First Encounter!!

It is always difficult, pin-pointing a date with any degree of accuracy when looking back over the years, but the story I am about to tell happened towards the latter end of the 70’s.  However, there is no doubt in my mind that the incident occurred in early July, during a heat-wave spell, not long after the tide had turned at low water.  The sun beating down mercilessly from almost directly above, confirmed that we were fishing a big tide, at mid day and three quarters into a waxing, spring sequence.  Flat calm, not a ripple, the forward fringe of deposited sediment disturbed and lifting into an impenetrable curtain, the first indication that the new flood was slowly, even sluggishly,  reluctantly, silently and unobtrusively meandering across the hot, baking, dried edges of the beach at the water line.  My best friend, the late Robert (Bob) Townsend (no relation) and I were setting up the bass gear at one of our top marks, more out of habit than expectation because the placid sea appeared so out of line with any text book description of classic bassing conditions.  As luck would have it, I was the first to be fully operational right down to the medium sized, soft, frozen edible, neatly wrapped and secured around the shank of the sharpened Mustad 79510 (now 79515) size 4/0 hook.  With conditions so unbassy, I was regretting having used one of the prime, frozen baits from the bait bucket, the thawing process was in full swing, perspiring rivulets of aromatic juices, the result of the oppressive heat.

 Without warning the sea in front of us, probably 20 to 30 yards offshore from the low water line, erupted in a thrashing, smashing, maelstrom of frightened baitfish, desperately leaping clear of the turbulence in the hope of escaping from the gaping mouths of the closely following large, mature bass, the sun reflecting off the mirror- like silver of the pristine flanks for little more than a split second before disappearing back into the boiling water.  For a second or two, we both stood rooted to the ground, bemused by the suddenness and unexpectedness of the spectacle being played out before our eyes and within a short casting distance.  My first cast landed right in the middle of the turmoil and before I had had time to settle, Thump, the first bass had taken my melting softie, without any noticeable caution.  Meantime, Bob had waded into the water and expertly landed and removed the hook from the first bass.  There was no hesitation, another softie elasticated to the hook and despatched post haste into the milling crowd of bass and baitfish, short pause and another, “no messing about” Thump.  In total, I landed three bass in quick succession before the shoal of baitfish and bass moved out of casting range.  Bob, who was selflessly landing, weighing and returning my bass, had little opportunity to wet his line.  In the short span of 10 to 15 minutes, highly energized activity, three bass, all in peak condition, each exceeding 6 lb. to a total weight of circa 20.5 lbs were beached.

 The aftermath was an anti-climax as the sea once again settled to a pond like consistency, but both Bob and I put good baits out into the circle of water where the recent spectacle had taken place.  Talking over what we had just witnessed lulled us into a relaxed frame of mind, convinced that any further sport with the bass had evaporated together with the distant and disappearing shoal of baitfish.

To tell the truth, I was on the verge of calling it a day, selfishly pleased with the rewards enjoyed but feeling pangs of guilt that Bob had been so busy administering to my fish that he had missed the moment.   Caught unawares, the Bones bass rod nearly leapt out of my grasp, I had the sense to slacken off the drag and put the reel in free-spool, controlling the despatch of line with gentle thumbing, standard procedure when playing a decent bass in open water.  I couldn’t believe the power of whatever had taken my bait, and was forced to concede more line than would have been expected for a mature bass.  The initial flush of excitement had passed and I settled into the business of playing the fish.  Bullying a fish to my feet was always avoided wherever practical, providing the underwater topography was clean and free of snags as at this venue.  Letting the fish have its head, playing it out in deeper water using the drag, free-spool, thumb control and taking in line as and when possible, was the best way of ensuring the durability of the light line test (11 lb. test “sewerage brown” Sylcast) and maximising the properties of the Bones Bass rod’s flexible tip and stiff lower section until, at last, the tiring prey began to give ground.  Bob once again took to the water in anticipation, but it became obvious as the fight progressed, that this prey was no bass. The large, front dorsal fin breaking the surface of the water, confirmed what I had suspected, that this was my first encounter with a smooth hound.  It was unhooked and returned. Comparing the size to recent photographs, I guess the weight must have been in the 7/ 8 or even 9 lb. range. (An honest reflection, given the passage of time, not a deliberate attempt to overcook the weight!)   

That was my first of many encounters with smooth hounds, but always as an accidental contact when bass fishing on light tackle.

(Footnote:  My best friend Robert (Bob) Townsend was an experienced and competent sea angler, familiar with the vagaries of this coast.  He and a colleague were swept into the sea by an unexpected but not unusual, freak wave surge, and lost their lives whilst fishing off the end of Witches Point.  To this day, I make no apologies for relating this tragic story to any anglers I meet fishing on the Point, in the hope that it will act as a warning and save any further, unnecessary loss of life.)

The Common smooth hound is reportedly the least likely to be encountered in Welsh waters, so to hook a fish of 17lb. 12oz., play and land it from the raised fishing station of Mumbles Pier is quite an achievement. The fish snapped up the crab bait on the first cast of the day. Battling against a 12 metre tide run and six to seven earnest attempts to rap itself around the Piers Pylons, the fish was eventually brought to the surface after 15 minutes, guided into the drop net and lifted to the deck of the pier. The Shimano Aspire 130m 13 foot surf multiplier rod and an Abu Ambassador 6500 Rocket multiplying reel loaded with 12lb. breaking strain test main line and a 60lb. test greased Weasel shock leader was the armoury. The terminal tackle was a three foot Pulley Pennel assembly, constructed from an 80lb. Sufix body, and a 40lb. Sufix supple link trace to 2 x 4/0 Mustad uptide Viking hooks. Mumbly Zac’s fish was reportedly 2lb. over the current Welsh record.

The Birth of a Cult!

It was probably around the same period as my first encounter, that the awareness and potential of the smooth hound as a sport fish became more widely recognised, a target species rather than a random experience, in South East Wales.  The coastline to the east, in the vicinity of Aberthaw, was the initial focus of interest, but as familiarity with the species behaviour, appetite and habitat developed, other venues were investigated and took their place in the growing list of “hot” marks.  At the time there were no forums or the like to broadcast instant information, so the development of the smooth hound fishing was allowed to grow at a sustainable rate rather than being the subject of the “gold rush” mentality, as is so often the case today.  As a result of this steady recognition of the smooth hound (both starry and common) as a genuine “Sport” fish, capable of satisfying the “combat” desires of many sea anglers, it has reached “Cult “ status on a par with the bass, and has become the subject of single minded attention ,in season, around the coast of Wales.  One of the major differences between bass and smooth hounds is that the latter has no, or very little commercial value as a food source, unlike the bass that is, reportedly, being predated to “extinction” as things stand at the moment.  This means that the populations of smooth hound packs are less likely to suffer any noticeable depreciation, provided they are treated with respect, handled and returned with the minimum of stress or damage.  A golden opportunity to preserve, sustain a genuine “sport fish” at a level readily available to those who have developed the knowledge, skills and tactics.

Phillip Bissmire, fishing at distance over low water at Nash Point, was using crab tied to a Sakuma 545 Manta Extra size 4/0 hook, presented on a Pulley/Pennel system, when he hooked into a 16lb. 8oz. Starry smooth hound.  

Facts of Life, Starry and Common Smooth Hound.

Welsh (Rod Caught) Records – Smooth hounds.

Starry Smooth hound (Mustelus asterias)

Boat  11.510kg (25.38lbs.) 2007  Holyhead B.Taylor of Wigan.

Shore 9.638kg (21.25lbs.) 1998   Aberthaw M.Cole of Cardiff.

Common Smooth hound (Mustelus mustelus)

Boat  10.206kg (22.50lbs.) 2006 Holyhead M.A. Evans of Anglesey.

Shore 7.144kg   (15.75lbs.) 1981  Boverton G.E. Jones of Cardiff.

The tide was on the ebb when two, well known local brothers (Browny 81 and SW) arrived at their mark, with just three hours remaining to low water. Browny 81 (above) suffered a mishap with the first cast of the day, the line piling up on the reel spool brought the flying line to a dead stop, with the result that the rig and bait splashed down a mere 40 yards out from the waters edge. Fortunately the crab, secured to a single Varivas Big Mouth size 2/0 hook, Pulley Rig/Rotten Bottom set up, survived the abrupt stop. Having sorted out the “birds nest”, Browny 81 was holding the rod, reeling in the slack line when the tip arced over and line was being pulled off of the reel at an alarming rate by a 12 lb. 15oz. Common smooth hound (returned). In retrospect, Browny 81 said he enjoyed the experience holding the rod, feeling the bite and the direct contact as the fish tried to make its escape. Meanwhile Browny SW (below) busy taking a digital pic of his brothers smooth hound, had to rush to his own rod , which was dancing perilously in the rest and at risk of being pulled into the sea. A common smooth hound of 15lb. 3oz. (returned), a Browny SW personal best, was the reward for the frantic activity. Once again, bait was crab but attached to a single Sakuma Manta Extra 2/0 size hook on a pulley/rotten bottom setup. A total of 29lb. 5oz.(two fish) caught in the first flush of the new flood. As it turned out, the rest of the session was equally as busy. 

 A Duty of Care. 

Most informed, responsible sea anglers in the 21^st Century are aware of their “Duty of Care” towards all species, and accept the moral obligation to treat all fish with respect.  Handling, especially during landing, unhooking and photographing smooth hounds, is the critical period when the fish are most susceptible to accidental injury.  This could have a profound influence on the long term survival prospects of any specimen intended for return, alive and in good condition.  Reportedly, it is not unknown for some smooth hounds to swim away as if in good health only to die a few days later, the victim of unintentional poor handling. In many ways, the cult of the bass has been the catalyst that has drawn attention to the culture of fish care, but it is not exclusive to this species.  As a result of scouring the websites and reading up any literature about Smooth hounds while researching for this blog, I unearthed an excellent document titled “SSACN – Small Shark Handling.  Code of Practice” produced by the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network”.  It is exactly what it says on the cover, and the five pages of downloadable information should be of interest to those who fish or intend to fish for both species of smooth hounds, from Boat or Shore.  Outlined in these pages are recommended good, common sense practices, which if implemented, should help to sustain an active and healthy smooth hound population.  The address for this SSACN  Document is as follows:

http://www.ssacn.org/wp-content/pdf/small%20shark%20handling.pdf  

Both species of smooth hounds are members of the shark family and as such do not have a bone structure capable of supporting the internal organs, when removed from the sea.  Unhooking the fish while it is still in the water is the ideal way to resolve this dilemma.  In the event that the fish is removed from the sea for unhooking or photographing, there is a real risk that the internal organs could be ruptured.  Following the guide lines as set out in the SSACN papers is essential reading.

This Starry smooth hound (15lbs. 1oz.) was caught by Foreshore Fisher over low water of a neap tide at Lavernock Point. The bait used was half a crab on a size 3/0 hook and a 15 inch pulley rig.

A “Win, Win” Situation!!

In the story related at the beginning of this blog, I made it clear that my contact with smooth hounds during the 70’s and early 80’s, was by accident rather than design, during bouts of “light tackle” bass fishing in rough ground.  The “Bones” Bass Rod mk.3, Abu 6500 (1975) C, 11 lb. test Sylcast “sewerage brown” monofilament line, 2 ounce no grip lead, a single Mustad 79510 (now 79515) 4/0 hook attached to a running paternoster, not even a leader in those days, was the set up inadvertently used to play and land the occasional smooth hound interloper.  I admit that fighting an estimated 8 lb Smooth hound proved a greater challenge on this “light gear” than had been the experience with the equivalent weight of a bass.  The unintentional contact with the smooth hounds, undoubtedly tested both me and the gear I was using, but not one fish was lost through snagging, hook breakage or line/ trace failure.  During the same time period, I was involved in tope fishing from the shore with a group of forward thinking, light tackle specialists from Swansea, who applied the same approach and light tackle logic to tope fishing as they did to other species, bass in particular.   Bearing in mind that tope of 20 lb plus each were not unusual, the rod was an O.D. constructed on an 11 to 12 foot, fibre glass, “Fibatube” blank rated for 3 to 5 oz lead, an early Abu 6000C or 6500C reel (original small Abu handle) loaded with 12 or 15 lb test (probably Sylcast Blue) monofilament line, a 55 lb test Leader, a running ledger, wire trace and a Mustad 5/0 hook.  The biggest tope was a female in excess of 50 lb that gave birth to a batch of new born pups shortly after weighing.  All the pups were returned to the sea immediately and in good health, as was the mother.

Due to my admitted lack of expertise in smooth hound fishing on a regular basis, I am falling back on my experiences as set out in the above paragraph with the intention of putting together a theoretical but logical “Tackle and Tactics” scenario for the species Starry and Common smooth hound.   The anglers who target the smooth hounds are in a “win, win” situation, unlike the bass angler.  The lack of commercial predation on any significant scale, the fact that anglers return alive a large proportion of the smooth hounds caught, and most telling of all, is the fact that there is no incentive to kill because they are not good company for chips!  I doubt if there are many freezers filled to brimming with dead smooth hounds in order to feed the relatives!!  The up-shot is that due to the minimal predation, this burgeoning population is being allowed the opportunity to attain a maximum growth rate, which could mean a larger proportion of specimens reaching high double figures.

 Fishing an ebbing tide as the sun began to slip below the horizon, the atmosphere humid, with no wind to speak of and a sea like a mill pond. This was the back drop to the capture of Browny SW’s Starry smooth hound following a cast of approximately 80 yards, around one hour before low water. The 14lb 2oz. fish was tempted by crab bait on a single 2/0 Sakuma Manta Extra hook, presented on a pulley rig/rotten bottom set up. Immediately upon capture the fish was gently placed in a spacious rock pool to recouperate and minimise the risk of any physical damage through excessive handling, photographed and weighed using a sling, before being returned to the sea.

In a Rut?

When blessed with a consistency of quantity and quality of species such as the smooth hounds, there is a tendency to fall into a routine of using the same tactics and tackle, the same format time and time again, so that the catching becomes “easy” and “predictable”, with the result that eventually the “novelty” could wear off and what was once thrilling could become mundane and repetitive.  Of course, to reach this state requires knowledge and acquisition of appropriate skills.  Bass fishing is a good example of how initiative and experimenting can produce a variety of different techniques (spinning, plug fishing, fly fishing, float fishing and bait fishing) as a diversity of choice to offset the risk of any one technique becoming “boring”.  I hasten to add that, perhaps, none of these techniques are appropriate to fishing for smooth hounds, but never the less, it may prove rewarding to “step outside the box” and try something new.  One of the lessons learnt living and fishing through the 60’s/ 70’s, is that the “How” was as much a contributor to the overall buzz of fishing as the actual hooking, playing and landing.

 Targetting bass, Deejay (above) was fishing to the right hand side of the river Ogmore, close to a patch of light broken ground. Having cast no more than 30 yards out, he was suprised when a fiesty 10lb 2oz Starry smooth hound took the crab bait presented on a 3/0 size hook, Pennel/Pulley rig. Not to be out done, Barrel Reef (below), D.J’s son, also caught a double, 11lb 2oz Starry smooth hound at distance with crab. The smooth hound snatched the bait, at low water, just as the tide turned and the new flood began to move over the beach. Altogether, a total of three smooth hounds were caught in this session.

 Specification…..Rough and Broken Ground.

Prey Species:  Starry and Common smooth hounds.

Venue Description:  Estuary mouths, Shallow bays, broken ground.

Target………Gully’s, Sand spits, patches of broken ground, mud and gravel sea bed..

Rod…….. Based on my unplanned experiences with the bass rod, tackling smooth hounds with this class of equipment is an extreme, but breathtaking experience.  In the right hands, this is a feasible venture, the necessary credentials include courage and a patient mindset, prepared to play the fish rather than “outgunning” or “bullying” it ashore.  When I worked with Mr. Mike McManus (Senior) of Conoflex, designing the blank for the “Bare Bones Bass Rod” back in the late 70’s, my specification included a fast tapered tip of 20 to 24 inches to act as a shock absorber on light lines, but once this was taken up on the strike, the remaining ¾ ‘s of the blank to the butt was relatively stiff, aiding positive strike and hook setting.  Unlike the bass, there is nothing subtle about the bite of a smooth hound, more a brutal “hit and run” attack.  Maybe, a beefed up version of the “Bones” specification, constructed to the same criteria and fabricated from carbon fibre, to a rating of 3-5 oz casting, would result in a blank purpose made to get the best out of smooth hound fishing,  yet with the inbuilt capacity to cope with large doubles when they come along.  My choice would be a 9 foot tip and 3 foot butt section.  Fitted with the latest rod rings and reel seat, this could result in a formidable, sporting, “fit for purpose”, smooth hound fishing rod, light enough to be held for long periods,  supported by a “fighting belt with cup”, fastened around the waist  or the upper leg, to act as a fulcrum when the need arises to pressurise the fish away from obstacles.                    

Reel……..A modern version of the Abu 6500C type of medium size multiplying reel or equivalent fixed Spool Reel, of the manufacturer of choice.  (Putting the reel in free spool and engaging the ratchet after casting, is a prudent safety measure)

Line……..10/ 12 or 15 lb. test strength breaking strain mainline, the diameter chosen will be down to experience, and confidence in one’s ability to handle a robust fish on narrow line.  With a couple of provisos, using low test and narrow diameter lines is feasible.  In the first place, selection of the line has to be based on quality with price a secondary consideration.  Secondly, a line and reel maintenance regime is essential.

Leader……This will be determined by the location of the known feeding zone (close in or at distance), height and state of the tide being fished and the selection of the lead weight density.  Short casting to close inshore areas of broken ground, a gully or small sand bank, on a neap tide at low water could justify “going light” with a 2 or 3 ounce grip or grip-less lead appropriate for the prevailing currents.  If the known feeding station is at distance this may call for a 4 or 5 ounce lead.  The formula for calculating the leader test strength was 10 lb for every ounce of lead, but as a matter of policy, I have taken the precaution of  adding a further circa 30% as an additional safety factor.  Therefore 2 oz/ 25 lb test: 3 oz/ 40 lb. test: 4 oz/ 55 lb. test and 5 oz/ 65 lb test.

Weight…. Tide and weather conditions, currents, size of bait, location of feeding station are all factors which could affect the density of lead weight selected.  My advice is to always go for the lightest sinker without grips,that the conditions and the other factors would allow, without compromising the viability of the fishing session. 

Rig………Single Hook, Running Paternoster (built from the same test line as the leader) or Running Leger. A popular “modern” rig is the pulley set up, often coupled with a pennel (2 x hook) arrangement. Personally, I have never felt comfortable with the double hook pennel, viewing it as unnecessary and a potential liability when striking and unhooking. The perceived risk was that the “two hooks in tandem” format could disrupt or interfere with positive penetration on the strike.  A single hook, sharpened and honed, is more likely to penetrate the tough flesh around the mouth area effectively, if not hampered by a “loose cannon” in the form of a second hook.  The other area of concern was the risk of “deep throat” hooking resulting in avoidable and damaging “surgery”.     

Hook……Mustad 79515 (was 79510) size 4/0, well sharpened.  The Sakuma 545 Manta Extra, size 4/0 is a popular hook with those who make smooth hound fishing a speciality.  Snood length 18 inches.

Rod Rest…None.  To gain the maximum enjoyment from any “sport-fishing” experience there is no alternative but to hold the rod so that all activity or interest at the terminal tackle end, is immediately communicated up the line to the angler.

Bait……..Almost exclusively crustaceans (peeler, soft, crispy and hardback crabs), Hermit crabs (remove from shell), shrimps, squat lobsters, ragworm  and  cocktails tipped with squid.

Casting…Smooth hounds are attracted inshore for two reasons, to feed and for the females to give birth. 

Interestingly, a couple of the captions supporting the photographs displayed in this blog, suggests that at least two of the fish were caught close inshore, one estimated at 30 yards and the other at 40 yards, the latter the result of a casting mishap.  This does beg the question as to whether L.D.C. is an obligatory requirement or whether some episodes of medium to close inshore fishing may prove rewarding.  It is certainly the case when bass fishing that over casting the feeding zones means missed opportunities.  The robust fighting qualities of smooth hounds even of single figure, weighted specimen’s, is such that they can test the stamina of most anglers.  It is questionable whether long rods (above 11 or 12 feet) work for or against the angler during the duration of the “fight” sequence, submitting the angler to avoidable effort and pressure rather than the other way around.  It is all about leverage!  The longer the rod, so the extra leverage must work against the angler and in favour of the smooth hound.  This is an inevitable consequence of “long” rods when encountering a species that puts up fierce resistance.  I am an admirer of “Surfcast Wales” and the work they do to encourage and teach casting techniques, having been a spectator at one of their Sunday casting events.  L.D.C. is not the exclusive province of 5 / 6 ounce weights.  Light tackle and L.D.C. are equally compatible using 2 /3 or 4 ounce weights*, as the following list of Welsh record casting distances, comprehensively illustrates. 

              * 50   grams   1.77 ounces    200 yards plus?    150 grams   5.30 ounces    295 yards

              * 75   grams   2.65 ounces    233 yards              175 grams   6.17 ounces    285 yards

              * 100 grams   2.83 ounces    283 yards              200 grams   7.06 ounces    267 yards

              * 125 grams   4.41 ounces    298 yards                       

State of Tide…This decision will depend on knowledge and experience, usually based on past encounters with the smooth hounds, but one of the popular periods is 3 hours of the ebb to low water and 3 hours of the new flood.  Fishing up to and over the top of the tide has been suggested as a good time to fish for smooth hounds at night.

Tidal Volume (height)…Not excluding Neap tides, informed opinion does suggest that medium to Spring tidal sequences present the best opportunity to catch smooth hounds.

Sea Conditions…As with other species, water temperature is one of the influences which controls the behaviour of smooth hounds.  Once again referring to the photograph captions, is it coincidence that several anglers make reference to calm sea conditions?  In many ways, the smooth hounds feeding habits are similar to that of a bass.  They will eagerly move inshore to feed after the sea bed has been disturbed following a storm, to “hoover up” the food items dislodged from under the rocks or in crevices.

Weather Conditions…“Humid atmosphere, very little breeze and the sea calm, like a mill pond” was the most popular quote describing the ideal conditions for catching smooth hounds, but I suspect this is not the whole story.

Learning Curve!!

This blog is unusual in that I am not writing from a wealth of knowledge acquired over many years of smooth hound fishing, more a snapshot of irregular, accidental encounters that have proved to be thrilling beyond description on the “light tackle” gear employed.  Much of the information has come from research and discussion with anglers who have been through the “learning curve” with these species.  In many ways, being able to step back from a total involvement, it is possible to see the wood from the trees and suggest an alternative way to the current tackle and mental approach, which may or may not tweak a spark of interest.

A Starry smooth hound of 11lb., caught off Witches Point, Southerndown by Matt H.

Acknowledgments. 

I would like to express my gratitude to those anglers who supplied me with the excellent photographs, together with a concise and detailed cameo of the background to the capture.

 (A brace of smooth hounds, one Starry (7lb. 8oz.) and one Common (6lb. 8oz.) both fish falling to whole squid presented on a pulley/pennel rig with a 24 inch hook length, caught and landed on the lighthouse end of Porthcawl Pier by Gerwyn mr2.

Read Mike Thrussell’s review of Derek’s book “Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and More”

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Buy the book “Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and More” by Derek Townsend.

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© Derek Townsend (The views expressed in this blog are those of the contributor)

Call Me a Dinosaur!!!

It is likely that the reader is familiar with the old adage “there’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle”, accredited to a Samuel Butler (1612- 1680).   It personifies my lifelong attitude to so-called “progress” and an inbuilt reluctance to automatically rush to embrace any idea, technology or material just because it is claimed as “New”!   My long term “fishing” association with “monofilament, nylon” line prompted me to explain in my new book “Bass Fishing from the shore in south east Wales and More”, that  I had resisted the temptation to use braid for my shore fishing for no other reason than that I was content with the results achieved with the former material.  I have to admit that at the time of writing this piece, my sentiments remain the same and I am still not convinced that my style of sea fishing would benefit from any change.

Abu 2100 Sport loaded with 8 lb. test (.200 mm) Sufix Elite.

What’s my Line? 

Of all the items that go to make up a “light tackle” outfit, it is the accuracy of the stated specification (i.e. diameter/ test strength) of the line to be used that will confirm the credibility of the exercise.  It is important that the angler has confidence in the manufacturer’s statistics as displayed on the spool label, secure in the knowledge that the line selected matches what is claimed.  There has to be an element of trust here, between the manufacturer and the angler but, for piece of mind, it may be worth paying that little extra for a line that has a good pedigree, and carries a respected brand name and “signature”. 

Scouring the Websites.

Scouring the websites, swotting up on all the different lines including braids, that are on the market and available in 2010, produced a list of some 15 different names and still counting.  Life was a lot simpler in the 70’s / 80’s, with a very limited range from which to make a choice.  When I say “choice”, the probable reason that a particular “brand” found its way onto a fishing reel was either because it was recommended in a magazine review, or was promoted by the local tackle shop. “Sylcast” was one of the most popular “brands” of the time, and widely used by many in the sea fishing fraternity.  “Sylcast sewerage brown”, 11 lb. test strength monofilament line was the mainstay of my bass and smooth hound fishing. “Sylcast blue” 15 and 50 lb. test mainline and leader, when loaded onto my second (1975) Abu 6500C (fitted with a large Abu 7000 handle), were important components of my “long distance casting” kit for rays and cod.  In those days, the labelling on the spools did not include the all important line diameter (thickness), which was a handicap to those who had light tackle aspirations.

Monofilament or Braid. That is the Question?

Whether “expert” or novice, selecting a fishing line today from the vast array on display in the local tackle shop, advertised in the angling press or on the various manufacturers websites, is a challenge in itself, but having to weigh up the pros and cons between “nylon” or “braid” only adds to the confusion.  Selection is not made any easier by the manufacturers’ assertive claims, promoting the attributes of their individual products.  Braid is not new, having been in existence for many years, the difference being the evolution of this material to the level of sophistication enjoyed today.  My experience with fishing lines has almost totally been through using “monofilament”, apart from a brief encounter with Dacron.  In the 70’s and 80’s, “good” lines were easy to identify because of the limited choice; not so today.  Speak as you find, I have had few problems with “monofilament” line during the four decades plus of use, other than those caused by my own failings.

Monofilament and the much maligned “Stretch” factor.

Contrary to some expressed opinion, the much maligned “stretch” factor was recognised as an advantage rather than a disadvantage, especially when fishing light tackle.  The cushioning effect of “stretch” when fishing with light line test strength’s, was valued as a creditable and effective “shock absorber”, complementing the properties of a bass rod during casting, striking and when playing a robust and determined fish.  Any move to reduce the amount of stretch during the manufacturing process as a result of improved technology would be accepted as beneficial, but eliminating this “buffer” from “monofilament” lines would be detrimental to sea fishing.  One of the drawbacks attributed to “stretch” was that it was more difficult to detect delicate bites.  My experience would not support this conjecture, with a large proportion of my own bass takes over the years originating from the most delicate, almost imperceptible “ghost” bites.  Maybe the perceived problems associated with “stretch” would be largely resolved, if holding the rod and maintaining close contact with the line became a more widely used practice.

Holding the rod and maintaining close contact with the line

Line Colour, Significance in the Real World of Shore Fishing?

A lot of emphasis is placed on the colour of the fishing lines in use today, with the promotion of certain functions attributed to a specific colour be it red, yellow, orange, blue or maybe green.  Colour was not a big issue in those early days, maybe because the manufacturers inadvertently got it right at the time.  It is questionable whether the colour of a line, bright or diffused tones, has any significant role to play in the real world of shore fishing or whether this is yet another promotional wheeze.  Falling back on experience once again, the Sylcast brown and blue coloured lines more than adequately met the requirements of the clouded upper Channel reaches.  I must admit that the compatibility of these coloured lines with these waters must have been through good fortune or coincidence, because I have never chosen a line of any make on the basis of its colour.  Current lines in use are Berkely Iron Silk (Green), Stren (Blood Red), Sakuma Lite Crystal (Pale Blue) and Sufix Zippy (Clear).   My conclusion is that if the line is selected on the basis of test strength (lbs. bs.), line diameter and relative durability, choice of colour is of no more consequence than a matter of personal choice.

Radical, Liberating consequence of Line Diameter Information!!

In my view, it is no exaggeration to state that the options presented by the different line diameters (thickness) per the same stated lb. test strength and the displaying of this information, is one of the most important and valuable assets of sea fishing generally, and for light tackle fishing in particular.  The liberating consequence of being able to select and fish with a line of the same test strength but which is available in different diameters to match the known behaviour of the prey species on the hook, the type of ground to be fished be it rough or clean, and the sea / weather conditions on the day, is an opportunity not to be ignored.  This approach to sea fishing does require a selection of interchangeable, spare reel spools, each loaded with a different test strength / diameter line.  This could be an unusual concept to accept if the norm is one line test/ diameter for all conditions, ground and all species. It may appear radical at first glance, but if the aspiration is consistency, using the appropriate, sensitive, durable line specification for the mark and the conditions on the day, could enhance the chances of success. Drawing on my experiences of fishing for bass at various locations around the British Isles and southern Ireland, confirms that the inshore waters of the upper Channel reaches are not as densely populated with inshore bass, therefore additional sensitivity and concentration is needed to secure the desired level of consistency.

Downside, Not all Sweetness and Light!

It is well documented that “monofilament” line is not “all sweetness and light”. Casting “burn”, knots, kinks in the line following a “birds nest” and abrasion damage, are potential weak points that could lead to an unwanted break at the wrong moment.  The detrimental effects of most of these vagaries can be neutralised and managed to a large extent, by applying the same level of care and attention to the welfare of the line as is applied to the other items of gear such as reels and rods.  Regular line maintenance has always been top of my list of priorities, for the simple reason that this is the critical link between angler and fish.  To a certain extent, rods and reels will continue to operate even if neglected, not so the line.  There is no intermediate stage that will sustain effective and pleasurable sea fishing.  Removing the line completely from the spool will release any tension that has built up during a normal fishing trip or casting session.  It has been estimated that line left on the reel spool under excess tension for any length of time, can depreciate by anything up to 20 % of its original strength, of real concern to those making a calculated move to light tackle fishing.  Slowly rewinding the line onto the reel spool through a small square of cloth, will not only remove particles of sand, salt or chemical accumulation, but will allow detailed scrutiny of knots, abrasion scuffs and any other possible damage which can be retied, cut out or replaced.  In the early seventies, I designed and built a simple, cheap, motorised “Line Winder” which took the “chore” out of the operation, and eliminated the need for 2^nd person assistance.  The accompanying photographs are self explanatory.  With the advances in rechargeable battery technology and the use of modern materials, it should not be too much of a challenge to assemble a more sophisticated version suitable for the 21^st Century.

Derek’s motorised line winder

 Braid, Positive and Negative Qualities?

There is no better method of evaluating the properties of a material than to use it yourself in earnest.  Failing that, although not a substitute for the former, researching and reading the available comments from around the world on the internet and elsewhere, the consensus of experienced opinion on the subject of braid provided an insight into the positive and negative properties of this material.  The most dramatic difference between braid and “monofilament” lines that the research exposed was the wide gap between the diameters of the two materials for the same test strength.  I must admit that the extent of the difference in the diameters of the “like for like” test strength was a revelation, hinting at less drag in both water and air, less dense lead weights and greater sensitivity.  I have assembled a modest table of comparisons, intended as a rough guide for demonstration purposes only. 

With braid so significantly (approximately 1/3^rd) narrower than the equivalent in “monofilament”, there could be a temptation to select a higher test strength but of the same “monofilament” diameter being used.  For example, my standard line when fishing medium active surf for bass is 10 lbs. test at .260 mm diameter (Sakuma Lite Crystal), whereas braid of a similar diameter, say, .230 mm has a test value of 20 lb. breaking strain.  Succumbing to this temptation would negate any potential benefits of reduced surface area of the line, and void any claims of light tackle fishing.  One of the long term complaints directed at “monofilament” lines was the retention of the “memory” factor, the ability to conform to the shape of the reel spool.  In severe cases, the looping line being pulled off the spool could hinder casting and create unwanted slack line, a potential “birds nest” situation.  Removing and relaying the line carefully onto the spool at an acceptable tension after fishing, the correct drag setting and a competent casting style, proved the best way to manage this problem.  Braid has little or no stretch so it should clear the spool safely without “looping”, resulting in a smooth transition through the rings.  The inherent strength of braid begs no argument, so the risk that vulnerable points may submit to stress or weakness are reduced, knots are stronger and less likely to be a breaking point. One of the reported downsides is that braids are more susceptible to abrasion, having a tendency to break easily when coming into contact with sharp edges.  If correct, this would seem to exclude braid from use in rough ground potentially putting at risk the terminal tackle and any fish hooked in this environment.  Finally, the oft repeated claims that braid could damage both rod rings and reel spools, together with inflicting painful injury on fingers, has convinced me to put any thoughts of changing over to this material on the back burner.

The Jury is out on this one!! 

 “MyWay?” 

Each one of us is different with our own aspirations directing us to make choices that are sympathetic to our own, individual approach to the way we go about sea fishing.  The chart set out below is not intended to act as a guideline for all and sundry to follow, but is simply an illustration of my considered choices.

“Cheap as Chips?”

My non-scientific res earch of the different brands of monofilament and braid lines, leads to the conclusion that the good ones inevitably cost a “bob or two” more.  This is the one item of the tackle set up that deserves the best, anything less is likely to have a payback in frustration, spoilt fishing sessions, and the loss of a good fish. Is it worth the risk?

Read Mike Thrussell’s review of Derek’s book “Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and More” Click here for Review. 

Buy the book “Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and More” by Derek Townsend. Click here for Details.

© Copyright Derek Townsend 2010.

The fish was caught at the turn of the tide on Monday 28th on the Porthcawl coastline on none other than a surface popper, strange when you take into account that when gutted it was full of small flounder.

The fish is one of two double figures in the last week from the same destination and we are sure that Shane will now try his hand at bass fishing more in the future!

Meanwhile there have also been increasing number of rays showing up around Witches Point on sandeel and still smoothhound showing off Newton Point and Sker. One of the best summers to date, and only July!

Job Satisfaction.   “The experimenting and hard fishing of the seventies confirmed for me that (common sense) light tackle together with “species specialisation” was the best way to achieve improved “Job Satisfaction”, more consistent catch results and management of the vagaries of the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel, along the south east coast of Wales.  The idea was to single out the individual prey species (Rays, Bass and Cod) that appealed to me, taking every practical step necessary to ensure that only the species of the day was caught by using the correct technique, gear, bait in the known habitat, at the precise time and state of a particular volume (height) of tide, plus the compatible weather and sea conditions.  The extreme tidal range, clouded waters (solids in suspension) and closed geography do not immediately conjure up a picture of an archetypal bass habitat, ensuring that consistency in any form would only come from a more detailed awareness of the prey species, and the influences the “unique” habitat and “unusual” environment had on their behaviour.  The combination of this acquired knowledge and the tide table predictions were invaluable when adopting the “species specialisation” approach, providing a means by which forward planning became a viable option.  The sacrifice was to restrict fishing for the chosen species to only those occasions when all the factors in the equation came together, the reward was the luxury of a level of consistency on a scale rarely achieved with random fishing.”
	Artwork by Derek Townsend
The Chance of a Lifetime.   The concept of light tackle can be applied to all species, but it would be fair to say that along the south east coast of Wales, it is unanimously linked with bass and bass fishing.  A bass of 16 lb 4 ¼ oz caught by P. Lewis at Lavernock Point in 1979, opened many eyes to the potential that was on offer in these local waters. Undoubtedly, Don Cook’s splendid, Welsh record bass of 17 lbs 6 oz caught at Aberthaw on the 13th July 1980, was final confirmation of the credentials of upper Channel bass fishing.  The acclaimed Marine Biologist, the late Donovan Kelly MBE, concluded that both of these fish were home grown and not immigrants from the continent, which was more than enough to quiet any doubts about their origins.  No one can argue that both of  these events are worthy of recognition, superb examples of what the extreme tidal range, clouded waters and fluctuating levels of salinity can produce, maybe only once in a lifetime.  Paced out over the years, there have been other reports of bass exceeding the 10 lb. mark, keeping alive the hopes of those whose sole ambition is to land a leviathan.  The reality for the rest of us is that our aspirations should be more conservative, with a small “c”, happy to log fish of more reasonable proportions, either as an occasional event or, preferably, with consistency.
Behaviour on the Hook.   The behaviour on the hook of different species, and how this will determine the selection of tackle, is dramatically demonstrated by the Rays and Bass.  When being reeled in on a shallow shelving beach, apart from the initial reaction, rays put in a dour performance reduced to little more than a tiring, exhausting sequence of raising and lowering the rod to draw the fish inshore and recover gained line.  When fishing into deep water from a platform, the rays deliberate survival strategy of sitting vertically in the water, exposing the full area of its winged body to the current, demands additional pulling power.  So the emphasis is on using the rod, reel and line that are sufficiently robust to counter this reluctance to come ashore.
	Don Cook with his record breaking bass (17lbs 6oz)
As the readers will confirm, any angler who has caught a mature bass on the appropriate “light” tackle will agree, no way can its performance be described as dour or unexciting.  Once again, the behaviour on the hook is the major defining feature.  The very nature of the reaction of a bass, sponsored by highly tuned survival instincts, opens the door to a wide spectrum of opportunity in terms of the level of light tackle chosen.  After taking into consideration the ground to be fished, the sea/ weather conditions on the day, ultimately it will be down to the skill, confidence and patience of the angler whether the fish is rapidly overpowered or allowed to express its potential before being carefully directed towards the shore.  Stony Stare and Tight Lips!   If you ask a successful bass angler to divulge any of the intricate details which have contributed to his/her consistency, you are likely to be treated to a stony stare and tight lips.  This is completely understandable when you weigh up the costs in time, effort and expense that have gone into acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills.  The reality behind most bass success stories is a well thought out and practised strategy that the angler has found, through experience, produces the goods regularly.  This does not mean that the successful strategy is the same for all the local bass anglers otherwise they would be turning up at the same mark at the same time/ tide state and conditions together.  Fortunately, the permutations of marks, tide states (spring, neap, high/ low water or in between) and sea/ weather conditions are so vast that the risks of any anglers reaching the same conclusion are minimal  Developing a Strategy.  When it comes to developing a strategy for bass, it has proved practical to treat rough ground and surf fishing as separate entities. The behaviour of bass on a “clean” beach, either during the chaotic circumstances of a storm sponsored, active surf or calm, no surf conditions, is far from predictable.  On the other hand, the “permanence”  of the gullies, fixed underwater structures and the like, will throw up a definite pattern of bass behaviour which is discernible and predictable.  The latter relates to fishing a favourite mark or marks regularly, confident in the accumulated knowledge of the best tide, time, conditions and experience.
Derek admiring a bass of 5lbs. 10 Ozs., that fell to a well frozen velvet simmer crab of the soft variety	Personal Strategy for Rough Ground.   My personal strategy for rough ground was built around fishing low water of any tides that did NOT exceed 36 feet (Kings Dock Sill, Swansea predictions) in height down to the smallest, circa 30 feet.  Apart from proving successful in terms of consistency, the logic behind this decision was practicality and self preservation.  In the Bristol Channel, the remnants of the ebb, over low water and around two hours of the new flood, is a period that will demonstrate the dramatic difference in “volume” of water movement between neap and spring tides, which affect the physical opportunity to catch bass.  The conclusion was that the slower the “movement” of the incoming tide, the longer the angler could maintain his/her position, the result being the extended duration the bait remained “stable” on the sea bed, enhancing the chances of detection.  The volume and speed of the inrush of water during the initial stages of the new flood of a spring tide is such that any thoughts of holding position or stability are lost in the rapid retreat, and continuous recasting to keep in contact with the incoming bass running the shallows.  The combination of spring tides and an onshore blow have proved unpleasant, impractical and unsafe to fish in rough ground.
Flagging up the Neap Tides.    The need to forward plan for the pending bass fishing season from June to August, extending into early September, became the priority after completing the proposed programme for the early ray safaris.  Once again it was necessary to consult the tide table predictions and flag up all the tides that fell within the desired band of a maximum height of 36 feet falling to 30 feet.  Just to recap, the strategy being described was developed for   marks which had proven consistent over many seasons.  The logic of fishing low water of neap tides does have a lot of advantages, so it may be worth trying this strategy elsewhere in rough ground.   Dawn to Dusk.   The peak times for bass fishing coincided with the arrival of dawn or late evening, going into dusk.  The early morning shift was my favourite, arriving at the mark around 5.00 a.m. to meet the beginning of the new flood. Dusk could be equally productive and enjoyable for different reasons.  Restricting the use of headlamps to the absolute minimum meant that the potential for fishing at night had to be offset against the risks of stumbling around in the dark through uneven ground.  The perpetual, poor water visibility (solids in suspension) plus the strategy (excluding winds from the east) meant that ALL the listed tide heights below the 36 feet maximum that occurred during the day or night, could be considered for fishing with confidence, irrespective of the prevailing weather conditions.  Sea conditions varying from flat calm to very active water tumbling over the broken ground, have all produced their quota of mature bass.  The Importance of Water Colour. Ideally, the “colour” of the water which promises the best results should be relatively “clear” with a “milky” tint to it.  Experience has proved that the chances of catching bass when there is a dense band of the thick brown, heavily silted water stretching out to sea from the shoreline, are nil.  Bass seem reluctant to venture into this curtain of clouded water because the “solids in suspension” are an unacceptable irritant, passing across the rakers as the water filters through the gills. A Virtue in Secrecy. It has been established that bass return to the same coastal area each year following their winter sojourn.  This knowledge, heart warming as it is to any angler who has sussed out a consistent mark, carries heavy responsibilities from a conservation point of view.  If you do find a good mark, keep it to yourself or at least restrict the broadcasting of this information.  The last thing this local bass population needs is a bout of sustained, heavy angling pressure which could result in a real risk of decline in the resident stock.  Investigating a limited number of local marks thoroughly presents a better opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enjoy an annual level of consistency denied those who travel up and down the motorway, following out of date catch reports. Time and Tide, the Wish List! Set out in the following list are all the tides, day and night, that meet the criteria of 36 feet maximum height to the smallest volume of 30 feet, during 2010.  The base options are there from which the angler can make a selection of dates which are compatible with his/her domestic or other commitments.  Closer to each chosen date, reference to the BBC’s 5 day weather forecast on the Internet will give an accurate idea of what the conditions are likely to be on the day.  There is satisfaction to be had when the forecasts and logic are rewarded with results. Remember:  “When the wind is from the east the bites are the least, when the wind is from the west the bites are the best”.

Optimum Tides and Low water Times.

“Wish List” (Add or subtract the local time differences as set out in the Tide Table Booklet.)

Energy and Wisdom.

Having prepared the forecasts and calculations, it is important to apply the same energy and wisdom to the selection of the bait.  The one bait that can be relied upon to deliver consistency in rough ground is crab.  The alternatives such as squid, sand eels, mackerel, lugworm or whatever, are just not up to the job in this type of ground.

Hierarchy of Bass Preference.

There is definitely a hierarchy of bass preference when determining the most effective of the three popular species of crab found along the south east coast of Wales, broken down even further into the most attractive stage of the moult. 

Tabled below is my order of preference from the bait bucket. 

Neap Tides and Bait Famine.

At first glance, fishing the Neap tides does pose, what appears to be, an insurmountable problem.  It is virtually impossible to locate, let alone collect any creditable crab baits from the limited area of sea bed exposed at low water of the small tide sequences.  Good luck and a lot of effort may result in a few common shore crabs, but the much sought after Velvet Swimming and Edible versions will be conspicuous by their absence, out of reach in the underwater terrain only exposed on the spring tides.  There are three solutions that could help to resolve the bait famine-

Fish Tank, Freezing or Fork Out!! 

(1) Fish Tank.                       

Some enterprising anglers have gone to the lengths of setting up “saltwater” aquariums, ousting the brightly coloured tropical fish and replacing them with live crabs.  Careful attention to the crab’s welfare and regular refreshing of the sea water should ensure a consistent harvest of fresh bait throughout the season.

(2) Freezing.

I do not harbour the same reservations about the end product quality of preserving crab baits through freezing as I do for worm baits.  In fact, sticking to the principle of “Bait Collecting= Spring Tides” and “Bass Fishing= Neap Tides” has proved an effective strategy in the quest for consistency.  Keeping crabs in the

family fridge freezer could be grounds for domestic discord, so in order to keep harmony in the household, it may prove a wise move to invest in a small, inexpensive, table top freezer solely for the purpose.  At least, then the overpoweringly attractive aroma of the crab juices won’t be at risk from contamination by the odours of foodstuffs!! (Please replace all rocks the right way down when collecting crabs)

(3) Fork Out!

The third option is to purchase live crabs from the local Tackle shop, but again, the limitations of availability due to the natural sequence of spring and neap tide’s, may restrict the opportunity for consistency of supply.

  Personal Strategy for Surf Fishing. 

A strategy for surf fishing needs to be flexible to accommodate a wide range of conditions that could be met on arrival at the beach.  In my book “Bass Fishing from the shore in south east Wales and More” I have explained in detail the importance of mobility in the surf and how to recognise and maximise the opportunities presented by the discreet feeding stations dispersed all over the beach, by following and adapting the “Road Map” strategy.  I set a limit on the conditions that I was prepared to cope with in the pursuit of enjoyable bass fishing in the surf, so if more than a maximum of a three ounce weight was required to overcome the elements and cast the bait into a prospective feeding zone, I would call it a day. “Fighting” a bass encumbered with a 4, 5 or 6 ounce weight was not an edifying prospect.

Buy the book ‘ Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and more by Derek Townsend’

Click Here for Details

“Unofficial” Resolution !!

One of my “unofficial” resolutions for 2010, as far as sea fishing is concerned, is a determination to experiment with different methods of attracting and catching fish, particularly the bass.  I have to admit that success with bait/ bottom fishing for the primary prey species in the 60s/ 70s/ 80s, rather pushed any aspirations to develop the skills to use other fishing methods (float, spinning or fly fishing) into the “long grass”, and the poor visibility in the Bristol Channel was also a disincentive to be more adventurous.  The past was peppered with infrequent attempts at the alternatives but, alas, it was “easier” and more “reliable” to continue with the method that had proved consistent.  “If it isn’t broken, why mend it” was the dictum of the period, but those “times of plenty” are reportedly, a thing of the past.  A cautious step into the relatively untried, a break from the mundane, could be the medicine to stimulate the spirit of enthusiasm, following the succession of parlous and disappointing cod seasons.

Fruitless Fishing Sessions.

Since time immemorial, fruitless fishing sessions have been blamed on a plethora of anonymous culprits, scapegoats held responsible for an apparent fish famine in an area.  Up to a point, in the 21^st Century, it is evident that there is some justification for such complaints, whether the cause is the result of (Commercial or Recreational) overfishing or the perceived effects of global warming.  I am convinced that there are still a sufficient quantity and quality of the prey species in the sea to justify making fishing a credible activity, but in order to reap any rewards from this “depleted” stock, the tactics demand a lot more thought, diversity , and effort.  The days when the fish literally “jumped” on the hook are long gone!

Imagination.

Imagination is one of the sea angler’s best weapons, the ability to weigh up the conditions on the day and select the appropriate rod, reel, line test strength and technique thereby, not only enhancing the chances of results but providing the opportunity to turn an “ordinary” visit to the coast into something memorable.  It is not wise to put “all your eggs in one basket”.  Long rods and long distance casting do have their place in the scheme of things, but this gear should not be expected to deliver the goods all year around.  There is a good case for leaving the 13, 14, 15 or 16 foot rods and the luggage locked away in the garage for the span of the summer months, substituted by a light bass, spinning or float rod, a small shoulder bag and a minimalist amount of bits and pieces.

Sea Angler’s Armoury!!

Experience would suggest that two, possibly three rods of different capabilities, are the minimum requirement in any committed sea angler’s armoury, and that means that a matching pair of beach casters would be classed as one type of rod for this exercise.  Specialist rods for mullet or fly fishing are excluded from this discussion.

What appears to be missing is a willingness to develop new skills which at worst, would make life more interesting and at best could improve catch results.  The fact that such species as 3 or 5 bearded rockling, pouting, and other obscure species are being paraded as fair game under the guise of “specimen hunting” does suggest an air of desperation.

Golf Clubs!!

It was a common view amongst the forward thinking anglers of the 60s/ 70s/ 80s, that the HOW was as important as the actual act of CATCHING a fish.  Personally, I expanded this concept more than most, by developing and building a collection of specialised rods for myself following the same premise as a golfer and his set of clubs.  In total, I had and still do have, a total of nine rods, each designed and built with a  specific purpose to extract the maximum pleasure from the activity that I had chosen as my pastime, sea fishing.  Of course, being a professional rod designer and builder at the time, was a definite advantage, but do not let this be a deterrent to any who may see the virtue in this approach.  There are many good rod blanks available at a reasonable cost, plus excellent rings and fittings from which a perfect stick can be assembled “fit for purpose”. It is not difficult to put together a very professional product of which the builder can be justifiably proud.

Fit for Purpose.

Rod and Length Ft. Ins.    Casting(oz )      Blank        Purpose

(oz)

Zziplex 2000 Sport   11    6             5               Carbon      Long Distance Casting for Rays/ Cod.

Bones Bass Rod Mk 3   11   4        2-4           F/Glass      Rough Ground, Inshore, Bass, Cod and Rays.

Bass, Heavy Surf.

Medium Taper O.D.    10   4           1-2             F/Glass       Bass, Light to no surf (calm).

Fast Taper O.D.    10   4               1-3             F/Glass       Bass, Medium surf.

Medium Taper O.D.    9   0             1-3            F/Glass       Heavy Float Fishing, Bass.

Medium Taper O.D.    6   9              1-2           F/Glass       Medium Float Fishing, Bass.

Fast Taper O.D.     6   9                    0-1            F/Glass       Light Float Fishing, Mackerel, Whiting.

Medium Taper O.D.    10   0         1-3               F/Glass       Heavy Spinning, Bass

Fast Taper O.D.    7   0                  0-1                F/Glass       Light Spinning, Bass, Mackerel.

A Flotilla of Floats!

Developing my float fishing skills during the pending summer (weather permitting), is the intention and to facilitate this desire I have purchased a range of different capacity floats which, it is hoped, will meet all the various sea conditions.  Just writing about it is sponsoring a wave of enthusiasm, despite the fact that it is the middle of February and looking out of the studio window, I can see deep snow on the hills beyond the M4 motorway.  It was my intention to test each float for balance and “sinkability” in my water butt today, but a thick coating of ice on the surface means this has to go on the back burner for the time being.

Specification of Floats.

It is the hope that the floats purchased will prove to be a good cross section, capable of covering most of the eventualities, but keeping an open mind means that additional float capacities will be added if and when necessary.  The main targets will be bass, mackerel and whiting in season so the “Day-Glo” colouring should make the floats visible even in turbulent water.

“Jardine” Style Lead Weights.

In my opinion, the perfect weights for both float fishing and spinning are the spiral, grooved sinkers, “Jardine” leads, because they are so easy to interchange as and when required.  You may experience difficulty in sourcing these lead weights, but at the time of writing Eddie Baker and Ian King, professional fishing weight manufacturers of Chard, Somerset, have the moulds to produce nine different density “Jardine” leads as set out in the chart and displayed in the accompanying photograph.

E-mail: info@fishing-weights.co.uk

In a “Jif-fy”!!

Inevitably, there are limitations to the distance it is practical to cast even a large version of the conventional floats, and the material composition is not suitable for working over very rough ground. An idea that has been spluttering around in my head for decades, so simple, logical and obvious, is to float fish a crab bait over the picking grounds where on spring tides I do my collecting.  The sea bed is exceptionally rough, unforgiving, a graveyard for leads and end tackle even with a weak link strategy.  It is a fair bet that the bass will be attracted to this unwelcoming terrain where the crab are at their densest.  Falling back on a method regularly used (albeit as an aid to spinning) around the hot water outlets of the Aberthaw Power Station decades upon decades ago, could be the ideal solution.  The plastic “Jif” lemon juice container, emptied, filled with wax, drilled and fitted with a “Biro” tube through the centre satisfies all the criteria, acting as a robust float yet heavy enough to cast a good distance with a bass rod.

“Umpteen” Creeks and Gullies!

Like all aspects of sea fishing, picking the right time, place, tide and weather/ sea conditions is paramount if float fishing is going to be both practical and enjoyable.  The success of using a “Jif” float from the beach is directly linked to the volume of the tide and whether there are benign surf conditions.  Ideally, small (neap) tides and calmed water, limiting the volume and disruption of the seas’ surface, would create the most attractive scenario when float fishing from a beach platform.  Keeping in touch with the “Jif” float, controlling the amount of slack line without drawing the float inshore more than the action of the normal swell of the sea, is a skill to be learned.  There are “umpteen” creeks and gulley’s  along the south east coast of Wales, which could afford excellent float fishing, casting from a rock station above sea level, whatever float arrangement is used.

Footnote:  A float fishing competition as an alternative to the normal match format, may be worth consideration?

Forthcoming Blog, published May 2010: “My Strategy for Bass, Rough Ground and south east Wales”.

Buy Derek’s new book “Bass fishing from the shore in south east Wales and More”.

Click here for details.

Obsolete Ideology!

Historically, there has always been a culture of powerful rods, high test strength lines and heavy density leads associated with sea fishing from the shore in south east Wales.  The combination of the extensive tidal range, strong currents and the shallow, shelving nature of the sea bed in the Bristol Channel, was responsible for the mindset that sponsored the use of extreme fishing tackle as the only way, if not to tame these elements, then certainly to make fishing a practical proposition along the south east coast of Wales.

This was the reality before the revolutionary advances in rods, reels and line technology circa the 70’s and onwards, presented the sea angler with both the tools and the opportunity to escape from the restraints of this obsolete ideology.

Long Distance Casting – A Blessing or a Curse?

The current “long distance casting” epidemic has done little to curb this phenomenon or stimulate an awareness that there are alternative approaches waiting for those who wish to add real enjoyment to their sea fishing.  It is a myth that by learning a more effective casting technique and using it at EVERY visit to the shoreline, this alone will automatically guarantee improved catches in both quality and quantity of all species.

In fact, this practice can be counter productive, often putting the bait into barren ground beyond the habitat of some of the desired prey species, such as bass for example, or even rays, that at some marks from the shore, can lay in wait in the trench, within easy casting range at low water of a big spring tide.  Winter cod fishing was an example where having the ability to cast a bait a considerable distance, could pay off handsomely at SOME locations (like Dungeness), but alternatively, there were local marks where good sport with codling of 6, 7, 8-ish lbs, or Thornback/ Small Eyed Rays circa 8 lbs., could be enjoyed using 11 lb. breaking  strain (monofilament) line, 2 ounce (no grip) leads and my Bones Bass Rod Mk. 3, close inshore in rough ground, a la bass fishing.

When the novelty begins to wear off, realisation will dawn that LDC is not the all encompassing panacea for lack of success.  Ultimately, nothing will replace knowledge, skill and an intelligent, rational use of ALL the techniques available to the sea angler, WHEN and WHERE experience demands.

The fish in the above photographs were all hooked inside a casting distance of circa 30 yards (90 feet) maximum, in rough ground, as were approximately 70% of all the prey fish (mainly bass but rays, cod and the occasional smoothound) caught by my sons and I  in any one year.  Accurate, as against distance, casting plus the correct bait was the key.

Having said all that, I would not hesitate to encourage every sea angler who takes a rod to water, to learn one of the modern casting techniques, such as the Pendulum style, from a competent, experienced and proficient practitioner.

The Good, the Bad and the downright Dangerous.

One thing for sure, Long Distance Casting in south east Wales is here to stay and its popularity is readily visible along the coast, be it of varying degrees of competence, ranging from the good, the bad and the downright dangerous.  There is little doubt that the distances being achieved, together with the aspirations to do better, are down to the improved design of the blanks and the accelerated use of modern materials such as Carbon Fibre, rather than any revolutionary development of the basic technique which has its roots well into the past.

It is debatable whether the skilled practitioners of today would have faired any better than their counterparts some 30 to 35 years ago, had it not been for these technological advances in blank/rod design and construction.  This discussion relates to the use of LDC as an important tool in the armoury of sea fishing, separate from Tournament Casting.

Acceptance of short comings and a desire to learn.

In the 21st Century, the opportunity to learn a modern casting style in this region either through formal, organized seminars, or via individual tuition, is widespread and any would be students are spoilt for choice.

This was not the case back in the 1970’s!  Aspirations then, using the standard beach casters (average length= 12 feet) of the day, were much less than would be acceptable today, with the achievement of 150 yards (137 metres) to 175 yards (160 metres), “lead only, 5 ounces, over grass”, being considered miraculous.  At that time, “blank/rod” technology was in its infancy and the average ability using the “up and over” style with the available materials (rod, reel and line) would result in a measured distance of 65 yards (59 metres) to a maximum of 85 yards (78 metres).

With initial instruction in the pendulum style, this distance could be improved, on average, to 100 yards (92 metres) up to 130 yards (119 metres), with the best students reaching 150 yards (137 metres) plus.   Translate these performances onto the beach plus the vagaries of bait, wind, and weather and the reality was that the lead would, probably, enter the sea at around (a) 55 yards (50 metres) to 75 yards (69 metres) before instruction and (b) after instruction, possibly 85 yards (78 metres) to 110 yards (101 metres). These statistics, compared with the current distances being achieved, illustrate just how much influence technology has had on the potential performances of ordinary sea anglers over a period of a 1/3rd of a century.

“How does your casting measure up?”

On a historical note, I am quoting an edited version of an article titled “How does your casting measure up?” which I wrote and had published in the February, 1977 issue of ANGLING magazine, (Byblos Productions Ltd.) to give the reader an authentic feel for the period, and to provide a yardstick against which later generations can measure the improvements in distance attributable to the advanced technology.

(All distances quoted are for the popular lead density of the time of 5 ounces and using standard, every day beach casters of the popular assembled length of circa 12 feet)

The arrival of each new cod season is inevitably accompanied by a plethora of articles in angling periodicals, all emphasising the importance of developing a style and a capability to cast lead and bait more than 100 yards (91 metres) as a starter to any measure of success that may be achieved with this species.  Of course, not all cod fishing involves the use of this ability, and indeed, the value of Long Distance Casting is not restricted to cod alone, although it was the initial source of inspiration to those early pioneers of the technique.

Despite the abundance of these articles expounding the virtues of this and that casting style, many sea anglers remain apathetic, although I suspect that in most breasts lurks a wistful desire to equal the ability of the Darkins, Darlings and others of this world.  I am convinced, through my own experiences, that many sea anglers will only be inspired by actually seeing what a proficient L.D. Caster can achieve with the everyday tools of sea angling, be it on the tournament field, on the beach during a fishing session when all the vagaries of wind, weather and terrain are in play, a situation with which the less accomplished angler can relate.

Assuming that it was possible to accurately quantify all the sea anglers who cast from the shore, I wonder what the outcome would be if it was possible to calculate the percentage ratio of the following criteria to mass?  How many anglers, using their standard “ beach casting” outfits, can cast a lead alone (a) over 200 yards (182 metres) (b) over 175 yards (160 metres) (c) over 150 yards (137 metres) (d) over 125 yards (114 metres) (e) over 100 yards (91 metres) and (f) over 75 yards (69 metres)?   Most of us express our casting distances in the light of our achievements with lead only, thereby ignoring the natural limitations imposed by paternoster rigs, bait etc, which is why the above question was posed.   The results of this theoretical survey would be pure speculation, although I suspect that the biggest percentage would be attributed to category (f), followed by a significantly reduced percentage for category (e), with the scale tapering off dramatically from category (d) through to (a).

Once again, recalling my own past experiences, it seemed natural at the time to draw the conclusion that, despite the absence of any reliable yardsticks against which to make a comparison, my achieved distances must be exceeding the hundred yard (91 metres) mark, and it wasn’t until the opportunity presented itself via a club organised casting tourney, that the truth was revealed.   At the time, I was getting nowhere near the hundred yard (91 metres) post…more like 80 yards (73 metres) plus, lead only.  By the way, I wasn’t the only one whose ego took a substantial knock that day!

Far from being unique, it would seem that this capacity to over assess distances is an angler’s prerogative, illustrating a deep-rooted complex which is associated with the inability to cast at least 100 yards (91 metres)…we all have to start somewhere!
Returning to the articles referred to earlier, if there is any criticism to be levelled at their content, then I feel that it must be directed at the emphasis placed on distances in excess of 150 yards (137 metres),lead only, the impression being that this is the norm.   Failure to reach this standard nurtures an inferiority complex amongst those who cannot achieve it, hence the “Hundred Yard Syndrome”.  I think it is reasonable to suggest that distances of at least 135 yards (123 metres), lead only over grass, will be achieved by those who have a natural ability, or have developed a fluent style through dedication or opportunity to practice for long hours…a luxury of the minority rather than the majority.

There is a need for some targets to which an aspiring novice caster can relate, but taking into consideration the wide spectrum of abilities and restricted time available for practice, I am sure the continual references to distances of 150, 160, 170 up to 200 yards, lead only, is the point where many lose interest who may have taken up the challenge if less awesome yardsticks punctuated these otherwise instructive articles.”

Just a reminder that this edited article was written and published in early 1977 and clearly demonstrates an apparent lack of enthusiasm for Long Distance casting in south east Wales, mainly due to the fact that accomplished L.D. Casters, “role models”, were thin on the ground in the region to the point of virtually being non existent.  The distances in the piece are a true reflection of what was being achieved by the sea angler of average ability using the standard beach casting equipment available at this period.

ANGLING magazine, L.D.C. “Teach Ins.”

In the early 1970’s, ANGLING magazine organised a series of “teach ins” on the east coast of England, which presented the opportunity to witness L.D.C. performed by accomplished practitioners, and offered a unique opportunity for individual instruction in a more advanced casting style.  Having benefited from one of the early “teach ins”, I was only too pleased to pass on the lessons learnt, and accepted invitations to demonstrate the rudiments of the pendulum style, impressing upon my hosts that I was not in the “super caster” league.

Casting Instruction and Demonstrations.

One to one instruction.

The average instruction session lasted about three hours, with initial casts using the old “up and over” style, ranging from 65 yards (59 metres) to 85 yards (78 meters), distances that reflected the physique and strength of each individual.

The end result, after a morning’s instruction, was a minimum improvement of, around, plus 35 yards (32 metres), with a fair proportion of the students consistently casting well over 150 yards (137 metres), lead only.

These distances may be small beer when compared to the achievements of today’s casters, but credit must be given to those who were prepared to face up to their limitations over a measured track, as the first step on the road to significant improvements.

Assessing distances cast over sea water by guesswork, or “pacing it out” over grass/ beach, has been proved beyond question, to have no credibility when put to the tape measure.

Derek demonstrates a cast over the measured court.

Preparing for Instruction and a Demonstration of the pendulum style of casting.

Buy the book ‘ Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and more by Derek Townsend’

]]> http://keenstackleandguns.co.uk/blog/seafishing/long-distance-casting-a-blessing-or-a-curse/feed/ 0 http://keenstackleandguns.co.uk/blog/seafishing/hindged-maggot-and-worm-madusa-d-rig/ http://keenstackleandguns.co.uk/blog/seafishing/hindged-maggot-and-worm-madusa-d-rig/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:19:25 +0000 Keith http://keenstackleandguns.co.uk/blog/?p=563 Well, it’s started to warm up a bit by day at last….albeit another bunch of cold nights has plagued us again this week.

Unfortunately this put the stoppers on a trip to one of my syndicate waters in Reading this week.

The lake being all bar totally frozen again.

The start of a cold winters night!

With this snap of cold weather being with us I thought that I’d show you one of the rigs which has caught me an awful amount of big carp through the last few winters, when all but a few anglers have caught carp.

My chosen venue for winter always has to have a decent stock of carp to target. Tie this up to shallow’ish water and time on the bank and you have the recipe for good results when most waters have shut up shop.

The rig needs to be simple, invisible and of course, highly effective. The same needs to be said for the bait…..it needs to be highly visible, simple and of course again, attractive!

The baits of which I talk of some of you may laugh at…it is of course the humble maggot and our best friend the  garden worm. These little wrigglers are just what the doctor ordered for a run of fish this time of year.

These baits couldn’t be easier to use and more readily available….obviously the worm from your garden and the maggots from the shop.

A 26lb 14oz common taken in February of this year on 6lb hook length!

I really like a mixture of colors of maggots, red and white minimum really. Tackle for this sort of fishing needs to be gauged to the size of fish you are hoping to catch and of course the venue itself.

The syndicate water i’m currently on in Devon has almost no underwater snags to worry about which means I can get away with very minimal tackle. This of course helps no end in making the terminal tackle invisible. This allows me to step my lines and hook lengths right down to 6lb.

Some of you may now be gasping at the thought of using 6lb line for big carp, but believe me that if you fish with a soft rod, tie good strong knots and play your fish sensibly then there is absolutely no reason why you too can’t catch big fish on light tackle too.

Winter nights can be hard times....

In my old match fishing days down the south of England, we thought nothing of going down to size 22 hooks and 1lb hook lengths for silvers and even catching odd small carp like this too. The reason for fining down the tackle is obvious in that it makes the whole set up less visible in the usually clear water we have around during the colder months of the year.

I’m not saying you should be casting split shot out for weights and size 22 hooks for double figure carp, but the use of 6lb fluorocarbon rig material and size 12 hooks will certainly get you a heck of a lot more bites than using 20lb material and size 4’s!

The humble maggot

You need to start thinking about how the fish react during the colder months of the year.

Many professors of fish science etc will tell you that the species Cyprinus Carpio (Carp) will not feed at water temperatures below 4 deg C….

I wouldn’t say this is a particularly hard and fast rule due to the fact that this year alone I have caught more than 20 fish from water temperatures down to as low as 2.4 deg C.

The maggot clip

Choosing the right fishery is obviously the key point here. It’s no good trying to target a water of 20 feet deep and only a few fish to boot. The main reason being that waters like this will take much longer to warm up as opposed to one of just a few feet deep.

So, we’ve talked a little about the choice of water and our bait etc. Now we need to have a way to present these excellent baits to the fish. There are of course many different ways in which to do this including the use of ‘maggot clips’ which are available

from many of the major tackle brands. I like these clips for their ease of use and simplicity, but I have a preferred method which gives as far as I am concerned a far better presentation.

The knotless knot

You will no doubt have come across this little gem of a method with in the press at some time or another in the past. It amazes me though how few people use it and just how many snub the idea of using maggots and worms for carp as ridiculous!

My principal rig consists of using fluorocarbon in minimal breaking strains as I said earlier in the text.

If I can get away with going down to 6lb breaking strain then the rig will be almost totally invisible withing the depths of the water….even in almost crystal clear water!

I like to team this up to a small hook of 10 or 12.

Forming the knotless knot

To start this rig we need to first cut off a section of fluorocarbon around 10 inches in length.

Now taking our hook, push the line from the point side through to the back of the shank. This is really important because if it goes through the wrong way your rig won’t work properly.

Forming the D section

Now start to twist the line around the shank neatly, around 6-8 turns will suffice. Pinch the twist and hook between your fingers and with the other hand push the line back through the hook eye in the reverse manner to previously.

Pull this up tight and then you’ll have tied your knotless knot which forms the major part of many of today’s rigs.

Our next job is to take a small micro rig ring and place it over the tag end of line left hanging down the hook shank.

This section of line then needs to be also pushed through the back of the hook eye.

Using a lighter to blob tag the end of the D section

Now using a lighter, gently blob the tag of line to stop it pulling back through the eye of the hook.

If you’ve done this correctly then you should be left with a nice little D at the back of the hook shank.

The finished D-rig

Now, this is a little fiddly but place a small size 11/12 ring swivel onto the main section of fluorocarbon. This needs to be tied to the line using a blood knot of 5-6 turns.

Make sure that you wet the knot thoroughly with saliva as fluorocarbon will be damaged badly if it is not moist when pulled tight into a knot. The length you choose to tie this swivel on will be the depth you choose to fish the maggots at.

Use a blood knot to tie on the micro ring swivel

The principal behind this is that the small swivel will act as a hinge in the rig, allowing freedom of movement by the bait and also suitably counter balancing the buoyancy of our pop up baits too.

Right, our final rig part entails another section of the Fluorocarbon material. Cut away a section around 10-12 inches in length. Again this needs to be tied onto the swivel with the use of a blood knot.

Tie on a size 8 ring swivel to the end of the rig

At the other end of the almost complete rig we tie another ring swivel of size 8. This time I use an overhand or Loop knot which allows good freedom of movement in the rig.

Ok, so our rigs looking pretty tasty. We need to now look at our bait attachment. Using a section of dental floss, around 8-10 inches in length. Tie this onto the micro rig ring on the back of the D rig.

Thread on real and buoyant rubber maggots using a sewing needle

You can use any old knot for this attachment. Now with the two sections of floss left hanging from the micro ring we start to get things into shape.

Get yourself a small sewing needle and thread one section of the floss through the eye of the needle. With the needle end start to insert it through the ‘eyed’ end of each maggot gently teasing them onto the needle without causing them to ‘pop’!

Thread each of the maggots one by one down onto the floss. After you have sewn on around 4-5 maggots you’ll need to add a buoyant plastic maggot or two.

Restart the process of threading the real maggots again and after 5-6 of these add another couple of plastic one’s. I do this around 4-5 times. I like to add a few chopped worms to this as well.

Worm Scissors

I chop the worms up using a set of three tier worm scissors which makes quick work of a bunch of worms.

You can test the buoyancy of the baits in the margins of the water or in a bucket……I try to match it up so that the small hinge swivel is just enough weight to make the bait drop down in the water before sitting proud of the lake bed by the length of the hinged section.

Chopped worms...yummy!

Once your happy with the neutrality of the buoyancy then you can simply pull the two floss sections together and tie them in a knot.

This will in turn pull all the maggots and chopped worms into one tidy ball of bait.

If you find that the whole setup is just not buoyant enough then you’ll need to add a small section of buoyant foam to the floss.

Ready to cast

I like to add this about half way through the threading process.

Now we have our rig ready to go, it’s just a case of casting it out and catching a few fish!

It’s obviously better to fish this method over some free offerings too though….I opt to either PVA bag these up or to spod the maggots and chopped worms out to the chosen spot.

Perfection!

As you can see in the pictures opposite….the baits look fantastic sitting in the water just off the deck of the lake and the colour and size of the baits look perfect for a bite!

So, what are you waiting for????? Get out there and dig some worms, get a few pints of mixed maggots in your bait box and go and haul some winter lumps!

Tight Lines

Keith

Job Satisfaction!

The experimenting and hard fishing of the seventies confirmed for me that (common sense) light tackle together with “species specialisation” was the best way to achieve improved “job” satisfaction, more consistent catch results and the management of the vagaries of the upper reaches of the Bristol Channel, along the south east coast of Wales.  The idea was to single out the individual prey species (Ray’s, Bass and Cod) that appealed to me, taking every practical step necessary to ensure that only the species of the day was caught by using the correct technique, gear, bait, in the known habitat, at the precise time and state of a particular volume (height) of tide during the most appropriate weather and sea conditions.  The combination of knowledge and the tide table predictions was invaluable when adopting the “species specialisation” approach, providing the means by which forward planning became a viable option.  The sacrifice was to restrict fishing for the chosen species to only those occasions when all the factors in the equation came together, the reward was the luxury of a level of consistency on a scale rarely achieved with random fishing.

A Ray of Hope!!

Although the ray’s did not inspire a sufficient level of enthusiasm to justify making them an all year target, never the less they were a welcome introduction to the new season after the long, winter lull from late January.  As long as the criteria were met on the day, making the effort could provide the long overdue opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and exercise.  Regular as clockwork, every February or March, it was habitual to sit down with a copy of the new tide table book, a calculator and some coloured pens, in readiness to plan my programme of ray and bass fishing for the coming season.

(Please Note: The Tide Table Predictions are for the King’s Dock Sill, Swansea.  The Tide Table books are available from Keens Tackle and Guns, Aberkenfig, at £1.00 per book, p& p £0.70p if applicable)

E-mail address: sales@keenstackleandguns.co.uk

Highlights!

The first job was to highlight ALL those tide volume (height) predictions in the tide table book from April to  the end of May inclusive, that experience over many seasons had proved to be the most productive for the rays, within this two month period.  The high water times of the selected tide heights were extended to produce the approximate time of low water, by adding in one hour for British Summer Time plus six hours and ten minutes to calculate the approximate time of low water.  At the mark I visited every year for ray fishing from April to May inclusive, the factor that governed the choice of tide height was the need to reach a shallow trench offshore where the rays rested before coming inshore with the new flood. Low water of a spring tide of 39 feet (height) was the minimum datum from which my casting ability would allow me to reach and deposit a narrow strip of squid accurately into the all important trench.  Having to rely on a reluctant sun to warm the inshore waters meant the selected tides fell during the hours of daylight.

Demonstration of Technique.

I have taken the actual predictions for April and May 2010, carried out the necessary calculations, displaying the results as they are written up in my tide table book.

April 2010                                                                   May 2010

Time               Height                                              Time             Height

Date     Day           HW          LW            (ft)              Date     Day        HW          LW         (ft.)

1       Thu            08.39        14.49*        42.1              1        Sat         08.53       15.03*     39.5

2       Fri              09.17        15.27*        41.1

3       Sat             09.52        16.02*        39.4             15       Sat          07.56       14.06*     39.1

15       Thu           07.44         13.54*       39.3            16       Sun         08.35       14.45*     39.1

16       Fri             08.18         14.28*       39.4

17       Sat            08.50         15.00*        39.1

* Denotes optimum Low water time.

27      Tue            06.04         12.14*        40.1              ( One hour of ebb to low water,

28      Wed           06.51         13.01*        40.7               Three hours of new flood.)

29      Thu            07.34         13.44*        40.8

30      Fri              08.15         14.25*        40.4

Optimum Tides and Low Water Times.

These are the optimum tides and low water times that are predicted to occur during the months of April and May 2010 for the south east coast of Wales, that past experience has shown would provide the best opportunity to reach the trench and put the squid strip within the province of the rays.  Add to this the forecasted weather and sea conditions closer to the selected day, as per the World 5 day weather service courtesy of the BBC’s web site.  This is all the information needed to make a decision.  Although this strategy was successful at one particular mark, there is absolutely no reason why it should not apply to any of the shallow shelving stretches of sandy beach along the south east Wales coast. The peak period of activity was the last hour of the ebb to low water, and three hours of the new flood.  A monopod as against a tripod rod rest, was always preferred because the rod could be presented vertically, with the line well clear of the active water for a much greater distance out to sea, and the initial slack line bite, kick of the rod tip and the modest run inshore was much more dramatic, positive and visible.  Never found any need for fancy bait concoctions, a simple strip of squid cut from the mantle, folded over the hook shank twice and secured with elastic thread always seemed to do the trick. (Fresh squid strip, ¾ inch wide x 6 inches long, cut to a point). Beach fishing usually goes hand in hand with long walks so it might be prudent to leave the “luggage” secure in the car boot, taking only the absolute minimum of bits and pieces in a small, practical shoulder bag to lighten the load.

Tackle Specification: Ray Safaris

The gear (rod, reel, rig and Mustad hook) listed in the following chart, is what I used on those early ray “safaris”, however, the lines are what I would use today.

Prey Species: Rays (Thornback and Small Eyed)

Venue Description: long expanse of shallow shelving sandy beach.

(for example: Monk Nash, Dunraven Bay, Ogmore Sands, Rest Bay, Kenfig Sands Margam Sands (Morfa Beach), Aberavon Sands)

Target……Shallow trench estimated 100/120 yards offshore from low water line of 39 ft datum.

Rod……….12 foot, two piece beach caster, self built on the Zziplex 2000 Sport Carbon Fibre Blank.

Reel………Abu 6500c (1975) multiplying, fitted with a handle from an Abu 7000.

Line………14 lbs.bs. (.310 mm diam) Sakuma Lite Crystal.

Leader……50 lbs.bs. (.600 mm diam) Sufix Zippy.

Weight……5 ounce Breakaway Lead.

Rig……….Single hook, Running Paternoster (constructed from 50 lbs. bs. Sufix Zippy).

Hook……..Mustad 79510, 4/0, well sharpened, tied to 10 lbs.bs. Berkley  Iron Silk (12 inch long) snood.

Rod Rest…36 inch aluminium monopod, self made, pushed into sand to hold rod vertically.

Bait………Narrow (3/4 ins. wide by 6 ins. long, cut to a point) squid strip. Thread strip over hook twice

so that a minimum of  2/3rds. is trailing from the hook. Secure squid to hook with elastic thread.

Casting…..Pendulum Casting style.

State of the Tide….One hour of the ebb to low water, three hours of the new flood.

Tidal Volume (height)…Minimum height of 39.0 feet. (Based on predictions for the Kings Dock Sill, Swansea)

Sea Conditions…Calm, from flat to light surf.

Weather Conditions…No wind to light breeze (from south to west). Dry with a benevolent Spring sun, strong enough to warm the shallow, inshore waters.

Ray Safaris and a Tug of War !!

At first glance, the tackle specification selected for ray fishing would probably not comply with the initial “light tackle” expectations of the reader.  The rays are not renowned for their robust “fighting” behaviour on the hook, so bringing the fish to the anglers’ feet on the beach, was usually an extended, uneventful, strenuous pull.  Common sense dictates the suggested line test strength of 14 lb.(.310 mm diam) Sakuma Lite Crystal on the basis of the “tug of war” aspect, although 10 lbs. bs. Berkeley Iron Silk also at .310 mm diameter might add a touch of adventure to the proceedings.  On a good day, it was not unusual to land 2 to 3 rays during the early part of the fresh flood, ranging between 4 to 10 lbs.

Unless you are partial to eating a “wing or two”, please carefully unhook the fish, handle it with care, take the necessary photographs and return it to “fight” another day.  Thank you, D.T.

Buy the book ‘ Bass Fishing from the shore in South East Wales and more by Derek Townsend’

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However, over the recent cold spell which have seen over-night temperatures hit -12 at certain shore marks around South and West Wales there have been some good early signs. Double figure cod pushing 18-20lb are being produced from private and charter boats running from Porthcawl to Newport.

Bitterly cold, but with low wind, John Roberts of Maesteg and his skipper friend Ray Evans took Rays private boat out into Camarthen Bay, West Wales.

Aboard the boat Sand Piper John decided to fish a 4″ strip of mackerel presented on a 2/0 Pulley Pennel rig into a drop off of 90ft. It payed off! What John originally thought was a ray of some kind became evident that it was not as it started to run, and its weight made it clear that whatever had taken the bait was a fish of some size.

After fighting the fish to the boats side a cod emerged, lip hooked of a staggering 25lb!

With our coldest months yet to come we hope this is a good sign!

Congratulations John!