HRF Wrasse West Cornwall 08-03-2011

Headed to an area that has thrown up the occasional Wrasse for me over Winter. Needs calm conditions, and with the swell minimal, and a cross offshore wind, conditions were promising. Fishing an hour before low on a big tide, allowed me to rock hop and explore more of this coastal stretch, accessing some rocky pinacles, and being able to see the underwater geography in the clear deep water.

After an hour or so of moving about, short sessions at each spot, found myself at a familiar gulley, that produces a fish every session, providing the conditions are right. This gulley is deep, really deep, even on a low tide. Maybe 15+ feet, only about 10m across at the wide point, and as it narrows towards the cliff, spilling into it is a fresh water stream, from hills above. Could this be the reason that the Wrasse seem to hang around in this particular gulley, does the stream provide nutrients for the prey the Wrasse feed on??

After only a couple of casts, the tell tale sign of a Wrasse, tapping on the lure. Hooked into it, and brought it up in the water column with relative ease, not much fight in it at all - Is this partly to do with the colder water at this time of year as we leave winter behind, the fish are less active? Fish measured 40cm and weighed in at 2lb 8oz

It was taken on the Nories Rockfish Bottom Light 7-15g rod, 0.8PE YGK braid, 2506 Certate and the lure was one of my new Nories Lady Fish 3.5" Glass Ayu, rigged Texas with a size 1 weedless hook, free moving 3g bullet weight. Nice to catch on a new lure the first time out.