Posts tagged: sole

Brighton Marina 7.8.09

By , 9 August, 2009 10:18

Bit late this one and not much to write about but here goes:

Fished the east arm at Brighton Marina on Friday evening from 8pm through until about 2am. Baits were ragworm, Peeler Crab, mackerel (heads and fillets). Although nothing spectacular landed, it was ok for for the species count. The final tally was:

6 x smooth Hound pups (biggest abt. 2lb)
3 x sole slips
2 x schoolie bass
2 x mackerel
2 x scad
1 x Smelt
Numerous Pout

It was unusual in that the mackerel were conspicuous by their absence at last light. Whereas you would normally expect to bag up on a few, I only managed the two stragglers along with the scad and a lone Smelt.

I have to say, I was expecting a run of a few larger smooth Hounds over the high tide period but they failed to materialise which was a disappointment.

So all in all, not a momentous evenings fishing but it was pleasant being out on a lovely night.

Broken duck

By , 30 October, 2007 14:06

Yup – by now, you should know the formula. Went to Seaford last night and fished opposite Edinburgh Road (well just slightly West of). Got there at around 8pm, not long after low water. Clear, bright sky, very slight NW breeze and a reasonable surf running. Apart from the brightness, it seemed like it could be decent evening with the possibility of codling.

Apart from a few groups to the East of me, the beach was empty. This was surprising, as I thought there would have been more people out taking advantage of the conditions, considering the period of calm weather we’ve had recently.

I set up one rod with a wishbone rig, baited with lug/squid strips and sent out approx 80 yards or so. Second rod as usual – 4/0 pennel rig with whole squid and put out just beyond the surf line.

First fish of the night was a whiting (what a shock). That was it. Hours went by and no matter what I did to tempt, threaten or otherwise cajole the fish, the rods stubbornly refused to indicate any sort of fish activity. I used the normal tactics – pouring coffee, turning my back, preparing bait and generally tinkering about but nothing provoke a bite.

Still it was a nice night to be out, plenty of stars, a few meteorites, the cross channel ferry and other distractions that you normally don’t take any notice of.

High water came and went with no chance of my hands getting dirty with fish or my fish bag being used. I had varied the methods of the ‘general’ rod. I’d used the wishbone to start, then moved to a two hook flapper before settling on a single 1/0 clip down to try and further distance. By about 1.30, I’d had enough and thought ‘one last chuck’ before home. I loaded the hook with two lugworm before launching it out as far as I could. I then set about tidying up my rubbish (and some that had been left by previous visitor) and clearing my gear away. The close range set was dismantled and put away. Once everything was ship-shape, I sat and had the last of my coffee.

I noticed a twitching on the rod tip and then one nod – and then nothing. I left it a while longer and then having had enough, I started the final retrieve of the night. There was some resistance and a bit of a shake but it wasn’t until I was coming throughthe surf that things got heavier. Thinking it was probably a clump of weed and a small ‘something or other’ I brought it straight out and let the waves do there thing. To my surprise, there it was lying in the shingle, my first sole from Seaford this year. It wasn’t huge, at around 30cm. but I’d broken my duck.

So, a really slow and uneventful night was saved from being a disaster by two fish, one of which I was pleased as punch with.

Wonderful night

By , 13 October, 2006 15:56

I decided on Brighton Marina East arm as the venue for last night.

Arrived at about 9pm. and made my way to bay 58, to find I was the only one fishing in this area – lovely peace and quiet!

Weather was fine, clear sky, no wind at all, smooth sea with just the hint of a swell. The only sound was the incoming tide against the rocks below.

One rod was set up with standard paternoster with size4 hooks and baited with lugworm in the search for sole. The other rod had single paternoster with size 2/0 hook pennel rig baited with whole calamari and lobbed a few yards from the base.

A couple of hours passed with just a handful of Pout to show for it. This could be bait wasting exercise I thought to myself.

At around midnight or so, the lug rod arched over savagely, I lifted into what seemed like a reasonable fish. Got it to net and a few seconds later, a lovely conditioned bass of around 2 1/2lbs.was lying on the deck. Normally this would have gone back, but it had taken the small hook down so deeply, it had caused serious injury. There was no way that it would have survived, and so was quickly dispatched.

At this point, the second rod lurched over and the ratchet screamed as line was pulled from the spool – another bass? No, a pollack of around 2lbs. had struck the pennel rig. This was brought to the net and landed. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that this too had taken the hooks right down and had to meet it’s maker. I hoped that this wasn’t going to be the theme for the night.

After re-baiting casting, I sat down for a coffee and fag. I sat and studied the glowing rod tips when I saw the worm rod nodding a couple of times. I left it for a few seconds before lifting into the fish. A palm sized sole was duly landed – not quite the size I was hoping for but a sole none the less. This was lip hooked and was returned unharmed. A short while later another small sole was landed nda returned.

A few casts later, I was retrieving the worm rig and had got to the base just before lifting it out of the water, when the rod was wrenched downward so quickly, I nearly lost my grip. Another pollack slightly larger than the first had followed the worm and struck almost at the surface. It was duly landed and returned.

That was about it for the rest of the session apart from the usual suspects. So with a bass in the bag for lunch and pollack for the cat (although I do like it fresh like this, so the cat might have to fight me for it), I headed for home with plans for a near future return.

That’ll do nicely

By , 13 September, 2006 12:37

Recent trips have been, how can I say, unproductive as far as bringing home “summat for tea”. As nice as it is, being in tranquil surroundings, observing nature and just being out in the fresh air, it would be a treat to take something home for the table.

In an effort to prove to my wife that I am indeed possessed with the “Hunter gatherer” instinct, I set off on Monday night armed with bait I had left over from the previous outing to Seaford. My chosen venue for this was Brighton marina, the East arm. The target was the delicious sole.

I wandered out as far as I could to the favoured ’50’s’ bays to get a decent spot. My normal favourites are around the high ’50’s’. However as these were occupied by a large group of people who were obviously camping there, I set up at bay 56.

One set was baited with lugworm and cast out about 20 yards or so. The other rod was set baited with squid and gently lobbed out a few yards out from the base of the caissons.

The weather night was still with not a breath of wind, warm and humid. The sea was flat calm with no wave movement. A distant thunder storm provided a fantastic light show with lightning bolts striking the sea. In fact as it got closer, I did consider leaving as I didn’t fancy waving thirteen foot carbon fishing rods around and acting as lightning conductors.

The baits were continually bombarded with bites from Pout which were savaging the squid and worm to pieces.

The next bite I saw was different, not the ‘rattling’ sort you get from a Pout. I left it a few seconds before the rod tip dipped right down and stayed there. I lifted into what felt a reasonable fish. Got it to the drop net and brought up a nice sole (along with some weed).

Then the inevitable happened. I had just lobbed a new fresh calamari and was busy sorting some bits and pieces when the ratchet screamed and I turned in time to see the rod arch over and then bounce back. I left it there for a while longer but there was no more action on it. Yet another example of “Sod’s law”.

By about 3am, I was just about ready to go home to a nice comfy bed. I began to retrieve the set baited with a whole squid and thought it felt unusually heavy. It was bound to be another clump of weed entwined in my line. As I dragged the weight up the side of the caisson, I felt a vague ‘flapping’ sensation from something on the end. Once the lot reached the top, I was pleasantly surprised to see a lobster firmly gripping onto what was left of the bait. An absolute bonus to end a pleasant evenings fishing and something to earn some brownie points with my wife.Lobser photo

Tuesday’s lunch was a real treat. The sole was simply grilled with butter, salt and pepper. The lobster was steamed and served with Mayonaisse dip.

I have now been ordered to make a return trip and do the same again.

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