Seaford Downpour Bass
Last night was one of those ‘Do I or don’t I’. Do I go to Seaford and fish in the wind and rain or do I sit at home and watch the TV? No brainer really, so armed with a couple of boxes of squid, I headed over to Seaford beach, where I was greeted with rain, a South South West wind and plenty of surfy action to the water. The only downside was the amount of weed in the sea – great rafts of dark floating stuff. Undeterred, I decided to give it a shot anyway.
The plan was to fish the last three hours of the ebb tide, over the midnight low and a couple of hours of the flood, using just one rod with big bait, in the hope of a bass or two in the surf. I set up the bass rod with a long link running ledger, ending with 5/0 pennel to hold the squid bait and cast it out just behind the breaking waves and in front of the weed. From the off, weed was a problem, soon collecting on the line and rig causing it to break out, so for the first hour or so, it was cast, breakout, retrieve and re-cast.
All the time, the rain was getting heavier and I could see from the colour of the sky in the distance, the was no sign of it letting up. I got pretty pissed off with the rain and the weed and a couple of times, I almost thought about packing it in – now I don’t know why but I had this inkling that if I cold stick it out, I would be in with a chance of a half reasonable fish.
As low water passed, the weed eased a little and I was able to keep the bait out for longer periods until it got top the stage that the weed all but disappeared – even the rain stopped a couple of times, albeit only for a few minutes before it fell in buckets again.
About an hour after low water, I had a tentative take, which then shot off, slamming the rod down in my hands. A short while later, a bass of around 4lbs was in the surf and up onto the shingle – briefly before it shook the hook and was washed back in the the next wave. To say I hacked off would be an understatement; what could have been the only fish of the night lost when so close.
By now, my waterproofs were no longer that waterproof and water was finding its way into various crevices. I again thought about jacking it in but thought better of it and so I stayed, although just a bit damp around the gills.
Two hours after low water, I selected the biggest of my remaining squid, mounted it on the hooks and lobbed it back out. I put the rod in the rest while I had a coffee and pondered why we persevere in uncomfortable conditions and wondered if this should be my last cast. I went back to the rod, picked it up and almost immediately felt two sharp tugs; thinking it was perhaps weed on the line, I raised the rod but felt none. As I stood, there was another couple of more determined tugs and then the rod was almost wrenched out of my sodden hands and line was being taken. A few minutes of line taking and a fish was in the surf. I timed the next few turns of the reel handle with the incoming waves and the fish got closer, only to take off again – this was not going to be easy. I could see a couple of big approaching rollers, so got ready for the last few turns. As the waves came in, I retrieved and half staggered, half backwards ran and the fish was up on the shingle and out of the water. I wound in some slack and went down to the fish which was about to be engulfed by the next wave, luckily the next wave pushed it a bit further up where I was able to get a hand on it and drag it back to safety
A lovely dark coloured, big headed bass laid on the wet shingle. It measured in at 71cm and 8lbs 2oz. Woohoo!! The discomfort and disappointment over the previously lost fish was now but a memory, I was over the moon – target achieved and in fine style too. Needless to say, I quickly re-baited and had another chuck in the hope of a quick follow up.
In fact I stayed until about 3am or so until the bait supply ran out, by which time I was even more wet and starting to get a bit cold. A crap night weather-wise but oh so worth it! Must admit, my enthusiasm and mojo, which has been lacking of late, has been rekindled and I’m looking forward to my next session with renewed vigour.
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bass, sea angling, sea fishing, seaford, sussex | | 
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well done vic ! bass for dinner for the next few days hey
off down the marina or maybe even seaford tonight if ur floaty suit is dry enough
Cheers mate. Let me know where you are and I won’t go there
All my stuff is hanging up and still not dry yet – got well soaked.
Well done vic that’s a very nice fish indeed
Cheers Mike. When are you and Jonah back out then?
Fantastic! Congratulations on that fine fish, you deserve it.
I was out the next night on Hove beach, as the weather forecast indicated (a) dry and (b) winds down to 11 mph. I intended fishing the rising tide from 02:30 with the intention of staying for an hour or two after the 06:45 high. I know, I know, nuts. Despite the wind ‘window’, The weed was there by the pound, and after three casts from 2 rods, none of which held bottom, and one set of lost gear purely due to weight of weed, I called early time and was back in bed by 04:00.
Like I said, you deserve it.
Cheers Steve. I feel your pain when it comes to weed – one of my pet hates. Wind and rain I can cope with but weed…. arrgghhhh
better luck next time mate.