South West Final species session for the AT comp.

[Si-fly]

Hi all, no posts for a while as I've been abroad, but now back I headed down to Cornwall for a launce... probably the last chance I'll get before the end of March deadline.
It was a tough decision, as I was keen to go to Boscombe, but in the end hoped the odds of success were higher in Cornwall.

I arrived and met up with Bob Bananas...he was already on the Mk, and after a Corbin's Sandeel....a new one for me as well

Any way I had a quick chat while Bob had a break from the lures, and was pleased to see him get a little Scorp....ah love those critters! Back to the van and grabbed my kit.

I was using a new rod today I won in last year's comp, a 1-7g hollow tip lure rod... something different from my normal solid tip rods. It had the same casting weight but was much crisper and put a lot more action into my mini metal lure. The lure was also new , arrived from china the previous morning , and the smallest I owned so thought would probably be my best bet for a Sandeel!

I chatted with Bob about depts etc and the tip rattled...Def a fish , it bent over ....nice....was it my launce?.....it looked like it and a good one.....please don't come off I said to myself, as minis have a habit of doing that lifting them up the walls

Not today though, it was at my feet and wriggling like crazy. Bob came over and pointed out it was missing the head dot of a launce , and had a black chin!... It was his target, a Corbin's....wow....that would do nicely
A good 12" ..... sorry it's stiff, was just heading in my freezer there!

A couple more pics to aid ID if others are wondering about the head.
After a bit Bob also got his Corbin's....well done mate

A few more Corbin's, then i had a play with the Scorps , and managed 5 of the critters before returning to the eels in the hope of a launce.
Unfortunately there were no launce, just more Corbin's and a single Garfish.
That was it for the day, happy as Larry with my Corbin's

I kipped in the van and made an early start. More Corbin's , and a nice chat to a local lad.
I then tried a heavier lure deep along the bottom...bingo... something different...quite mad really...the size of this crazy fish attacking my lure

Feisty bugger ...kept my Pinky's well away

I tried a different spot then, and pretty sure I spotted and caught a little montagu's blenny....but holding it over what I thought was a "safe" flat rock, it dropped off and flapped it's way back to safety ....bugger!
I then had it's mate a tiny shanny, and called it a day.

Cheers Si

 

[PhilR]

Well done.
Corbin's sandeels are more common than people think.
I get a few when feathering for bait when boat fishing out of Beer in Devon.
Every one has been a Corbin's and I've never had a launce there.
Contrary to what the text books say I have never seen the bicuspid teeth in a Corbin's. These are pretty obvious in a launce.

 

[Trampster]

As always, great report & photos Si - well done for adding to the Species hunt.

 

[Wolf]

Nice one mate ,good piccys & write up ,well done

 

[Si-fly]

Well done.
Corbin's sandeels are more common than people think.
I get a few when feathering for bait when boat fishing out of Beer in Devon.
Every one has been a Corbin's and I've never had a launce there.
Contrary to what the text books say I have never seen the bicuspid teeth in a Corbin's. These are pretty obvious in a launce.

Nice to know, I'm not a small metal person so most stuff like eels and new for me.

Is it more normal to get Corbin's off a boat?....Bob said they were more deep water fish?....think that's what he said.

 

[bananas]

Great write up Si, well done not on one but loads a Corbins, was good to fish again, I was very glad to catch mine in the end.
They are usually said to be a deeper water fish, but down the South West they do come a lot closer, I bet loads get caught and miss ID'ed.

 

[Mr Fish]

Drop some sabikis down and bag up on bait!

 

[Si-fly]

Drop some sabikis down and bag up on bait!

I did try on the Monday when I could see loads of smaller ones.....managed 1 around 5" and that was it ....strange when you think you will get loads, it's rubbish

 

[eves]

nice report. and great pics

 

[Mr Fish]

I did try on the Monday when I could see loads of smaller ones.....managed 1 around 5" and that was it ....strange when you think you will get loads, it's rubbish

Typical!

Yet on the boat sometimes you can pick the buggers up on mackerel feathers when you’re not even trying

 

[Si-fly]

Typical!

Yet on the boat sometimes you can pick the buggers up on mackerel feathers when you’re not even trying

Such is life

 

[Si-fly]

Try catching stuff to order....whole different ball game after 60 or so

 

[Mr Fish]

Try catching stuff to order....whole different ball game after 60 or so

Yep not for me lol

 

[Goateeblank]

Excellent stuff Si.

 

[Tatunka joe]

As I said to Bob you can buy sand eels in pks of 10 well done beys some stunners there