Goateeblank
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 1,659
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 115
- Location
- South Coast
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Just after l fished Swanage Pier last time, l had a report that it was fishing better with the bait fish showing. That's a good sign for the species hunters with regard to catching sand eels, launce and the more exotic pilchard and the like.
Started with a late drive down and a night in the van. My usual spot was free and l had a nightcap of flask tea, sat on my bed with the waves lapping the beach in the dark some 12ft away. Bliss.
Good kip and woken around 7 by the dog walkers and their barky dogs. More tea and a toastie and a wait for the pier master to arrive. He was there before 8 and l drove the 100ft to the gate and after a bit of cheeky banter, l was parked up on the pier before it's official opening time.
The conditions for my targets were not good with regard to wind direction, the colour of the water and the steady swell. Got set up with my usual 9ft spinning rods and small hooks and bits of rag worm.
Not long to wait for the first fish of the day a little brown ballan wrasse.
Next was a Tompot.
Shortly after was a long spined sea scorpion. My favourite mini. A nice size one compared to ones caught lately.
I was having to move spots to get the fish, which set the tone for the day. Sometimes it can be fish after fish from the same spot, other days you have to work for them and this was one of those days!
Tried fishing away from the pier and had a really nice bite, followed by a good tussle with a good 1lb plus ballan. That perked things up a bit. 3 guys arrived and set up, closely followed by the enigma that is Haddock! Told him there were a few fish about, but it was slow.
Crabs were becoming a pain including some sizeable spider crabs.
It was getting longer and longer between fish, but another very nicely marked ballan came in. Beautiful.
Had a very pretty corkwing, which due to its colours, made me wonder if it was a rock cook as l have never caught one. Pretty either way.
We decided to move back along the pier to try and search out something different. It was not to be, and we were considering finishing early, to get home before the traffic got bad. True to form, my bungeed on rod tried to get over the railing! Unclipped the bungee and picked up the rod as the fish veered to the left in a big wide arc. There was only a couple of foot of water and you could see the bottom and the weed. The fish stayed in the weed as best it could and the shallow water made for some good runs. Exciting stuff. I was able to lift up onto the pier another very nice ballan being held by a very bald man!
Now do we stay or do we go? Go!
Scores on the doors were.
6 or 7 ballan.
1 corkwing.
1 long spined sea scorpion.
1 Tompot.
The 3 other guys blanked. Haddock had a few. We are still not getting any 50 to 100 plus fish sessions, but sure they will come as we progress through the year. No new species to add to my tally, but a pleasant enough day on the pier.
Good luck if you are out.
Started with a late drive down and a night in the van. My usual spot was free and l had a nightcap of flask tea, sat on my bed with the waves lapping the beach in the dark some 12ft away. Bliss.
Good kip and woken around 7 by the dog walkers and their barky dogs. More tea and a toastie and a wait for the pier master to arrive. He was there before 8 and l drove the 100ft to the gate and after a bit of cheeky banter, l was parked up on the pier before it's official opening time.
The conditions for my targets were not good with regard to wind direction, the colour of the water and the steady swell. Got set up with my usual 9ft spinning rods and small hooks and bits of rag worm.
Not long to wait for the first fish of the day a little brown ballan wrasse.
Next was a Tompot.
Shortly after was a long spined sea scorpion. My favourite mini. A nice size one compared to ones caught lately.
I was having to move spots to get the fish, which set the tone for the day. Sometimes it can be fish after fish from the same spot, other days you have to work for them and this was one of those days!
Tried fishing away from the pier and had a really nice bite, followed by a good tussle with a good 1lb plus ballan. That perked things up a bit. 3 guys arrived and set up, closely followed by the enigma that is Haddock! Told him there were a few fish about, but it was slow.
Crabs were becoming a pain including some sizeable spider crabs.
It was getting longer and longer between fish, but another very nicely marked ballan came in. Beautiful.
Had a very pretty corkwing, which due to its colours, made me wonder if it was a rock cook as l have never caught one. Pretty either way.
We decided to move back along the pier to try and search out something different. It was not to be, and we were considering finishing early, to get home before the traffic got bad. True to form, my bungeed on rod tried to get over the railing! Unclipped the bungee and picked up the rod as the fish veered to the left in a big wide arc. There was only a couple of foot of water and you could see the bottom and the weed. The fish stayed in the weed as best it could and the shallow water made for some good runs. Exciting stuff. I was able to lift up onto the pier another very nice ballan being held by a very bald man!
Now do we stay or do we go? Go!
Scores on the doors were.
6 or 7 ballan.
1 corkwing.
1 long spined sea scorpion.
1 Tompot.
The 3 other guys blanked. Haddock had a few. We are still not getting any 50 to 100 plus fish sessions, but sure they will come as we progress through the year. No new species to add to my tally, but a pleasant enough day on the pier.
Good luck if you are out.
