Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Sea Angler

The anticipation of what you might catch next is, without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, one of the great appeals of sea fishing. It’s why we keep coming back for more. Limitless hope and unwavering persistence are the hallmarks of successful anglers who combine these qualities with a little bit of luck. Every so often it pays off with a catch like that of Chris Douce’s. Last month the Somerset angler landed one of the biggest cod caught on a UK beach for years. Chris was fishing one of his favourite marks on the English side of the Bristol Channel and spoke to us about his catch of a lifetime: “The fish bottomed out my 22lb scales but the team at Reel Fun Tackle later accurately weighed…

Have you ever had the frustrating experience of someone asking for your advice, you spending valuable time giving your advice and then that person ignores it and does something else? This is what Defra has done to sea anglers with the bass plan – asking sea anglers what they want to see in the bass fishery and then publishing a plan that doesn’t prioritise what we want. But Defra has listened carefully to commercial fishers, promising them a review of the bass authorisation system that could let more commercial fishers into the bass fishery, suggesting ditching the “bycatch only” rule for netters and trawlers, allowing commercial fishers to land all the bass they catch and changing the system to enable commercial fishers to get their catch limits increased more quickly.…

TALES FROM THE TIDELINE Lined up as though on parade, the reel spools gleamed where the summer sunlight bounced back from their polished rims. From beneath their neoprene spool bands, small glimpses of line rainbowed out – different colours signifying the different breaking strains available for each reel. I’ve always bought the best gear I can afford, looking out for key features such as ball bearings, line lay and oscillation – in short, the engineering of the reel. Then, having bought it, I make damned sure that I look after it: servicing, oiling, greasing. After all, a reel is just like a car, or so I’ve been told; maintain it and it will serve you well. All seemed to be in order here. The last of the surf reels was…

Although the Netherlands is best known for its fantastic fishing for freshwater predatory fish, there is also a lot of superb fishing to experience at sea. Admittedly, we don’t have really big game such as halibut, tuna, skate or blue shark; however, with light equipment we can experience top-notch sport with a smaller species such as sea bass. One of the best marks is the harbour zone of Rotterdam, the so-called ‘Europoort’, which combines industrial looks with an astonishing rugged natural beauty. The conditions couldn’t have been better: bright sunshine, a cooling breeze and a suitable tide – just in the right season for bass. My fishing buddy Mark and I stepped aboard Patrick Verbrugge’s Orca in the harbour of Maassluis with a smile from ear to ear. In recent…

SEA ANGLER The topknot, Zeugopterus punctatus, is a small left-sided flatfish. It has a broad body relative to its length which is a mottled brown and white colour, featuring a dark bar through the eyes, light, wide fins all the way round its body, and a very small tail. Topknot grow to a maximum length of about 25cm. The current British record is held by a fish that weighed just 383g, a little under 13.5oz, which was caught in Guernsey in 1998. Topknot are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean including the North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay, ranging as far south as Portugal. A desirable tick for any species hunter topknot are common around much of the British Isles, though rarely caught due to their…

Check out the step-by-step video at: youtu.be/AZGrWpygK6E WIRE LEADER – TWISTED TREBLE The Twisted Treble Knot is a reliable method to attach a treble hook or swivel to a wire trace. It’s a good option when mounting dead baits where a wire leader is necessary. It’s quick and easy to tie but does require a twiddling tool (widely available in most tackle shops) and silicone tubing to tie. Step-by-step A. Pass the wire leader through the eye of the hook and over the shank of the hook before passing it back through the eye in the opposite direction leaving a small loop of wire, as shown. B. Cut the wire to the required length and pass the loop over both ends of the wire, as shown. C. Make sure…

The joy of a fishing session can swiftly be diminished by the weight of excessive gear. As dedicated sea anglers, the choice to carry additional equipment like spare reels, clothing or extra leads to fishing marks is not uncommon. Yet, the burden of this added gear can turn a pleasant walk into an uncomfortable trek, making the ascent and descent to fishing spots laborious. During my ‘rover’ style fishing sessions, I prefer shedding unnecessary gear - leaving behind extra leads, swapping out the seat box for a comfortable rucksack and opting to leave spare reels at home. Any solution that reduces my overall carry load and enhances gear accessibility immediately captures my interest. Enter Seadra’s ‘Wrap It N Strap It’ rod straps - an ingenious solution that caught my eye.…

TM: What got you hooked on angling? How did it all start? AM: I started sea angling from the shore at the age of 11 targeting pollack, mackerel, wrasse and congers, progressing to boat angling the following year and winning my first trophy for sea angling from boats at the age of 13. TM: What prompted you to become a charter skipper? AM: For many years I worked on commercial fishing boats both as a crewman and skipper; I always carried on sea angling throughout those years and regularly took friends angling at weekends. I often considered charter angling as a full-time option and bought my first specially built charter vessel in 2002. TM: Ireland has always been an iconic go-to angling venue for UK anglers but how has Irish…

In association with HOW TO ENTER Email only to sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk Please supply these details: angler’s name, age, address, telephone number, email, type of FISH, weight of FISH, where caught, DATE caught, BAIT/rig, whether caught from shore or boat, if from charter boat, give name of boat, port and skipper. Please state if the FISH was retained or returned. Send us your entries and win some great prizes ■ SHORE LURE OPTION: Solaris 4000 or 5000 reel, RRP: £60, Epixor 15-50g rod RRP: £80 ■ SHORE LURE OPTION: Solaris 4000 or 5000 reel, RRP: £60, Epixor 15-50g rod RRP: £80 ■ BOAT: Classic CLX, RRP: £60 Cortez Boat Rod, RRP: £90 ■ SHORE BAIT OPTION: DSA reel RRP: £60, Wave Power surf rod, RRP: £80 YOUR TARGETS... Catch a FISH on…

UK big game fishing is a weird fascination of mine. From the moment I started boat fishing, I have always wanted to target the biggest and most brutally strong fish that the UK has to offer. But it has to be done in my own boat and on my own terms. Around three years ago I owned a small inflatable boat (SIB). I fished quite regularly on this and those of you that follow my YouTube channel, Muscle Fishing, will have seen some of the fishing adventures I have been on. The issue with this boat is that it’s, well, an inflatable: not good for the sort of fishing I had in mind and planned to do in the long run. My dreams of an upgrade were to be realised…

ASK THE EXPERTS When sending your question, please remember to include your name and address CHRIS KENNEDY Chris is a specimen hunting specialist based on Sark and answers shore fishing questions. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. DAVID MITCHELL David is Sea Angler’s editor and is an expert on sea angling policy and conservation . HENRY GILBEY Angler, blogger and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, is our lure expert. BEN BASSETT The Plymouth angler and blogger will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic. BRIAN PASK Brian is a qualified sea angling coach and casting tutor who works with young people and experienced anglers to improve their fishing skills. SHORE ANGLING Q I have been…

The UK sea angling scene has a very competitive market when it comes to the number and range of quality hooks that are available. We have Kamasan, Gamakatsu, Mustad, Varivas, Koike, Sakuma, Tronix, Trabucco, Tsunami, Owner, Seadra, SeaGlo and others. Cox and Rawle has remained one of the most prestigious hook manufacturers over the years. It was some 40 years ago that Bob Cox and John Rawle made a splash in the fishing world with their innovative methods. Back in the eighties, they had the sharpest hooks made at Partridge of Redditch, originally for uptiding, and soon branching into an extensive range of hooks for all applications. Eventually it was acquired by Mark Hamnett of Fishing Matters, who is also the UK distributor for some excellent global brands like High-Seas…

One summer, many years ago, while fishing alone on Mumbles pier, I cast my bait out on two Daiwa Sandstorm bass rods just as the neap tide reached bottom water. Apart from a couple of dogfish, which I caught during the first two hours of the flooding tide, my efforts were fruitless. An hour after low water I was joined by an elderly angler who set up just one rod with a single 1/0 hook attached to a 12-inch-long flowing snood sitting just above a 1oz tear-drop sinker. He then promptly sat on one of the available benches and did nothing. Two hours later he was still sitting there – doing nothing. Intrigued by his long spell of inactivity, I casually asked him if he was going to do any…

SHORE SMOOTHHOUND April sees the first shore smoothhound appear in our more southern and western areas, though numbers can take time to build, so getting the tides right is vital to success. TIDE TALK Smoothies like some tide run, but you’ll often find that the bites reduce over the bigger spring tides when the flow is greatest. The rising tides prior to the very high springs falling from the 5th to the 7th look perfect, as do the falling tides from the 12th to the 14th, though dropping tides are rarely as good as risers. Tides from the 19th to the 30th all look good, but concentrate on the 20th to the 22nd as being optimum, and the secondary choice being those from the 26th to the 28th. The three…

In association with Sea Angler MONTHLY WINNER £25 TACKLE VOUCHER WINNERS Fishingmegastore.com awards a £25 voucher prize to each of two winners - the youngster with the best shore fish and another with the top boat catch. The winners can use the voucher to select tackle from Fishingmegastore.com which is based in Glasgow and Edinburgh. ■ Send your Young Rods entries by email to sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

As a young sea angler in the 1970s a bell was regarded as an essential item of tackle; no shore angler would ever leave home without one! I clearly remember fishing cold, frosty, star-spangled nights throughout the autumn and winter months, at a time when South Wales used to host massive runs of whiting. Not the pin whiting we mostly see today; these were good fish typically averaging around a pound apiece, and often weighing well over two pounds. Rarely would I return home not having caught enough for a decent meal or two. When the whiting were running the most productive beaches, piers and breakwaters would be packed with anglers. The entire scene would be illuminated by the warm glow of countless Tilley lamps with the sickly-sweet odour of…

How to improve your casting skills I have been an angler for well over 50 years and have been a sea angling coach for about 12 years; coaching has become a passion of mine. Along with a few very good friends, I run the youth section of my local angling club as well as providing private coaching for beginners as well as casting tuition – a particularly busy area for me. I stepped into coaching in order to get young people involved in our fantastic sport but I have, on occasion, encountered negative opinions on the value of coaching in sea fishing. There appears to be a reluctance amongst many anglers to believe in the value of it in fishing, especially sea fishing. Most other sports use coaches in order…

Garmin’s Quatix watch range has been around for a few years now and I was lucky enough to be able review the Quatix Five in 2017. I tested it out on a series of angling trips including kayaking in the Pacific and used it constantly. I have a history of destroying watches and stopped using a wristwatch for years. However, when I started wearing the Quatix I found it was the most extraordinary hard-wearing piece of kit, even submerging it in water and bashing it around while boat and kayak fishing it took everything I threw at it. So, I was excited to get a chance to test out the newest version, the Quatix Pro 7. The watch is designed for people who are involved in marine sports and this…

When it comes to conquering the open waters, having the right equipment is essential. For sea angling enthusiasts, the RIBCRAFT R350, paired with the Suzuki 40hp outboard motor, is a winning combination that promises excitement, reliability and unparalleled performance. Let’s delve deeper into why this dynamic duo is the ultimate choice for anglers seeking adventure on the high seas. UNLEASHING THE POWER The Suzuki outboard motor is the heart and soul of the R350, providing the power and agility needed to navigate through the waves with ease. With a displacement of 40hp, this motor boasts impressive acceleration and top speeds, allowing anglers to reach their favourite fishing spots quickly and efficiently. Whether cruising along the coast or venturing into deeper waters, the Suzuki ensures a smooth and exhilarating ride, making…

Anglers are passionate about their quarry, and have a fascination for them which goes far beyond just catching them. This fascination is coupled with a deep desire to see the continuation of their favourite species, for both themselves and for their children and grandchildren. For many anglers, this passion and desire develops into a need to understand what makes their favourite species tick, and what happens to them during the various stages of their life cycle. Many ask ‘how can I get involved in research’ to increase understanding of these aspects, and in turn help to increase the prospects of catching more and bigger fish. BASS has long supported research in bass biology. It has a dedicated science group to coordinate its involvement in this, and provide opportunities for members…

APRIL ● 6: Southern League round 4 of 12 & open: Gosport, 7.30-00.30, pegged, measure & return, undersize fish count as 1oz, £15 match entry, £5 pools, £10 pair, team of five free, 2022 League entry £25, booking ends one hour before start, book only. Contact Darren, 07919 073232; Mike, 07983 579596; Ian, 07736 004714; Ant, 07775 691916; Nick, southernleagueandopens@gmail.com ● 7: West Bay Sea Angling Club, 49th Chesil Championship, Supported by The Angling Centre, West Bay. West Bexington and Abbotsbury, 11.00-17.00. Sign-on from 9.00 at Bridport Football Club DT6 5LA. Entry Fee: Seniors £20, Juniors £10, Optional Super Pool £5 1st, 2nd, 3rd most points. Match is measure & return (SAMF length to points). No setting up before signing on. First Prize: £300 (most points); 2nd Prize: £200; 3rd…

HOW IT WORKS ■ With £10,000 in tackle prizes the points, based on entries, are awarded to the top three plus section winners and captors of the largest fish caught in each designated Penn match. Penn also awards a prize of a Spinfisher fixed-spool reel to the angler scoring the most points in matches shown in each issue. If there is a tie, the winner will be the angler whose total is from the greatest number of results and is then chosen on merit by the editor. An angler can win only one reel during the year. To win a prize you must be registered with the Penn Sea League – supply your name, address, phone and email. Send fixtures, results and league registration by email to Ian Bowell: ian.bowell@icloud.com…