Sea Angling for Spearos

Mr. X · Apr 21, 2009

ADM said:
I went last night to try (yet another) new lure, shallow diver to 50cm, Duo Terrif DC-12 S27-RS Rainbow Scaled Mullet - Mr Fish Jersey, hey, I have an expensive surface and deep lure, why not one in the middle...
.

And why not. Nothing succeeds like excess Precious lures, gollum, gollum (I try not to collect things but lures certainly bring out that instinct/compulsion in me).

ADM said:
The down side of the night was the nets. Trying a spot I fished a bit a while back successfully which was revealed on another forum and I find a net below low water mark (could see the white bobbers) and saw a bloke in a 4x4 setting two nets higher up the beach while I was fishing. He obviously didn't trust me to leave the nets alone as he staying until I left.

Gill netting? So what's your opinion of what the guy was doing? I chatted to the grandfather of an extended family on the beach that wanted to see my catch as I left the water one day. After chatting about sea food and fishing for a while - he looked like a well to do fly fisherman - he mentioned that he fishes with a 60m net behind his boat! (Apparently it wasn't working out that well though).

ADM · Apr 21, 2009

Fly rod or 60m of nets... Hmmmmm.

IMO, nets are for commercials and should be kept to boats and the waters to which boats have access and we do not, the Ocean is a common resource to which the majority of anglers can only use out to 100 yards from low water (ish). I fully approve of the golden mile initiative. The boats can get to water a mile away and I can't cast that far. Use the shared resource as just that. Shared in a proportion to allow each use without clashes. BUT, that isn't the commercial or beer netter view...

ADM · Apr 27, 2009

So... Decided that I needed to try for a bass again last night seeing as I haven't had one this weekend, it's a club pairs comp and Monty had an 8-2 and another smaller fish to push him about 15lb clear of me at the top.

So I got a couple of crabs out of the freezer, grabbed the fresh verm and a couple of just about ready live crabs and headed off.

Started very slow but soon had some interest while still daylight but from the bite and the way it developed I think it was a small rockie that couldn't take the hooks in. Changed the bait and put the rod out again with fresh peeler. Rod was up on the wall wen I had some odd bites... Two massive single knocks, hard to describe really but the rod just whalloped over for a single knock, lifting the butt off the ground, then it did it again. I had hold of the rod by now and gave a bit of slack to see if the fish would move off with it, but it didn't and when I tightened up 6 inches there was nothing there. Hmmm...

Next cast bit of crab now it was dark and could avoid the rockies. Decided I needed to "go" so rod against the wall and cautionary ratchet on incase the thing which knocked hard came back, As usual, halfway through and the rathcet started to scream. Typical. Sort myself out and grab the rod which has something stronger on the end, bass, but all of 1.5lb. Arrrgggghh. At least it's target species eh!!

Anyway, next cast, big juicy jelly velvet on. Holding the rod since it was the best bait I had and felt a little knock, felt the fish move so hit it and there's something there. Rat I was thinking to myself as I could ust feel something wriggling on the end but it turned into a bass about a lb.

Somewhat annoyed at my best bait being hit by a schoolie in the fist few seconds I tidied it uo and put it back out. After about 5 minutes there was a slight tug, just like a big bass I was thinking to myself, and then a pull so I gave line, line tightened then another pull so I hit it, and then it hit me!! From 20 yards out this fish was suddendy 40, 50, 60 yards out against a tight drag and going absolutely mental. Like hooking a good mullet on very light gear.

Eventually it stopped and I started to wind back and it came OK, then I felt it go deep and ran hard again but not so far. After a few minutes of too-ing and fro-ing I was in control and had the fish within 10 yards and could see silver. BIG BASS I was thinking to myself. YAY!!! The fight indiated a double for sure if not bigger, but then it came closer still.

****** **** that's not a bass, it's a **** massive gilthead I told some invisible person next to me. Managed to get it in and grab hold avoiding it's gob which as I have been told was seriously well equipped.

Shaking a bit since I do get excited about big fish, and especially PB's and new species. Tried to call Gav since he's just along the road from the mark and has the posh scales but he's got his phone on Silent or something.

Anyway, weighed it on my scales at 5-12-0. Carried on fishing for a bit after the texts to all and sundry but no more.

Eventually got Gavs and met up to get it weighed. It went 5-10-4 on the posh scales (was flicking between 5-10 and 5-10 and a half oz). Nice!!

So day over and off home. Her indoors no interest as usual... Some things never change and I'm apparently still sad for getting excited about fish.

Andy :martial

foxfish · Apr 27, 2009

Maybe she would be a bit more excited if she liked eating Giltheads because that beauty is going to feed a few people!
Really happy for you Andy, great fish, great fight & a great point proved.

ADM · Apr 27, 2009

Well I'll be eating some for lunch I think. Seems a shame to freeze it but she was not in a mood to argue with this morning so chicken stew it is tonight ( It's still in the fridge if you want a fillet Mart. Hate to freeze soemthing so nice.

Apparently I am still not reliable enough to put fish on the table when she wants it. She'll learn!!

foxfish · Apr 27, 2009

Thanks Andy but if you freeze it fresh it will be good for 6 weeks.
I put a little post about cooking on the other place.

Old Man Dave · Apr 27, 2009

Fantastic catch Andy. That's the fish of a lifetime off the Guernsey shore. You are really sticking it to those muppets who liked to have a dig at you and good on you for that.

Dave

ADM · Apr 27, 2009

Cheers Dave!!

As I said above (http://forums.deeperblue.com/762022-post796.html), there is only one way to catch fish consistently.

Fish, fish, fish, fish and then fish some more, then when you get sick of fishing, go again and you'll get something in return!! Top quality bait again is what did the trick, and my crab demons seem to have left me to allow me to get on with catching fish on free bait!!

If it's not working, fish it differently, never fished that exact spot on that tide, I normally move along the bay and off the rocks further along but not last night for some reason... Good thing I didn't!!

ADM · Apr 27, 2009

foxfish said:
Thanks Andy but if you freeze it fresh it will be good for 6 weeks.
I put a little post about cooking on the other place.

Well I managed to convince her into a starter of gilthead bream a la foxfish and she was very impressed. She says she prefers it to bass, much more subtle tasting (she's a real bass lover).

For everyone else, skin side down in olive oil for 3 mins, turn it and cook with a knob of butter added for 1 minute or so, remove fish, add garlic to the oil and butter and stir in, pour over the fish.

Mmmmmmm...

Just waiting for the main of cheap chicken portion "stew" a la Andy's missus... She had an oven related problem or something, I told her she should have allowed me to do the fish and it took me less than 10 minutes start to finish.

Mr. X · Apr 29, 2009

Congratulations Andy. I don't know much about Gilthead but considerable fuss was made about Shiny's 4+lber, so I'm thinking your 5lber is something quite special.

ADM said:
.... She says she prefers it to bass, much more subtle tasting (she's a real bass lover)...

Interesting. I usually say mullet has a slightly stronger & similar or slightly firmer texture than bass. So taste wise, sounds like:

Gilthead < Bass < Mullet

Fishmatics?!

Didn't realise Giltheads were biters.

ADM · Apr 29, 2009

Mr. X said:
Didn't realise Giltheads were biters.

They are more like crushing pads in the top and bottom of the mouth but the teeth at the front are just like a big rockie.

No idea if it would have bitten but I wasn't going to stick my fingers in while it was alive to find out!!

Nothing wrong with a bit of GG mullet, not so keen on thick lippeds though. The Gilthead is by far the best though, delicate and subtle yet firm and meaty. Very nice.

ADM · May 6, 2009

OK...

Here's a report from "the other day". Sad I know but trying to keep myself hidden and location etc a secret while I am ahead so no dates in case I was seen.

Nice brace of bass at 3-10 (52cm) and 3-13 (53cm). Measure is taken to the 'V' in the tail not the tips for our club so that's the measure to that point. Both in size for the club so that puts me back in contention, just... www.gbass.co.uk has the current champ positions, I am in 2nd on there but these 2 fish since. 1 fish kept for T tonight and the other released alive. Caught one cast after the other hence able to take the pic with the bottom one still alive.

Both on crab, one on peeler the other on a jelly velvet. Crab demons seem to have left me and it's no longer a bogey bait!! short report as I have to take the boy to school today...

Andy :martial

Old Man Dave · May 6, 2009

Another nice catch Andy. Definitely seems to be angling not spearing weather at the moment. This year's turning into last yera - hope not.

Dave

ADM · May 6, 2009

The water was "ok" last night. Not overly clear where I waded in parts but not as bad as last year. It was windy though giving a fair chop coming into my face, quite uncomfy fishing into the wind tbh.

Not overly tempted to get wet while the spear reports are less than my angling reports!! I'll wait til you report a load of plaice and then I'll go try for one...

ADM · May 9, 2009

Well I found the bait for the next assault on the shiny things. Had 11 velvet peelers, a big jelly one and a couple of shore peelers. All residing in my tank waiting for them to split/pop. They don't look best pleased as there are now 24 crabs in there ready to be eaten by a big bass!! Please may it be a double when it comes!!

ADM · May 11, 2009

Well it wasn't a double...

The new rat...

Seems they're not just in Belle Greve (per our local rag angling correspondent)...

Bloney things keep pinching my perfectly presented lovely condition bass baits... Just a baby one this time at 3-15, would have gone better if it didn't get wrapped up in weed.

I need me another BASS....

foxfish · May 11, 2009

Andy those giltys look kinder good on you, sort of suit you sir!

ADM · May 11, 2009

I'd have preferred the double bass!! I thought it was a good bass as well as due to a huge lump of vraic on the lead it was very restricted and I could feel something very heavy and lots of angry head shaking like bass do, no mammoth run off of this one. I was almost gutted when I saw it come in... BUT, the last one was very tasty... She's letting me cook tonight as well.

Old Man Dave · May 11, 2009

foxfish said:
Andy those giltys look kinder good on you, sort of suit you sir!

Same shape?

Great fish Andy, I'm truly jealous.

Dave.

ADM · May 11, 2009

Old Man Dave said:
Same shape?

I best not take any photos side on!! I have a better beer gut than the fish!!

It's nice to have another one but this one fought very differently, maybe because it was tangled in weed it couldn't show true form. This one was hooked well in the mouth past the teeth and no problems with the hooks as some have suggested them being bitten off, maybe I got lucky. I don't use heavy weight hooks, I'm working through a box of 100 x 6/0 Fox Bass hooks at the moment and am impressed with them, not had any form of failure and they have had me some fine fish, not one even slightly bent out, no blunt points and all perfomed very well, fine wire as well. Top marks to the gear from them I have used so far.

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