Rays a Laff! By Derek Townsend
Posted by keens on February 8, 2010 under Sea Fishing | 
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Ray’s a Laff!! by Derek Townsend.
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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