Soaking but another Bass

Encouraged by my success a few weeks back and a weather forecast predicting crap weather I decided to try my luck again down on the South Hams. The tides also appeared to be the same as the last time I tasted success. Set the alarm for 5.30a.m. and planned ahead by staying up late and drinking too much red wine. I’ll never learn.
Despite the previous night’s ‘preparation’ I managed to get up and scuttled off to the South Hams arriving at 7.00a.m. not so bright and breezy in mist and rain. Set up the Bass rod and the trusty Viking Herring lure and yomped off down the beach only to find I couldn’t get round the headland as the tide hadn’t receded far enough. Ho hum retreated to the car for an extra hour of shuteye. Enjoyed that listening to the rain pounding on the car roof until 8 o’clock got me moving again.
Got a welly full of water on the way round the headland but was so wet it made little difference anyway. Arrived at the spot I fished last time to find the tide ripping through and a lot more weed that on the previous trip. Nevertheless started casting and retrieving with high hopes getting anywhere between 40 and 60 yds with the lure depending on the level of co-ordination I was able to muster. One hour and a lot of weed later I had started singing aloud to myself to keep the old spirits up as it was proving hard work and the fish weren’t playing. A couple of dog walkers looked worried as they passed, probably because I was looking a bit wild and mad.
Moved down the beach a bit cast out and bang the old rod tip started jagging. Started using braid this year and you don’t half notice the difference between it and mono. The fish came straight to the top and I could see it was a reasonable size and angry. I started to ease it back as the tide was still running quite fiercely and it was trying to dive deeper. A couple of runs and I had it in the shallows which is where I have lost a few in previous trips as the water boils around a lot of rocks. Very gently I used the waves to beach it and as always with bass I am stunned by its appearance. A decent fish which when weighed was 2lb 1oz exactly, not a monster but very welcome and a real lift just as I was getting a bit disconsolate. This spinning lark can be hard work when you get no rewards.

An hour and a half later I haven’t had a sniff of ‘owt else but with one fish in the bag I am grateful I didn’t blank, am reassured I can catch fish suggesting my previous catch wasn’t a total fluke, and know I can pick up a bacon sarnie on the way home to dry out. I am a very lucky chap.

Nice one Ian, both the fish and the tale! Thanks for the input and if I ever get an hour I definately need to catch one of these boys!

Pop in when you have five minutes for a chat.

Hi Ian, nice bass.
Could be worth taking a look at Beesands, I went there with my boys last weekend during the evening. The weather was very fine, no wind and flat sea so I wasn't expecting to catch much if anything.
I noticed a flurry of activity on the surface close in as sprats were being driven to the surface.
Anyway to cut a long story short, we cast into the middle of it using small white lures and bingo! We caught a 2lb bass (and missed a couple more) The guy fishing next to us caught another two good sized bass.
The excitement didn't last long before they had moved on but it was well worth it.

I've also heard that bass are putting in an appearance in Torquay close to the shore near the theatre, same tackle set up.

Thanks Flip - great fish aren't they. I haven't been able to get out for a while but hope to have a go at the end of the month.

Yep, better get yer skates on, I just got another call from a mate, more Bass caught in Torquay today. I feel a sicky coming on, could last all week

The Bass in South Devon are finally coming of age (or size in their case) the guys coming in the shop are regularly catching 3lb plus fish from Teignmouth (in the estuary and off the beach) sand eels and white lures are the order of the day - no change there then

Tried Beesands again but no luck this time. I think the fact that I was trying a different method of casting may not have helped. Back to the sea and casting over my head, then reeling in...

...they should ban topless bathing.

What?Ban it for blokes?

if anyone interested the bass are at dawlish warren,razor fish the bait but dont be shy with bait 5-6 to a hook about 30 -40 yards out good luck

Barry Island wrote:What?Ban it for blokes?

No women! Ban the topless women, bloody distracting!

Hang on what am I saying On second thoughts they should make it compulsory for women to go topless on the beach.

...unless they are a bit old and wrinkly of course

...or 'heavily boned' (see, I can do diplomacy)

Oh and if they're ugly they should wear dark glasses and a hat

There that should clear up any confusion

elliott wrote:if anyone interested the bass are at dawlish warren,razor fish the bait but dont be shy with bait 5-6 to a hook about 30 -40 yards out good luck

Never used razor fish as bait, where do I get some?
Does it come frozen or do you have to hunt em and if so where?

i get mine sent from scotland my mate has a whole sale fish business i can get some for you if you want and leave them in the tackle shop 4 you, painton beach low tide after eastly blow you should find them,broudsands,goodrington sands again after eastly blow. if not get empty bottle of coke fill it with sea water and add extra salt, walk to the water where the sand the wetest walk backwards slowly if you see a jet of water come out a hole start squeezing water down the hole, this unsets them so they rise to the open then when they pop up grab them,but they move fast so be quick. this can be done at most sandy beaches good luck lol but like i said i can get them and they are alive

elliott wrote:i get mine sent from scotland my mate has a whole sale fish business i can get some for you if you want and leave them in the tackle shop 4 you, painton beach low tide after eastly blow you should find them,broudsands,goodrington sands again after eastly blow. if not get empty bottle of coke fill it with sea water and add extra salt, walk to the water where the sand the wetest walk backwards slowly if you see a jet of water come out a hole start squeezing water down the hole, this unsets them so they rise to the open then when they pop up grab them,but they move fast so be quick. this can be done at most sandy beaches good luck lol but like i said i can get them and they are alive

Thanks for the offer Elliot I may well take you up on it, but I've just got to take Josh and try catching some using the method you suggested first.

anytime mate always glag to help but if you need them let me no tight lines

There was a last minute change of plans when Josh suddenly decided that he wanted to try fishing somewhere different on Saturday so we went to Wembury.
The wind was Westerly, there was a little bit of surf and quite a bit of floating weed but the water looked a promising colour.
We decided to fish on the beach, rather than take a 10 - 15 minute walk around the headland with our bass rods where we had spotted some promising looking marks.
The weed wasn't a problem for the bottom gear as it was very close in and we were able to fish over it OK. The bottoms sandy here so no problems with lost tackle

There were a couple of guys fishing off the rocks at the far right of us and it looked like they were busy, with hindsight we should have just grabbed our bass rods and taken the walk. One passing walker kindly informed us that he'd been watching them catch several bass

Josh caught a small bass on rag and a thin strip of squid, but our efforts at spinning came to nothing from the beach.
This is the first time we've fished Wembury and we'll come again but we'll travel light next time.