Mr Fish
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 21,366
- Reaction score
- 73,986
- Points
- 116
- Location
- North Devon
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
It was time to open the autumn surf beach bass campaign at last, so met up with @Christurner at my go to local bass beach last night.
I do love autumn bassing - it’s finally getting dark at a sensible hour and you can target a high or low tide without being up until stupid o clock and going to bed in daylight.
Plus there’s plenty of bass around, the weather is still mild and the worst of the tourists have gone home.
As I’ve said, this particular beach is my go to. Fishing big baits and not messing about with worm or sandeel I’d say I get a good bass ie 4lb plus, in about two out of three trips here.
Chris wanted to arrive in daylight as he’d never seen it before and to fling a few sex toys about at last light. I ambled down about 8.30, to fish the two down and then as much of the flood as we could be bothered with.
He already had a schoolie and a dogfish when I arrived and I hastily set up, putting out half a bluey on one rod and a double squid (they were a bit small), on the other.
It wasn’t long before I had a few twitches on the bluey but left it for a bit before bringing it in to discover a small huss had swallowed the lot.
No blood and the hooks were deep so I cut the line and hoped he could disgorge them or they’d rot out.
While baiting up I also had a run on the squid but missed it.
Chris meanwhile was getting dogs and schoolies every cast and becoming so warm he had to take his jumper off!
He decided to opt for larger baits as the small stuff was taking sandeel every time.
It was a bit quieter for me, but I expect that with bigger baits, fine by me - don’t want to be unhooking dogs all night.
I can’t recall the exact sequence of events but Chris had a late hound, maybe 5lb?
It was followed by a smaller one.
Then he had a 3lb 1oz bass so dinner was sorted!
The bass had a small weaver fish inside it!
As the tide turned I began getting more bites and what I thought might be a dog or a schoolie turned out to be a small eyed around 5lb.
Sorry for the less than arty picture, it was trying to slide off my box while I was taking it!
I had another ray, a tiny one about 1.5lb, shortly after.
Chris was still running up and down the beach like a maniac bringing in dogs and smaller bass.
He had another keeper and then one just under.
As we approached the point where the tide would force us off the beach I finally had a bass, maybe just over 2lb? Probably a keeper but I decided to put him back.
And it was shortly followed by another about 1.5lb.
Usually the last bit of flood is THE time but instead the bites died off and we packed up.
Apart from one small squid I had literally run out of bait - very unusual during a surf beach session when casts are usually so limited in number.
Chris kindly gave me a couple of squid and a sandeel but he was almost out of bait too.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen that beach so busy with fish or so many species for that matter.
Will definitely have to try it again on a neap tide!
I do love autumn bassing - it’s finally getting dark at a sensible hour and you can target a high or low tide without being up until stupid o clock and going to bed in daylight.
Plus there’s plenty of bass around, the weather is still mild and the worst of the tourists have gone home.
As I’ve said, this particular beach is my go to. Fishing big baits and not messing about with worm or sandeel I’d say I get a good bass ie 4lb plus, in about two out of three trips here.
Chris wanted to arrive in daylight as he’d never seen it before and to fling a few sex toys about at last light. I ambled down about 8.30, to fish the two down and then as much of the flood as we could be bothered with.
He already had a schoolie and a dogfish when I arrived and I hastily set up, putting out half a bluey on one rod and a double squid (they were a bit small), on the other.
It wasn’t long before I had a few twitches on the bluey but left it for a bit before bringing it in to discover a small huss had swallowed the lot.
No blood and the hooks were deep so I cut the line and hoped he could disgorge them or they’d rot out.
While baiting up I also had a run on the squid but missed it.
Chris meanwhile was getting dogs and schoolies every cast and becoming so warm he had to take his jumper off!
He decided to opt for larger baits as the small stuff was taking sandeel every time.
It was a bit quieter for me, but I expect that with bigger baits, fine by me - don’t want to be unhooking dogs all night.
I can’t recall the exact sequence of events but Chris had a late hound, maybe 5lb?
It was followed by a smaller one.
Then he had a 3lb 1oz bass so dinner was sorted!
The bass had a small weaver fish inside it!
As the tide turned I began getting more bites and what I thought might be a dog or a schoolie turned out to be a small eyed around 5lb.
Sorry for the less than arty picture, it was trying to slide off my box while I was taking it!
I had another ray, a tiny one about 1.5lb, shortly after.
Chris was still running up and down the beach like a maniac bringing in dogs and smaller bass.
He had another keeper and then one just under.
As we approached the point where the tide would force us off the beach I finally had a bass, maybe just over 2lb? Probably a keeper but I decided to put him back.
And it was shortly followed by another about 1.5lb.
Usually the last bit of flood is THE time but instead the bites died off and we packed up.
Apart from one small squid I had literally run out of bait - very unusual during a surf beach session when casts are usually so limited in number.
Chris kindly gave me a couple of squid and a sandeel but he was almost out of bait too.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen that beach so busy with fish or so many species for that matter.
Will definitely have to try it again on a neap tide!
Last edited:
