South West Reckon its bassy?

[Goatfish]

I would love to try there at HW with a surface popper or shallow diving lure in a couple of months time.
Looks a good Bassy venue and scenic too…..

 

[Had1]

All great advice above really, would add try sessions over low and high, as you might find low produces the most at that kind of spot ,as a guess from afar anyway.
If there is a section of cleaner ground nearby it could also be worth a go as the fish will travel through , if you end up losing gear there.

 

[Mr Fish]

Just got back from bait shop in Pembroke dock. Lovely bloke in there. Bought some great looking rag and lug but he didn't have any crab. Said its still a bit early round here for peelers. Maybe ill get a minute between hauling in all the bass on my lures to look under some rocks. If I find hard shell crabs do they work or is it only worth using peelers?

No, hardbacks only really work for wrasse or smoothies, neither of which I’d think you’ll find there!

Ironically bass or codling will often have small hardbacks in their stomachs, but try and actually catch anything on them

 

[Mr Fish]

Btw, it’s warmed up a bit, Milford Haven, I’d expect there to be a chance of peelers now, if you have time to look for them.
Lift the weed close to rock edges or look under large rocks with a depression underneath.
But please lift any stones carefully and replace them carefully, so you preserve the habitat and also don’t crush any other sea life while you’re searching.

 

[Topwater]

When it comes to bass on lures, if they are found there they will explore any features in my experience. It's a case if finding out when

 

[mojitojon79]

No, hardbacks only really work for wrasse or smoothies, neither of which I’d think you’ll find there!

Ironically bass or codling will often have small hardbacks in their stomachs, but try and actually catch anything on them

Apparently smoothies have been caught by angle lifeboat slip on the opposite side of the bay.

 

[mojitojon79]

So I found the mark in the dark..(forgot my headtorch ) first cast...caught in the rocks. Managed to pull it out, re bait and go again. Snagged. Cut the line, re rig and go again. Once again snagged. Balls. Try the lure rod. Climbed down the rocks and 5 casts in caught in the floating clumps of weed. After freeing the lure from the weed I cast again only to catch a gert feckin rock. Lost lure. Magnificent. By now the tide is full in and not moving much so I cut my losses and called it a day. Several lost weights, a lost lure and some drowned worms. The mockery of the sea gulls was loud in my ears as I trudged away.... still good fun though. And the lights of the refinery were pretty in the dawn light

 

[Trampster]

Nice report Jon. Shame no Fish about, and you lost some gear, but it sounds like you had a pleasant session.

 

[Cfish]

Just a thought could you catch some live prawns for bait?? Keep trying mate,on that ground you might get wrasse in daylight?

 

[mojitojon79]

Just a thought could you catch some live prawns for bait?? Keep trying mate,on that ground you might get wrasse in daylight?

I was thinking it was not such a bad thing I didn't catch as we broke my landing net foraging with the kids in rock pools the day before. I'll find another spot next time I come visiting the folks. There's so many places to try down here. Also another benefit to not catching is I don't have to try and cram the fish into the car already full with kids, dogs, luggage etc.
How long does ragworm stay alive? Would it last till Saturday coming ? I'm going out on a boat from Plymouth.

 

[chesilpete]

I would completely disregard the need to cast on a venue like that with the gear you have, I would freeline a big bit of fishy bait as soon as there is 4ft of water on an incoming tide. Just flick it out and watch the bow in the line.

 

[Mr Fish]

Sorry it was a bit of a mare in the end.

Why did you need to cut you line when snagged though? Just give it a steady pull with your hands and walk backwards.
Obviously use either rags or a sleeve to protect your hands or if it’s stronger braid, wrap it around a stick.

If you cut it, (a) you’ll lose a lot more line and (b) it’ll leave more line out there to cause snags or problems for wildlife etc.

Generally I’d probably choose to fish a mark like that from just before low and get the first couple of hours of flood, as in theory the fish will be pushing up gullies or moving onto the mud as it covers.

Going in near blind in the dark at high probably isn’t the best option, as you found.

Honestly not being critical and I think you were a bit limited on your time windows (?) but things to think about for next time.

 

[Mr Fish]

I would completely disregard the need to cast on a venue like that with the gear you have, I would freeline a big bit of fishy bait as soon as there is 4ft of water on an incoming tide. Just flick it out and watch the bow in the line.

Hi Pete, agree there’s no need to cast far on an estuary mark however they can be funny places when it comes to bait.
If I put out a squid or half a mackerel in my local estuary I’d expect plenty of thank you notes from the crabs and not much else!
But ‘estuaries’ vary greatly as you know and some aren’t much different from the open coast with more coastal species, then it might work.
Whereas mine, at least up river, is maddies or crabs, lug lower down, or don’t bother going out lol.

 

[chesilpete]

Hi Pete, agree there’s no need to cast far on an estuary mark however they can be funny places when it comes to bait.
If I put out a squid or half a mackerel in my local estuary I’d expect plenty of thank you notes from the crabs and not much else!
But ‘estuaries’ vary greatly as you know and some aren’t much different from the open coast with more coastal species, then it might work.
Whereas mine, at least up river, is maddies or crabs, lug lower down, or don’t bother going out lol.

I just think its early for small bass in numbers but theres a possibility of a better fish..... I like a big fish bait freelined on brackish venues I know it will be a pile of crabs but I have seen them scarper when a decent bass comes along.
I guess we would all do it differently and everything will work on its day.
That venue in April seems tough to me, the same venue in September would look excellent.

 

[Mr Fish]

I just think its early for small bass in numbers but theres a possibility of a better fish..... I like a big fish bait freelined on brackish venues I know it will be a pile of crabs but I have seen them scarper when a decent bass comes along.
I guess we would all do it differently and everything will work on its day.
That venue in April seems tough to me, the same venue in September would look excellent.

Yep April wouldn’t be my choice. I do think it depends on the estuary and how far ‘up river’ you are.

If I fish a mile or two from the open coast here and don’t use maddies, I might as well be baiting with chocolate Hobnobs

On the other hand, down by the mouth crab is king but yes you wouldn’t expect a big bass to turn its nose up at a big bait.

 

[Mr Fish]

Never fished Milford but tbh I think this time of year I’d just head to the coast rocks, conditions permitting, and bash a few wrasse

 

[chesilpete]

Yep April wouldn’t be my choice. I do think it depends on the estuary and how far ‘up river’ you are.

If I fish a mile or two from the open coast here and don’t use maddies, I might as well be baiting with chocolate Hobnobs

On the other hand, down by the mouth crab is king but yes you wouldn’t expect a big bass to turn its nose up at a big bait.

My experience is generally harbour or beach related to be fair.....

 

[mojitojon79]

So here was the venue. Think it's called sawdern point or something. I wouldn't normally cut the line but I'd tried pulling it and I guess I just made a dumb decision in the dark. Windows of opportunity are few and far between for fishing down there as we travel down from near Bath to visit my parents and brother so I generally snatch when my wife and kids are still sleeping. It's a good shout to fish from low. I never thought of that. I'll try that next time.

 

[mojitojon79]

I would completely disregard the need to cast on a venue like that with the gear you have, I would freeline a big bit of fishy bait as soon as there is 4ft of water on an incoming tide. Just flick it out and watch the bow in the line.

When you say freeline a big bait. Is that literally just using the bait as a weight or using a weight as well but just chucking it short?

 

[Mr Fish]

When you say freeline a big bait. Is that literally just using the bait as a weight or using a weight as well but just chucking it short?

Just the bait he means