Goateeblank
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 1,667
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- Location
- South Coast
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Keeping an eye on local reports and see that one of the local species hunters, Richard Widdowson, had 5 weever in a session lately. Decided last night that they were to be my target this morning. Filled up the van in a pretty empty garage, which was nice, and headed down to Southbourne.
Set up a 9ft ugly stick spinnig rod as usual with a set of Sabikis baited with maddies. 1 oz weight and out it goes. The idea is a slow retrieve, holding the rod low. First cast was good for feeling the bottom, mainly sand with gravel patches by the feel of the weight.
A guy comes over and asks if l am familiar with the beach and what is around and best bait to use. I give him all the usual sand eels for small eyes and turbot, worms for plaice and sole etc.
He asks what I am targetting. Weever l say. Nobody fishes for weevers he says. I tell him l am species hunting and l need one for my hunt. Whilst talking to him l am slowly retrieving and stopping as we chat. Got to around 10 or 12 foot from the shore and l can feel a tapping. Can it be? He has spotted the bite and tells me what l already know. I wonder, could it be, on just the second cast. I know it's a little fish, but what sort of litt - it's a weever! Bloody hell, he says that's impressive fishing and calls his daughter over to see it. I was absolutely made up, target achieved, second cast.

Both sides of me people are swimming and paddling. If only they knew! For those that don't know, the weever is the only native venomous fish to our waters. It buries itself in the sand, to wait for passing food to pounce on, hence the position of its mouth and eyes. The three spines and black fin are how the venom gets into you when you stand on one!
I need to get more rays and some of the bigger species now, but this species hunting lark can get you an awful lot of satisfaction from catching a small fish.
Cod, rays (had small eye) and mullet needed now!
Set up a 9ft ugly stick spinnig rod as usual with a set of Sabikis baited with maddies. 1 oz weight and out it goes. The idea is a slow retrieve, holding the rod low. First cast was good for feeling the bottom, mainly sand with gravel patches by the feel of the weight.
A guy comes over and asks if l am familiar with the beach and what is around and best bait to use. I give him all the usual sand eels for small eyes and turbot, worms for plaice and sole etc.
He asks what I am targetting. Weever l say. Nobody fishes for weevers he says. I tell him l am species hunting and l need one for my hunt. Whilst talking to him l am slowly retrieving and stopping as we chat. Got to around 10 or 12 foot from the shore and l can feel a tapping. Can it be? He has spotted the bite and tells me what l already know. I wonder, could it be, on just the second cast. I know it's a little fish, but what sort of litt - it's a weever! Bloody hell, he says that's impressive fishing and calls his daughter over to see it. I was absolutely made up, target achieved, second cast.

Both sides of me people are swimming and paddling. If only they knew! For those that don't know, the weever is the only native venomous fish to our waters. It buries itself in the sand, to wait for passing food to pounce on, hence the position of its mouth and eyes. The three spines and black fin are how the venom gets into you when you stand on one!
I need to get more rays and some of the bigger species now, but this species hunting lark can get you an awful lot of satisfaction from catching a small fish.
Cod, rays (had small eye) and mullet needed now!