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Search results

  1. Plaicehunter

    South West Macks in the mist

    Here in Plymouth we often get mackerel through the winter, and I had a garfish while float-fishing two days ago in a biting East wind! We also get runs of herring and pilchards at times. Although Tamar shore marks are limited due to seven miles of dockyard, all these species are caught from the...
  2. Plaicehunter

    South West Macks in the mist

    Plymouth Sound was blanketed in freezing fog this morning as I set off in search of mackerel. I lost my bearings once or twice, and was shocked by ghostly figure apparently walking on water. It was a paddle boarder taking a breather! I eventually emerged from the gloom to find a cluster of small...
  3. Plaicehunter

    Notice Covid Announcement and update

    Guess what I'm doing tomorrow...PH
  4. Plaicehunter

    Fortress clothing

    I have a Fortress bib and brace bought from Rob's Bait and Tackle, which I think is the shop you were referring to. Good price and a good product. PH
  5. Plaicehunter

    Fishing Rods?

    When I started sea fishing in the 1960s, I used to throw out a hand-line, even from the beach. This frequently caught more fish - mainly flounders - than the rod. However, sometimes distance is important, and with good technique you will probably cast further and more accurately with better...
  6. Plaicehunter

    South West Back on the pier

    I had them and herring last February. PH
  7. Plaicehunter

    I can not believe I am doing this.

    No spare spool. Line lay is perfect - no fiddling about adding or subtracting washers. I wash the reel and braid and back off the drag after use and periodically lube the roller bearing. The only fault I found was the drag was a bit sticky due to heavy grease between the drag washers. Took it...
  8. Plaicehunter

    I can not believe I am doing this.

    Quantum Drive 30, £30 from BobCo in Leeds. If it had a Shimano label and cost £100, everyone would rave about it. PH
  9. Plaicehunter

    South West Back on the pier

    Pre-dawn start at West Hoe pier this morning but I had no bites on the float so I tried a change of tactics. Two sabikis above a modified Savage Gear Seeker did the trick, whacked out into the falling tide and gently jigged back. A pleasing result for a couple of hours' work! PH
  10. Plaicehunter

    South West Hooray for global warming!

    Just had eight mackerel float fishing from West Hoe pier in Plymouth this afternoon. Much more fun than fluff-chucking! PH
  11. Plaicehunter

    Why do people bait fish?...

    Since retiring, I've become totally hooked on lure fishing: the light tackle, the minimum kit to carry, the excitement of the takes, the fun of trying new lures, no messing about with smelly bait and gut-hooked fish. I still fish bait for gilts and plaice in summer and cod and whiting in winter...
  12. Plaicehunter

    South West Back in the office!

    I wonder if heavy rain affects deep estuaries like the Tamar as much as we think? The section below the Torpoint ferries must be mostly sea water, and doesn't fresh water float on top of salt, being less dense? You would imagine fish at the bottom of the deep areas might be unaffected if that's...
  13. Plaicehunter

    South West Back in the office!

    After a frustrating week of terrible weather and one hand being in a splint, today I was back in 'the office', as my wife wittily calls my boat. The mark I fished normally does best on the flood, and starting at 9am there was not much tide left till high water. Still, as long as there's bait in...
  14. Plaicehunter

    Braid!

    I caught bonito of 11lb and 9lb in Lanzarote this year on a bass spinning rod, a 4500 reel and 20lb braid. They certainly did make long, fast runs, but I don't think they would have spooled me with 150m of 1.0 braid and 50-100m of mono backing, which is usually what I use for bass on a 3000...
  15. Plaicehunter

    Braid!

    Jambop, I do it this way too. To avoid wind knots, don't overfill the spool and after casting check visually that you don't have any loose line or loops sticking out before you start retrieving. Also, it is very important that the bale arm roller turns freely. I give the reel, including the...
  16. Plaicehunter

    Lets see your boats

    This is 'Piranha', a Yamarin 540 with a Mariner 60 EFi on the back. Moored in Stonehouse Pool, Plymouth, seen here on the SPBA club pontoon with the Royal William Yard in the background. Would be a very fast boat with max 115hp engine, but she is fast enough for me, especially as most of my...
  17. Plaicehunter

    Lets see your boats

  18. Plaicehunter

    South West Busy Day on the Tamar

    I fished a three-rod session on the Tamar today on the flooding tide: a big squid bait for cod (two strap conger), a livebait downtide (nothing) and a two-hook flapper with squid and mackerel (lots of whiting, including some good ones). The wind was blowing NW down the river and the boat was...
  19. Plaicehunter

    South West December Bassing

    A December lure-caught bass was the target today as I headed for a favourite warm-weather mark. I was a bit concerned that heavy overnight rain might have chilled and coloured the water, but it was clear enough when I arrived. I planned to intercept bass running up-channel on the late flood into...
  20. Plaicehunter

    South West After the Lord Mayor's Show...

    Two days ago I had my first cod of this winter from the Tamar, so with hope bordering on confidence I headed back to the same mark today. First cast produced two big chunky whiting on the flapper rig and things were looking good. Sadly, it all went downhill from there, with a trickle of smaller...
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