A reflection from fishing this year, what are your targets for the next?

[RemoteWanderer]

Daytime fishing.

Looking back it's something I've neglected in recent years. Yes with some species daylight is favoured, bream/plaice/triggers/mackerel/wrasse etc., and this will be when I'm out chasing after them. But this year has shown me I have probably been naive in the past when dismissing daytime sessions targetting fish that I've just always associated with only being worthwhile at night, congers/huss/rays/baiting for big bass etc. Don't get me wrong, bright skies and crystal clear waters would kill any hope along my local stretch, but being increasingly forced to fish more when I've got the time as opposed to preference, I've had some really good daytime sessions this year finding these bigger fish when the waters been coloured up, and been pleasantly surprised by this. Watching videos of some of the specimens pulled out during daylight in the murky channel I don't know why I hadn't clocked on to it sooner.

Additionally, daytime fishing does offer the benefit of not being plagued by as many dogs or straps, which has seen me almost giving up fishing through endless dogs for rays along my local stretch when fishing darkness. Don't get me wrong, night-time is still my preference in many situations, but my target for the upcoming year is certainly going to be putting more hours into targetting these species during daylight when conditions give it a chance, as opposed to shunning off what I've now realised have been missed opportunities.

Has anyone else had any new ideas or targets that they are looking to take into next year to improve their fishing? Would be great to hear, tight lines all,

 

[Beach]

Maybe try flyfishing for mullet in tidal rivers?

 

[Shirleycodlin]

The usual.
A Dungeness Cod

 

[welshtroutfisher]

Try to commit to a session once a week and improve my casting.

Other than that to keep the bait freezer stock up and the rig wallet full so I can go out at short notice and have no excuses.

A 10lb cod would be nice, a 10lb+ Ray and a 20lb+ tope.

 

[Mr Fish]

I have to go when I feel able these days so don’t really set targets any more.
A gilt would be nice though…

 

[Trampster]

Hoping to actually get out and do some fishing next year.
A shoulder injury (took 9 months to ease), other health problems and a more recent spell in hospital means I haven't been out at all this year.
2024 has generally been a bit shite.

 

[Wolf]

I intend to do more lure fishing .

 

[fishing hobbit]

I said that I would do more fishing this year and ended up doing a whole lot less! Boat out 6 times and beach probably the same. So definitely want to do more next year!!

 

[kevothefish]

Apologies for nicking this off my Seaswest FB page from yesterday but i could not be arsed to type something similar out again

'The fishing in 2024 started well with me putting in one or 2 trips a week. However, in early June I fell victim to the dreaded Shingles - which I would not wish on anyone. The shingles symptoms cleared after 3 weeks but I was left with complications from Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) which caused Chronic fatigue syndrome plus a sensitivity to touch and bright light (which luckily did not last long).

Because of this, a normal 25 minute walk to my fishing mark was taking up to 45 minutes to get there and sometimes almost one hour to get back, stopped to catch my breath every 200 yards. A couple of times I really did think I could end up on 'Seaside Rescue' if I was not careful. I was catching fish so the effort was worthwhile.

As a result the fishing eased off a bit whilst I got myself back to full health and it is only now that I am pretty much back to 100% healthy again and ready to get back out again once Christmas and the New Year is over.

However, I was still able to tie rigs and 2024 has been very busy. The Seaswest Shop is open and wherever possible I still try and buy British made products. My rigs are not the cheapest (or the most expensive) but unlike the '90p Chinese rigs' they are not going to fall apart when you get that fish of a lifetime on - you get what you pay for.

https://www.seaswestshop.uk/

I hope that everyone has a wonderful time over the next few days and let's wish that 2025 see all our dreams come true.'


As for 2025 I will re-continue my quest for a 50lb shore caught conger whilst I am still able to clamber up and down cliffs at the end of a rope.

 

[chesilpete]

2024 has been a dud for me. .. just not got out anywhere as much as I would have liked.
2025 will definitely see me get back to my weekly trips.

 

[Trampster]

Apologies for nicking this off my Seaswest FB page from yesterday but i could not be arsed to type something similar out again

'The fishing in 2024 started well with me putting in one or 2 trips a week. However, in early June I fell victim to the dreaded Shingles - which I would not wish on anyone. The shingles symptoms cleared after 3 weeks but I was left with complications from Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) which caused Chronic fatigue syndrome plus a sensitivity to touch and bright light (which luckily did not last long).

Because of this, a normal 25 minute walk to my fishing mark was taking up to 45 minutes to get there and sometimes almost one hour to get back, stopped to catch my breath every 200 yards. A couple of times I really did think I could end up on 'Seaside Rescue' if I was not careful. I was catching fish so the effort was worthwhile.

As a result the fishing eased off a bit whilst I got myself back to full health and it is only now that I am pretty much back to 100% healthy again and ready to get back out again once Christmas and the New Year is over.

However, I was still able to tie rigs and 2024 has been very busy. The Seaswest Shop is open and wherever possible I still try and buy British made products. My rigs are not the cheapest (or the most expensive) but unlike the '90p Chinese rigs' they are not going to fall apart when you get that fish of a lifetime on - you get what you pay for.

https://www.seaswestshop.uk/

I hope that everyone has a wonderful time over the next few days and let's wish that 2025 see all our dreams come true.'


As for 2025 I will re-continue my quest for a 50lb shore caught conger whilst I am still able to clamber up and down cliffs at the end of a rope.

Very sorry to hear about your Shingles, PHN and CFS Kev - sounds like you've had a right rough one.
Best of luck & tight lines for 2025.

 

[fishing hobbit]

Shingles is a horrible thing to have. Not had it personally but a friend did and he said it was bloody painful.
Hope you have a good Christmas and a better year

 

[kevothefish]

Luckily the rash was on my chest and not my face or near my eyes - one of my friends also had it and currently still has eye problems. This is why I have not posted much here - I actually was feeling my age and not the 35 year old I think I am inside

 

[Trampster]

Shingles is a horrible thing to have. Not had it personally but a friend did and he said it was bloody painful.
Hope you have a good Christmas and a better year

I've not had it either, but Wifey has. That CFS that Kev had is similar to, or another name for ME, and I was told I had that back in the mid 90's.
Not nice either, as not much known about it and some Medical professionals still refuse to accept it exists.

 

[tdxs133pm]

ME

some Medical professionals still refuse to accept it exists.

It exists,the Wife suffers from it.It's shite.She has to pace herself whatever she does but it still tires her out.Don't suppose it helps that she also has a Pacemaker fitted and had an AB Ablation procedure done.She also suffers from Asthma.I'm off for an injection in my right Eye tomorrow,5th this year. Not done any Sea Fishing for the last 4 years.

 

[Beach]

Catch more kin fish & larger than normal would be good.

 

[flappy]

I have only been out fishing for two hours this year.. so more angling time would be good..

 

[groundswell]

There seems to be a distinct lack of fishing taking place from some of of you dodgers, far too many excuses, get yer arses into gear, it's the reason most clubs fail

 

[Cwab]

Friend who charters said it is noticeable that not many young folks are joining the clubs he takes out and the members just get older and clubs smaller as folks become too old to go the distance.

 

[Just one last cast]

Fishing hopes 2025



Having coarse fished as a kid up until about 17 when discovering alcohol & the opposite sex proved to be of greater importance I always vowed to return to it some day.

On being diagnosed with Parkinsons disease , at the ripe old age of 45, eight years ago I realised that time was now. Rather than return to the venues I knew as a kid I opted to challenge myself with beach Fishing keeping the brain active with research and reports & the body fit from the fishing and walking etc.

Things inevitably took a turn for the worse when the side effects of a certain medication began to outweigh the benefits and the slow process of being weened off of one to start another began. That was back in September & still ongoing.

I have been fortunate to have a large family of my own who also keep me busy.

Fishing is my measuring stick of how well I am doing and as I reflected in a similar post recently this year hasn’t gone well & I have pushed myself too far but been lucky enough to get away with it on many occasions.

I guess things reached an all time low last week as I can barely even stand & for the first time since lockdown could not walk my daughter to school.

This shit disease now owns me not vice versa.

Well different medication on the way now so hopefully I can rebuild in the new year and get back to being myself & better support my family and of course go fishing .

I am an unsociable creature and don’t belong to any club mainly as I have no desire to fish matches yet understand the hard work they do having been a member many years ago.

I sympathise with all of you in a similar position here’s to hoping you can get back out there even if only for a brief cast while marvelling at the awesome sight of the sea & night sky.