Summer’s here (meteorologically speaking), following the sunniest Spring on record, which has given us a little light in these dark Corona days. This time of year always evokes strong memories for me. Not just of bass fishing in the summertime, but of family days on the beach, and trips to local events and attractions. Notable among these is the Royal Cornwall Show, the county’s biggest annual event, and very much a Cornish tradition.

Memories of the show are in turn inextricably linked with my bass fishing. Driving past the showground at Wadebridge, as the time approaches for the show and all the marquees and display rings in evidence, always makes me think of warm summer evenings spent bass fishing in some remote cove with friends. But this year is different, the normal hive of activity giving way to an empty quietness in the wake of Covid-19.

Natural bounty

Summer also brings with it a natural bounty of flora and fauna – some welcome, others not. Take ‘mayweed’ or ‘mayrot’ for example. This clingy brown stuff, which sticks to your leader knot, and ruins the action of your lure when bass fishing, has been much in evidence this year in some areas; presumably the sunny weather encouraging the growth of the algae blooms which cause it. Let’s hope the recent unsettled weather disperses it soon.

And can there be any more beautiful sight in summer than dolphins? Like many people, I’ve always had a soft spot for them. Perhaps watching ‘Flipper’ on TV in the sixties is responsible, or my life-long love of all things marine.  Whatever the roots of this passion for these cuddly cetaceans, I am always stopped in my tracks by the sight of these creatures, especially at close quarters. Imagine my delight then, when Bryn Le Poidevin sent me this stunning still photo he took from a video of dolphins he shot from his boat on Guernsey.

BASS Photography Competition

Now that we all have phone cameras in our pockets most of the time, it’s easy to capture our surroundings when we’re out and about. BASS are running a free-to-enter competition looking for the best bass fishing-related photos each month. There are some great prizes on offer, so why not have a go?  You’ll find all the information you need on the BASS blog. Entries can be submitted via the BASS Facebook page or the BASS Members’ Forum.

What colour is that lure?

Ever since I did Physics at school, I’ve always had a fascination for colour, or strictly speaking, what causes things to have different colours. The old mnemonic  we were taught for remembering the order of the colours of the spectrum ‘Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain’ stays with me to this day. And the idea that what we think of as white light is really a combination of these (or black an absence of them) comes to mind whenever  I see a rainbow (strangely pertinent in these Corona times). Start applying this to angling and it really gets interesting.

Most of us have our favourites when it comes to lure colours, but just how important is this in terms of catching fish? My own preferences when bass fishing are natural, or silver and black colours by day, and darker colours/black or white by night, but others find brighter colours such as chartreuse or orange work best for them.

Fish have colour vision, but the colours they actually see depends on the depth of water at which the lure is working.  This excellent video explains things well.

A recent post  by Peter Heatlie, concerning lure colours at night, generated an interesting discussion on Lure Anglers Online (with thanks to all those who participated). In conditions of low light, colour is lost, and lures will appear varying shades of grey instead. For example, red or blue lures look almost black in these conditions, while a dark green one also looks pretty dark. These darker shades stand out against the background monochrome grey of the water at night, as will a black lure, and conversely a white one, giving the fish a better chance of seeing it. Fish have  low visual acuity, meaning it’s  probably not worth obsessing about lure detail, but they have high visual sensitivity – very useful for seeing things in low light conditions.

Some anglers think that colours don’t matter at night, and that vibration is much more important because bass are using their lateral line, rather than sight, to locate prey. My own experience is that ‘noisy’ lures (like a Joined Thunderstick plug) will certainly catch bass at night (especially in rougher conditions), but so will subtler lures (like a DoLive Stick soft plastic). And although I have caught bass on many different colours at night, my gut feeling is that darker ones have an edge, and conversely that white ones seem to find the better fish.

Cornish Catch & Release

Being a Personal Member of the Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers, and liking a bit of competition in my fishing, I’m going to make a point of submitting the occasional bass under their Catch and Release arrangements (that’s if I’m lucky enough to catch a decent one!).

The procedure for bass is quite straightforward – you just need a clear photo of your fish against a tape measure showing its length (in cm), making sure the snout of fish is up against the end of the tape, and that the tape is perfectly flat wherever possible. Length is measured from the snout to the tip of the tail. Photos should be emailed to the CFSA fish recorder, Simon Toms (st0467@gmail.com), by the end of each month. The weight of the fish will be calculated from this chart Bass weight length CFSA. Bass recorded like this will count for the best bass in the County award for each year.

You will need to be a member of the CFSA to take part. Anglers from anywhere in the Country may join, either as a Personal Member, or by joining an affiliated club, but only fish caught in Cornish waters may be submitted. To join as a Personal Member, please send a cheque for £10 to CFSA Secretary Ralph Elcox at ‘Wayside’, Menagissey, Mount Hawke, Truro  TR4 8DQ. Ralph is also able to help those seeking to join a CFSA affiliated club.

Catch and release science

While on the subject of catch and release, I am grateful to BASS Science Group member David Curtis for unearthing this interesting report from the Environment Agency. Although about salmon, it is highly relevant to bass fishing, indeed many of the concepts discussed will already be familiar to bass anglers.

I found the physiological aspects particularly informative. Physiological disturbance and stress in fish can result in reduced survival following release. This disturbance is greater when the ‘fight’ (retrieval) is prolonged, when bankside handing is careless, and when exposure to air is prolonged, these effects being worse when the water is warmer. It can take salmon up to 24 hours to recover to their pre-fishing physiological state.

I suspect that bass are quite a hardy fish, as suggested by studies like the Cork Harbour one, which showed that 100% of fish caught with lures, and subjected to the insertion of tags, were still alive 20 days after release. Nevertheless, we each need to make informed decisions about how we increase the chances of survival of those fish we wish/have to return.  On a personal note, I only use gear that allows for a quick retrieval, only measure and photograph fish which look over 60cm, and only weigh fish which are over 70cm, doing this as quickly as possible – in practice this probably accounts for less than 10 fish a year. I don’t recall any of these fish not swimming off strongly when I returned them, but it’s impossible to know if any went on to die subsequently, or be eaten by a predator.

Bait considerations

The first bass fishing of the new ‘season’ usually coincides with the spring peel of shore crabs. I’m always keen to use this excellent bait at this time of year, but getting it can be far from straightforward.

Take my first bait collecting trip of the year for example. I could tell from the footprints in the mud, that someone had been through my traps within the last couple of days. My worst fears were realised when I looked in the bucket at the end of an hour’s backbreaking toil in the stinky mud, and saw just two small peelers and one small crispy crab. In disgust, I was about to ditch them, but then I saw an angler fishing nearby, and thought they could at least have a couple of casts with them. Apart from the wasted effort involved, and the cost of the petrol to get there, I would have no bait to go fishing with, since it was not worth taking that number home. And with everyone after bream at the moment, the demand for shop-bought crab means getting hold of these is difficult. It’s enough to make you give up bait fishing!

But crab isn’t the only bait which works early in the season. A conversation with Alan Vaughan, with further encouragement from Dave Taylor, stimulated a developing interest in using cuttle as bait.  They come into shallow waters in spring, dying after they have bred, and you will often see lots of cuttle bones on beaches at this time of year. Whatever has stripped the flesh from these must have had a veritable banquet, and it’s reasonable to assume that bass will be joining in the feast. My initial efforts in this direction have not yet borne fruit, but as with all things to do with fishing, there are many factors which can influence success or failure, and persistence, perhaps with a dash of luck,  should eventually be rewarded.

Another less well tried bait is spider crab. If it was easier to get hold of, I’m sure spider peelers/softies would feature in many more bass catches.  They are present  inshore (but out of reach of the shore gatherer on dry land) from mid-May for about 3 months, often forming large mounds, with the females on the inside, as a method of protection following  peeling (moulting), when the bodies are still soft.  This incredible excerpt from Blue Planet II  shows spider crabs marching and congregating off the coast of Australia in order to shed their shells. Apparently they can be collected from the sides of harbour walls when they are swarming, but this is not something I have tried.

Lockdown Labrax

Although still in ‘lockdown’, we’ve been allowed to go fishing for several weeks now, but to be honest, it’s not really happening for me at the moment. OK, I have had the odd fish on small surface lures and soft plastics, but nothing of any size yet.

There were quite a few fish around at the time that the fishing restrictions were lifted, but they seem to be (un)socially distancing at the moment!   I suspect this is down to the fact that the first main peel of crabs is coming to an end, and the bass are looking elsewhere for their food, until the baitfish move in. Keep at it though, as I am hearing of the odd good catch, and things are changing as I speak. Richard Brandon managed this nice one towards the end of May.

June can be a very good month, indeed it was the best one for me in 2003 – in terms of numbers. I averaged 2.5 fish per trip in June that year – all on plugs. I put this down to the number of fry around at this time, which in a good year can be considerable. Given that these can be small, it makes sense to ‘match the hatch’ and smaller 9cm plugs have produced well for me at this time.

In the reports I’ve heard, 60-65cm fish seem to be featuring quite regularly. I think these come from the same cohort of fish which were giving us quite a few 55-60cm fish last year. This is a nice size (5-6lb) of fish to catch, and let’s hope some of them survive to grow even bigger.

Capturing the mood

Fishing stirs emotions deep within us. It can be hard to put this into words, but this poem by good friend Richard Brandon captures the mood of an evening’s fishing beautifully.

Out there – a new year arrival

Beneath a stooping, crescent moon                                                                                     the broily waters cleeve and roll.                                                                                         Lines divining cross the cove,                                                                                                      to seek the sea-tribes where they shoal.

Hoping against hope they escape                                                                                       where the death-nets hang and ride,                                                                           undersea gibbets set to make                                                                                               their daily rape of every tide.

Deep midnight, and a final cast                                                                                              flies out a further bribe of bait,                                                                                                 the acrid tang of wrack and kelp                                                                                       comes and goes as the winds abate.

Within the cadence of the waves                                                                                               A sudden jolt. The starscapes slide.                                                                                     The rod bucks and a moonlit bass                                                                                     marks our observance of the tide.

Tight lines and stay safe

As from today (13th May), we’re allowed to go bass fishing again in England (and hopefully elsewhere soon). That’s great news, but we must remember that this deadly virus is still out there. Please respect the restrictions, and take care not to put yourself, family members, or others, including the emergency and rescue services, at risk.

Although the new restrictions allow for fishing with one other person outside your household, I’ve taken the decision to fish alone for the time being.  If you do decide to fish with someone outside your household, the Angling Trust are recommending that you maintain a distance of 15 metres from them; Dean Asplin explains that this greater distance is required because you could be fishing with them for several hours. We’re allowed to drive as far as we want to take exercise/go fishing now, but please use restraint and common sense here – people in tourist areas like Cornwall are frightened of an influx of visitors from out-of-county at this time.

Let’s hope the fishing is as good as it was this time last year.

Let’s get behind those who seek to promote our interests.

Big thanks to the Angling Trust for making the case to Government for fishing to resume. Unbelievably, there are anglers who knock groups like these, and others such as BASS, and its campaigning arm SOSB , who are simply trying to do their bit for anglers. Why not do your bit as well, and join these groups? the more members they have, the more they can do for us.

I guess it’s inevitable, that any group that calls for greater protection for a species like bass, will be blamed for restrictions placed upon those who exploit it – whether for commercial gain, or for pleasure. Responsible anglers, who care for and respect their quarry, will accept, perhaps even embrace, these restrictions, if they are necessary and proportionate. Others, who simply want to take all they can, with no thought to the future, or who feel anglers have been disproportionately penalised, may take a different view. But please respect any restrictions imposed – the way to change things is to get involved, and support these groups when they call for action, not to flout the restrictions.

Groups like SOSB are doing excellent (unpaid) work, to fight for the protection of bass stocks for the benefit of all  anglers, while at the same time defending their rights to take  a bass (or two) home for tea.

It’s personal

Like many other people I’m sure, the Covid-19 pandemic feels very personal to me. I have mercifully, as yet, not lost a family member or friend to it, like many others have. But the ever-present risk of one of my family succumbing to it in the course of their work in the healthcare sector, is never far from my mind.

I’m mindful too, of all the scientists working on vaccines and new tests, and of colleagues working long shifts to process all those thousands of tests, which are proving so vital in tackling the pandemic, in double-quick time. It would be remiss of me not to mention all those working on possible treatments for Covid-19, not least colleagues in the NHS Blood and Transplant Service working on the use of convalescent plasma. How different my life would be right now if I was still at work!

VE Day

How ironic that the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe day, which drew a close to the unimaginable  loss of life during WWII, should fall in the midst of this awful pandemic, which has also taken so many from us. Yet perhaps VE Day may bring some comfort in showing us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m finding that my emotions are all over the place at the moment, and when my niece posted this picture of my late mum on social media, I  couldn’t hold back the tears. She was an ambulance driver in the WRAF during the war. I am so proud of her, and miss her dearly.

A Bass Angler’s Life

The 8th May is another significant date for me – it’s the date I finally finished my book last year, after six years of work. It was a labour of love though, and I didn’t spend every minute of that time on it!

Keeping us informed and entertained

If there are any upsides to this pandemic, the amount of information being provided for anglers to help them get through the ‘lockdown’ must surely be one.

Examples include some excellent blogs on the BASS website, available to members and non-members alike. Likewise the Angling Trust’s ‘Fishing buzz’ webpages. And if you want a master class in bass angling, with lure or bait, I would strongly advise you to visit Mike Ladle’s saltwater fishing diary.

A nice way to while away some time is to watch some Fish Locker videos. I’ve been watching the ones about foraging recently – very enjoyable and instructive, particularly if you have, like me, an interest in marine biology.

Thanks to James Lean for putting me onto this great podcast from Cornish angler Dave Taylor about lure fishing for bass at night. Dave’s enthusiasm, and obvious prowess, comes across in bucket-loads!

I recently read an article in Sea Angler magazine by Mike Thrussel (Issue 582, p78 – 80: Shore Species Spotlight Part 8 – BASS). Something in it really stood out: ” …note small pockets in the rocks that hold water after the tide has gone out because these are hotspots when the new flood tide arrives”. It just struck me as a really clever way of identifying those slightly deeper areas which can be so productive for bass – simple, but it had never occurred to me before.

Recent catches

Anglers in the UK have not been able to go fishing since the lockdown began. Those on Guernsey have though – for several weeks now.  Bryn Le Poidevin is becoming quite a dab hand at photography, and he sent me this gorgeous photo from one of his recent trips.

We all take our phones and other devices for granted these days, but it’s at times like these that you really appreciate the power of modern technology. God knows when I’ll be able to get to Guernsey again, but I’ve been able to keep in contact with my mates over there as if they were sitting right next to me! Bryn Le Poidevin and Simon De La Mare have been getting a few of late, including this nice one for Bryn.

Bass fishing prospects

With not being able to get out, it’s been a frustrating time for those who like to fish the early run of bass. The main bass fishing season should kick off anytime now – in fact, from what I’m hearing, it already has. Lures, particularly surface  ones, have served me well at this time, as has crab bait. And bang on cue, the foxgloves are starting to flower!

Changes in bass fishing over the years

Thinking about catches in the past,  BASS are looking for evidence of how the quality of bass fishing has changed over the years. There is plenty of anecdotal stuff about this, but little actual evidence. I wrote about ‘Bass catches in the past’ in an earlier blog. If you have any information which might be useful, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the right person.

Hope for the future?

Thinking about bass fishing in the future, I’m optimistic that the 2020 year class could be a good one. A mild spring, and a run of winds with a westerly component during February and March (a crucial time for spawning), should create good conditions for lots of baby bass to make it to our coastline.

A memorable session

We may not have been able to actually go fishing recently, but that doesn’t stop us  thinking about it, particularly those memorable fishing sessions that stay with us. These can involve a notable fish, a larger than normal bag, the discovery of a new mark, the mastering of a new technique, or a combination of events, place, time and conditions which burns itself into your memory.

One such session which I vividly recall goes back to 2003. The area where I was fishing is a particularly beautiful stretch of the Cornish coast. To add to this, there are several marks you can fish within reasonably close proximity; in fact, I used to call it “3 in 1” because you could do a circular walk and take in three marks between leaving the car park, and returning to it.

I nicknamed the second mark of the three ‘peg’, because somebody had helpfully placed a short wooden stake in the grassy bank at the top of the cliff, indicating where you can get down. I can only think this was another angler, to whom I’m eternally grateful, although I never saw anyone else fishing there. The last time I walked that way, the peg had gone, so perhaps they’d seen me fishing, and didn’t want anyone else going down there!

I managed to get down with a bit of a struggle, and headed for the water as soon as I found a likely-looking place to cast from. Conditions were superb, with clear water and plenty of ‘fizz’. I was fishing in the evening light, under a moody sky, with the clouds scudding along in the south-westerly wind.  I opted for a Jointed Thunderstick (JTS) plug, a choice that immediately paid off when a bass hit it virtually as soon as it landed, with another joining it soon after.

With seemingly a few fish  around, I really should have stayed put, and cashed in, but  couldn’t  resist exploring while the going was good. Moving further along the rocks, I saw a corner where I could bring the lure back through a gulley, if I could just get down to it. I did, and guess what –  the lure was hit as soon as I started retrieving it! Sometimes exploring does pay off.

Time for a bit of experimenting with different colours and plugs. I clipped on a JTS I had painted myself with silver ‘Hammerite’ and black aerosol, to mimic the Silver Scale colour, which was so effective but not easily obtainable. First cast – bang! Confidence now sky-high, I had to try that Mean Skipper plug from Harris Angling in Blue Silk, a lure which was not unlike the Jointed Thunderstick. You guessed it – success!

I lost count of how many fish I caught before they moved on, but it must have been at least 10. I can’t recall what size they were, but it’s probably safe to say they weren’t monsters. Nice fishing though.

A hairy experience

One last thing to mention. I was beginning to feel slightly unkempt, having not being able to get to the barbers for a couple of months due to the  Coronavirus restrictions. With an uncertain end to these, I considered the possibilities. To my surprise, Angela seemed keen to undertake the task – with the clippers we use for the dog! What the hell, I thought, I probably won’t see many people for a while, and I can always wear a hat for a couple of weeks.

The ‘appointment’ was made, and despite some words about wanting to do it outside because of the mess, it all went rather well really. At least that’s what I think – you can judge for yourself. The hardest part was deciding how much of a tip to give.

 

Keep safe.

What might have been

I had hoped to be telling you about my early season bass fishing exploits with my mate Steve Ainsworth, hopefully blessed with one of those lunkers making their way back to their summer feeding grounds; or catching some nice Channel Islands bass with my Guernsey mates; maybe even describing the first trip to my crab traps to collect peelers.

This terrible disease

But the COVID-19 pandemic has put paid to all that. This terrible disease has stopped us in our tracks. How can something smaller than a speck of dust wreak such havoc on the world? Whether the cost is measured in human, or in economic terms, the scale of it is hard to grasp. This pandemic is being compared to the Second World War – it’s certainly the most catastrophic thing I’ve seen in my lifetime.

Our lives have been turned upside down, affecting our physical and mental wellbeing, our work and livelihoods, our travel plans, our interaction with friends and family, our personal freedom, and of course our hobbies. Scanning my diary, the only bass fishing-related activity I’ve undertaken since my last blog is collecting razors on the big tides just after the full moon in March.

Staying at home

But curiously, I’m not crawling the walls in desperation to go fishing (yet!). Maybe that’s partly because, by some strange coincidence, the bass fishing in my area doesn’t really get going until June anyway.

Maybe it’s also partly because my heart just isn’t in it. When you see what’s happening to people at the moment, with the desperately sad stories of those losing the battle against this killer virus, it puts going fishing for fun into perspective.  The danger that our doctors (including my own two corona heroes) and nurses, and all the other key workers, are putting themselves in, and the sacrifices they are making, is truly humbling; it’s also very worrying for them and their families.  I found this short video, Our Heroes , incredibly moving.

I’m following the Angling Trust’s guidance  that we should refrain from fishing, pending the agreement of specific guidelines for recreational fishing with the (UK) Government. I think it’s important that we all do our bit, and set a good example to others.

It’s difficult to say how this whole Coronavirus situation will play out, but it’s just possible that we might see the relaxation of some of the restrictions next month. Whether this will allow for angling, in some limited form, to take place, remains to be seen, but hopefully as we go into June the chances of this will increase. But beating this virus is the overriding priority, and we must do whatever’s needed, however long it takes.

Bass fishing in March

The only bass I’ve heard about since my last blog are the odd fish to 5lb in estuaries, and a few (mostly small) fish caught by Dan Richards on Sandy Andy lures (along with some good-sized sea trout) – in both cases these fish were caught before the lockdown .

My mate Simon De La Mare had better luck over on Guernsey in March, before the lockdown there (now updated to allow recreational fishing from the land as an open sea activity). He finally cracked a new mark, after numerous blanks, with a bass of 6lb 2oz on a black Sidewinder Super Solid Sandeel (6″, 25g) lure during daylight, with the water very dirty from a recent storm. A couple of days later, the weather had calmed down, and the tide and conditions were right to fish the new mark in the dark for the first time. On the second cast, his white DoLive (don’t you just love these things!) was smashed, and after an incredible fight, he slid ashore the biggest bass he’s had in 5 years – an 8lb 2oz cracker. Nice one Simon!

Exercise

I may not be fishing, but I’m still getting my ‘exercise’ with my daily walks with Toby.  Mind you, we’ve had to cut down to one a day, around the village, under the current Coronavirus restrictions.  To be honest though, at 14, Tobes was starting to struggle anyway, so I think he appreciates the lighter routine. As much as he’d like to be down on the beach, clambering over rocks, or walking miles along the coast path with me, his poor old legs can’t manage it so well these days.

Walking has taken on a new meaning in these strange times – it’s more about giving everybody a wide berth, and anticipating whether there’s enough room for you both to pass. It seems more like driving than walking! Most people have quickly got the hang of it, but the odd hasty route deviation is still required!  It’s still possible to chat with people though, provided you keep your 2m distance. Some people are nervous, and quickly move on, while others are keen to engage, perhaps as a consequence of their social isolation.

Keeping busy

I haven’t been idle during the lockdown. Having already completed my pre-season preparations, like many redundant anglers, I’ve been scouring the homestead for jobs that need doing – the garden has never looked so kept, the garage and shed have never looked so tidy, and the car has never looked so shiny. I’ve even been cleaning windows! As a result of all this endeavour, I’m absolutely awash with brownie points – it’s just that I can’t use them!

Freezer disaster!

While we’re on the subject of garages, Angela exclaimed “What’s that awful smell”, as she entered the hallowed man cave. “Well it’s not me dear – it must be the coat I wear for bait fishing”. But then I remembered that she had only recently washed it, almost certainly since the last time I went. “Hmmm”, I mused, slamming the garage door shut, “I hope nothing’s died in there”; “it’ll probably go eventually” (the smell that is).

The next morning I decided it was time for a tidy-up in the man cave, ready for when I can start fishing again. “Better just check the freezer while I’m at it” I thought. This was just a routine check, you understand, such as I have performed on many occasions since I inherited the freezer from a neighbour, some years ago – although I must admit that recent events have somewhat distracted me from this. Despite a slightly battered top draw, with one broken hinge, it has always performed perfectly, protecting the treasures of razor fish, squid and mackerel baits contained within.

As I opened the door, the smell hit me like one of my mate’s worst eggy farts – it really was that bad! If you’ve ever cleaned out a sandeel or fish tank, you’ll have some idea of the smell. “Christ, the bloody thing’s packed up”, I muttered, as I touched the squishy 1lb box of squid on the top shelf. The plug was still in, and the switch was down, so I guess it must have just given up the ghost – several weeks ago, judging by the smell!

As I decanted the freezer’s stinking, dripping contents into a bin bag, I wondered what the poor bin men would make of the evil-smelling mess on Monday morning. I did momentarily consider refreezing the razors (even though I didn’t have a freezer!) – they say they work even better when high, but this was more a case of advanced putrefaction. Even the hungriest bass would have turned its nose up at them – assuming they managed to stay on the hook.

So it was in the bin they went – even those 50 odd big razors I collected only a few of weeks ago! I suppose the fact that I can’t actually fish at the moment is some small consolation. If you know of anybody with a small under-bench freezer going second hand in my area (Cornwall) please let me know (not that I’ll be able to collect it anytime soon). At least my fridge is still working, so I can store any crabs I collect – if I can ever get to the coast again!

Helping to inform and entertain

I find that just thinking and reading about bass fishing helps to pass the time and lift the spirits at this difficult time. Organisations like BASS and the Angling Trust are adding extra content to their websites, to keep anglers informed and entertained during the current lockdown. It’s well worth checking these out.

Boost to bass stocks?

With markets collapsing, and restaurants closing,  commercial catches of bass will be reduced. While this will undoubtedly cause hardship for those involved, at least bass stocks might benefit, especially since some may still be spawning for a few weeks yet.

Well, that’s it for now folks. Keep safe, stay home, and let’s hope things get back to normal soon. We will get through this!

 

 

Scuppered by the weather

Fishing wise, February was a non-event; all those plans I’d made for more winter bassing were scuppered by the weather. I did manage a couple of short, speculative bait sessions in between storms Ciara and Dennis, prompted by reports of occasional bass being caught, or just by curiosity. Sadly, neither produced any fish. As the month progressed, I gave up any idea of serious fishing, and decided that my time was better spent exploring new marks instead.

A silver lining

If you’re going to have months like the one that’s just finished, being constantly battered by gales, and the wettest February on record, the best time is when the fishing is at its quietest, which it usually is in February.

But every cloud has a silver lining, as they say; the wind had a westerly component  on most days during the month, and this should help make this year’s bass spawning a success, hopefully bringing us lots of silver for the future.

Monster bass

Some anglers did manage to find bass in February though, in fact Guntars Zukovski landed a truly awesome fish of 22lb+. Very well done to him, especially as he returned the fish alive. This was a proper BOFFFF (Big Old Fat Fecund Female Fish)! These big fish produce huge numbers of young, so it makes sense to put them back. They have survived for 20+ years, so they must have some kind of survival edge in their genes – something which is worth passing on to their offspring.

We can only assume that the fish was making its way to a nearby spawning area. It is known that these exist off Cornwall, but there may well be other areas, off both the west and east coasts of England and Wales.

Spring has sprung!

The daffodils are out, and we can put those winter blues behind us. Watch out for blackthorn flowers – when these come out, those big momma bass should be starting to make their way back to their summer feeding grounds. If you are lucky enough to intercept one, make sure you handle with care, to protect those precious eggs she might still be carrying, before you return her.

Get those jobs done!

Having completed my annual list of decorating, patio washing, wall cleaning etc., it was time to get my fishing gear ready for the season ahead.

Reels are no problem. If you don’t want to service or repair your own, and your local tackle shop can’t help with this, there are some good places you can send them away to (with the extra cost of postage of course).  I’ve sent my Abu 6500 C3 multiplier to Peter Coogan (07740 306500), up in the Wirral, for years now, and can highly recommend him. Likewise, Felindre Innovations (01792 796584) in Wales, who service my Shimano Sustain 2500FG (and will also do Penns and Daiwas).

I do manage minor reel repairs myself, like the problem I had with tiny nicks in the spool lip of my Daiwa Ninja 3000A. I presume these were as a result of misuse on my part, although I can’t recall any particular instance of this. A quick rub down with some very fine sandpaper, to smooth them out, seems to have sorted the problem out; not before I lost an expensive plug, when the braid snapped during casting though!

Rod repairs are not quite so straightforward. Many local shops will do basic repairs, like replacing tip rings for around a fiver, but few will tackle anything more than this. I did a bit of research and discovered the following places that might be able to help:

Roger’s Tackle, Bodmin (01208 78006); Graham Jasper’s Rodcraft, Redruth (07763 461991); Newtown Angling Centre, Penzance (01736 763721); Fishing Mayhem, Liskeard (who also do reel repairs) (01579 558558); Foxon’s, St Asaph (01745 583583).  There will be others I don’t know about – please leave a comment about any you do.

A tip tip

I recently purchased a second-hand HTO Shore Game 9ft 6, 7-35g lure rod, in mint condition. After all the great comments people have made about this rod on the BASS Forum (access to this comes with membership), I’m really looking forward to fishing with it this year.

I’m not used to such posh rods, and I’m particularly anxious to look after it. I like to rig my lure rod up, with leader and clip attached, before leaving home. The trouble is, I’m worried about the clip scratching the tip ring lining on the way to fishing marks, resulting in potential braid problems. Then I remembered that we used to use an elastic band as an adjustable depth stop when float fishing. This seems to do the job of keeping the clip away from the tip ring nicely, and is quick and easy to put on, and take off, before starting fishing.

Change those hooks

Another job I do at this time of year is checking the hooks on my lures, and replacing as necessary. I will only use single hooks on my plugs now. This may mean missing the odd schoolie, but I’m prepared to pay this price in the interests of keeping damage to fish (and me) to a minimum.  So this means changing the trebles to singles as soon as they come out of the box (why can’t more plugs be supplied with singles fitted already?), and then replacing the singles as and when required.

The single hooks I’ve used for a while now are Seaspin Gamu SW’s.  I find these are reasonably robust, and seem to offer good hooking capacity. The size I use depends on the size and weight of the trebles they replace.  I weigh these, including the split ring, using digital scales and use the single hook size which best matches this (1 and 1/0 have so far covered all my requirements).

Lifesavers

I was out fishing the other night, when a helicopter flew overhead and proceeded to hover above a distant headland. I watched in awe as the pilot skilfully manoeuvred his craft up and down, and then swept across the bay, lights shining on the sea below.

I quite often see this at night, and usually assume it’s part of  a training exercise. I can’t help wondering what might happen in the event of a real emergency, and it’s comforting to know that we have the Coastguard Service to call on in such situations. Whether these are due to being swept into the sea, falling down cliffs, being hit by falling rocks, or the myriad of other problems that can occur, it’s reassuring to know we can call for help. But let’s make sure we do all we can to avoid needing the services of these brave folk.

Safety first

With safety in mind, don’t forget to get your lifejacket serviced. I get mine done at this time of year at Macsalvors in Penryn (01326 377131), for under £20. And don’t forget to check the studs on your boots; so important if your fishing involves walking over, or fishing from, slippery rocks. I’ve just bought another pair of Rockhopper Wading Boots since the studs on these wear out after a couple of seasons. I’m trying out some Supa track studs to replace the ones which are worn out on my Rockhopper Boots.

A question of nets

Following all the hype about the film ‘Bait’, I decided to go and see it myself. It’s basically about the tensions between local people, in this case commercial fishermen, and so-called ‘incomers’.  It was filmed using a vintage hand-cranked Bolex camera, using 16mm monochrome film that the director hand processed. The resultant black and white, slightly grainy, appearance, and the way it’s directed, gives the film a brooding, raw feel to it, which adds to the tension.

I was intrigued by the netting they were doing on the beach at the harbour mouth. At low tide the net was lying on the beach, with several bass, of modest size, stuck in it. Can this be legal I thought?

Not wishing to detract from the undoubted artistic value of the film, and accepting that the events portrayed within it are fictitious, I contacted the Marine Management Organisation about this netting. Because I had mentioned an old bylaw in my email, I was referred to my local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. I duly contacted Cornwall IFCA and received a very helpful reply the next day.

It turns out that this activity does not infringe any local bylaw, since the only one which would have made it illegal (the “Fixed Engines” bylaw) is no longer being enforced, apparently because of legal advice received by CIFCA regarding how the bylaw had been created. So for several years, there has been no restrictions on netting at sea; the only exception to this being within two small areas over the Runnel Stone and Manacles reefs, where any net used must have a mesh size of at least 250mm. The prohibited range of mesh sizes for other nets has not been increased in line with the increase in the 42cm minimum size for bass, meaning that undersized bass are still being caught in them.

Of course, according to EU regs,  bass cannot be legally targeted with nets, but many are caught ‘accidentally’ in nets supposedly set for something else. The EU regs also state that commercial fishing for bass from the shore is not permitted, so the activity portrayed in the film could well have been illegal.

Back the App!

It’s vital that catches of bass from commercial fishermen are properly recorded. But plans to implement a new fish recording App for the under 10’s are being strongly resisted by them.  To find out more, including what you can do to help, visit the Save Our Sea Bass website.

What will your bass fishing focus be this year?

Tightlines for the season ahead. I’m going to restrict myself to fishing specific areas this year. Areas where the chances of a big bass are highest, and where I can develop my estuary fishing. It will be tough to ignore favourite places, but I have to maximise my chances of getting that double.

All the best,

 

It’s that time of year again

It’s funny how we bass anglers seem to fall into the same, reassuringly familiar, pattern over the year. This is mostly dictated by fishing and the weather. At this time of year, the winter weather is playing havoc with our seas, and the bass are (mostly) off spawning.

January catches

My catches for January were poor. This is not unusual at this time of year in Cornwall, once we get past the period immediately after new year, which I missed this year as I was spending time with family in Guernsey. Mind you, I did hear of a few fish being caught in Cornwall – Steve Richards’ son Dan was catching nice fish until well into the month, like this one on 24th January:

And one of my Guernsey pals, Simon De La Mare, has done well this winter, and was catching throughout the whole of January, with 5 bass in the 4-5lb range during this time.

Time for a winter break?

So for most of us it’s time to scale back on the fishing, but we can’t let go completely. With spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what  the year ahead might bring, and what new methods, marks, lures, equipment, clothing, footwear etc might increase our enjoyment of our fishing, and our chances of success.

It’s also a time for checking gear, and stocking up on supplies. Don’t forget your local tackle shops, like the excellent Lowen Chy Angling in St Austell, Gwinear Angling near Newquay and Art of Fishing in Wadebridge. If you can’t find what you want, you’ll need to go elsewhere, and as a BASS member,  you’ll be entitled to a discount from a range of tackle suppliers and guides.

New toys

Anybody who has read my book ‘A Bass Angler’s Life’  will know that I can hardly be described as a ‘tackle tart’, but I do like to try new lures out. So when Steve Richards told me about one called a Dark Sleeper I was intrigued, particularly when he sent me this link to an incredible bass fishing video where two French anglers are catching some big bass on it.  This is a beautifully made film, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. Naturally I just had to get one of these things myself. As the film says, because the lead is internal, and the attachment is at the top, they can be trundled along the bottom, where these goby imitations should attract any bass lurking among the weed and boulders. I’m looking forward to giving it a try at the first opportunity I get!

Steve also sent me a link to a new type of surface plug, the Autowalker 115s. I don’t like too much fuss when I’m lure fishing, so this lure, which imparts a walk-the-dog action with just a simple straight retrieve, suits me down to the ground.  I’ve already taken delivery of one I obtained from here. 

Not another hotspot!

Even though I’ve fished at many, many marks over the years, there’s always somewhere new I want to try. This year is no exception, and I’ve already sussed out a couple of places which I’ve either been told about, or I just fancy the look of.  It’s important to get the feel of the place, find out what the ground is like, where to park etc., so that when you do eventually fish it you don’t waste any time.

Where did all the sand go?

One of the effects of the rough weather we get at this time of year is the way it can strip sand away from beaches, temporarily exposing rocks underneath. I noticed this at a couple of my local beaches recently. In one case I could see that the sand that had been removed from the top of the beach, exposing extensive rocky ledges, had been dumped near the low water mark. When I returned a couple  of weeks later, the beach had almost reverted to its previous state. In the other case, the sand appeared to have been moved down to the other end of the beach. Apparently this movement of sand is caused by a combination of waves striking the beach at an angle, causing the sand to be gradually pushed along the shore (longshore drift), strong tides and currents, and a lack of seaweed to stabilise the sandy bottom.

This lack of seaweed may be caused by a certain amount of ‘pruning’ as a result of being ripped up by the waves caused by autumnal/winter gales, and the fact that its growth is limited in the early months of the year. Have you noticed how the weed problems you would normally expect are less in winter?

What effect does this have on our fishing, apart from revealing rocks you never knew you’d been standing above? A favourite mark of mine fishes best when I can get onto sand for a couple of hours over low water. Last year all the sand was gone, which made the type of fishing I like to do there difficult, even on a big spring tide. When I did try to fish it, I blanked, probably because the sand had been piled up offshore, creating a bar just beyond casting range, keeping the fish outside until the flood was well underway.

I like fishing rough ground, but do these newly exposed areas on the beach fish as well as more established ones? Does it take time for the gobies etc to colonise these areas, and are they put off by the fact that the sand can reappear at any time?

A helping hand from nature?

The weather also affects fish behaviour. One aspect of this is the first winter survival of very young (or ‘0’ group) bass, and spawning success. As yet, we have not had a prolonged cold spell this winter, so the good numbers of ‘0’ groups we saw last year should hopefully survive well. Persistent winds from a westerly direction around the time of spawning help to push the tiny fry towards our coasts, and increase the chance that they will settle as juvenile bass in our estuaries and elsewhere. This leads to good year classes, providing good fishing in the future.

The winds in recent weeks have been mainly from the west or southwest, so hopefully this means we might be in for a good year class – assuming there are enough breeding fish left to produce the fry, that is. Let’s just hope we don’t get another ‘beast from the east’ like we saw in 2018, with strong east winds, which could have the opposite effect. Our juvenile bass surveys in the Fal and Helford rivers in Cornwall will resume in May, so these should give us an indication of both first winter survival of the 2019 class and, from August on, the strength of the 2020 class. Incidentally, if anybody would like to help with these surveys, please let me know.

Let them do their stuff

The spawning fish will hopefully be left to do their, very important, thing, with the prohibition of commercial bass fishing in February and March.  If you see bass for sale, and it isn’t farmed, report this to the MMO via this link.  Similarly, if you see ‘wild’ sea bass on a restaurant menu, ask if it’s fresh or frozen; if the former, again report it to the MMO. Recreational sea anglers can fish for bass during this period, but cannot keep one during February. While we can keep two fish (over 42cm) a day in March, I would suggest that you return any fish whose girth suggests they are still carrying eggs. Note: the bass fishing proposals are expected to be ratified at any time.

Thanks for reading my blog. Going forward, I will not be notifying people of each new post by separate means, so if you’d like to continue reading these, please subscribe to my blog via my website if you haven’t already. If you find the posts useful, it would be great if you could make others aware of them.

All the best and tight lines,

Robin

 

 

 

 

 

 

A time to reflect

It’s that time when we reflect on the year just finished, and look forward to the one just starting. Whether it’s about bass angling, or life in general, this is something I’ve always done. I guess it’s about the closing of one discrete chapter in your life, and the opening of another. Perhaps my Scots ancestry has some bearing on this; I love Hogmanay and a ‘wee dram’ of the rusty water!

This New Year is also the start of a new decade. So much has happened to me in the last ten years, both in my personal life and my fishing life, and I’ve no doubt that the next ten will be just as eventful. That’s assuming I’m fortunate enough to be around for that long! As you get older, you become increasingly conscious of your own mortality. This inevitably affects how you view your fishing – will I still be able to fish in 10 years’ time, and if so in what form? Should I try new things, with the risk of wasting precious time, or stick with what I know?

A book about bass angling

Easily the most momentous event of 2019 for me was the publication of my book ‘A bass angler’s life’ in July; I wrote about this in my first two blogs. They say that everyone has a book in them, and I’d certainly encourage people to have a go – I’m glad I did.  I’ve gained a great deal of satisfaction from just achieving one of my lifetime ambitions, and the comments I’ve received have made it all worthwhile; I’ve included a few of these in the book reviews section of this site.

Friendships forged

As I’ve said before, fishing isn’t just about the catching of fish – it’s about many other things, including the friendships you form through it. Last year saw old friendships renewed, current one strengthened, and new ones forged, and I count myself very fortunate to have such good friends. I won’t embarrass them by mentioning names, but they know who you are, and I thank them for their valued friendship.

A disappointing December

If you look through my picture gallery you will get an idea of some of my bass angling antics last year. The telling thing is that the last picture is from mid November. After that my catches pretty much died away,  just when I was expecting things to ramp up. The awful weather in November and December didn’t help the fishing, nor did the amount of gill netting that was going on. Family business took me away from Cornwall over Christmas and into the New Year – just when the conditions were getting interesting! I did have a lovely time over in Guernsey though, including the birth of my second granddaughter, who tipped the scales at 7lb 8oz – if only I’d caught a bass that size while I was out there! I did manage a few small bass on DoLives on New Years Day over there, so at least I’ve opened my account for 2020.

Bass angling in 2019

Many anglers reported disappointing catches, consisting mainly of small fish. From a personal perspective, looking back on the year as a whole, I would say it was quite a good one. OK, I didn’t catch as many as I usually do (and some others did), and I still haven’t landed that double, but I did manage some nice fish. These included 12 over 60cm, amongst which were a 7lber and two 8’s.

I think the reason I caught fewer bass in 2019 may be in part down to the way I fished. Until November, I did a lot of lure fishing, mainly with  DoLives and plugs with single hooks. I’ve found that both these tend to result in fewer hook-ups from small bass. This is no bad thing in my mind, as this avoids any potential damage to these fish, and I’m mainly after the bigger ones anyway (like most folk I imagine) .

After November, I concentrated on bait fishing, mainly with big mackerel baits, which again seems to result in fewer small fish.

Bass catches in the past

We often speak of the ‘good old days’, when bass angling was so much better than today. You had only to stand on the beach with your split-cane rod and centre-pin reel, loaded with ‘cuttyhunk’ line, and the bass would leap onto your hook. But was it really like that?

The trouble is, there is such a lack of data for us to make an objective comparison. So when Richard Brandon sent me a link to a chapter in ‘The Art of angling’ called ‘Bass and bass fishing’ by esteemed author and angler-naturalist Donovan Kelley, I was intrigued to read his breakdown of the sizes of bass you could expect back in 1957.  Among a total of 400 fish, caught over a representative period, he records the following:  1.5-3lb: 56%; 3-5lb: 32%; 5-7lb: 8%; 7+lb :4%. My own catches in 2019 were split as follows: <3lb: 76%; 3-5lb: 12%, 5-7lb: 10%; 7+lb: 2%. It’s interesting to note that, even using the techniques I did, I caught a greater proportion of smaller fish, and fewer medium-sized fish, than in those days.However, my catches of larger fish made up a similar percentage to Don’s.

Other anglers in Cornwall reported bass around the 60cm (~5lb) mark in their catches, and it seemed that there were quite a few bass  of this size around. I think these are from a steadily growing (by around 5cm per year) class, possibly the good 2007 year class. Later in the year, there also seemed to be a reasonable showing of 70cm (~8lb) fish. If these fish are spared the net, we might have an increasing chance of catching a ‘double’ in a year or two’s time.

Looking forward

Looking forward to the coming year, I hope that my results, in terms of the number of 60cm+ bass I catch, continue to improve. I will come up with a plan to try to achieve this, incorporating new knowledge and experience from last year. I’ll  probably fish right through the year,  increasing as we go into summer and autumn. I’m going to concentrate on those techniques and areas likely to produce bigger bass.

Lure fishing will probably form the larger part of my bassing, using my favourite DoLive sticks, so effective for fishing over shallow, rough ground at night. I’m not forgetting surface and shallow-diving plugs though, especially during daylight hours. I will bait fish whenever this seems like a more effective option, particularly early and late in the year.

Fishing opportunities

At the EU Fishing Opportunities meeting last month we were expecting the usual stitch-up of anglers. What a pleasant surprise then, when our bag limit was increased for 2020. We have our colleagues in SOSB/BASS and the Angling Trust, and all those anglers who supported them with emails etc, to thank for this – it shows what can be done.

Come on CIFCA

I hate to finish on a negative note, but some may already know of the 75-100 immature bass which were found dumped in Hayle Harbour recently. These were probably caught in gill nets, with a mesh size which is too small to allow undersized bass to swim through, despite the minimum size having been increased to 42cm several years ago.

Cornwall IFCA  have done little to try to address this problem, so this needless slaughter of fish will continue. These are the brood stock of tomorrow, and desperately needed to replenish depleted stocks when capable of breeding. I applaud those commercial fishermen who have already changed their nets to those with a higher mesh size, and who abide by the current bass regulations. But there are those who still use the old nets, and cynically flout the law by targeting bass with them, ‘accidentally’ catching as many as they can, with the law powerless to stop them because of unenforceable regulations. And because they can discard their dead undersized fish at sea, usually nobody is any the wiser to the number of immature fish they are catching.  With the current size profile of bass stocks, they are probably throwing four back dead for every one they can keep, and yet they carry on doing so. If you feel as strongly about these issues as I do, please let your MP, Cornwall IFCA and your local media know what you think. We have a couple of strong year classes (2014 and 2019) coming through, so let’s give them the chance to at least reach maturity.

Bloody weather!

Just when you think you’re having a great bass fishing year, you get brought down to earth by a whole list of things conspiring against you, over which you have no control.

The most obvious of these is the weather; we seem to have had one blow after another, creating big seas, and restricting when and where you can fish. And it seems to have rained for most of the month! Now, I’m not a fair weather fisherman, but standing in pouring rain for hours just doesn’t do it for me. So when I see those two little drops on the BBC Weather App, it’s feet up and watch the telly time for me.

Feeling the pressure

One aspect of the weather is atmospheric pressure. In November the pressure was low (below 1000 hPa) on 14/30 days, and the average was only 1001 for the month, significantly lower than previous Novembers. When the pressure is dropping you can get good fishing, but if it stays low it seems to put fish off feeding.  The other thing about low pressure is that the tide doesn’t go out as far as the tide table predicts. This can prevent marks being accessed safely over low tide, or mess up a bait collecting trip.

Estuary quest

The rough conditions have made me turn my attentions to the calmer estuaries for bass fishing more. I’m still in the information gathering, trial and error, lots of legwork phase. I’m looking for somewhere I can catch big bass, in calm conditions, and preferably during the day. Let’s hope my efforts pay off in the long run, but as yet, despite some promising leads, success still eludes me.

Slim pickings

Despite getting out whenever I can, catches have been poor for me in November. This is particularly frustrating, especially at a time when big bass are on the cards. Whether this is down me persisting with big fish baits, at the expense of lure fishing; to not having the conditions to fish the marks you know well; to the atmospheric pressure, or to changing migration patterns, I don’t know.  It’s worth checking out landings of fish at your local port to see what bass might be feeding on, or drawing them away from the shore. For example during the week ending 15.11.19, 1300 kgs of cuttle (‘black gold’ as they’re known) were landed at Newlyn. The only consolation is that most of my other mates in Cornwall haven’t done very well either. Some have though – Richard Brandon had his best month of the year, with 9 bass to 4lb+ on bait, and Simon De La Mare in Guernsey managed 77 bass, including 8 over 5lb  – all on lures. I’d be interested in any comments from other anglers about their bass catches in November.

The netters are out

But maybe there’s another explanation for the poor bass fishing I’ve seen this month – gill nets. It’s currently illegal to target bass with gill nets, yet we know this is widespread under the pretence of fishing for other species. Reports from anglers in other parts of Cornwall, and elsewhere, suggest that whole areas of the coast are, at times (like now), effectively closed off by gill nets. Not only does this damage bass stocks, still in a precarious position, it puts wildlife, such as seals, dolphins and birds,  at risk of slow and painful death. They also prevent commercial hook and line fishermen from earning a living, and prevent anglers from catching a bass – they can be set so close in at times that they are within range of even lures! A couple of recent trips serve to illustrate my concerns about nets.

At last some success

Despite fishing a lovely wind sea, perhaps a foot or two, and no weed, I wasn’t expecting much, in view of recent results.  After an hour with mackerel baits, it looked like my suspicions would be confirmed. Time for a change of bait, I thought, but should I stick with the fish theme, and try a Cornish sardine, or use one of those juicy crabs I collected from my traps last week? I opted for the safer option, and loaded the 6/0 Viking with a couple of shore peelers; they seemed to be peeling well mid-November, and I wondered if the bass would be in tune with this. I made a modest cast, just far enough to clear the odd rocks dotted about the sand, took up the slack, and waited……….

Contemplating the brooding Autumn night sky, a definite tug on the line brought me back to the here and now. A second tug was met with a swift sweep of the rod up and back, but there was no resistance. Interesting I thought, better check the bait. The dollop of crab had been pulled down, and a bare patch betrayed the attentions of a fish. Since the bait hadn’t been out long, I topped it up with another crab, and lashed the whole lot together with bait elastic.

No more than five minutes after casting out, I had another bite; but this was much bolder than the last, the type you hit instinctively – and hard. Yep, fish on, and putting up a good scrap, as I brought a pleasing 55cm bass through the surf.

Time to experiment?

With bass like this around, I just had to try a sardine. I’m all for experimenting, but after 20 minutes without a bite, I decided it was time to go back to crab. I loaded up with a couple of decent peelers (not cheap if you have to buy them, especially compared to sardines, but worth the money), and cast out to the junction of rocks and sand.

I didn’t have long to wait to see if the fish were still there – the rod slammed over, and this was met with an automatic strike. Yep, fish on, and kicking strongly, as I wound her in. She was putting up a lot of resistance, and I had to adjust my grip on the little multiplier handle to keep her coming. Slowly but surely, I brought her towards me, until she was there – a beautiful 61cm bass (5-8 weighed) laying on the sand. Not the big one I am looking for, but very satisfying, particularly after my recent bass drought (apologies for photo quality).

If only we’d known

A couple of nights later, I was back at the same mark, this time with my mate Steve Ainsworth. The tide had built from a neap low water, to a medium spring; the sea was a similar height, although more of a dying, erratic swell than a busy wind sea. Hopes were high, but despite two of us fishing for 3 1/2 hours, with a range of baits (crab, mackerel, squid, bluey, razor) we caught nothing – zilch, nada, diddly squat, blankety blank! Who knows why this happened, but to not even catch the odd fish, I reckon there must have been a net out in front of us. We were probably completely wasting our time; if only we’d known this before we started. So frustrating and disappointing!

An encounter with a feathered fisher

My efforts on the coast have not been without incident though. Take the night Paul Wallace, Richard Brandon and I were bait fishing with bass legend Alan Vaughan. Alan was just telling me how he holds his rod pointing down at the water, so that any bites are not absorbed by the bend of the rod, when I heard a loud squawking noise to my left. “What the f**k is that” , I said. “It’s a heron” said Paul,” it must have flown into my line!” Fortunately he managed to release our avian piscator friend, and all was well. I expect he blanked as well though!

An encounter with a whiskered fisher

On another occasion, I was changing lures when a hissing noise drew my attention to this, amazingly camouflaged, little fellow among the rocks:

 

As you can see, he wasn’t best pleased to see me, hissing and baring his teeth! He was a few yards up from the high water mark, and with the tide on the turn, I couldn’t see how he was going to make it back into the sea. I took my coat off, thinking I could pick him up and carry him down to the water.  I moved towards him, but he was having none of it, and I decided to leave well alone.

Call for help?

Anglers sometimes curse seals for scaring the fish off, but they are amazing creatures, and such an integral part of the marine environment. I felt bad that I hadn’t been able to help this one, reflecting that it would probably die; many pups do at this time of year – this is the harsh reality of nature I guess. But it played on my mind, and I called Dave Jarvis from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in the morning. Yes, they can come out in the dark if needed and safe to do so; and yes, the fact that it was an inaccessible, unnamed beach, a mile or so from the road was not a problem.

After speaking to Dave, I decided to go back down to the beach, and if the seal was still there, to call out the BDMLR. But it was nowhere to be seen. Presumably the morning high tide, with the building sea, had allowed the stranded seal to get back in the water. How long it would have survived, if indeed it had lasted the night, I don’t know. At least I’ll be better prepared next time I see something like this.

A load of bullocks

On another occasion, I arrived at the field above the cliffs to find a herd of chunky-looking ‘cows’, instead of the usual cuddly sheep, huddled around the gate. “Bullocks!” I thought, I’m not letting them stop me going fishing. I took a deep breath, and gently opened the gate. The young fella leaning against it jumped back, which made all his mates do the same, rather unnervingly. I slowly, but purposefully, entered the field, not thinking about what I would do if they decided to turn nasty; you can’t let  such considerations affect your fishing now, can you?

As it turned out, the boys were fine,  and I made my way to the top of the cliff. I had worn my Rockhopper studded boots, anticipating a slippery descent after all the rain we’ve had. But I hadn’t anticipated that some helpful person would have cut the rope! Without this, the prospect of getting down the cliff was a daunting one, and getting back up even more so. I hesitated; was all this trying to tell me something? Bugger it, I’m not giving up now, I thought.

Slithering and sliding, I made my way down, with the odd brush with the nettles and brambles. But despite fishing for 2 1/2 hours over dusk and into darkness, with a selection of lures, in nice conditions, I only had 1 small fish on momentarily. Maybe I should have listened to my inner voice after all. On a happier note, I did manage to get back up the cliff, and the boys took no notice of me, even with my head torch on.

A fair deal for anglers

The annual EU Fishing Opportunities meeting is fast approaching. It’s vital that we make the case for a fair bass bag limit for anglers in 2020. Even if you feel passionately about Catch and Release, it’s important that you support this. Don’t inadvertently play into the commercials’ hands by allowing them to get higher catch limits at our expense, thereby damaging stocks when they are still far from safe.

Save Our Sea Bass have once again come up trumps, and produced a very professional, informative and helpful resource with which to make your feelings known to the fisheries officials very easily. Please visit their website and support this campaign.

And if anybody asks for your vote in the General Election, ask them what they’re going to do to ensure that anglers are given the proper recognition they deserve, and are allowed to play a meaningful role in shaping fisheries policies and management.

Join BASS

To make an ongoing contribution to the campaign for more and bigger bass, learn a lot about bass fishing, and get to know other bass anglers, why not treat yourself to a subscription to BASS for Christmas; it could be the best £25 you’ll spend all year!

Don’t give up on the bass just yet; depending on where you fish, there is still a chance of a good fish over the next 6 weeks or so. Let’s hope the weather doesn’t mess things up too much! Tight lines and I hope Santa brings you that big one for Christmas.

Please check out my gallery for more of what I’ve been getting up to this year.

Peak time for that big bass?

I love bass fishing at this time of year, the season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’. It feels like the air is pregnant with the prospect of a big bass, fattening up for winter,  snatching your bait or lure as you stand on some windswept shoreline.

It’s a time of flux too; the fish are on the move, and the usual fishing patterns change to reflect this. This can mean a pause, or possibly an end, to things, as the resident fish depart on their annual southwest migration. But as time goes on, depending on where you do your fishing, some of the best fishing of the year is on the cards, with the chances of big  (8lb+) bass at their highest, as the migrating fish from other areas make their way past our shores.

A mixed October for bass fishing.

My usual marks were oddly quiet last month. A good example of this was during the weekend of the, bass only, Cornish Lure Festival (CLF) on the 4th – 6th October. Despite fishing in good conditions, at normally reliable marks, the best I could manage was a fish of 46cm.

The CLF is run by the very helpful Ben Field, at the excellent Art of Fishing shop in Wadebridge. Despite storm (ex Hurricane) Lorenzo doing its best to spoil things, the event was a great success; 52 anglers registered, and some nice fish were caught, with 8 fish over 60cm registered. The winning fish measured 71cm and was caught by Ben Winter from Bristol. Devon angler Keir Simms was not far behind with a fish of 69.5. Local anglers Nick Topps and Roger Truscott  were hot on their heels, with fish of 68.5 and 68cm respectively, with Pete Williams catching the longest three fish with a combined total of 179cm.

But by moving around during the month,  I managed to find a few decent fish, like this 71cm (8lb weighed) bass, caught on a white DoLive Stick during Luke Kozak’s second visit to fish with me this autumn.

Conditions were fairly calm, and as I worked the lure with a slow-medium, steady, straight retrieve over the shallow rough ground, I felt that distinctive ‘knock’, which I knew was a fish, and not the lure bumping a rock. As I continued the retrieve, I felt solid resistance……so did the fish! It kited left and right, thrashing the water as it did so. “Don’t go over those rocks” I thought, using the rod to persuade it to go in the opposite direction. As I gained line, the next problem was where to bring her ashore. The gulley to my right would have been easier, but was a little narrow, so I opted for the one on my left, even though this meant bringing her across the front of the flat, low rock I was standing on. Safely ashore, I took stock of this thing of beauty I’d just landed, and spontaneously blurted out “Luke, I think I’ve hit the f***ing jackpot!”, before I quickly realised that I hadn’t landed my first double.

A return visit to the same mark the following night produced just the odd schoolie, and it looked like the netters had been in. This is an ongoing problem for anglers in Cornwall, despite the fact that bass cannot legally be targeted with gillnets. The other problem this month has been the weather, with a succession of wet and windy spells making fishing challenging at times, and affecting when and where we can fish.

Increasing your fishing options.

This has prompted me to look at estuary marks, since they escape the big seas we see on the coasts, and by moving around, you can get out of most winds. With the abundance of easily available food in such places, you wonder why big old bass would choose to battle the waves on the coast, rather than forage for crabs, worm, shellfish, prawns etc. in such quiet backwaters with relative ease. Perhaps they move between the two, at certain times of the year, or in particularly heavy weather. Or maybe it’s a bit like humans, who exploit a range of habitats, from gentler climes to those of a harsher, more physically demanding nature; the fish choose to return to the same familiar summer feeding grounds each year, wherever they may be.

Meeting the bass challenge.

Estuary fishing is popular in Ireland, and the potential for catching big bass in these is beginning to be appreciated in Cornwall too. This is as a result of some very good fish being caught by a mixture of targeted fishing, for example with lures, and while fishing for  other species such as gilthead bream and flounders. The problem is that, for me, it’s like starting bass fishing all over again, looking for new marks. I have never paid much attention to estuaries, which I always regarded as producing only small fish, and focussed my efforts on the coast. But that’s fishing for you – continually challenging what we know and do, and I’m determined to meet this one final challenge.

In my last post, I referred to my quest to catch a big bass on mackerel bait this autumn/winter.  I’m grateful to anglers like James Batty,  and to Clive Hodges on the BASS Forum (access to this comes with membership) for their advice and tips on using and presenting mackerel bait for bass. I’m pleased to report some progress on that front, with the capture of a 64cm fish (5lb 3oz weighed) recently.

Not a monster, but a respectable start I thought. You can just about make out the remains of the 4″ long tail-end of the joey mackerel I used for bait in the photo above. After a couple of hours standing on the beach, without a bite,  I found a handy rock to sit on. I was holding the rod, contemplating heading for the hills, when the tension on the line suddenly went. Instinctively, I knew a fish had picked up the bait, and was swimming towards me. I wound in as quick as I could until I could feel the weight of the fish, but not for long, as the fish kept coming at me. After more furious winding, I felt the weight again, and then managed to beach the fish, through the small, breaking surf. Had I not been holding my rod (which I always do), I probably wouldn’t have known anything about this, the fish swimming around until the hook came out of its mouth. To land my first bass on mackerel, and a half-decent one at that, was brilliant. It’s given me an unshakeable confidence in this bait now, and this will undoubtedly increase my determination to stick with it, and maybe even catch that lunker on it.

Planning for that fish of a lifetime

As I write this, we’re entering what is, for me, the best time of the year for big bass. So, during some of the bad-weather days we’ve had recently, I’ve been doing a little planning. I’ve looked back through my catch records for places which have produced 8lb+ fish at this time of year, and will target these when the weather and tides are suitable. Fishing at this time of year can be tough, and big bass don’t come easily (unless you get lucky), so as well as knowing where the fish might be, you need to be determined and focussed, and put the time in. Let’s hope these efforts pay off, and I’ve got something to report in my next post.

Short days, long nights

For those who like bass fishing after dark, the shortening days of autumn bring increasing opportunities to fish our favourite places. Those marks which fish over a neap low water, or a big spring high, can now be fished during the late afternoon/early evening in complete darkness, if work or other commitments allow. And for those who like fishing at first light, you don’t have to get up at silly o’clock at this time of year; Mike Ladle reckons to get fish on lures as soon as he can see the lure ‘splash down’, so I’ve started timing my arrival to coincide with this if I’m fishing early morning sessions.

Saving our bass

We’re approaching the December EU Fishing Opportunities meeting, where all the member states get together, and indulge in a bit of serious horse trading over what can be caught in the following year. It’s supposed to be about responsible fisheries management, but it usually ends up being an exercise in keeping the commercials happy, usually at the expense of anglers, while paying lip service to the scientists’ advice about what the  bass stocks can sustain. Keep an eye on the Save Our Sea Bass website for details of how you can help with any campaigns they may run as the meeting approaches.

For more information on what I’ve been up to this year, check out my picture gallery.

A milestone

A little under 3 months since my book about bass fishing, ‘A Bass Angler’s Life’, was released, I’ve just sold the 100th copy. This is something of a milestone for me, so I hope you’ll forgive a little celebration and reflection. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without all those who have bought the book, so a heartfelt thanks to them.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing the book, but as the prospect of publication drew near, I began to have doubts about how the world would judge my efforts. I was tempted to just file the manuscript away, to reflect on from time to time, and not risk the book being ridiculed, or treated with indifference. But my aim was always to get a book published, so I just had to be brave, and hope for the best.

All that’s behind me now, and I can honestly say I’m glad I went ahead. Sure, 100 copies sold is small fry to some, and I have a long way to go before I cover my costs, but to me this represents a success. I still can’t quite believe that so many people have  bought my book. I’ve also had some very encouraging feedback and comments, via phone calls, emails and social media, including the BASS Forum (access to this comes with membership). I’ve listed some of these comments (with permission) on this website (see under book reviews).  What I hadn’t anticipated is the way the book would bring me into contact with so many people.

A busy summer

The summer hasn’t all been about the book though. If you have a look at my picture gallery you’ll get a flavour of what I’ve been up to. Fishing wise, this is turning out to be one of my best years ever. I’ve caught 9 bass over 60cm (roughy 5lb), the first one on the 5th January.  The best of these, which measured 71cm (8lb 1oz weighed), came a couple of weeks ago. Seven of these fish came on  DoLive Sticks, the other two on peeler crab (shore). Hopefully, the best is yet to come, as long as the weather (and the netters) don’t mess things up too much! Mind you, when conditions get tough, it forces you to consider other options, thereby expanding your fishing repertoire.

Hope for the future?

July saw quite a few small bass around in Cornwall, and this seems to have continued through to the autumn. Without doing scale analysis, I would think these are from the good 2014 year class, and very encouraging to see. Let’s hope these little fish are allowed to become big fish, and give us a chance of a lunker in years to come. And from the juvenile bass surveys we’ve been doing over the summer,  it looks like 2019 could be another good year; just as well, given the very poor results we saw last year.

Away from home

Mid August saw Angela and I heading over to Guernsey for an extended summer holiday. It was great to spend time with family and friends over there. We were fortunate with the weather, allowing us to enjoy the wonderful coastline and beaches, and sample more of Guernsey life and the many events the island puts on. The fishing wasn’t spectacular, it has to be said, but it was great to meet up and get out with Bryn, Simon and the other lads again. We fished quite a bit, particularly over the GBASS Festival weekend, and it was good to try new marks and techniques, such as very slowly retrieving free-lined live launce, a popular method on the island.

Just days after returning from Guernsey, I was off again, this time to South Devon for the BASS South Hams Fish-in.

This is a beautiful part of the world, and it was great to spend a few days exploring the area, while meeting up and fishing with the guys from BASS, including exchanging a few fishy stories over a pint in the legendary ‘Pig’s Nose’.

One particularly memorable part of the fish-in for me was getting to meet, and fish with Alan Vaughan. As many will know, Alan co-wrote ‘Hooked On Bass‘ with Mike Ladle. Like Mike, Alan was very helpful when I was writing my own book. After numerous telephone conversations and emails, it was great to finally meet up. Seeing Alan baiting up with corkwing wrasse had me thinking back to the book, which so affected my fishing all those years ago. And watching him working the legendary ‘Chug Bug’ surface lure, which has accounted for numerous fish for Alan and many others, has got me rifling through my tackle draws in the garage to give them another go.

Cornwall’s firing!

The dust had hardly settled from the Fish-in, when Luke Kozak joined me for a successful, and very enjoyable few days’ bass fishing in Cornwall. It seemed like ages since I had done any fishing at home, and this spell reminded me how good the fishing  in Kernow can be.

We were into fish from the word go, with Luke doing well on surface lures. The night before the Duo Bassmasters Lure Festival, I landed a 71cm fish, along with another of 55cm, both on DoLives (white).  On the first night of the festival, I landed a fish of 62cm (again on a DoLive), before the wind got up and spoiled things. On the Sunday morning/lunchtime, what was expected to be just a ‘filler’ session, before heading up to Launceston for the prize giving, turned out to be a real bonus. We landed ten bass between us, with Luke catching some nice fish on a Sasuke 140 plug (Sand Bora).

That’s the thing about competitions – they make you go fishing when you wouldn’t normally bother, sometimes with surprising results. If the fish are there and feeding, you can catch – even in bright conditions, in the middle of the day. Mind you, a bit of surf definitely helps. Luke ended up with the visitor’s prize and just missed out on the longest 3 fish.

I’m very much looking forward to a sustained period of fishing from now until the end of January. One of my objectives is to catch a big bass on mackerel bait – let’s hope I have something to report by then! Tight lines to you all, and here’s hoping you achieve that new Personal Best.