Species
Winter fishing is for cod and whiting, with summer giving thornback ray and bass. Flounder and dabs are caught throughout the year.Baits
Peeler crab is the top bait for the spring run of codling in April and May, also for the bass and the odd thornback. From September on black lug tipped with blow lug or rag, alternatively a strip of squid or razorfish produces the cod. Tip smaller lug baits with mackerel for the whiting and dabs.Tackle and Tactics
Fishes best by day with a good colour in the water, and especially at night during the bigger spring tides. Local anglers look for a light to moderate north-east wind as being ideal. Try to locate the deeper gullies and holes for the best fishing. Either side of low water and right up the flood tide fishes well, but cod can still be caught at range on the ebb.Although fish can be caught at close range in a good swell with colour in the water, the big catches are more likely at long range, so a 5-6oz beachcaster and an 6500 sized reel loaded with 15 to 18lb and a 60lb shock leader is the common choice.
For long range cod, ray and bass fish a two-hook pennel rig clipped down using 4/0 Viking hooks. At short range a long and low rig is best, again with the two 4/0 hooks making the hook trace about 30-inches long. For flatties and whiting go with a three-hook flapper clipped down and size 2 Aberdeen hooks.
