South West An all too familiar tale for chesil 11/12/21

[Just one last cast]

An all too familiar tale for chesil 11/12/21

After another whiting fest last trip out, which I never got around to writing up, perhaps I was a little complacent this time out!

After several canceled opportunities It was always going to be a budget tesco & freezer bait session & an 11pm ish tide meant arrival after 6 so free parking! Bonus plus the wind switching to SW made my mind up.

That said My set up ended up a bit half assed, after a longish, for me anyway, trek I set up a reasonable distance back aware of the biggish waves then my last starlight failed to get going & my new head torch was surprisingly shit for want of a better word. How can 5000 reviews on Amazon be wrong? Don’t know but they are. This coupled with having to move the rods closer to the water to try & get them above the surf line meant an uneasy night lay ahead as I nearly lost a rod once when a smooth hound took off. My old Daiwa sandstorms spent most of the night being drawn around by the tide but the big eyes deal with weed better and it doesn’t jam on the top ring & leader knot like on my longer continental rods. I always have the drag set light on my surfblasters as I would cry if I lost them! The rods also handle a 7oz lead better which I ended up with zip tied wires to hold bottom

The majority of the evening was spent trapsing between the rods & shelter though the rods did get swamped once so glad the main gear was back a bit! Or with myself staring at the rod tips like a rabbit drawn to headlights rather than perhaps shortening the 3/0 pulley rigs or trying another thing altogether though having read the comments on the rod tip problem in strong tides there seems to be a multitude of opinions. I used 18lb mono with tapered leaders as I find braid with a tapered leader gets pulled around even more.

Baits were mackerel & squid which increased in size as the night went on, admittedly waiting for a reel spinner to pinch a carp fishing term lazy I know.

Around 4 dogs & 4 whiting in total so have had worse sessions plus some good skies when it cleared it was good to be out fishing!

High tide turned & a brief respite in the conditions allowed me to pick out a couple more bites before things worsened again & With the sandstorms beginning to feel like telegraph poles I decided to call it a night luckily traveling lighter paid off & I managed to get everything back to the car in one trip as a vehicle seemed to be patrolling the beach further up headed down this end just after I got back, hope it was training & nothing more serious.

Have I followed previous advice of fresh & better bait, not on this occasion swell was checked on magic seaweed & tides for fishing which predicted it would be a good night! Well As I said earlier it was good to get out.

Other entertainment included how many times can you throw a dogfish back before it swims off, cutting off the old bait elastic without cutting through the snoods & hide & seek with my waterproof trousers which turned out to be in the bottom of my rucksack.

Apologies for the rambling between the facts.

 

[Mr Fish]

Good effort mate, at least you got out and saw a few fish.

I don’t know what headlight you bought but I’d advise investing in something reputable or at least one that’s been tried and tested by anglers.
Also a good idea to ensure you have a spare as well.

I get the need to prevent shingling but not a good idea to risk the gear being swamped.
It sounds as if you did, but always make sure the drag is light so your rods don’t get pulled in!
Doesn’t have to be a big fish either - weed, logs and seagulls can also have a good go as well!

Sorry, don’t mean to preach but it might be useful info for someone!

 

[Wolf]

At least you caught mate, get yourself a headtorch by petzel,I've got my three they've never let me down,I always take a spare though .

 

[Shirleycodlin]

A good read even if the fishing was poor for you.

 

[John Mitchell]

Great report mate , you caught plenty of fish , which beats blanking

 

[Just one last cast]

Good effort mate, at least you got out and saw a few fish.

I don’t know what headlight you bought but I’d advise investing in something reputable or at least one that’s been tried and tested by anglers.
Also a good idea to ensure you have a spare as well.

I get the need to prevent shingling but not a good idea to risk the gear being swamped.
It sounds as if you did, but always make sure the drag is light so your rods don’t get pulled in!
Doesn’t have to be a big fish either - weed, logs and seagulls can also have a good go as well!

Sorry, don’t mean to preach but it might be useful info for someone!

No worries, sound advice thanks

 

[Just one last cast]

At least you caught mate, get yourself a headtorch by petzel,I've got my three they've never let me down,I always take a spare though .

Guess you get what you pay for!

 

[Goateeblank]

I like a good rambling between the facts. It all helps to paint a picture! As for cutting through the snoods when removing the bait elastic, obviously you are the only one to have done that - NOT!

 

[Mr Fish]

I like a good rambling between the facts. It all helps to paint a picture! As for cutting through the snoods when removing the bait elastic, obviously you are the only one to have done that - NOT!

+1 lol

 

[charr]

You seem to paint chesil as a pain in the arse, chesil gives if you’re patient and prepared to fail.we all have bad sessions
but....but when a plan comes together it’s magical
There’s enough info/vids to adapt to catch fish, you just can’t expect fish to turn up after all 18 miles of shingle is a big beach
When it happens it’s so rewarding
Be positive and stay safe enjoy her

 

[J Richards]

Chesil…… The beach of broken dreams…. Rewards the brave, and those that put time, effort and planning into it.
One thing i will say, you mentioned fresh bait, withoit it you might get lucky, with it you have a greater chance.
If you go off previous reports etc, you are too late. The fish would more likely have moved off that mark.
Chesil gives what you put into it. If you flop your gear 10 yards past the car park, chances are you do badly….. not always though.
Then there is conditions etc… Its about adapting to what is in front of you.
The list goes on, the more things you do to increase your chances the better.

 

[Wolf]

I know you probably know this Just one last cast,but before fishing such s big beach ,ask on here for advice , someone can help you

 

[Just one last cast]

You seem to paint chesil as a pain in the arse, chesil gives if you’re patient and prepared to fail.we all have bad sessions
but....but when a plan comes together it’s magical
There’s enough info/vids to adapt to catch fish, you just can’t expect fish to turn up after all 18 miles of shingle is a big beach
When it happens it’s so rewarding
Be positive and stay safe enjoy her

The aspect of chesil I often find a pain is the dealing with the rougher surf. I have yet to master it which is frustrating when I think these are good conditions. Am guilty of sticking to the same spot though need to fish more of it though cannot walk very far & would be best done in daylight first, perhaps in the new year, have had a couple good fish there which leaves You wanting more & perhaps sitting it out rather than changing tactics When not yet caught on other methods. Read up loads during lockdown but still got a lot to learn.
Still get a massive buzz turning up there & already studying tide times etc planning next trip!

 

[Just one last cast]

Chesil…… The beach of broken dreams…. Rewards the brave, and those that put time, effort and planning into it.
One thing i will say, you mentioned fresh bait, withoit it you might get lucky, with it you have a greater chance.
If you go off previous reports etc, you are too late. The fish would more likely have moved off that mark.
Chesil gives what you put into it. If you flop your gear 10 yards past the car park, chances are you do badly….. not always though.
Then there is conditions etc… Its about adapting to what is in front of you.
The list goes on, the more things you do to increase your chances the better.

Hi thanks for the advice & points to work on. Have had a few people that seem to be traveling from beach to beach after info on catches lately guess they are chasing the fish!

 

[Mr Fish]

Chesil… fish it two or three times a week and eventually you’ll have a good session.

Or do what the rest of us do and turn up once in a blue moon and take your chances.

Not knocking it - there are those that are real regulars and have a fair idea. The rest of us take a shot and we might be right or we might be wrong.

I certainly wouldn’t be going to the same spot every time on the basis of favouritism. Do your research and try and get a sense of what is producing and what isn’t.

As far as the ‘rough surf’ goes, keep an eye on the weather obviously, but also the real time swell data.

 

[Mr Fish]

National Network of Regional Coastal Monitoring Programmes - Chesil

 

[Mr Fish]

If it’s above 2m (as a rough guide), stay at home and catch up on some box sets!

 

[Cfish]

You seem to paint chesil as a pain in the arse, chesil gives if you’re patient and prepared to fail.we all have bad sessions
but....but when a plan comes together it’s magical
There’s enough info/vids to adapt to catch fish, you just can’t expect fish to turn up after all 18 miles of shingle is a big beach
When it happens it’s so rewarding
Be positive and stay safe enjoy her

Yeh.but chesils famous innit????

 

[J Richards]

Yeh.but chesils famous innit????

Whats that meant to mean?
@charr is up there in top 2 people i have fished chesil with…… It a very safe to say he knows his apples from his pears

 

[richtic]

Well done getting out and catching a few fish