South Coast Swanage species hunt.

[Goateeblank]

A top day out species hunting in Swanage Thursday, started with a drive down late weds evening. The first picture is the view from my bed in the van, of the sun rising around 5.30 over Swanage Pier. I slept 12 ft from the sea and could hear the waves gently lapping the shore.


Up at 7.30 and started the day with a bacon roll and coffee from Greg's, great value at £2.30 something. Parked on the pier early just after 8. Set up a float rod for gar and mackerel and it did nothing all day! Had 2 x 9ft ugly sticks with cheap reels with 2 hook rigs, one up and one down running ledger. Baits were gar on the gar/Mackie float rod and rag chunks or maddies on the ugly sticks. Also used Sabikis on and off for sand eels and Launce.
12 species of fish caught. We kept the sand eels in a tank and had around a hundred to bring home. Must have caught around 200 fish all in, between myself and Capt'nhaddock (fishyfishy). He caught many more sand eels than me and put me on the dragonet. He is a top shore, species hunter.
Species caught as follows.
12 species today 11 the same and Haddock had a few Launce and l had a black bream.
Ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, baillons wrasse. Sand eels we had a hundred or so in a bucket now vacuumn packed, Launce, pout, Tompot blenny, rock goby, Pollack, black bream, dragonet and sand smelt. Pier shut at 5. A great day and very productive.
Sunrise and fishy pictures follow. One wrasse is a new colour for me! The mottled green one.

 

[ouchthathurt]

Good drills mate, well done ?

 

[Landlocked Northants]

A bit small, but a species catch none the less.

 

[Kine262]

A top day out species hunting in Swanage Thursday, started with a drive down late weds evening. The first picture is the view from my bed in the van, of the sun rising around 5.30 over Swanage Pier. I slept 12 ft from the sea and could hear the waves gently lapping the shore.
View attachment 11714

Up at 7.30 and started the day with a bacon roll and coffee from Greg's, great value at £2.30 something. Parked on the pier early just after 8. Set up a float rod for gar and mackerel and it did nothing all day! Had 2 x 9ft ugly sticks with cheap reels with 2 hook rigs, one up and one down running ledger. Baits were gar on the gar/Mackie float rod and rag chunks or maddies on the ugly sticks. Also used Sabikis on and off for sand eels and Launce.
12 species of fish caught. We kept the sand eels in a tank and had around a hundred to bring home. Must have caught around 200 fish all in, between myself and Capt'nhaddock (fishyfishy). He caught many more sand eels than me and put me on the dragonet. He is a top shore, species hunter.
Species caught as follows.
12 species today 11 the same and Haddock had a few Launce and l had a black bream.
Ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, baillons wrasse. Sand eels we had a hundred or so in a bucket now vacuumn packed, Launce, pout, Tompot blenny, rock goby, Pollack, black bream, dragonet and sand smelt. Pier shut at 5. A great day and very productive.
Sunrise and fishy pictures follow. One wrasse is a new colour for me! The mottled green one.
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Superb! Some of those colours are stunning too. I can only marvel at some of the species you guys catch. I’ve never even seen most of them.

 

[Goateeblank]

A bit small, but a species catch none the less.

They don't make sand eels in conger size!

 

[Landlocked Northants]

They don't make sand eels in conger size!

Shame ?
As you like to catch so many sand eels

 

[Trampster]

Great report and photos Goatee! Nice result for your species hunt. Photos of the sunrise make me wish I still had my Transit with the bunk in the back - I might be tempted to travel further! ??

 

[Warby72]

Cracking session, well done.

 

[Goateeblank]

Shame ?
As you like to catch so many sand eels

Which saves me money as they are good fresh bait for catching these.

 

[Tatunka joe]

Which saves me money as they are good fresh bait for catching these.
View attachment 11747

Nice haul of fish goat well done bud ??

 

[tdxs133pm]

Which saves me money as they are good fresh bait for catching these.

Put him on Ignore he might take the HINT.But I doubt it.

 

[bananas]

Well done Keith, smashing the species there, very well done on the Baillions and Dragonet, great pics too.

 

[Goateeblank]

Cheers. I was really pleased as my main targets for the day was for both, plus a Launce. Haddock had a few Launce - his technique is superior to mine or so he kept telling me. Even though l fed him for the day!!!! I think his Sabikis, although sharp, are worn out as they have had so many fish on them! I may need to cut the shiny bits on mine l reckon. Needs another trip. It won't beat me.

 

[cap'nhaddock]

Cheers. I was really pleased as my main targets for the day was for both, plus a Launce. Haddock had a few Launce - his technique is superior to mine or so he kept telling me. Even though l fed him for the day!!!! I think his Sabikis, although sharp, are worn out as they have had so many fish on them! I may need to cut the shiny bits on mine l reckon. Needs another trip. It won't beat me.

Yours were posh proper sabikis,perhaps they are too gaudy for discerning sandeels, mine were cheapo Fladen 'Fish Skin' (ref No. 17-1252-16).

I'll take pity on you and bring you a set next time, they work where others don't.

It's a matter of getting the weight/rod combination right to get the correct 'flutter' of the feathers, it's trial and error to get the combination that works, bring a selection of drop shot weights, and a chocolate muffin.

 

[Goateeblank]

You like my muffins! And the eye wateringly sweet iced cakes as l remember.

 

[Stone]

Fantastic..
I’ve never really thought about targeting launch and sandeel to freeze.. not a bad idea ??

 

[Goateeblank]

There were lots of big shoals of them. They were there most of the time. Driving home l thought it would be good to take a landing net or some such to scoop them. At around £3 a packet it could be quite a saver. Likely rules about proper netting, but not sure about a landing net or similar.

 

[Had1]

top species hunting there fella