South East Beaten again, Pett Level 20/8/21

[ouchthathurt]

Morning all, after a busy week at work, I felt the need to hit the beach, only problem was that I didn’t have any bait… so lunchtime yesterday I took a stroll to the nearest tackle shop to buy some lugworm (first time in ages!) only to find they were out of peelers and fresh lug! I was offered the choice of salted lug in pilchard oil or frozen lug, I brought 30 frozen lug as I haven’t used the salted stuff and didn’t trust it! The boy and I got down to the beach around 1730, as the tide just started to flood, I had brought another 2 rod stand for boy so he now had 2 beachcasters to fish with, which were quickly set up with 2 hook clipped down rigs baited with the dubious black lug, he chucked them out about 30-40yrds into the flooded tide as I tackled up my two rods with the same set up. Rather than cast out, I whizzed around the beach and pumped some fresh bait, soon my rods were out fishing at 80yrds with fresh lug on, well by this time, boy and wifey were excitedly watching his rod tip knock away and were reeling in. First fish on the bank, a little eel. 1:0 to the boy! Despite fishing with fresh lug, I couldn’t buy a bite! We moved back with the tide as wifey and eldest boy went home with the dog, I had reverted to frozen lug now as I couldn’t access the lug beds on the flood now, but boy had another bite on his recast rod, so eel no2 was landed… dads still blanking! We fished on until 2130 with no more action for either of us, so I blanked again and boy had 2. Fresh vs frozen and frozen won! Still, there’s always next time!

 

[Valleyboy]

Great stuff. Nowt wrong with frozen blacks, some days they easily outfish fresh worms

 

[Shirleycodlin]

Oh no, beaten again!!
Frozen black lug is a good bait.
Now is the time to get some frozen down for winter.

Pump, gut, dry, wrap, vacuum pack and finally freeze.

 

[Trampster]

Morning all, after a busy week at work, I felt the need to hit the beach, only problem was that I didn’t have any bait… so lunchtime yesterday I took a stroll to the nearest tackle shop to buy some lugworm (first time in ages!) only to find they were out of peelers and fresh lug! I was offered the choice of salted lug in pilchard oil or frozen lug, I brought 30 frozen lug as I haven’t used the salted stuff and didn’t trust it! The boy and I got down to the beach around 1730, as the tide just started to flood, I had brought another 2 rod stand for boy so he now had 2 beachcasters to fish with, which were quickly set up with 2 hook clipped down rigs baited with the dubious black lug, he chucked them out about 30-40yrds into the flooded tide as I tackled up my two rods with the same set up. Rather than cast out, I whizzed around the beach and pumped some fresh bait, soon my rods were out fishing at 80yrds with fresh lug on, well by this time, boy and wifey were excitedly watching his rod tip knock away and were reeling in. View attachment 13194First fish on the bank, a little eel. 1:0 to the boy! Despite fishing with fresh lug, I couldn’t buy a bite! We moved back with the tide as wifey and eldest boy went home with the dog, I had reverted to frozen lug now as I couldn’t access the lug beds on the flood now, but boy had another bite on his recast rod, View attachment 13195so eel no2 was landed… dads still blanking! We fished on until 2130 with no more action for either of us, so I blanked again and boy had 2. Fresh vs frozen and frozen won! Still, there’s always next time! View attachment 13196

Great report Ouchy with some great photos! Your lad did well - 'eel' be alright, 'e didn't blank! ??

 

[ouchthathurt]

I think the problem was that the bait this time was old, when they defrosted, they were little more than skins!

I’m just looking for excuses for being beaten by a 12yr old! ?

 

[Shirleycodlin]

I think the problem was that the bait this time was old, when they defrosted, they were little more than skins!

I’m just looking for excuses for being beaten by a 12yr old! ?

Vac packing stops that.
Honestly, I really did not appreciate just how well vac packing keeps frozen bait in A1 condition till I tried it.

 

[ouchthathurt]

I think I’ll just have to bite the bullet and get the pump out at 6am to get my own to freeze down!

 

[ouchthathurt]

Bizarrely, I also missed another trick, that I should have capitalised on, when bait digging at low spring tides, I disturb a lot of small sand eels, after a storm I often find sand eels stunned in the gullies, when you pick them up they flip and wriggle about, but place them back in the water and they just sit there, listless. I picked up a pack of blast frozen sand eels yesterday, yet put them back! I know there’s sand eels over the mark I’m fishing, yet didn’t take any with me as bait!

where’s those golf clubs? ?

 

[Mr Fish]

Bizarrely, I also missed another trick, that I should have capitalised on, when bait digging at low spring tides, I disturb a lot of small sand eels, after a storm I often find sand eels stunned in the gullies, when you pick them up they flip and wriggle about, but place them back in the water and they just sit there, listless. I picked up a pack of blast frozen sand eels yesterday, yet put them back! I know there’s sand eels over the mark I’m fishing, yet didn’t take any with me as bait!

where’s those golf clubs? ?

Oh dear. First the spider peelers, now the sandeels ???

 

[wingnut55]

You do realise Matt, now you have bought the boy another rod, he will catch twice as many as you now.

It's great to see a nipper enjoying his fishing, and that's down to you Matt. So good on you mate.

Ian.

 

[ouchthathurt]

Oh dear. First the spider peelers, now the sandeels ???

Don’t I know it!! I think it’s time I crawl back to my carp ponds with my tail between my legs… damn things can’t get far!

You do realise Matt, now you have bought the boy another rod, he will catch twice as many as you now.

It's great to see a nipper enjoying his fishing, and that's down to you Matt. So good on you mate.

Ian.

Thank you buddy, he loves fishing, now he’s learnt to cast too, he’s well into it. I just set him up, (making sure the reel seat is set for him! Lol) and bait up then let him crack on. His best cast so far is about 60yrds, but that’s plenty far enough on the marks I choose for him to fish. Pett level at low tide (especially on a flood tide) will produce school bass and eels from 10-50yrds, so as he’s demonstrated (repeatedly) distance isn’t everything. He also had one eel on each rod… ? I also cast for him once and put it out there… no bites! ?

 

[wingnut55]

Oh that's your excuse, you are casting over the fish. .

Ian.

 

[ouchthathurt]

It’s all your fault Ian, if you hadn’t sold me those rods, I wouldn’t be having a play seeing how far I can chuck a 5oz lead! It’s very easy to chuck a lead a long way!

nothing to do with me at all… ????

 

[Mr Fish]

Don’t I know it!! I think it’s time I crawl back to my carp ponds with my tail between my legs… damn things can’t get far!

Thank you buddy, he loves fishing, now he’s learnt to cast too, he’s well into it. I just set him up, (making sure the reel seat is set for him! Lol) and bait up then let him crack on. His best cast so far is about 60yrds, but that’s plenty far enough on the marks I choose for him to fish. Pett level at low tide (especially on a flood tide) will produce school bass and eels from 10-50yrds, so as he’s demonstrated (repeatedly) distance isn’t everything. He also had one eel on each rod… ? I also cast for him once and put it out there… no bites! ?

I’m sure you’ll get there! Maybe look around for other marks you could both try.
Also after dark if possible, you might find it a whole different ball game.

 

[ouchthathurt]

The mark produces really well when low tide coincides with an hour before dawn, but trying to convince the boy to get up at 4am is like trying to force your granny upstairs to bed against her will… stubborn doesn’t quite cover it! ??

 

[Mr Fish]

The mark produces really well when low tide coincides with an hour before dawn, but trying to convince the boy to get up at 4am is like trying to force your granny upstairs to bed against her will… stubborn doesn’t quite cover it! ??

Don’t blame him at all, dawn is for the birds!

Evenings are getting darker earlier, why not do a low at a sensible evening time?

 

[wingnut55]

Don’t blame him at all, dawn is for the birds!

Evenings are getting darker earlier, why not do a low at a sensible evening time?

Don't forget the fish venture in closer at night, so his son will have a field day with his 60yd casts.

Joking aside, it's great to see a father and son fishing together.

Ian.

 

[Trampster]

Haha! Maybe I ought to arrange a week in Hastings, Matt could be my surrogate son, and out-fish me! Could go on a father & son pub crawl afterwards too! Had to park up overnight many years ago in Hastings with the Truck. Went looking for Pub food, and one of the local landlords took me on a pub crawl! One of those great nights I will always remember! Great place. ????

 

[ouchthathurt]

Don’t blame him at all, dawn is for the birds!

Evenings are getting darker earlier, why not do a low at a sensible evening time?

Unfortunately my boys live in Wales with their mother, so fishing is limited to holidays with daddy. Gives me a chance to catch a few though!

 

[Mr Fish]

Don't forget the fish venture in closer at night, so his son will have a field day with his 60yd casts.

Joking aside, it's great to see a father and son fishing together.

Ian.

Oh, didn’t think of that! Yea poor lad will never be allowed to go now ?