
of anglers in the process can turn around the
fortunes of an at risk species. I am hearing
plenty of reports of large numbers of skate
being caught from areas they have not been
seen for many years. ere are several charter
boats throughout Scotland that specialise in
these monsters and most of these will have
suitable hire tackle available. If you are keen
to get your own gear then look for a 6-7ft
stand-up stick matched with slow/twin-
speed multiplier, such as a Penn Senator 6/0,
but make sure you get one with lugs fitted as
you need a harness to endure the long battle.

We are hoping to try more marks around
Oban, perhaps going after tope, a night-time
jaunt for a hake, conger hunting or some
deep-water fishing for something different.

e possibilities are endless. ■

afterwards, Scott’s reel started to be stripped coLmemigreholSneTkasaiskpyeaplstoeearr
of line, which is quite uncharacteristic for a big
skate, and after 15 minutes of lively action he
boated a 40lb tope.

Soon the skate came on the feed, with seven
landed in the final three hours to the four skate
rods. Fortunately or unfortunately for me, I

hooked a skate on my dogfish gear. Given that
there are so many spurdogs in the area, my
gear had 100lb snoods and after at least
40 minutes I boated a skate of 110lb.
I didn’t want to risk catching
another one, so used size 6
hooks for the rest of the day.
e best skate of 207lb fell
to Scott.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 NEED TO KNOW

If you are interested in fishing on
the Laura Dawn 2, get in touch with
Leigh Taylor, tel: 07548 684978 or
via Facebook.
The writer, Alasdair Campbell, is

the manager of Scotland’s boat
team and vice-president of the
Scottish FSA.

55

BOAT ANGLER Words and
photography by
DAVE LEWIS

SEVEN-POINT
PLAN FOR
SPRING COD
Make sure you are prepared for the annual influx of our favourite fish
in the Bristol Channel haven’t seen
any large runs of cod during the
autumn and winter months, but
thankfully those fish we get each

Ispring can be prolific. At times these
spring runs consist of good numbers primary function is to hold the lead
weight, but the advantage of a tube
boom is that it helps to prevent the
hooklength from tangling around
the sinker’s grip wires when you are
casting your rig away from the boat.
Following the boom, I slide a
of codling along with a few bigger ones, and on second bead on the leader to reduce
those magical days when you find yourself in just Black lug is the any risk of the end of the boom
right place at the right time you can catch a lot top bait choice damaging the knot that attaches
of them. the link to which the hooklength is
e number of fish caught each spring is all attached. e advantage of using
the more impressive when you consider the a link to attach the hooklength,
vastly reduced amount of fishing effort at this rather than tying it directly to a
time of the year, compared to autumn and swivel, is that it allows quick bait
winter when, weather permitting, dozens of changes (see No 4).
boats will be on the water. When uptiding in strong tides
for cod I use relatively short
hooklengths of around three to
1 RELIABLE four feet of 50-60lb mono line.
INFORMATION I like the Sakuma 545 Manta
Nowadays, social media is the grapevine of Extra pattern, typically in size
2/0 to 4/0. When fishing in
catch information for many anglers, but it strong tides you need a decent
should be taken with a pinch of salt because grip weight to anchor the rig
it can get exaggerated. Nothing beats a on the seabed.
telephone conversation with friends who have Squid is popular
actually been fishing and can be trusted to selection too 4 THE NEED
give you an accurate account of what they and FOR SPEED
other boat crews have caught. It is essential to use large juicy baits that
emit a strong scent trail in heavily coloured
Fish arrive in an area, stay for a few tides,
and then disappear, so you need to determine water. With near-zero visibility at most marks Double patting, as it is known,
where the cod are currently being caught. Are in the area, the only way foraging fish are going involves working with two or three
they feeding off Cardiff Foreshore, Sully Bay, to locate your bait is by its scent. Anyone hooklengths at a time, so that while
Aberthaw or on the opposite side of the channel seeking cod anywhere around the UK this one baited rig is fishing, you can load
or elsewhere? ere is no guarantee that the spring should get the best quality bait possible. a spare hooklength or two with bait
fish will remain in the same area where your to save losing fishing time. When
contacts caught them, but it is encouraging to you either catch a fish or reel in to
start with the knowledge that fish were caught 3 EASY RIG change to a fresh bait, you simply
in this exact same area just a day or so before. e running leger is the most unclip the old bait, attach a ready
effective rig when either fishing baited hooklength, and cast back out.
2 THE BEST BAIT downtide or uptide for cod. Slide a small bead Periods of relative inactivity are often
on to your leader to prevent the top of the punctuated by a flurry of bites when a
e key to consistently catching cod boom from getting stuck on the leader knot, shoal of fish swims past, so only by having
is good quality bait. Fresh black lug which can happen if a good fish drags the pre-baited hooklengths ready can you
is the first choice of many anglers, with king full length of the leader through the boom. I increase the time you have a freshly
ragworms, blow lug, squid (see page 58) and use four-inch tube booms for uptiding, but baited rig in the water at this peak
most forms of shellfish also producing fish. some anglers like a snap link or zip slider. Its period of activity.

56 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

All smiles for a Lawrence
plump fish Chisnall was

happy with
this ray

5 ROD COUNT
When it comes to fishing aboard
a charter boat, I prefer to use one
rod. On a full charter boat trip this means
eight or 10 baits will be fishing at a time,
which equates to a strong scent trail to attract
the fish. With more fresh bait in the water,
it increases the chance of attracting isolated
shoals of fish, hence when fishing aboard
private boats I see a big advantage in fishing as
many rods as practical.

6 REACT TO CATCH
When another angler lands a cod,
I suggest reeling in as quickly as
possible (unless your bait has been cast within
10 minutes), attaching a fresh bait, and
recasting. is gives you the best opportunity
of catching a fish as the shoal moves through.
Even the largest baits will have emitted
most of their attractive juices within 20 to
30 minutes of being cast out, so this is the
maximum time interval within which you
should replace each bait.

7 STAY PUT THEORY
If you have anchored in an area
where fish have been caught in
recent days, my advice is to resist the urge to
move elsewhere if things start quietly. It is
a big temptation to relocate if you hear that
some fish are being caught in another area
close by. In all likelihood, the fish will be
gone by the time you have moved, possibly
swimming past the area you have just left.
Certainly, in recent years my observations
suggest the ‘stay put’ theory works. ■

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 fromAthceomdluinrkgyiswliaftteerd 57

BOAT ANGLER Words and
photography by
DAVE BARHAM

fDoorucbolde up
How to prepare small squid to make large baits
I      
size and quality of squid available Plenty of cod in the
differs greatly. Some years they are 6-9lb range fell to
a decent size, maybe seven inches double squid baits
long, but in others they can be as
small as only four. ey’re not Even a 5lb
a different species or cod will take a
subspecies either. double squid bait
Last year, the squid we were buying
in 10kg and 20kg blocks varied
considerably, and towards the end of
the year the average size in the blocks
was a fair bit smaller than
the ones we’d been getting
throughout the summer.
When it came to ‘cod time’
we had to double up to make
larger baits with more scent.

is is a simple and effective presentation that
caught loads of cod this winter, when we were
allowed to fish before lockdown.

My mate Roger Cooling has his boat moored
in Grimsby, which gives us access to the River
Humber, a winter haven for cod and codling.
Because the tides can be quite fierce here at
times, getting plenty of scent into the water
is essential in order to have a successful day’s
fishing. For this reason, coupled with the

It seems like
ages since

anglers have
been able to

get afloat
58 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

If the rod tip smaller-sized squid, we were doubling up our
slams over when baits this winter. e cod up here love squid
baits. We’ve tried cocktails of squid and worm,
using a double both frozen blacks and fresh blow lug, but plain
squid bait, squid baits seem to take the larger cod and
indeed numbers of fish.
chances are it’s a
decent fish Of course, this presentation is equally effective
from the shore and one I have used countless
times on Pennell pulley rigs to catch cod and
bass from my local Norfolk and Lincolnshire
beaches over the years (remember when we
used to get decent runs of cod?).

ADVANTAGES

Using plain squid baits can provide a number
of advantages, too. For a start, you are more
likely to nab a rogue winter bass on a whole
squid. In fact, in January 2020 I managed to
nail one of 9lb while fishing a squid bait for
cod. A whole squid is also less prone to being
ripped off the hook by hungry whiting. e
addition of bait elastic when you double up
also reduces the chances of the whiting tearing
your bait to shreds.

You’ll notice that when I use this double squid
method I always ensure that the hook
point passes through at least one of the
squid’s eyes to release even more
scent into the water.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 59

BOAT ANGLER

STEP-BY-STEP 1 2

HOW TO You’ll need a Pennell rig made with a Start by laying the two squid alongside
PREPARE sliding top hook. These are size 5/0 each other. It helps if the two squid are
A DOUBLE Sakuma Manta Extra with the top one a similar size. Whip a little bait elastic
SQUID BAIT being a dedicated Pennell hook. around the tail ends to secure.

34 5

Holding the squid firmly in one hand, When you get to the end of the squid Give the head end a good dose of elastic,
use your other hand to wrap the bait mantles, turn the bait through 180 ensuring the longer tentacles are held
elastic along the squid bodies to begin degrees to carry on whipping up to the back along the body. Finish by whipping
the process of binding them together. head ends. back up the bodies to the tail end.

6 7 8

To mount the bait, pass the bottom Push the hook through the squid like Pull the hook through the squid and all
hook (the one tied to the end of your this. If you can nick the second squid the way out. You will need to pull about
hooklength) into the body of one of the during the process, all the better, but it eight inches of the hooklength through
squid. Don’t go between the two squid. is not essential. the body as well.

9 10 11

Now pass the hook point through the Continue the weaving process and Pull the hook through the squid head,
exit hole you created, or a millimetre or when you reach the bottom of the but not all the way out – just enough
two below it, as pictured, and continue mantle, pass the hook point through for the eye of the hook to sink into the
to ‘weave’ the squid on the hooklength. the head and piercing one of the eyes. body of the squid.

12 13 14

Next pull on the hooklength that exits Now it’s time to secure the sliding top Pass the top hook through the two tails
the tail of the squid to bring it up tight hook of the Pennell. Do this by simply of squid whipped together. Then, while
so the hook bend sits neatly at the head wrapping the hooklength around the holding the bend of the hook, pull the
end of the bait. shank four times. hooklength to tighten it down.

60 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

BOAT ANGLER Words and
photography by
DAVE LEWIS

The world's
greatest
Go light Sfpoercbiyueoscukarenatdnlivgsetlinnuges fishing
another exciting technique, which
is popular with many American
anglers. Whichever way you decide
to fish and regardless of whether or
not you use lures or bait, you will need
to use wire hooklengths or shock tippets
DESTINATIONS to prevent the fish’s razor-sharp teeth from
e best bluefish action I have experienced hascutting your line.

for blues beenintheUS,wherethefisharefoundfromthe
Canadian border down to Florida. During the
spring and summer, the fish are prolific off the
Whether you fish with lures or morenortherlystates,migratingsouththroughthe
fall and winter as they track the shoals of baitfish
bait, this species is tailor-made toChesapeakeBayandthebanksofftheCarolinas
and Georgia. I have caught bluefish while fishing in
Florida, but from my experience they are not nearly
for some superb inshore angling asabundantthereastheyarefurthernorth.
Bluefish are very common around the Canary
Islands, and this is where most UK anglers first
experience these fish, usually when spinning from
the rocks or, if permitted, local harbour breakwaters.
e IGFA 30lb-class record of 28lb 7oz was caught
K      e IGFA all-tackle record for a bluefish is in Tenerife. Other reliable places to target bluefish
South Africa as elf or shad, and currently held with a 31lb 12oz specimen caught are southern Spain and Portugal, with the Ebro
tailor by those in Australia, off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in the USA, delta south of Barcelona and other parts of the
bluefish are hugely popular with but the average size of most fish caught is between Catalonia region producing a lot of fish. Here your
boat and shore anglers, being 6lb and 15lb. best chance of success will almost always be when
regarded as one of the great fishing afloat with a guide, but in some areas, fish
can be caught on a self-guided basis from the shore.
inshore light-tackle species. Further afield e Azores produce some very big
bluefish, including several line-class records. Cape
TOP TACTICSFound within the temperate and near tropical
latitudes of the world, bluefish (Pomatomus If you are fishing offshore, bluefish can be found in Province in South Africa, South Australia and
saltatrix) are a popular species with boat and shore relatively open water but more usually they will be New Zealand also produce plenty of bluefish. ■
anglers fishing off the eastern seaboard of the encountered in the vicinity of banks, reefs or tide
United States and now in several of the southern rips – all areas that concentrate shoals of bait.
European countries. Finding the bait upon which the fish are currently
feeding is always the key to locating bluefish, and
thankfully in those areas where they are found this is
Bluefish average rarely a problem. Bluefish blitzes, as they are known,
from 6-15lb occur when these voracious predators trap a shoal

of bait against the surface and set about decimating
as many fish as they can. An active blitz can be
located easily by spotting the flocks of birds that will
always be feeding from above a blitz. Often you can
identify the location of a previous blitz by a slick of Almost any lure will catch a bluefish

oil on the surface, and even the pungent smell of fish,
confirming bluefish are active in the area.
Whereas boat anglers can actively hunt bluefish
then quickly follow the fast-moving shoals from
one blitz to the next, shore anglers are not nearly
so mobile. If you intend to fish from the shore,
good information about the areas that often attract Using
bluefish will always help. ese include the mouth livebait
and lower reaches of estuaries, tide rips and any is a good
rocky platforms that offer access to deep water. method

Open surf beaches, too, can be very productive. GET DAVE’S BOOK
Almost any lure will prove effective, especially

simple silver metal spoons that can be cast a long
way. Once when fishing a long, straight sandy beach ■ Dave Lewis’s latest book,
just to the south of Chatham at the very tip of the ‘Destination Angler 2’, features 26
Cape Cod peninsula I used a 2-4oz bass rod to cast beautifully illustrated chapters
3oz mini pirks, with most casts resulting in a strike covering fishing for many bucket
from either a bluefish or a striped bass. Surface list species, including sharks, at
poppers can be very effective too. destinations around the world. Cost
is £30 plus £3.99 p&p to a UK address.
Most types of bait, especially a freelined or slow- Contact: [email protected]
trolled live one, are worth trying. Fly-fishing is

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 61

Unit 1 The Point Retail Edinburgh Unit E Granton Retail Park,
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SEA SCHOOL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Q&AOur experts solve your fishing problems PF says: Almost all shore anglers will
SHORE ANGLING encounter this at some point when fishing
into a swell or rough sea. The best way is
ASK THE EXPERTS Q I’ve been fishing the local to position the rod in the tripod as high
north-facing beaches in as possible, enabling your mainline to be
When sending your question, Cornwall but the problem I’m above the waves. This, however, depends
please remember to include having is detecting bites when on the strength of the wind because it may
your name and address there’s a swell running because continually blow over the rod-rest.
the waves keep moving my
rod tip. Can you advise how to The best way is to focus on the
avoid this? movement of the rod tip as it bounces
with the wave action. It will soon become
STEVE BAXTER, NEWQUAY, CORNWALL apparent that there is a rhythm in the tip
action and any other movement different
to that is generally a bite. Another good tip
is to watch for your mainline falling slack.
In many cases when a fish grabs the bait,
it often springs a grip weight from its firm
hold and results in a slack line or drop-
back bite.

Failing that you could resort to holding
the rod, as some of the anglers are doing
in the picture (below), and placing the
mainline between your thumb and
forefinger and feeling for a bite. This will
generally be a strong pull and is how I used
to do it when I first started shore fishing.

WINNING QUESTION

PAUL FENECH DAVE LEWIS

Shore angler and Based in Newport,
tackle expert Paul South Wales, our
is here to solve contributing editor
your shore angling Dave answers boat
problems. fishing questions.

MARK CRAME HENRY GILBEY Q Could you give me some have been reliably informed that it is
advice on buying a new excellent. It’s a good idea to have a back-
Suffolk-based Angler and headlamp for shore fishing? up headlight just in case your main
Mark gets a thrill photo-journalist source fails or runs out of juice. The
from fishing afloat Henry, based in SEAN GRAVES, SOUTHAMPTON, HANTS Tronixpro headlight is excellent and will
on a kayak. Cornwall, will pack away into your tackle box with
Send him your answer questions PF says: There are plenty of options for taking up too much room.
kayaking queries. on lure angling. you to choose from, but before making
your decision I would recommend
DAN SISSONS HOW TO buying one that is rechargeable to save
ASK A US on cost of buying batteries.
The Portsmouth QUESTION
angler will provide I use the Fenix HM65R (right) and have
answers on the ■ Email: had it a few years now and it’s probably
sport of light rock sa.ed@kelsey. one of the most reliable head torches
fishing (LRF), the co.uk I’ve ever had; believe me, I’ve had a few
go-anywhere tactic. or online: over the years. It is incredibly bright,
www. lightweight and lasts a full five or six-
facebook. hour session easily.
com/
seaanglermag Fenix has recently released a new
version called the Shadowmaster,
however, I haven’t used this but

64 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

IN ASSOCIATION WITH WIN SUFIX AND
RAPALA PRIZES
Q I have bought some some North East anglers using them with WORTH £170
ragworm lures to use when some success as a bottom bait to target
I can’t purchase fresh bait. flounders in a local estuary. Each month we’ll
Can you tell me if these are award a prize to the
effective and, if so, for which Although these worms are made from a best shore, boat and
shore species? synthetic material, they have an uncanny lure/LRF question.
resemblance to actual ragworms and ■ The shore winner
LEE ROBERTS, BY EMAIL actually come in an added scent. They receives two spools
even produce the same wriggling action of Sufix Tritanium
PF says: I think you’re referring to those too. Whether or not the scent is what Neon Orange 0.35mm
resembling the Isome worms or Berkley actually attracts a fish, I’m not so sure, mainline, two spools
Gulp Nereis versions. These are more but the movement almost certainly will of 80lb Sufix Zippy
traditionally used for light rock fishing as most fish are incredibly inquisitive Shockleader
(LRF) when targeting mini species and creatures and will react to any motion and and two spools
can actually be very effective. I did hear of treat it as prey. of Sufix Shock
Max 0.18mm-
For me, I would stick to using fresh, 0.50mm
prime bait when you can; it will out-fish tapered
any artificial alternatives when bottom shockleader
fishing. It might pay dividends to have a worth £52.
word with your local tackle dealer about
placing a standing order for a regular ■ The boat winner
supply of fresh bait. receives a 300m spool
of Sufix 50lb X8 Stealth Green braid
Q I have a new three-piece after each session, give the spigot a rub and a 250m spool of Sufix 50lb
beach rod which is hard to with some candle wax. This will help the Matrix Pro braid worth £53.
pull apart. Is there anything sections to remain together firmly with
I can do to make it easier to no wobble at the join and help to part ■ The lure/LRF winner receives
dismantle? the sections when your session is over. five of the new Rapala MaxRap
lures worth £65
PETER ADAMS, WORCESTER PARK, SURREY There have been many occasions
when I’ve seen two anglers pulling at
PF says: You could try adding your own a shore rod to part the sections. Both
adhesive grip tape close to where the need to have a firm grip on the blank
rods are joined, which will certainly help and one angler slowly twists one way
when trying to separate the sections. as the other angler slowly twists in the
This common problem often occurs opposite direction. Most modern three-
when the rods are put together when piece rods do come ready prepared for
the spigot is wet. As each section slides this and actually have rough textured
together, it can sometimes create a areas around the joins to help when
vacuum that in turn makes it incredibly parting a rod.
difficult to pull apart.

Spigots are made from carbon and like
everything else will suffer wear and tear
over years of use. A vacuum can happen
when a spigot is worn and slightly
loose when fitted together. This can be
remedied by applying a light coating of
graphite spray to build it up slightly, or,

Q How many lead weights To view the full range
should I take with me for a of Sufix and Rapala
single shore session? products, visit:
www.sufixfishing.fishing
BRIAN HANRATTY, BY EMAIL and www.rapala.co.uk

PF says: It depends on the venue and T&Cs: * One prize per winning question will
how long you will be there. If you are be chosen by the editor. Prizes cannot be
fishing into seriously rough ground, it exchanged and no correspondence will be
is inevitable that you will suffer losses. looked into. We reserve the right to send
Even mediocre mixed ground will alternative prizes.
occasionally claim a few sinkers. Take
into account any possible crack-offs 65
while casting too. Calculate the number
of casts during a session based on 15
minutes between each. That’s four per
hour and 20 in a five-hour session. It’s
unlikely that you will lose a sinker on
every cast, so I’d take 10 sinkers.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

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shore and boat anglers have a quality, hard-wearing, well-designed
range of luggage to carry and organise all of their kit. This
redeveloped range features upgraded material with the use of 420D
Oxford Nylon. A tough, durable, water-resistant, and wipe clean
material that is ideal for use in saltwater and damp conditions. There
is a wide range of luggage for all uses in the range, including
rucksacks, quivers, lead bags, reel and spool cases, rig wallets,
match organisers, cool bags and much more.

WWW.TRONIXPRO.COM TRONIXPRO TRONIXPRO TRONIXPRO1

SEA SCHOOL INASSOCIATIONWITH
Our experts solve your fishing problems
Q&A
Q: I am looking for a boat suitable for
inshore lure fishing. My current vessel has
a small cabin at the bow and it cuts off half
of my casting space. Will I have to sacrifice
comfort for a better angling platform?
PAUL WILSON, HERNE BAY, KENT
LIGHT ROCK FISHING
DS says: Firstly, as I’m sure you’re aware, budget is
everything. It’s possible to import boats from the States that
are offshore lure-specific craft but this is very expensive.
What I did was to look at what was available overseas and
then find a boat that shared some of the ingredients that
make a lure boat viable.
Stability is key because you don’t want an unstable
platform. Any open boat or centre-console version can take
on water at sea so, during a sea trial, test how wet you will
get. Consider if you will be fishing alone or with others. For
instance, small boats are fine at anchor when two anglers are
sitting down but lure fishing seems to take up more space
when you are standing.
Lastly, look at storage space for all the stuff that you
currently keep in a cabin. It’s all got to go somewhere.

Q: Having spent a good deal of
time fishing offshore wrecks for
pollack and bass, I’d like to use
lighter tackle for more sport.
What rod and reel would suit
fishing in up to 10 metres depth
over broken rock?

DANIEL HARRIS, SEAFORD, EAST SUSSEX

DS says: Exploring broken ground with a boat
within 500 yards of the shore is where lure fishing
comes into its own. It is beyond casting distance
from the shore and often an area ignored by many
bait anglers.

I have so many outfits that would suit fishing in
20 feet of water, ranging from five gram ultra-light
rods to 40g bait casting versions. To keep it simple,
I’d say a practical combination is a 7-21g medium/
fast-action rod about 7ft long, coupled with a 3000
size fixed-spool reel.

Line wise I’d use 0.6PE braid. This will cover most
scenarios and, if you fish vertically, will handle
more than its casting weight.

If you can fish slack water or an area with little
tidal flow, you should be able to go really light. This
is when a rod that has the potential to fish on the
lighter side will be very beneficial.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 67

SEA SCHOOL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Our experts solve your fishing problems

Q&A
LURE FISHING

WINNING QUESTION at night. You only need that one hit and
resulting hook up to know that you are
Q: I’ve heard about bass being doing it properly.
caught at night on lures, but
are any other species possible? The trick is to fish the same locations
as you would during the day, but do so
MARTIN HARPER, CRAGHEAD, COUNTY DURHAM at night when conditions are calm, quiet
and dark. Don’t go wading if you don’t
HG says: Bass are the main species we need to because the bass can be so close
target at night on lures. Indeed, I would in sometimes. Keep at it because once
suggest that targeting bass at night night fishing becomes the norm you
has changed a lot of anglers’ fishing for won’t look back. Night lure fishing for
the better. During calmer and clearer bass is as normal to me now as going out
conditions is when I look either to during the day.
estuaries and some current or the open
coast in the dead of night chasing bass SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594
with my lure gear.

I have caught a fair number of pollack
at night, including foul-hooking one of
8lb a few years ago which I thought was
the bass of several lifetimes until I got
my headlamp on the fish. For the most
part I am fishing fairly shallow ground at
night and, for me, this doesn’t tend to be
conducive to pollack.

Another species that anglers chase with
lure gear is the wrasse, but ballans don’t
really feed at night and I can’t recall ever
seeing or catching one in darkness.

For me, night fishing with lures in our
waters is all about bass. It can feel strange
to stand or wade in the dark and cast a
lure when your head tells you that the
fish can’t see it. But I believe that bass can
locate your lure in darkness just as easily
as during daylight.

The key is confidence that you are doing
the right thing and not wasting valuable
sleep by wandering around our coastline
when most other people are tucked up in
bed. The only way I know to get a big dose
of confidence is to catch a fish on lures

68

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Q: I have found a high cliff with a rocky base jutting into the sea that might
hold bass. It faces north and is in the shade most of the time and is a bit
tricky to reach from the shore. Further round the cliff is a colony of seals.
Should I give it a try?

IAN HODGKISS, PENRHYN BAY, CONWY

HG says: I see no reason why this spot
shouldn’t be worth a try, but please take
it easy when getting there.

I like the fact that you would be in
shade most of the time because direct
sunlight in calmer conditions aren’t my
favourite combination.

I would imagine that you might find
a nice run of current at some states of
the tide if, as you say, the rocky base juts
out into the sea. Yes, I’d have a go and see
what happens.

While I know that a lot of anglers don’t
like seeing seals around because they
reckon the bass get spooked, I’m not so
sure about this. I remember one of the
first times I went lure fishing for bass
in Ireland and I saw three seals within
casting range. My heart dropped but my
fishing partner told me this was perfect
because the seals would keep the bass
close. He was right and we caught plenty
of fish. If there are seals around then it
makes sense that there is plenty of food
nearby. Seals do eat bass, but I am sure
that they also share a taste for crabs,
sandeels and blennies and so on.

Q: I want to buy some 20lb braid what I actually mean is look for
braid for bass fishing. a line around that figure and then make
What is the best sure the quoted diameter is somewhere
breaking strain? around the 0.15mm-0.19mm region. If it
has a PE rating, go for PE1 to PE5. Some
ADAM GILES, ROEHAMPTON, LONDON lines are not always accurate.

I can’t see how any lure angler could
go wrong by filling their reel with a
120-metre spool of 20lb/0.15mm Sufix
832 braid, and using backing to get to the
required line level.

HG says: This is a subject that anglers 69
could debate until the cows come
home, but I can make life easy and
suggest you go for a braid of about
20lb breaking strain.

For me, a four-strand or eight-strand
braid around that breaking strain gives
a good balance of diameter, strength,
castability and at least a bit of useful
abrasion resistance.

Not all 20lb braids are remotely
equal by the way, so when I say go for a

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

SEA SCHOOL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Our experts solve your fishing problems The spots do not
extend to the
Q&A wing tips
BOAT ANGLING

Q: Having caught most
of our various species
of ray, I’d love to add a
spotted to my species
list. Any advice?

ALAN WYATT, CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE

WINNING QUESTION

DL says: Spotteds are one of the smaller can be caught over a wide range seabed Fish baits, like mackerel, are best
species of ray, being distinguished from types. They are usually found in areas bait, the hooklength should terminate
small blonde ray by the numerous where the bottom consists of a mix in either a single hook or a Pennell rig.
distinctive spots, which unlike the of sand or gravel along with patches The Sakuma 545 Manta Extra pattern in
blonde, do not extend all of the way to of rougher ground, and especially in size 2/0 to 3/0 is perfect.
the edge of the wings. coloured water typically found within
the vicinity of estuaries. Spotted rays can be caught on a
Spotted rays start to make an variety of baits, with those that are
appearance in spring, with numbers of Because these rays are common in fish based, such as a long, thin, fillet
fish remaining abundant throughout areas of sand, mud and shingle banks, or chunk of mackerel, being a popular
the summer and autumn, before they which invariably are subjected to a fast choice. Herring, a sandeel, launce and
migrate offshore into deeper water run of tide, uptiding is a productive pretty much any other type of fish all
offering a more stable temperature for technique. In deeper water, fishing work well.
the cold winter months. downtide is very effective. The key at
all times is to ensure that your bait is Squid and cuttlefish will also catch
The most productive areas for spotted fishing stationary on the seabed. spotted rays. Shellfish baits are very
rays include the English Channel, effective too, especially razorfish, clams
particularly between Dorset and Land’s The running leger is the perfect rig and mussels. Over rougher ground,
End, the Bristol Channel, Cardigan Bay, for both uptide and downtide fishing. especially if fishing in coloured water,
Irish Sea and numerous marks off the Depending on the type and size of your you can try a peeler crab.
coast of Ireland and Scotland. They
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594
70

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Q: How do I get a hermit crab out of the shell Q: On a trip off the
Dorset coast last
and put it on a hook, and which species are year, I caught what
looked like a small
they effective for? shell, such as a hammer. If you do use a bright red eel.
hammer obviously ensure the shell is on What was it?
DUNCAN GRANT, WOKING, SURREY a bait board, ideally resting on several old
towels to help cushion the noise, which in ANDREW NAYLOR, RICHMOND, LONDON
DL says: Hermit crabs are a widely shallow water will spook fish.
available and easy to obtain in many DL says: From your description, I am
areas, but few anglers use them, which is To present a hermit crab, use bait elastic certain it was a red band fish. These
a shame as they are an excellent bait. The to securely lash the whole crab to the live in localised colonies and the
crabs live in a whelk shell, which provides hook, making sure that the hook point Dorset coast, especially Weymouth,
a very tough and secure sanctuary. remains exposed and clear, and cannot consistently produces these beautiful
become masked by the bait. If fishing for and rarely seen fish. Small, baited
Kept in a bucket of cool sea water one smaller fish, use only the soft body part lures, such as sabikis, are used by
or two hermit crabs will eventually exit of the crab, again using elastic to secure it species hunters to target them.
the shell, which is really convenient. to a hook.
Hermit crabs freeze well and once fully
defrosted are easily pulled out of the shell. Hermit crabs are a very effective bait
for many species of fish, especially
When it is necessary to extract a live smoothhounds, bass and various rays,
hermit crab from its shell, most anglers notably the stingray.
use something to physically break the

Q: When fishing The eel-like red band fish
from the shore
dawn and dusk Q: I want to buy an
are considered electric outboard
optimum times engine for stealth
to catch fish, is it fishing in shallow,
the same afloat? inshore waters. Are
these suitable for
GARY THOMPSON, BY EMAIL using in saltwater?

DL says: In general terms I would GORDON ATKINS, BOSTON, LINCS
say yes, and especially so when
fishing in shallow clear water. DL says: I have seen numerous electric
Once the water gets in excess of outboards used in saltwater abroad,
say 100 feet, I think the stage of notably in destinations that focus on flats
the tide is more important than fishing. One or two manufacturers do
the actual time of day. produce electric outboards specifically for
use in saltwater. Take a look those from
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 Minn Kota or Torqueedo.

An outboard powered by electricity

71

SEA SCHOOL IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Our experts solve your fishing problems

Q&A
KAYAK FISHING

Q: I’m looking to buy a kayak. market became larger and more affordable so the sales of new
Who are the main manufacturers kayaks slowed except when a new design was unveiled.
of sit-on-top vessels and what are
the key products associated with Looking at the UK market now, Hobie has become a very
each brand? popular brand among a majority of the hardcore veterans
with the Outback and Revolution ranges being the main ones.
Bradley Stringer, Durham, County Durham For premium brand paddle kayaks, look at the Wilderness
Systems Tarpon range, the RTM Rytmo and Tempo,
MC says: The waters have muddied considerably in the eight Perception Triumph, Viking Profish (above) and Ocean Kayak
years or so since I was involved in the business. At the time Prowler (below) and Trident options. The Feelfree Moken
the main players were the market leaders Ocean Kayak, range are a popular starter option too.
Wilderness Systems, RTM which were traditionally paddled
kayaks, with Hobie as the only option for a pedal kayak. In terms of the eBay imports, I can’t really comment other
Glassfibre Kaskazi and Stealth kayaks were also popular, than to say that you should consider length, width and
being imported from South Africa by enthusiasts. features and take your pick.

At the time, Ocean Kayak models were imported from the
US and New Zealand but the exchange rate kept dropping
which put up prices. Eventually, Johnson Outdoors, the parent
company, went from having UK and European offices to
external distribution. This coincided with an influx of cheaper
fishing kayaks coming out of Chinese factories, such as
Galaxy, and an increase by the Canoe Shops Group of its own
importation of Feelfree kayaks. Additionally, the second-hand

Q: What is the best length for a sea-going fishing kayak and why?

Simon Norton, Felixstowe, Suffolk

MC says: I feel that the best kayak secondary stability and can handle because they track and glide better as
available new on the market is the a rough sea better than most other well as sitting nicely when anchored
RTM Tempo (below) in terms of fishing kayaks. in current. They do, however, take
seagoing capability, based as it is on up more space in your garden and
the original Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro I have always favoured 15-footers and overhang more on your car.
which was discontinued. I have both I like my kayaks light (which these are,
and won’t part with either of them. relatively). I started in an Ocean Kayak That said, 13ft has always been the
Prowler 15, which was an excellent most popular length in the UK for
These are slim kayaks, a shade fishing platform and then moved to the some reason. I believe the Ocean Kayak
under 15ft long, and therefore cut wider, higher volume Trident 15. I also Prowler 13 is still the best-selling sit-
through the water beautifully. have an RTM Rytmo of similar length. on-top fishing kayak there has been.
Initially more tippy than the wider They are good craft, still long enough
kayaks out there, they have excellent These allow me to battle wind or to battle a decent sea while being a bit
strong current easier than more compact and more manoeuvrable.
shorter or wider kayaks To be honest, I would say that

anything of 13ft and above that isn’t too
wide is suitable for most conditions in
the UK year-round. Any shorter and
you start to restrict the conditions you
can tackle, which is only important
if you wish to tackle them of course.
I’ve fished with lures for bass from 7ft
surf kayaks on a flat day so anything is
possible if you set your mind to it.

72 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

SEA SCHOOL INASSOCIATIONWITH Rod advice or where to buy,
email: seafi[email protected]
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CASTING
Website: www.century.uk

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS PART 12 Words by John Holden

BHIAGNLDELAIDNSG Arodwitha4-8oz(120-340g)castingrating
Find out if you have got the correct tackle and
technique for casting with heavier weights

Can you step up to using heavier leads? or ray bait without trouble, increasing Technique matters for casting big weights
the lead to 210g shouldn’t be an issue. are putting in too much power too early
H ow much lead can we cast Heaving that much weight feels different often in combination with a dodgy
before running out of and initially quite worrying, perhaps, but technique, and using a rod that’s too long,
steam or busting the rod? you soon get used to it. too quick and too stiff. We can and do
Well, that depends on get away with murder up to about 150g,
several things including From the tackle point of view – the which helps explain why so many anglers
casting method, personal strength and bottom line being whether or not the manage quite well with dodgy styles and
our tackle choice. Bait comes into it as rod will snap – there isn’t much risk with inappropriate gear. But it takes only a bit
well, for it alone can be a hefty load. mainstream beachcasters, by which I more lead weight to wreck this fragile
mean a 12-14ft rod with 4-6oz casting system, leaving many people unable to
Cutting to the chase, though, the simple rating and designed for all-round fishing. step up a gear when things turn rough.
answer is that if angler and rod can For obvious reasons this advice excludes
whack out 150g of lead plus a decent cod specialist rods such as those with ultra- Poor casters almost inevitably being
delicate match tips. rushers and thrashers, the increased
resistance caused by extra lead destroys
Nicely balanced tackle and a clean whatever control they do have. The quick
technique are the key to safe, steady cure is to use a slow, smooth start. A bit
performance. Ultimately, the caster’s more leader drop sometimes helps. If the
strength is the big limitation but that is rest of the cast that follows is reasonably
rarely an issue on the beach. Owing to the competent, slowing down is all we have to
higher loads involved, it may sometimes do. So far so good.
be necessary to alter the sinker drop and
swing/layout angles, shift the reel to the But slowing down won’t save a really
bottom of the handle and use a thumb/ poor technique, especially when it’s
finger protector to provide a better grip hamstrung by the wrong rod. The first
on the reel. move certainly feels better but then
we get to the main power stage, and
PHYSICAL LIMIT suddenly the house falls down. Welcome
to the world of leverage. If the rod is
So why is 150g the physical limit for so too long and too stiff, and/or technique
many anglers? The two killer reasons is weak, the load becomes too heavy
to handle. At that point, the rod leaves
its proper rounded plane and comes
straight overhead. Pendulum casters call
it cutting the corner. The result is a low
cast usually to the left, burned thumb and
a massive backlash. The cure is better
technique and a rod that matches your
skill and power. Get those right, and you

can cast the kitchen sink. ■

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 Follow all the latest news, catches
and photos from Century on

facebook.com/Century.Sea.Fishing

73

SEA SCHOOL

WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR ANGLING SKILLS
Artwork by Andy Steer

KNOTS FOR LURES

Check out these simple techniques for attaching a leader to your lure

Fluorocarbon
loop lure knot

Here a reusable loop knot is used to connect
a fluorocarbon leader to lures and terminal
tackle. It works best with fluorocarbon of

0.75-1.00mm (60-80lb).

1STEP BY STEP Video: https://youtu.be/
Form an overhand q2uSDAyy5Fs
knot in the leader
and pull the ends. 6Moisten leader and
tighten the knot.
2Push both ends of
line back towards 7The tag should be
the knot to create tight against the
small hole. knot, as shown.

3Trim the line 8To remove lure,
20-30mm from push both ends
the knot. of line to release the
blobbed end.
4Melt end of leader
with a lighter and 9The leader ready
flatten the blob. for another lure.

5Pass blobbed end
through eye of lure
(or lure clip) and back
through knot.

SEA FISHING Get the paperback:
KNOTS - FROM www.amazon.co.uk/
THE REEL TO dp/9071747271/ref=cm_
THE HOOK sw_em_r_mt_dp_9M.
MFbWMHPV9S
Contains clear,
concise, easy to follow Get the eBook:
step-by-step knot- www.amazon.co.uk/
tying illustrations dp/B00S72QYX0/
of recommended sea ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_
fishing/big-game dp_FK.MFbZ4TKN89
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.

74 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

Fluoro Do fish see your line?
figure of
eight knot Decoding research and manufacturer claims

Run out of lure clips or don’t use to detect. There is some truth to the
them? This figure of eight knot claim because scientific studies and
accounts of divers have shown that
is a very simple and efficient pink loses its colour at various depths.
way to connect a fluorocarbon
The writer, Tyler Brinks is a tournament BRAID
leader to lures and terminal angler and writer from Washington State
tackle. It works best with real While there are many benefits to
fluorocarbon of 0.75-1.00mm THERE IS definitely confusion using braided line, being undetected
surrounding the colour by fish is not one of them. It offers
diameter (60-80 lb). and types of line with excellent strength for its thin
regard to how they are diameter, casts well and does not
1STEP BY STEP seen underwater. While stretch, making it a good choice for
Pass the leader into eye on lure nothing is certain, there are some key fishing around heavy cover and in
and loop line back towards you, truths for anglers looking for the best dirty water. To get the most out of
ready to pass end through the choice, writes Tyler Brinks. Each type your braid, use a fluorocarbon leader.
loop you have created. has its benefits and should be included
in your arsenal but when it comes to VERDICT
2Take line through the loop being seen underwater, here is what I
and pull both ends of the have found out about each one. Fluorocarbon is the most invisible
fluorocarbon. underwater, while braid is the
strongest yet most visible. Colours
3Moisten the line and pull the such as yellow and red are easier to
knot tight. see above water but more likely to be
seen underwater by wary fish. n
4Trim the tag end of the
fluorocarbon. MONOFILAMENT How line colour is seen at various depths

5Melt the tag end with a lighter The most popular type of line is
to form a blob. monofilament. Most colours are
marketed as either being hard for
6Flatten the blob against a fish to detect underwater or easier for
hard surface. anglers to see above water.

7Pull on the line and lure to High-vis yellow is good for lure
tighten fully. anglers who watch their line to detect
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 bites. The downside is that it’s more
visible to the fish, but it is a good
choice for dirty water. The benefit of
say lure anglers being able to detect
bites may outweigh any possible
reduction in bites from line-wary fish.

Red line is also easy to see above
water and said to become invisible
underwater, but divers tell me that
red objects turn black. Adding to the
confusion is the fact that companies
producing red hooks say these
generate more bites because they look
like blood. Green is a good for blending
into the water but may be more visible
than clear in very clear water.

Overall, green is a good choice for
many situations, while clear is better
if you are concerned about fish being
able to see your line underwater.
Clear blue line is relatively unseen
underwater, but the blue tint makes it
easier to see above water.

FLUOROCARBON The best line to choose for water conditions
7755
Touted as the most invisible line, this
is the one to use in clear water and,
theoretically, will lead to increased
bites from spooky fish. Makers of pink
fluorocarbon claim this tint is hard

OUR DESIGNERS HAVE
NOW GONE FURTHER,
SO THAT YOU CAN TOO.

Our SURF editions are designed for it; casting further with ease.
Thanks to precision line lay from Slow Cross Wrap, each cast will
seamlessly fly at speed, aided too by the ‘LC’ spool design.
The twin lip of ‘LC’ spools provides the minimum of resistance and
control on the line release to keep the line travel narrow and even.
The result is reduced backlash and smoother line travel through
the guides; delivering that improved distance you are seeking.
The SCW Surf choice starts with the Crosscast in 35mm or 45mm
options with the Emblem and unmistakable Basia in 45mm.
Slow Cross Wrap + ‘LC’ Long Cast: getting you there.

19 Emblem SURF 45 SCW QD 20 Crosscast SURF 45 SCW QD 20 Crosscast SURF 35 SCW QD

RRP £175.00 RRP £125.00 RRP £99.99

Models shown are SCW Surf editions. RRP from £99.99 to £650

20 Basia SURF 45 SCW QD
RRP £650

daiwasports.co.uk

TTAACCKKLLEE

FIRST LOOK

Your update on the latest gear arriving in the tackle shops

SKHAIIMRIAKNI 4OBRAID
RRP: £8.49 PER
150M SPOOL

The new Shimano Kairiki 4, which is
produced in Japan, is a four-strand
braid featuring VT (Valdotian tresse)
construction method braiding.

Available in diameters from 0.06mm
to 0.315mm with a staggering breaking
strength of 29.8kg, it is a very strong
and smooth PE line.

Its smoothness and thin diameter
contribute to its low water resistance,
while the stretch of less than three
per cent makes it very sensitive. Being
so sensitive and smooth, which also
results in a reduction in noise, it is ideal
for spinning in saltwater. It is said to be
perfect for casting long distances.

Because four-strand braid often feels
courser than higher strand versions, it
is considered better for cutting through
weed and kelp.

There will be two extra colours
available in addition to the Mantis
Green and Steel Grey, namely a highly
visible Orange and Multi Colour. The
latter is especially good for fishing at
greater depths.
n For more info, visit:
www.shimano.com

SGWEMIVINELISROLLING These swivels are extremely
RRP: FROM £2.50 corrosion resistant. Because they
PER PACK are stronger than traditional brass
versions, anglers can use a much
New to the Gemini product range are smaller swivel without compromising
these stainless-steel rolling swivels. on strength and reliability.
Made from premium marine grade
stainless steel, they offer unbelievable Sizes available are size 8, 60lb,
strength to size ratio compared to 9.5mm; size 6, 100lb, 12.5mm; size
traditional brass or nickel versions. 4, 140lb, 15mm; 45lb snood swivels,
12mm; 80lb mainlines swivels, 16.5mm
and 100lb power swivels, 17.5mm.
n For more information,
visit: www.gemini-tackle.co.uk

78 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

RATING SYSTEM RECOMMENDED BEST BUY 5 STAR
Our testers and reviewers
Tackle which our Tackle we believe is Some products
use their experience to testers or reviewers the best when tested or reviewed alone will be
evaluate the quality and recommend to our reviewed against direct awarded a star rating
functionality of tackle competitor products.
to provide independent, audience. ranging from 0-5.
credible and authoritative
advice for our readers. On
some pages, you may see the
following endorsements

RAPALAWALK‘N’ROLLLURES
RRP FROM: £15.95

The topwater MaxRap Walk’N Roll spits, bobs, skitters
and slides across the surface in all conditions. Developed
with anglers fishing the Atlantic, they are weighted for
maximum casting distance and ultra-stability in rough
seas. Under a steady retrieve the lure spits and rolls from
side-to-side. Alternatively, try a twitch and pause to create
a walking action. Crank it fast to imitate a fleeing baitfish
or twitch it for a head-down bobbing motion. It comes fitted
with VMC 7554 2X inline treble hooks.
■ For more info, visit: www.rapala.co.uka

HTO TUNGSTEN WEIGHTS
RRP FROM: £4.39; £6.59; £7.69; £6.59; £6.04

HTO has a range of tungsten weights Weight is for working through weed,
for light rock fishing. while the pear-shaped Fastach Sinker
has a fast-attach hook so weights
Its Nail Sinker is designed to be can be quickly added or changed. The
pushed into soft plastic baits to give Cheburashka Sinker is for bottom
varying actions, while the Dropshot jigging with soft plastics. Its central
Weight is for most styles of fishing, pin comes out for attaching the hook.
especially around a rocky bottom, ■ For more info, visit:
where the flat base avoids snags. www.tronixfishing.com

The cylindrical Skinny Dropshot

TRRRPO:N£I2X.19PPREORGPLAOCWKBALLS

HCOOXOK&SRAWLE A versatile, soft 8mm bead that is Unlike other beads, these do not
RRP FROM: £2.70 equally as attractive in daylight as it have a central hole but are designed
PER PACK is at night. to be pushed on to the snood via the
hook. This makes them grippy so they
Several new hook patterns have been When fishing in daylight they are will stay in position. Being buoyant,
included in the popular Cox & Rawle brightly coloured just like a normal they will add extra attraction and
range of sea angling products. bead, but when it turns dark they movement to your hooklength
become luminous and send out through water movement.
They are the Specimen XS, Mutsu visual attraction to all inquisitive ■ For more visit: tronixfishing.com
Circle, Stinger Extra and the New Crab fish species.
Hook hook styles.

Being super-sharp and strong, they
are designed to target a wide array of
species, both big and small.
■ For more info, visit:
www.coxandrawle.com
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

TACKLE Spring heralds the first
Words by Paul Fenech arrivals of plaice to shore
marks all around the UK.
NTHEEEDKFITOYRO...U
Here we show you the
PLAICE correct gear to bring you

S HORE ANGLERS LOVE FISHING FOR PLAICE, WHICH ARE HEADING more success…
inshore now to feed after their late winter
spawning. Not only are they plentiful in some
areas, but also they make incredibly good eating.
Thankfully, tactics and tackle aren’t particularly
specialist but there are a few neat tricks to help
you achieve more success.

ROD AND REEL rigs a long way when needed, it also
has a super-sensitive tip for spotting
Most modern shore rods and reels are bites. By coupling the rod with the
perfect for targeting plaice, but to enjoy Tronixpro Virtuoso XT fixed-spool reel,
more exciting sport it is best to choose you have the perfect combination. The
an outfit that has a little more finesse reel’s smooth, slow oscillation provides
and sensitivity. a perfect line-lay and it holds easily
enough line on the aluminium spool.
The Tronixpro Cobra GT three-piece ■ TRONIXPRO COBRA GT ROD:
rod is one of the best around. Possessing RRP: £368-49 - £384.99
plenty of power for punching baited ■ TRONIXPRO VIRTUOSO XT
FIXED-SPOOL REEL: RRP: £93.49

80 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

t RIGS & BAIT LEAD WEIGHTS
A two-up, one-down rig or a three-up
If there is a strong tide, you will need
e version are very much standard for a breakout style of lead weight. As
this type of fishing. However, a one-up, the flow eases, try switching to a
. one-down (sometimes known as a two- watch lead because this will allow
hook flapper) is the most successful your baited rig to move slowly along
the seabed. Flatfish, especially plaice,
e choice. For some reason, many shore love to chase a meal.
anglers choose to use a wishbone rig, ■ WATCH LEAD WEIGHTS:
RRP: £1.10 - £1.60
u but it doesn’t really provide any great
advantage over using flapper rigs. SHELTER

… Many shore anglers add attraction to Spring brings
their rigs by placing coloured sequins uncertain weather
and beads above the bait. Plaice are conditions so, it’s
extremely inquisitive fish and will home always best to have
in on a flash or colour on the seabed. some form of protection from the elements while on
Sequins and beads are fairly cheap to the beach. A beach shelter or large brolly with wings
buy in bulk from most tackle dealers. is the best option because this will completely cover
Plaice can be caught on a huge variety of you and all of your kit and keep it protected against
baits, but black lugworms and ragworms wind and rain.
are favourites.
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 The Salt XT shelter from Shakespeare is a good
choice. Being easily erected and firmly held in
position with a base skirt that is covered with sand
or shingle, it’s lightweight too.
■ SHAKESPEARE SALT XT BEACH SHELTER:
RRP: £99.99

BUCKET ■ TRONIXPRO
BUCKET, TRAY AND
Having a bucket filled LID: RRP: £24.99
with water allows
you to keep your fish
healthy and alive in
between casts before
returning any plaice
you don’t intend
keeping for the table.

The Tronixpro
bucket tray and
lid is the best on
the market. With a
capacity of 27 litres,
it has a separate tray
inside for extra bait,
tackle and accessories.

TRIPOD

If you intend to use two
rods, it’s a good idea to
have a rod-rest tripod
with a double head. The
Icon Tripod is very stable
even in a strong gale.

The double head
is coated to prevent
your rods from being
scratched, while the
lower double-cup section
allows you to adjust the
height of your rods.
■ ICON TRIPOD:
RRP: £34.99

81

TACKLE LONG-TERM TEST

LIGHT AND
ADAPTABLE

A flagship rod from Shimano is put through
its paces by Dave Wood-Brignall

SHIMANO SURF LEADER ULTRA SFT425BX
RRP: £459.99

S  Shimano’s flagship RECOMMENDED
Surf Leader Ultra tubular tip version in
October, I have used it three or four times
a week targeting bass, thornback rays
and plaice.

My first impression was that the three-piece
rod, which is 4.25 metres (about 14ft) long, was
well built, containing a Fuji DPS reel seat and Fuji
Low Rider stainless steel, silicon carbide guides. I
paired the rod with a Shimano Aero Technium
fixed-spool reel loaded with PowerPro Super 8
slick 2 braid.

AcSautuhrgfohLrtneoabndaectrkhUeraltyra

82 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

For my first session I visited a mark at Dungeness TITAN EXEAT 25 SALOPETTES RECOMMENDED
in Kent, where I fished into a southerly wind & SMOCK RRP: FROM £114.99 EACH
blowing a good 40mph directly into my face. e
first few casts with a six ounce lead weight were I  are looking for a pedigree fishing
very impressive, with the rod compressing well suit to use either here or abroad, such as
from an off-the-ground cast. in Norway, then the Titan Exeat 25
waterproof and breathable salopettes and
I baited a two-hook loop rig with fresh yellowtail smock are what you need.
lug and cast out around 60 or 70 metres. e tip
assumed a nice bend as the tide took up the slack Titan, which has been making fishing
and the wires of the grip weight dug into the clothing since the early 1990s, has created
seabed. At times the wind was really brutal, yet the latest smock in a new style and with
the tip of the Surf Leader held steady. After 10 to an improved British Exeat fabric. Features
15 minutes, I had my first bite, which resulted in include taped and hot air sealed seams, and a
a school bass of about 2lb. I could feel every shake tight-fitting hood. e velcro-adjustable cuffs
of the fish’s head through the tip of the rod. Over incorporate waterproof elasticated inners.
the next hour I landed plenty of bass including a You get two hand-warmer pockets and a
new shore personal best of 5lb 10oz. roomy breast pocket with concealed pouch for
a mobile phone. e thermal, breathable quilt
CONFIDENCE lining provides comfort and warmth.

Next trip out I fished for rays at a local beach in e salopettes are cut and styled to feature a
Kent where you need a good cast to present a high chest fit to ensure extra protection from
large bait among the fish. One large sandeel and the elements, as well being a generous fit for
strips of herring, bluey and squid were whipped casting or moving around venues. ere are
on to a size 4/0 Cox & Rawle Specimen hook on two chest pockets and two hand-warmer
a pulley rig. Even with a slight crosswind I cast pockets, non-slip and adjustable super-stretch
this large bait easily to 80-90 metres. As I gained shoulder straps and taped and hot air sealed
more confidence with this rod, I started loading seams. As well as being breathable and fully
it up more and managed to cast 120 metres. waterproof, the thermal quilt lining provides
Bites were very hard to come by, but I landed insulation and warmth as well as an Exeat
thornback rays to 12lb 8oz. anti-wicking strip with drainage eyelets to
help when wading below the knee. At the
I followed that with a session targeting plaice base of the legs, there are Velcro adjustable
during some very settled conditions near the end straps to secure and fasten them around boots
of November. e water clarity was excellent and or wellingtons, while the large patches at the
the sea was mirror calm too. is time I fished knees aid durability.
a two-hook loop rig incorporating size 1 Cox &
Rawle Aberdeens, each baited with a yellowtail e smock and salopettes, which both
lug. is mark required a good cast to reach the display the well-known Titan badge logo, are
mud holes located approximately 130 yards from sold together or as separate garments and are
the shore. Having by then used the Shimano available in combinations of red and navy and
Surf Leader for five or six weeks, I had grown in in sizes M-XXXL.
confidence and easily hit the required distance. ■ Available from: www.titan.fishing
Within minutes the super-sensitive tip indicated
a first bite, which resulted in the first of 10 plaice. or tel: 0191 4171686.

For me this is a rod that ticks a lot of boxes. It’s 83
light, very adaptable to most conditions, and good
for either large or delicate baits.

It is available in either tubular or solid tip
versions of 4.25m and 4.50m. ■

SPECIFICATIONS

SHIMANO SURF LEADER ULTRA
SFT425BX
■ Overall length: 4.25 metres

(approximately 14ft)
■ Transport length:

149.5cm (approximately 5ft)
■ Sections: Three
■ Weight: 552 grams (19.47oz)
■ Casting weight: 225g maximum
■ Guides: Eight, Fuji Low Rider SiC
■ Reel seat: Fuji DPS with cast

control grip
■ Blank:Spiral X & Hi-Power X
■ Packaging: Nylon bag
■ RRP: £459.99

* Available from all Shimano stockists.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

READER OFFER

Get this superb Leeda
Icon fixed-spool reel
for just £70
S£A3V0!EFREUEmKEa*miploafrsioantrtlaeaonsnv.dderposaneclakysi.ng,
Take advantage of this incredible deal…

T ’   
Leeda Icon 70FD fixed-spool
reel. Designed for performing
ultra-long casts, it is perfect for
using with either mono or
braided mainlines.
Featuring two types of aluminium spools,
you have the choice of either a shallow or deep
version and both are tapered. is coupled
with the super-slow oscillation means you
have a perfect line-lay that enables you to
perform those longer, powerful casts without
any drama.

e reel has plenty of guts and it is this
strength that allows you to fish at venues that
are extremely deep and snaggy. Along with the
easy-to-use front-drag system, you can play
larger fish such as cod, spurdogs and rays with
ease and total control.

Normally, this fixed-spool spinning reel
would set you back £99.99 in the shops but, it
could be yours today for just £70* – putting a
cool £29.99 back into your pocket and a deal
you cannot afford to miss.

Ordering couldn’t be easier – we’ve created
three easy ways (below). Give the helpful staff
at the Fishing Megastore a call, place your
order and leave the rest to them. ■

FEATURES
■ 10+1 ball bearings
■ 4.9:1 gear ratio
■ Tapered aluminium spool
■ Slow oscillation worm shaft
■ Titanium-coated line roller
■ CNC handle with EVA grip
■ Spare deep & shallow spools available

THREE EASY WAYS TO ORDER GREATESTOVEETBRARAREAYILCNNYIKSGGLOSLEYNUEODERUEALS

1. LOG ON to the link gac.fishing/00176SA
2. CALL 0141 212 8880 and quote 00176SA
3. BY POST Glasgow Angling Centre, Unit 1,

29 Saracen ST, Glasgow G22 5HT and quote 00176SA

*Please make cheques payable to ‘Glasgow Angling Ltd’. (*P&P FREE)

84 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

COMPETTTION

WIN! ROD FEATURES
A SONIK GRAVITY X HT ■ Super lightweight high modulus
SHORE ROD AND AVX
10000 FIXED-SPOOL REEL carbon blank
SEA ANGLER has teamed up with ■ X5 multi-directional nano fibre
tackle company Sonik to line-lay that helps you to gain those
offer you the chance to win a ultra-long casts from the beach when tip section lay-up
fantastic shore rod and reel needed. Other top features include ■ Fuji Alconite K Series guides
prize worth £479.98. 14 ball bearings, strong gears and an ■ Fuji corrosion-control frames
The Sonik Gravity X5 HT oversized rubber crank handle for
15ft 4in three-piece shore rod retails at effective retrieval. The sensitive front provide seven-times more
£349.99 and offers fantastic balance, drag also makes it ideal for using with corrosion resistance
power and lightness to achieve a superb low diameter lines. ■ Fuji DPS reel fitting
casting performance, as well as sitting ■ Shrink wrap on the lower
perfectly in heavier tides and swells. To be in with a chance to win, simply handle to improve grip
With a casting rating of 4-8oz, there enter the competition free online at ■ White hollow carbon tip for
is plenty of power within the blank to shop.kelsey.co.uk/SAC3 easy bite detection
cope with using heavier lead weights. ■ Unground carbon finish at joints
One lucky reader drawn at makes it easier to take apart
The hollow tip not only sits perfect in random will win.
the tide, but it possesses an incredibly REEL FEATURES
quick recovery, allowing you to £480worth ■ High strength carbon composite
achieve huge distances even with a
simple overhead casting style. Ideal for body/rotor
anglers wanting a true all-round three- ■ 14 + 1 stainless shielded bearings
piece rod and who prefer not to use a ■ Instant anti-reverse system
much heavier version, it will certainly ■ Long-cast angled spool lip
cope with a wide variety of species such ■ Dual strength stainless steel
as smoothhounds, rays, cod and bass.
main shaft
Accompanying the rod is the super- ■ Worm drive for perfect line-lay
smooth and highly functional AVX ■ Sensitive front-drag system,
10000 fixed-spool reel that retails at
£129.99. It boasts an incredibly slow ideal for low diameter lines
oscillation and, together with its ■ Spring-loaded line clip
long-coned spool, enables a fantastic ■ Rotor lock with open bale-arm
■ Large diameter titanium-coated
wwTowrpavr.nsoieogdwneuioctktfhssSepvoowinrshitiktos:.lceom
bale-arm
■ Large bale-roller
■ Weight 750g

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Entries close at 23.59 on 01/04/2021 and
the winners will be drawn on 02/04/2021.
Winners will be notified within 28 days of
the close of entries. The draw is final and
no correspondence will be entered into.
Entry is free. Open to residents of the UK
aged over 18. Employees of Kelsey Media
and their family members are not eligible
to win. Only one entry permitted per
person, no bulk entries will be accepted.
There is no cash alternative and the prize
is not transferable. If any prize or product
is lost or damaged during the course of
delivery to the recipient, Kelsey Media will
provide reasonable assistance in seeking to
resolve the problem. However, it will not
always be possible to obtain replacements
for lost or damaged goods and, in that
event, no financial compensation would
be payable by Kelsey Media or their
affiliates. We reserve the right to cancel the
competition, if circumstances change that
are beyond our control. By entering you
agree to be bound by all the rules and agree
that your surname and country may be
published if you win.

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 85

TACKLE LONG-TERM TEST

BREATH OF O  year ago after an accident which
FRESH AIR affected my back and a shoulder, I
switched to a continental rod to reduce
Self-confessed Daiwa fan Tony Burman the strain on my torso, but this meant
finds a light rod to suit his passion for using a fixed-spool reel. What I really wanted was
fishing with multiplier reels something similarly light and sensitive to use with
my favoured multiplier reels.
DAIWA AIR SURF 1422MS-AU
RRP: £495 During more than 50 years of fishing I have
always been a fan of Daiwa rods. My first was
RECOMMENDED probably the Moonraker, launched in 1978, and
then the Surfcast. I remember buying a 13ft High
Performance Beach model too and it was brilliant.
When I wanted to buy another rod, I rang up
tackle dealer Dave Docwra in Norfolk, who asked
me what I was using and how far I was casting. I
told him I had an HPB and wanted something to
register small fish bites from 150 yards out. He
told me to stick with what I‘d got.

After that the Amorphous Whisker Beach
range appeared (another leap forward in
carbon rod technology), and the 129 version
was excellent. en the Amorphous Whisker
Tournament versions gained favour with many
top match anglers, some of whom still use these
today. ese very good rods, which seemed far in
advance of many on the market at that time, could
cast a six-ounce lead weight and bait a long way.

86 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

Other brands appeared and, in the eyes of some, of my continental rods and even as thin as some at a very good price. is model is, of course,
probably stole some limelight from the Daiwa of my coarse fishing gear. My first instinct was it lighter and felt slightly softer but, again, it was a
products, but I loved the brand and stuck with it. would snap when I wound up a proper cast with a lovely fishing rod.
six-ounce lead weight. However, a quick shake of
TOP MODEL the rod showed it was actually surprisingly stiff. Into the warmer months of last summer and
For the technically minded, Daiwa says the slim it was time for smoothhounds, which I thought
I had a break from saltwater fishing and when I and powerful blank combines high-grade Super would provide a proper test for the Air. It had
returned Sea Angler magazine held an open day Volume Fibre and torque-busting X45, while performed well when I caught a few smaller ones,
at Cleethorpes. e late great Neil MacKellow V-Joint carbon technology ensures the power but one summer evening on the Lincolnshire
was in attendance and helping anglers to improve transfer between the two sections is smooth and coast I hooked a 15-pounder which fought hard.
their casting. e local pranksters were urging seamless. e finish was excellent too, with top
me to have a go and, they hoped, snap off in quality Fuji K guides and a slide-locking DPS reel e tip bent into the fish but there was plenty in
front of the audience. I stepped up with my seat to give users freedom of reel placement. reserve. e rod really cushioned the run when
AWB 129 and faithful Daiwa 7HT reel. I can the fish decided to charge off.
cast the pendulum, but prefer a round-the-body ON THE BEACH
style, and my lead weight went up to the air, the roughout the summer the Air coped with all
reel changed pitch and the sinker sailed off into Next I was off to the beach to try it out. With that was thrown at it. e rod became the first
the distance. Neil asked “What on earth are a five-ounce sinker and a gentle swing round, out of the bag on my fishing trips and having two
you doing here?” (or words to that effect) and the lead weight flew off into the distance. After was perfect for my match fishing outings, giving
that I had mucked up everything he had just that I started to build up the power and was me a spare with the same action.
explained. I told him that I wanted to improve very happy with the results. Possibly not as far
my pendulum cast. “What for?” Neil replied. I would get with tournament models, but it was After more than a year of use I love the Daiwa
“ at cast has gone a long way.” easy to cast and the tip came round at a nice Air. e two I own are proper fishing rods and
speed. I prefer to use my reel up the rod (still will handle most situations on clean beaches, but
Over the years I have stuck with the Daiwa a dinosaur) and have not gone down the route I don’t think I would use them on rough ground.
rods and have gone through the different styles of many fellow anglers who put the reel at the Having got used to them over time, the casting has
of tournament rod. ey have got thinner and bottom of the butt. improved and any fear that the tip might break has
lighter but are still proper fishing tools. In a more been dispelled. I have even used a six-ounce weight
recent search for a new one, I looked at what e first time I went fishing with it was during with bait without any problems. Hopefully big
Daiwa was promoting as their top model and a match on the Lincolnshire coast. I was casting Neil would have approved.
it was the Air. is rod, which first appeared three-hook rigs with worm baits to catch whiting
in Daiwa’s catalogue in 2019, comes in three and dabs. e distance was fairly good at around If there was one thing I might change it would be
lengths. I was not looking for another continental 130 yards. e Air sat well in the rod-rest with a the reel fitting. It’s purely personal, but I swapped
so it was the two-piece multiplier versions that nice gentle bend. Soon it showed indications of a both of mine for versions with a trigger grip, which
grabbed my attention. e catalogue didn’t really bite and the result was a 20cm dab. Bites showed I find helps me to get a better grip of the reel. e
give much information so I searched the web to up very well as I caught mainly small fish with the rod case is very good, but I still prefer a good
find a stockist, but found there was no chance of occasional better sample. quality rod bag.
seeing one locally in the Lincolnshire area.
roughout the year I used the rod on a regular My next step will be to get the 15ft Continental
ankfully, I spotted in Sea Angler that Uttings basis. I was so impressed that I looked for another version, which has a similar tip but is more suited
had the rod in stock. Taking a blind punt, I decided one. Luckily there were some advertised on an to a fixed-spool reel. After all, there are times
to order the 14ft 2in multiplier version, which at eBay site and I got the 13ft 6in multiplier version when the longer rods come into their own. e
just under £400 was a bit of a gamble. When the 13ft 6in and 15ft models have catalogue prices of
rod arrived (brilliant service from Uttings), the £470 and £515 respectively. ■
first thing that hit me was its light weight and very
fine carbon hybid tip, actually thinner than some

SPECIFICATIONS

DAIWA AIR SURF ARS1422MS-AU
■ Length: 14ft 2in
■ Casting weight: 4-8oz
■ Sections: Two
■ Reel type: Multiplier
■ Max cast: 200 yards
■ Guides: Fuji K alconite
■ Handle Shrink tube
■ RRP: £495
* Available from Daiwa stockists

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 87

TACKLE

Words by John Holden

SALVAGE
HUNTERS

Having delved into the world of vintage
rods, it’s time to look at some classic reels

88 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

Found in a skip, this
Hendryx baitcaster is
a forerunner of today’s
casting multipliers

T  new. Magnet control, centrifugal brakes and lever-
for vintage beach tackle. Once drags date back to Victorian times. Some of the early
considered the realm of a 20th Century tournament reels had bearings
handful of collectors and working on the Bernoulli principle, the same as
tackle historians, old gear is computer hard drives.
fast becoming popular with
anglers too. BEST CASTING REELS
Why bother using old stuff when modern gear
is so effortlessly efficient? It has history and If you fancy a go with one of the finest casting
character; it is more demanding in many respects reels ever made, then look for a Hardy Silex
and therefore more satisfying to master. Casting a Tournament VM made before the First World
long way and catching fish with stuff your dad or War. It is staggeringly sophisticated, and it
even your grandfather used is nostalgic and excelled in unrestricted line events. A few similar
rewarding in a way that using shiny new gear isn’t. tournament reels still exist, mostly handmade
one-offs, and they all share key Silex features.
When we buy the latest reels, we are also buying into Tournament VMs themselves are rarer than rare
a long, slow tackle evolution with a fascinating history. and a nice example will be £10,000.
Take my Hendryx baitcaster for example, which was
crafted in brass in about 1895 by a Connecticut e legendary Primo Livenais, who set a four-
company that made ornate bird cages. e handle grip ounce casting record of 270 yards in 1955 used
is ivory from a whale or walrus. Similar reels were Dalmo Featherwate and Clarkson Castey multiplier
turned out in millions by hundreds of American reels customised by his dad, who narrowed the
factories catering for a massively expanding freshwater frames to hold a deep aluminium alloy spool just
bass market. My Hendryx was found in a skip. over an inch wide and with an inch and a quarter
hub. Although it is a very different reel in many
These crude reels evolved into sophisticated respects, the Silex’s spool format is similar in
baitcasters, including those developed in Kentucky by concept. In fact, the physics behind both designs is
Lew Childre around 1973. He later outsourced nearly identical.
manufacture to Shimano, which made his legendary
Speed Spool BB1, now selling to collectors for more Hardy and Livenais, like many tournament casters
than £1,000. By the 1980s Shimano produced its own of the late Victorian to 1950s era, rejected the wide
baitcasters, including my lovely Bantam Mag SG50. but smallish diameter 6500-type spool format that
dominates modern casting. For a brief spell in the
Similar evolution happened in surfcasting 1970s we cut down reels for bass fishing, but not
multipliers, starting with 19th Century brass reels for serious casting. Did we miss a trick somewhere
before morphing into Ocean City, Pfleuger, Penn, along the road? Some time, somewhere, somebody
Mitchell, Newell, Daiwa, Abu and today’s Far will pick up on this alternative spool design, and I’m
Eastern brands. e closer you look, the less is really confident that’s when records will be broken. 

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594 89

TACKLE

SALVAGE HUNTERS…

THE CLASSICS

Here’s John choice of some all-time great beach reels. These are
collectable, still usable and many anglers yearn to own one…

MULTIPLIERS harder to find, so go straight well. Keen casters will pick the Early ABU Ambassadeurs such
for the 602P and 602AP – same 6500 size reels. For medium/ as the 5000C level-wind are
■ Penn Surfmaster 100 and reel except the AP is quick heavy fishing, Abu’s 7000, 8000
Penn Squidder 146 – with take-apart. and 9000 are excellent and highly collectable when pristine,
plastic spools or, better still, ■ Pre-2000 Abu, Daiwa, relatively cheap, as are older standard and complete with
Penn’s L version aluminium Shimano and similar reels Daiwa SLSH multipliers.
alloy spools or the Newell qualify as vintage (so that leather case, tools, manual and box
custom spool. No need to includes the 1990 launches of A major no-no concerns
reject a decent reel with the the Abu 6500CT, Daiwa 7HT the original level-wind Abu a Seastreak just to see, feel and
heavy brass M spool; just and Daiwa SL30SH), with 6000, 6000C, 5000C (pictured hear how British reel design
switch, ideally to aluminium. prices to match. There are above), the smaller reels in the could be so innovative yet so
more than enough models to Abu baitcaster range and even poorly executed. They’re not
Nearly all Penns can be made fill an encyclopaedia or to fry the first Daiwa Millionaire called Seascreeches for nothing.
wider or narrower by changing your brain, 6HM. These and similar reels
seat, crossbars and spools. For depending are increasingly valuable, A Mitchell 602AP in the hands of a
example, the wide Surfmaster how you look but only if they are standard young John and Ian Gillespie
200 can be converted into the at it. Find and complete with case, box,
narrower 100. a nice one and tools and manual. Converting
just go for it, knowing that a pristine reel for the beach is
New spares are available for nearly all of them perform like throwing money down the
many old Penns, and, as far as I drain. For practical use, find an
know, they can still be ordered Newell multipliers are collectable old, converted reel or a later
direct from the factory. – they are well engineered, smooth, factory CT model.
■ Mitchell 602P and 602AP long casting and pretty tough ■ If you’re lucky enough to find
multipliers with graphite less common multipliers, such
reinforced spools are solid as Penn Levelmatics, the Penn
buys. As with the Penn reels, 970, Shimano Speedmaster,
it’s easy to change spools if the Newells and the rare DAM
reel you find has a brass one. 800B, grab them.
The wider 600 model can be
cut down to 602, though spools Intrepid’s Seastreak and
and necessary spares might be Pirate reels, along with vintage
Shakespeare, Gilfin, Woolworth
Penn Squidder – this is the 140, but Penn 970 – has magnetic control. The and the like are slowly nudging
the narrower 146 casts better. smaller 10 has a magnet and level- into the collector market because
A legendary reel for peanuts wind. Easily converted to CT too of their historical value. Most are
so bad that few anglers will use
The venerable them. But everyone should cast
Mitchell 602AP
– it brought John
many tournament
wins and literally
hundredweights
of hefty cod

90 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

Expensive when new, classic FIXED SPOOLS The Mitchell 486 – a worthy buy, as is the 386. Heavy
tournament fixed-spool reels but bulletproof, some have manual a pick-up
from Daiwa and Shimano can be Because fixed-spool reels vastly outsell Penn Spinfisher 750 and DAM 5001 – they were
picked up quite cheaply. They’re multipliers on the world market, there top performers, despite being a touch heavy
are thousands of used ones in hundreds of Sagarra Tarzan – built to handle big fish,to fish at
as good as modern reels different models. Massive choice and low extreme range and to win tournaments as well
prices mean you can afford to be choosy.

For the vintage enthusiast, some
reels are more equal than others. A few
are seriously collectable, but, as with

multipliers, they have to be in super
condition and complete.
The Daiwa Millionmax
SS9000 tournament reel
is a good example, as are
equivalent Shimano reels. The
original Alcedo reels are
highly sought after as well.
Mostly, though, we
are talking Ford Focus –

practical, well made, with decent
performance even when pensioned
off. Clean mid-range reels from Daiwa,
Shimano, Penn and the like are good buys.
Personally, I like the Penn Spinfisher
750, DAM 5001, Mitchell 386 and its big
brother the 486. Arriving in the UK from
Spain in about 1980, Sagarra’s Tarzan
with the shallow spool can embarrass the
latest and greatest fixed spools despite its
agricultural design and engineering.

THE ECCENTRICS and rotor cup. As dinosaurs go, the Sea WHERE TO FIND
Martin probably takes the prize. But it is CLASSIC REELS
By eccentric, I mean reels that reflect a superb reel for catching big fish, and it
offbeat designs and ideas. Most are derived casts well too. Later models have plastic Apart from the occasional gem, boot
from primitive drum reels, called winches bodies but the originals, handmade by sale reels tend to be rough stuff. Online
in times long past. Drum reels themselves Clifford Martin, have cedar wood bodies – auctions offer loads of choice from here
are interesting, ranging from works of art both eccentric and unique. and around the globe. It’s a mixed bag,
in rosewood, mahogany and brass, to plain ranging from bad to genuinely as new
but functional Tufnol, an old plastic. In the UKSF casters including Fred King proved that the complete with box. Decent reels tend
UK we know these as Scarborough reels. If Alvey side-casters from Australia are perfectly at to come from traders who know their
you think you could ride a wild bull, try a home on British beaches and tournament courts. subject, so prices can be a little higher.
Scarborough – the ultimate test of man and An eccentric choice, maybe, but highly efficient
casting style. Massive fun. The very best and most sought-after
collectors’ reels go through specialist
Revamp a drum reel so that the spool sporting goods auction houses such
turns 90 degrees for casting, and you have as Mullock’s, which has its next
a side-caster. The best known and easiest online fishing tackle sale in March
to find are Alveys from Australia, which (mullocksauctions.co.uk) or Thomas
come in many sizes and models, the most Turner (www.thomasturner.com). You
appropriate for our fishing being about six could also try Jim Hudson’s Vintage
inches in diameter with a profiled spool Fishing Tackle Company (https://
giving smooth line flow. Best used reel vintagefishingtackle.co.uk/.
down, they cast beautifully. That coupled
with powerful direct drive and a decent Social media is a fine hunting ground
drag make them a force to contend with too, especially the fishing and casting
for rough ground and hefty fish. groups. The Vintage Tackle Casting
group on Facebook is full of agood
Way back we had side-casters of info, although it isn’t involved in much
our own, made by Grice & Young in selling. Some tackle shops usually have
Christchurch. The Orlando Supreme and plenty of trade-ins on offer. ■
the smaller Minor model are framed drum
reels with a forward pointing spigot. To NEXT ISSUE
cast, transfer the spool to the spigot so Putting vintage
that it sits sideways and line flows fixed-
spool style. reels to work

Another off-the-wall idea was the Sea 91
Martin from Australia. It looks and casts
like a fixed spool but retrieves by rotating
the spool rather than using a normal bale

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

TACKLE

BOAT STORE

A guide to new products for anglers going afloat

FEATURES GALORE IN LATEST OUTBOARDS

S haring the DNA of the flagship adrenaline moments to DES or traditional hydraulic steering
XTO outboards, the new comfortable cruising. systems. Yamaha’s Total Tilt function
feature-rich Yamaha V6 range allows complete tilt up or down (until
of motors has cutting-edge Features include trim ram contact) from any position.
technology and engineering digital electric steering
excellence resulting in outstanding power (DES) built-in to the Thrust enhancing reverse exhaust
and performance. 250hp and 300hp models (TERE) provides stronger reverse
equipped with steer by and low-speed manoeuvring. You can
By fusing power and efficiency, Yamaha wire (SBW). This delivers a
says these engines set a new standard for smoother and more intuitive combine it with optional DES and
V6 outboard performance. driving experience, with no a Helm Master EX joystick for
hydraulic systems to bleed enhanced manoeuvrability,
Designed for use by professionals or steering cables to snag over which is very helpful around
and enthusiasts to new users, the time. Benefits continue at the docks and confined spaces.
V6 range has an elegant, sleek and stern with a cleaner finish, with no These engines feature a
lightweight design. They are ideal for pumps or hoses. Non-SBW V6 engines colour-matched lower unit,
everyday use to long journeys, from are compatible with optional bolt-on a new one-piece top cowling
with water-draining air
duct moulding, a new bottom
cowling, apron shape and
premium graphics.
Taken from the XTO range,

the lower motor mounts are
larger and softer resulting in less
vibration and a softer ride.
The new 4.2-litre 300hp and
250hp V6 engines also have an
improved lower unit, featuring new
components and design features.
The new gear tooth profile

gives improved contact and
reduces surface pressure. In
addition, the durability has been
improved by changing the oil
flow inside the lower case and
the bearings that support the
engine’s gears.
■ For more details, visit:
www.yamaha-motor.eu

APP AIMS TO BOOST AFTER-SALES SERVICEritish diesel outboardand maintenance information – allsmaller, less technical issues too. Free
specialist, Cox Powertrain,managed in real-time. to download for Cox customers, it is
has announced a new available on desktop, smartphone,
generation of mobile Being exceptionally user-friendly and tablet devices.
and easy to navigate, the app is ■ For more info, visit: coxmarine.com
Bboating technology with designed to ensure customers get help
when they need it. You can request
the launch of an engine management support via the app, indicating
application. your preferred
dealer, and will
Coxswain app is the first of its kind receive a response
in the marine industry and has been within 30 minutes.
developed as part of the company’s Push notifications
drive to deliver unrivalled aftersales are sent through
service for its customers. the app to keep
customers updated
This mobile app provides a on progress. The
tailored experience for every app’s extensive
Cox customer, detailing images knowledge base
of their specific powered vessel, allows self-help for
along with information relating to
each outboard, such as warranty,
service records, serial numbers,

92 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

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TALKING FISHING Words by
PAUL FENECH

10

BEN PRICEmwinituht.e.s
The Welsh international and
World Pairs winner recalls childhood
fishing trips with a rod strapped to
HomterIiunmteprnhaitnio2n0a17l his bike and a dream of doing

battle with a ragged-tooth shark

Q At what age did hour events for safety reasons. As with
you first start many teenagers, the buzz of fishing faded
fishing, and did you for some but being younger than the rest
catch anything? of my friends I remained in the club. This
is when a couple of the senior anglers
Ben Price: I started when I really started to show me how to fish
was seven. My dad used to and compete properly. In between club
take me fishing on a Sunday matches a few senior anglers would take
with my brothers and sisters me with them to open events throughout
to our local breakwater in
Holyhead. I think he did North Wales.
this to get us out of my
Q When did you win your first
mum’s hair. Growing up in cap for Wales?
Anglesey, I was extremely
lucky with the number of BP: This would have been in 2008 when
fish to be caught really close the Home Internationals were being
to the shoreline. My first hosted by England at Samphire Hoe in
fish almost certainly will Kent. I was 14 and the feeling of fishing
for your country at any level is amazing.
have been a wrasse or a I was part of the Wales junior team that
small pollack. finished in silver medal position that
year. Fast forward 12 years and I stood
Q Who was your biggest on the podium with my friend Wayne
influence in fishing? McGilloway after we won the first ever
World Pairs Championships in Spain. The
BP: My biggest influence is definitely buzz never goes away. I’ve fished for the
my dad. He would take me fishing on a Welsh junior, youth and senior teams in
Sunday, but at night throughout the week Home Internationals, plus at senior level
he would fish with his friends. Being so in the FIPS World Championships too. All
young and due to the times they were achievements that I’m incredibly proud of.
fishing, I was never allowed to tag along.
Yet most mornings after they’d been The Wales’ junior
fishing, I would wake to see the catches team days
from the night before, usually large
WVictory in the first World Pairs event pollack and good size cod. My dad has been
It my biggest support through my whole
Ben Price I fishing career, taking me to junior and
recognised his youth fish-off events and attending Home
progression in Internationals, as well as supporting me
the world of financially. Without him I would not be
sea angling where I am today on or off the beach. He is
because it was definitely my best friend.
so familiar.
Fishing with his dad and mates was exactly Q How did you first get into
how many of us got into the sport before diving match fishing?
into the match scene. Now, the 28-year-old
heating engineer from Holyhead in North Wales BP: I first started match fishing through
has seen his talent turn into an obsession, Holyhead and District Angling Club. At
bringing with it many rewards along the way. the time I may have been about 11 years old
and a few of my friends who were a couple
94 of years older joined too. Again, we relied
on our parents to get us to the matches
and one had to stay with us for the four-

SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

Q Do you do any other fishing BWeonraldndPairs In getting
apart from in the sea? partner away from
WMacyGnileloway it all mode
BP: I have dabbled in a little bit of coarse in outdoor activities. They are far more
angling, but this was more in an effort interested in playing on computer game
to spend time with my grandad, but it’s consoles. I used to love meeting my mates
something I don’t have much interest in on a Sunday morning on our bikes with
unless I’m with him. I do, though, have a our fishing rods taped to the frame and
guilty pleasure on warm summer evenings, going for a day’s fishing. That all seems to
surface fishing for carp using bread or dog be a thing of the past now.
biscuits. Having caught carp to 18lb 8oz, I
love the excitement of seeing the fish take Q If you could fish anywhere in
the bait. the world, where would it be?

Q Where is your favourite BP: Definitely South Africa. I’ve been once
venue to fish? before and would love to go back. It’s the
most beautiful country with fantastic
BP: Definitely Holyhead Breakwater. shore fishing and really friendly people.
It’s the variety of ground and species on Hopefully, one day in the not too distant
offer that is the attraction. The outer wall future, I will return and try to catch a
holds some of the roughest ground in the ragged-tooth shark from the beach. ■
UK, with the inside of the harbour being
clean to mixed ground. At the very end it’s Smashing it at his
mixed ground with a heavy tide run. Over local Holyhead
the years I have seen many species of fish Breakwater
caught here, including tiny sand smelt to
double-figure smoothhounds. The venue 95
caters for all anglers of different skill sets.
It’s a fantastic mark.

Q If you could only use one bait,
what would it be and why?

BP: That’s easy, ragworms. They just seem
to catch every species.

Q What are your pet hates in
sea fishing?

BP: I don’t have many to be honest, fishing
is my escape where I try to turn off and
focus on the sport, far away from work
and the mundane tasks of day-to-day
life. If I had to pick one it would be brand
bashing, which really gets under my skin.
Some anglers take pleasure in tearing
down products from companies they don’t
like. There is not a single angling company
that doesn’t cater for most anglers’ needs.
That’s why there is so many of them; we
have the choice. What works for someone
may not work for another, but this doesn’t
mean the brand needs to be tarnished.
Like the old saying goes: “If you can’t say
something nice, it’s best to say nothing at
all”. Oh…and tip lights with bells on, not a
specific brand, all of them.

QIn your opinion, what would
you say is the biggest challenge
facing modern match angling?

BP: I think possibly it’s the calibre of
angler. It seems the attendance at many
matches is decreasing. The number of
top-class anglers attending is tremendous,
making it far more difficult to remain
consistent. The lack of younger anglers
coming into the sport is worrying. This
generation just doesn’t seem interested
SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

BASS ANGLERS’ SPORTFISHING SOCIETY

THE APPLIANCE OF SCIENCE
AHow ear bones and DNA, as well as tagging, help to track the movement of bass
     recapture to be inferred. BASS members
idea of tracking fish as they make their participated in a major CEFAS (Centre for
way around their watery world, but Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
this is challenging due to the dynamic Science) exercise earlier this century, tagging
nature of the sea, the uncertain movement of some 2,538 fish with T-bar tags to gain a greater
individuals across huge ranges, and changes in understanding of bass migration, among many
ocean habitats. other things.
Science, however, is moving ahead, with Of course, fish don’t travel in straight lines and
fascinating techniques being used in addition to their journey may be more complex than can
tagging, while others are being developed. BASS be discerned by MR tags. As a result, data
and its members have been involved in several storage tags and acoustic telemetry, which Bass otolith
projects and is continually looking for new ones follow fish as they move, are being used.
to support. Data storage tags record, on a regular basis,
many parameters including the depth/ CHEMICALS & DNA
Inserting a tag pressure, temperature, tidal movements,
Photo: Mike Turner/Kenny Bowes salinity, light and magnetic field experienced Who would have thought that the tiny ear bones
by the fish. The data is used to construct (otoliths) of a fish could reveal information about
TAGGING An acoustic tag tracks showing each fish’s movements. Such its life history? Studying the chemicals found in
and an acoustic tags were used in the C-BASS project the otolith is an accurate way to deduce stock
Traditional tagging conducted by CEFAS to look at bass structures, migration patterns, spawning areas,
involves Mark- receiver movements throughout the year. locality of birth, nursery zones and dietary
Recapture (MR) pattern, even years later.
tags, which identify Photo: Dr Tom Stamp BASS was also involved in the I-BASS
where the fish ends up, project, which used acoustic telemetry to Fish also lose DNA into their surroundings
allowing its journey discover the movements of bass in and around and this can be analysed to identify individual
between release and estuaries. is method works within a fixed species, which allows biomonitoring of water
area using small transmitter tags that emit a samples without having to collect fish or larvae.
unique ping approximately every 90 seconds.
■ Keep up to date with
e pings are then detected by receivers. Such BASS through its blog on
tags negate the need to recapture fish or www.ukbass.com or on
recover tags in order to produce data. Facebook or Twitter.

TIDES FOR MARCH AND APRIL

LONDON BRIDGE * 30 TUE 03.45 7.31 16.06 7.35 * TIDAL VARIATIONS FROM LONDON
31 WED 04.24 7.43 16.47 7.28
Copyright reserved: Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory. 17.27 7.05 Wick -2 29 Swansea +4 42
18.08 6.72 Lossiemouth -2 00 Milford Haven +4 37
18.52 6.35 Aberdeen -0 18 Fishguard +5 44
APRIL 19.44 5.99 Stonehaven -0 08 Aberystwyth -6 11
1 THU 20.51 5.69 Cockenzie +0 47 Barmouth -5 45
MARCH 2 FRI 05.03 7.43 22.20 5.58 Berwick +0 54 Holyhead -3 28
1 MON 03,10 7.11 15.30 7.29 3 SAT 05.44 7.27 23.51 5.83 Blyth +1 46 Menai Bridge -3 08
2 TUE 03.48 7.20 16.10 7.24 4 SUN 06.27 6.99 12.27 6.33 North Shields +1 47 Colwyn Bay -2 47
3 WED 04.25 7.20 16.50 7.05 5 MON 07.17 6.63 13.27 6.67 Hartlepool +1 59 Southport -2 55
4 THU 05.03 7.09 17.30 6.75 6 TUE 08.19 6.25 14.13 6.83 Whitby +2 20 Blackpool -2 50
5 FRI 05.45 6.89 18.15 6.42 7 WED 09.38 5.99 14.51 6.86 Scarborough +2 30 Morecambe -2 33
6 SAT 06.33 6.62 19.06 6.09 8 THU 11.03 6.01 13.35 6.86 Filey Bay +2 45 Barrow (Ramsden)
7 SUN 07.33 6.29 20.13 5.80 9 FRI ** ** ** ** 15.54 6.87 Bridlington +2 58 -2 28
8 MON 08.51 6.02 21.38 5.66 10 SAT 00.59 6.26 16.22 6.86 Skegness +4 29 Whitehaven -2 30
9 TUE 10.18 5.99 23.09 5.83 11 SUN 01.49 6.57 16.49 6.76 Hunstanton +4 44 Kirkcudbright Bay
10 WED 11.42 6.26 ** ** ** ** 12 MON 02.29 6.74 17.16 6.59 Cromer +4 56 -2 25
11 THU 00.20 6.23 12.46 6.63 13 TUE 01.12 6.55 17.45 6.37 Lowestoft -4 23 Girvan -1 51
12 FRI 01.12 6.55 13.35 6.86 14 WED 03.35 6.98 18.18 6.14 Aldeburgh -2 53 Ayr -1 44
13 SAT 01.54 6.74 14.16 6.94 15 THU 04.06 7.06 18.57 5.88 Felixstowe pier -2 23 Lamlash -1 45
14 SUN 02.31 6.86 14.53 6.96 16 FRI 04.36 7.03 19.50 5.62 Clacton -2 00 Greenock -1 19
15 MON 03.04 6.95 15.25 6.94 17 SAT 05.05 6.89 21.03 5.44 Southend-on-Sea -1 22 Oban +4 12
16 TUE 03.35 7.01 15.54 6.86 18 SUN 05.34 6.67 22.45 5.60 Herne Bay -1 24 Gairloch +5 16
17 WED 04.04 6.97 16.21 6.72 19 MON 06.06 6.44 **** ** ** Margate -1 52 Ullapool +5 36
18 THU 04.33 6.83 16.47 6.54 20 TUE 06.44 6.21 12.28 6.61 Deal -2 38 Belfast -2 47
19 FRI 05.00 6.62 17.15 6.32 21 WED 07.31 5.97 13.24 6.96 Dover -2 53 Douglas -2 44
20 SAT 05.31 6.38 17.47 6.07 22 THU 08.33 5.77 14.13 7.17 Dungeness -3 05
21 SUN 06.09 6.11 18.28 5.79 23 FRI 10.02 5.79 14.58 7.27 Eastbourne -2 48 IRELAND
22 MON 06.57 5.82 19.24 5.50 24 SAT 11.23 6.16 15.42 7.28 Newhaven -2 47 Dun Laoghaire -2 09
23 TUE 08.03 5.57 20.47 5.33 25 SUN 00.03 6.09 16.25 7.19 Brighton -2 51 Arklow -4 41
24 WED 09.41 5.62 22.31 5.59 26 MON 01.00 6.57 17.07 6.98 Worthing -2 36 Rosslare harbour
25 THU 11.02 6.04 23.43 6.09 27 TUES 01.50 6.94 Portsmouth -2 29 +4 39
26 FRI ** ** **** 12.05 6.52 28 WED 02.35 7.21 Ryde -2 29 Baginbun Head +3 53
27 SAT 00.37 6.54 12.57 6.90 29 THU 03.18 7.41 Southampton * -2 53 Ballycotton +3 45
28 SUN 02.23 6.86 14.42 7.14 30 FRI 04.00 7.52 Poole (Entrance) * Courtmacsherry +3 32
29 MON 03.05 7.11 15.25 7.29 04.43 7.49 -5 09 Baltimore +3 35
Bournemouth * -5 09 Bantry +3 15
Swanage * -5 19 Fenit pier +3 13
Portland +4 57 Kilrush +4 02
Torquay +4 40 Galway +3 36
Dartmouth +4 25 Clifden Bay +3 41
Plymouth +4 05 Westport Bay +3 57
Fowey +3 53 Sligo harbour +4 25
Falmouth +3 30 Killybegs +4 21
Newquay +3 32 Rathmullan +4 43
Padstow +3 45
Barnstaple +4 30 NORTHERN IRELAND
Weston-super-Mare Belfast -2 47
+5 05 Portrush +5 48
Cardiff (Penarth) +5 15 Red Bay -2 41
Barry +5 08 Carrickfergus -2 42

96 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 594

MAKE
YOUR
CATCH
COUNT

Anglers are being urged to contribute
to a national project to help inform the
S management of our seas    UK
are being encouraged to join a billion. But knowing what anglers do and what How do you sign up?
citizen-science project measuring they catch is also vital in informing how our
participation, catches and marine environments are managed. In 2016/17 Visit www.seaangling.org or scan the QR
economic value in sea angling. more than 100 fish species were caught, but, code on the advert on page 33.
e Sea Angling Diary Project crucially, Diary data also showed that about 80
per cent of catches were released, providing a What will you get?
is the longest continuous study more accurate picture of sea angling’s actual
of sea angling undertaken in the UK. It allows impact on marine stocks. n Free mobile app and online tool.
anglers to contribute vital information so that the e Diary project involves thousands of sea n First 500 app users get a free
UK governments and angling federations are anglers across the UK, but organisers want even waterproof phone case.
better informed in helping develop sea angling more sea anglers to take part to improve the n Free fish identification guide and
and improve marine fisheries. quality of participation, as well as catch and waterproof notebook.
e latest evidence from the Sea Angling Diary economic data. With sea angling now recognised n Prize draws for vouchers from the
showed that in 2016/17 around 800,000 UK in the Fisheries Act, and funding for its Fishing Megastore.
adults went sea angling at least once each year, development a real possibility, such data has
producing a total economic impact of £1.5-2 never been more important. What do you need to do?
Anglers receive free access to a mobile app to
record all their catches and photographs, as well Record when and where you fish, and
as a fish identification guide and catch recording what you catch. Upload a photo if you
kit. Funded by Defra, the Scottish and Welsh wish. It is as important to record when
governments and Northern Ireland you have not fished and not caught as
Administration, the project is run by Substance when you have. Don’t worry, detailed
and Cefas. It is supported by the Irish Federation information about your marks and
of Sea Anglers, Welsh Federation of Sea Angling, catches will not be divulged unless you
Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers, and Angling choose to share them.
Trades Association. To find out more, and read the reports,
Adam Brown from organisers Substance said: visit www.seaangling.org or contact
“ ere is a lot in this for sea anglers – their own [email protected].
app and a record of their fishing. But, most
importantly, it allows anglers to contribute to a
vital, national citizen science project that will help
inform the ongoing management of our fisheries
at a critical time.” n

97