Fine Weather Fishing

Summer weather is finally here, with crystal clear waters and blue sunny skies. The down side to this, means I am super-busy at work, and so my opportunities to fish are slim to none! I did manage to get a quick evening session in last week, fishing in the bay, into deep kelpy waters.

I wanted to push the Major Craft Volkey Bait Finesse Series rod further, with the hope of finding some bigger Pollack and Wrasse. I paired the rod up with a Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL, spooled up with Sunline Siglon Mono 8lb straight through. Not a finesse reel by any standards, but it sits well on the rod, and casts well enough with the lures I would be using.

I started out fishing with the superb Ecogear 3" BugAnts in some bright pinks and oranges, to get the Pollacks attention. These were rigged weedless Texas style with 5g sinkers, on a size 2 hook. Bouncing them along the bottom, and swimming them deep, as the small swell washed amongst the rocks, the hits began to happen, and fish were landed. There were some bigger fish in amongst the small ones, giving a good bend to the rod.

Switching things up, I went with a DUO Bay Ruf SV80 vib lure. Buzzing it through the water column brough some more small fish in, and also a bigger example as seen below. The Pollack were hitting the lure hard, some breaching the surface to try and grab th lure as I brought it out to re-cast.

As the tide ebbed, I was able to access the rock from where I like to hunt the Wrasse. Switching back to the Ecogear soft plastics, the lure bringing most fish in was an Ecogear Straight 3.24" rigged jika style on a 3.5g sinker. As the high tide prevented my accessing the really productive ground, the fish landed were all little nippers! Walking back to the car, the light fading, the view out over the bay was a awesome.

Refresh and Reload

The downtime in fishing for me at the moment seems to be dragging on. However, a lack of fish locally has coincided nicely with a very busy period at home and with work, so at least I don't feel like I am missing out (too much!). With thoughts of getting out there again soon, spare time has been well spent preparing some new and old lines for the season ahead.

THE NEW

Sunline Siglon V Mono 14lb

Sunline Super Braid PE2 / 20lb

Sunline Momentum 4x4 PE1 / 16LB

The Sunline Siglon V mono is a new line to me. It has been loaded onto the factory spool of my Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL baitcast reel. This will be getting a good test run on the Wrasse, putting it in amongst the rough stuff, see how it fairs.

Similarly, the Sunline Super Braid has also been loaded onto my Daiwa Ryoga 1016HL, but on the RCS shallow spool. Again, a braid I have not used before from Sunline. It has also been a good couple of years since I last used a 4 strand braid, having favored the 8 strand variety more recently. Looking forward to trying it out, and testing it in comparison to it's 8 strand companions.

The Sunline Momentum 4x4 in PE1 / 16lb is a line I have used before, a bit of a favorite of mine. I have not had the chance to load it up yet, but it will be going on a Daiwa Certate 2500 reel, and will be used for light plugging duties on my Daiwa morethan Branzino Urban Side Custom rod (8'7 5-24g). 

A couple of lines I have refreshed are the Sunline Momentum Small Game PE and the Rockfish PE braids. Both lines have been carefully stripped off the spools, new backing added, and then spooled again in reverse, so the line that was previously buried, is now on the top, fresh and ready for action. Both these lines add themselves so well to the light game applications. I use the Small Game PE 8lb (pink) from 2g LRF duties up to sub 10g ultra light plugging. Sensitive, very thin, but strong, it gives me great confidence. Similarly the Rockfish PE in 10lb breaking strain (orange), used for light jig head work, fishing the bottom on the open coast is no problem with the right tackle, this line has helped me pull some great fish up to the top.

It does take a little effort to reverse your lines, but in the interest of longevity, and also keep the spool filled correctly, all helps towards making the most of your tackle. Although this year I will be taking a strong interest in using the heavier gear, there is very much still the time and place for a more finesse approach, and the two braids above will be at the forefront of my light game tactics.

Finding Shelter

Where fishing is concerned, the number one subject of the last few months seems to be the weather, and with the first month of 2013 now gone, it would appear little has improved. Wednesday saw a break in the torrential rain, however the gale force Westerlies that remained were gonna make things tricky. Finding shelter seemed the only option, with some reports showing wind swell of 17 feet on the coast.

So I picked my spot. Pretty much guaranteed no swell here, but the wind is still a big factor. With a handy point surrounded by the sea, it does mean you can pick a spot that is going to offer a little protection, and fish with the wind on your back if needed. It was that strong down on the waters edge, that I was easily knocked off balance by the gusts.

I was looking to get into some Wrasse action with the Major Craft Bait Finesse rod, paired up with a Shimano Calcutta 51DC baitcaster, and spooled with some Sunline Siglon 10.3lb fluoro mainline. Its a mix or rough weedy grounds, with occasional sandy patches, so weedless soft plastics Texas rigged was the best option, and as he tide began to flood, the occasional investigative tap, tap turned into a  couple of Wrasse landed.

The lure doing the business today was a 4" Nories Shrilpin, on a size 2 weedless wide gape hook. With the conditions how they were, and the poor vis in the mixed up water, a short session with two Wrasse to show for it was most welcome, especially as opportunities to get out on the Coast have been few and far between of late.

Deps Bumble Shads!

Since I first heard about the Deps Bumble shad, I really wanted to get hold of some. The problem was, at around 26g before you add a hook or jig head, in the past, I have not owned a rod capable of casting them! Well, this is hopefully soon to change, with a 3/8 - 1&1/2oz rod (roughly 10-42g) on it's way.

Eagerly anticipating it's arrival, got straight onto getting my hands on some 6" Deps Bumble shads. I went for a pack (5 lures) of Kohokushaddo and a pack of Black Sumokupeppa. These colour patterns should be a good start, and I am gonna be throwing these in both the fresh and salt waters I fish. Probably looking to use them weightless for the Pike, and maybe try out a few weighted jig heads, to get them down in the deep waters off the West Cornwall coast.

Whilst on the big Deps lures, also picked up some of the 6.5" Deathadder sticks, in the Dead Shad pattern. These come in packs of six, and are physically a big stick/worm bait. Weighty enough to be used on their own with a single hook, I have also used them in the past with a nail shot, to get an interesting fall, depending on where you choose to stick it.

If you are interested in checking these out yourself, now is a good time, as Ben & Jo at the Art of Fishing have a Christmas sale on at the moment, and these Deps lures are amongst many of the great bits and bobs on sale, from small lures to high end rods http://www.artoffishing.co.uk/

As I like to fish with mouthful size lures for the Wrasse, in the 2-3" range, the quest for small, strong weedless hooks in ever ongoing. I have picked up some new ones, and have high hopes, from just handling them out of the packet. They feel strong in the hand, and have a good shape for weedless applicatiion, with the hook point 'skinned' in the top of the lure. Looking forward to trying them out soon. You can check them out at http://www.mrfishjersey.com

Back to Basics After a New Arrival

You may have noticed that my blog has not had the regular updates of late. This is due to the fact my opportunity to get out on the coast and into the harbour environments being cut short. The good news is, there is a very good reason for this lack of fishing and blogging. Three weeks ago, my son was born, Thomas Charles Denton-Gunning, a fit and healthy 7lb 2oz. My girlfriend and I are obviously over the moon, as are the rest of our family.

 

So after the break, it has been a while since I wet a line. With an opportunity to get out in the Penzance area, I decided to go back to basics, with some light lure harbour action, targeting the Pollack, with a variety of methods, to get myself back into the swing of things.

Tackled up with the Nories Slow Retrieve 74F, and the line I would be using is the Sunline Small Game Mono in 3lb. I have been using this line on and off since June 2012, where I posted my initial thoughts after testing HERE. This line comes in 150m spool, and available in the following breaking strains; 1lb / 1.5lb / 2lb / 2.5lb / 3lb / 3.5lb / 4lb / 5lb / 6lb. The RRP for the 150m spool is around £12.95.

Onto the fishing; Started out fishing the seaward side of a Harbour wall, from around 20' up, over a mixed sand and rocky seaweed bed. Tied up a dropshot rig, with a 3.5 tungsten weight, with a size 12 barbless carp hook about 30cm above it. Lures doing the business were the Ecogear Aqua range (Straw Tail Grub, Katsu Aji Straight & Katsu Mebaru Shirasu), and of course the Power Isome. The Pollack were there in numbers, simply dropping the rig vertically into the water beneath me, getting bottom contact, and small twitches, combined with the tide and wave movements, bringing the lure alive.

After several Pollack falling to the dropshot, a move to the inner Harbour was made with a change of tactics. As the big tide flooded into the entrance, went with an Illex B'Eye jig with an Ecogear Aji Shokunin mounted on the assist hook.  Cast into the tidal flow, the small heavy jig sinks quickly to the bottom. Bumped along the bottom, did not take long for the Pollack to start hitting it.

Rolling the changes, clipped on one of the superb DUO Tetra works lures, in the shape of the small vib 'Bivi', searched the water column higher up, with a shallow sink and draw, letting the lure buzz up, before picking up takes on the drop. Working this lure quicker than the others so far, the takes were aggressive, with the flash of a fish visible before being hooked. 

Final method of the day was a small metal, a 3.5g Reins Palpuntin. Similar to the DUO lure, a sink and draw method, but this time much slower, searching the full depth of the water, making most of the flutter on the downward drop. A much longer, slower raise of the rod tip, taking up the slack line, picking up the bites thick and fast. On the day, this lure was pulling out most fish, and with the small rear treble changed to a tiny plugging single, unhooking was nice and easy on the small fish. 

Although a short late afternoon session, good to get back out there, and pick up with the basics again, getting the speed of lure right, and presenting the lure in the best possible way. Fishing these methods, the Sunline Small Game Mono feels at home. As I have previously mentioned, there is a noticeable stretch in this line in comparison to braid or even fluoro, but this is not always a bad thing. Sink and draw for example with small light lures, the stretch allows for a smoother lift, or with the drop shot, adding movement to the lure is easy, whilst maintaining bottom contact. Throughout my test sessions, I have found this line to wear well, and the knot strength good even in a light breaking strain with a low diameter. It behaves well with the wind, and in the swirling currents, cut through the water well, especially with the sink and draw lures. It's not a line to replace your braid or fluoro mainline, but can be a welcome addition to it for certain applications, and it comes in at a great price point, so definitely worth trying out.

Quick Urban Session

Managed to sneak a quick urban session whilst en route to Penzance to do some last minute work on the house. With grotty weather, one spot guaranteed to be sheltered from West & South Westerlies is down at Newlyn, walking along to Mousehole. Decided to go light, so fished with the Nories Slow Retrieve, and Sunline Small Game PE, to present a selection of 2 & 3" Ecogear lures.

Having pulled a few fish from here in the past, was confident I would avoid the blank (just!) even tho the water clarity was far from perfect, and with a lot of shredded weed and debris suspended in it. Just a couple of fish, a Ballan Wrasse taken on an Ecogear 2" BugAnt, rigged texas style with a wide gape weedless hook, and a micro Pollack taken on a 3" ParaMax.

DUO Tetra Works Bivi Saves The Blank

Managed to grab a quick hour after a busy days work this week. Tide was just coming up to a spring high, so quick romp down the fields to fish the Creek on my doorstep. At the head of the Creek, there were many small Mullet, cruising the surface, making the water ripple in the last of the  evening light. As the estuary at the head of the Creek was starting to empty, made the deep wade along the edges, to reach the deeper channel where I would fish.

Fishing light with the Nories Slow Retrieve, opted for a light braid, with Sunline Small Game PE spooled up on the Certate 2506. The big high tide was emptying out, so the flow was strong. I wanted to use a small sinking lure, that would give a good attraction in the coloured waters, so opted to use the DUO Tetra Works Bivi (3.8g / 40mm vib). This little lure cast very well, as it's compact, and sinks nicely in the water column. Either a steady slow retrieve, or a subtle sink and draw method, you can feel the lure buzzing as it moves through the water.

As the last of the light faded, I had a tiny Bass take the lure, just as it dropped, following an upwards buzz. Quick pic and back into the flow, and I decided to make my way back up the Creek, wading by the light of my dim head torch, and scrabble back through the hedges to the fields and home.

DUO Tetra Works Bivi 3.8g / 40mm

Evening Stroll For A Bass

Work has been manic of late, and free time is at a premium for me, consequently fishing has taken a bit of a back seat. With the tides looking good, a 2200hrs high tide, took the opportunity to fish 5 mins from my front door, walking a couple of fields down the valley to the creek. As I arrived around 1900hrs, the creek was dry, but I could see the estuary at the head was flooding quickly.

I walked to the end, and rigged up, using the Nories Slow Retrieve 7'3 (0.9-5g) rod, and a Daiwa 2506 Certate loaded up with a spool of Sunline Small Game Mono. Fishing this line straight through, allows quick and easy rigging, with no leader to tie, and the freedom to swap jig heads often without loosing any leader length. Fishing into a deeper channel, with the fast flooding tide swirling around a rocky outcrop, had a take on the drop, and a feisty little Bass motoring well in the current.

The lure it was taken on is the Ecogear 3" Power Shad, teamed up with an Ecogear 3.5g Iwashi hjig head. With no more takes, the light was fading, and I needed to make my way back up the Creek, wading waist deep as it had now filled. Took a couple of pics of the estuary just before I headed off in the evening light. Hopefully soon I will get the chance to put a proper session down, work permitting!

Light Jig Wrasse

Sunny weather and the start of the School Summer holidays, means busy, busy times at work for me on the Beaches of the South Hams. Fishing has taken a back seat, but I managed a quick evening session as the sun began to set. Fished with the Daiko Spear 2-14g rod, and a Certate 2506 spooled up with Sunline Small Game 0.6PE.

First off, had the Pollack going crazy for the little Jackson RiskBait surface lure, the fish flipping out of the water, as they pursued it. The flat calm sea was glassy, as the RiskBait zig-zagged across the surface.

I wanted to try out some of the lighter metal jigs I had recently got hold of. Slipped on the Daiko Tokon 9g version, and searched out the deep clear water in front of me. Fishing a slow sink and draw style, soon picked up a few more small Pollack. The rocks I fished from, gave way to some very deep angled gullies beneath me, casting short, and simply letting the jig fall back to me in an arc, no winding of the reel, as it came close to the bottom, the Wrasse were active, taking the lure. Also had a couple simply vertical jigging as well, letting the lure just make bottom contact before the fish took hold.

Cornish Wrasse Hunt With Scott

Day one was a solo mission to my regular West Cornwall spot. Tooled up with the sublime Nories JigHead Snapper and a back pack full of soft plastics, fishing was poor, with the calm, clear conditions just throwing up a handful of small Pollack, and a couple of Wrasse. The pink Ecogear Minnow M 4" claiming one fish Texas rigged, the other Wrasse taken on a drop shot rig, with the OSP Mylar Minnow. Fished with a spool of Sunline FC Sniper 10lb fluro, great line for the vertical approach in amongst the rough stuff.

On my way to this mark, over the last few sessions, I have been greeted by a squawking bird call, unlike any other I have heard. The bird in question is pretty rare by all accounts, and it is a Cornish Chough. At a glance, similar to a crow at first, but this bird is only found in small numbers here and there, and location of breeding programs are kept very secret.

Day 2, and I had arranged to meet up with Scott, who was on holiday down in Porthleven, from his home back in Edinburgh. Scott wanted to get amongst the Cornish Wrasse, and hopefully improve on his PB of around 1.5lb. Sea conditions were calm, water clear and winds light, so we made the decision to fish the far West of Cornwall on the South Coast. This particular mark, I had not visited for around 3 months, as it is very exposed to swell, and weather conditions of late have been far from perfect for venturing out there.

After parking up and making the 20 minute walk down along the coast path, we arrived at the first rocky outcrop to fish from. Deep water over rock and weed, we rigged up our soft plastics and cast out. I was using the JigHead Snapper again, so versatile, able to work tiny LRF lures, and easily scale up to something bigger and heavier if needed. Today I was fishing with the ever reliable Sunline RockFish 0.6PE (10lb) line. Combined with a Sunline Siglon 8lb Fluro leader, this combo is great for targeting the hard fighting Wrasse in amongst the rough grounds.

I was first off the mark with a couple of Wrasse, a good sign of things to come. I was still a little nervous, feeling the pressure to score Scott a decent fish, at a mark I had not fished in a long while.

With no more bites, it was a quick climb back up, and along the coast path. We were heading to a gulley in the granite, that in the past, has always thrown up some good numbers of fish. The way down to it, like many paths in Cornwall at the moment, was heavily overgrown, with all the wet, warm weather, a mini jungle expedition was required to get down to the spot. The gulley is fed at one end by a stream, pouring it's way down from the fields above. It was here that Scott hooked into his first Wrasse of the day. This was quickly followed up by another, which after a quick weigh, measure and kiss, broke his previous PB! From then on the Wrasse were landed thick and fast for both of us.

My attention was turned towards the RNLI Penlee Lifeboat, the Paul Alexander (Atlantic 75 class) as it steamed West. Shortly after, it returned in the Newlyn direction, with a stricken boat on tow. The Atlantic 75 was later on exercise with the mighty Ivan Ellen (Servern Class) in Mounts Bay.

Soon after, Scott's rod was bent into another fish, and this one looked a decent size, as it made it's runs down into the depths. Once landed, Scott's smile said it all, his PB was once again beaten, this time well and truly, with a lovely pig weighing in just over 4lb. This was the best fish of the day, stoked that Scott had his mission accomplished.

My best fish was a lovely spotted example, with stunning pattern and colouration on its flanks. I had fished a combination of various 2 - 4" lures today, all Texas rigged weedless. Some straight slug types, such as the 3" Jackson Delicious Shiner, some craw styles, like the 2' Ecogear BugAnts.

I finished the day with 21 Wrasse landed, and I think Scott had similar numbers. I was relieved that my choice of mark had produced, and Scott was happy to have smashed his Wrasse PB. It was a great session overall, good to meet up with Scott and fish along side him. I dropped him back in Porthleven, where I am sure he will have a few more good sessions on the fish during his stay, and I look forward to hearing about his species hunt aboard a charter boat. So to finish up, a few more pics of some of my Wrasse. Always amazes me, the variation in colour and pattern. Also great to think that 30+ fish came from one location, a place that we decided to call Wrasse Alley!

If you want to check out Scott's other fishing adventures with his mate Jake, then take a look at their joint blog. It's a great read, with reports and session from all over the UK http://schogskyandhutch.blogspot.co.uk/