Some 2011 Fish

Here are a few fish from 2011 Have a great Xmas and thanks to Tom from Monster Tackle for allowing me to test some gear and for selling me that great Century Rod

Last fish for December

With Derek jetting off to New Zealand for 3 months and horrendous gales I think the fishing is over for December.

Greedy fish inhaled the surface lure

However we did get out a couple of times last week which resulted in a few fish on surface lures in shallow water taken at a reef near to the MB. The fish were holding there as the tide turned from low
into the flood.

Derek with a fish around 4lbs

 

 

The fish were more plentiful when there was a bit of chop on the water, the following day it was flat calm and this resulted in only 4 fish compared to the 7 the day before.

Fishing is likely to be hard over the next few months and will probably be restricted to Pollack and LRF fishing

December Bass

Managed to get out at half tide as my boat is on a temp mooring in St.Helier marina. We set off to LHG and at Micks corner Derek put on a black redgill as the water was cloudy. He immediately took a bass around the 2.5lb mark, we moved off up LHG and as there was a heavy swell running we decided to try a head where white water was around it. Both using surface lures we both hooked up to fish at the same time weighing in at 2.5lb.

The swell picked up and we had to move towards EC where Derek took another fish on a white redgill

More surface action

The last trip of the year out in Derek's boat before he goes off to New Zealand so we ventured out in a force 4 sothweaterley wind making conditions verytough. The drift was extremely fast. Derek started the ball rolling with a bass of around 2lbs near the oobeds I took one on a soft plastic (sakura magic eel) at the same spot. Things got difficult with Derek picking up a fish at finger rock on the surface whilst I took one on a surface in the lagoon.The point was disappointing so we went off to the reefs in the middle.

Derek cast his lure in amongst some weed and was immediatel hit by a fish that weighed in around the 5lb mark.Derek took another one at this spot before moving inshore.

As the tide came in the fish turned up for a very short spell where we took 4 more fish on surface lures and shimmer eels.

Surface Fun

Out with Derek at first light the conditions looked great for a few hungry fish wanting to feed. However it was not to be and it was not until we went to the offshore reef that Derek took his first bass around the 2.5lb mark. This was on a shimmer eel.

In the meantime I was busy catching pollack. Derek took another fish at this reef before moving off up to finger rock, where Derek took yet another fish.

We moved up to thepoint and the fish were hard to find. I put on a bass arrow and immediately got hit by a fish of 4lb. After this the fish disappeared and we made our way up to the OB after the tide turned. Fish again were not there.

A short time the fish appeared on the Eastern side Derek continued to take fish on his Patchinko. I changed to a z claw and took a nice fish of 6.5 lbs and a fish of 2.5lbs. We had a total of 10 fish well Derek had 7 of them.

A few brace of bass

Out with Derek this morning, nice sunny day but a small 27ft tide and a heavy swell running in amongst the rocks. First cast for Derek resulted in a fish taking Derek's red gill and snapping him off. Things became quiet and no fish were showing interest in the surface lures.

Deek put on a black redgill as we approached a reef of rocks near Micks Corner that were just showing a cast just to the side of the white foaming water resulted in a fish taking the red gill. The fish came to the boat and weighed in at 5.5 lbs before it was released back into the sea.

Derek later took another fish around the 2lb mark again on the black redgill
 whilst all I had for the day was poxy polloack

This coupled with the 2 bass we had the other afternoon it would seem that things are slowing down maybe with the sea temp dropping

A trip with Steve

Out today on a 32ft tide, the forecast was bad so Derek was walking down Steve Olsen came  and we started off at LHG where at Micks point I hooked into a fish on the first cast not big around 2lbs. Second cast I hooked and lost another fish.

Fishing became difficult for some reason and we ventured round to the point where Steve picked a nice 4.5lb fish on a soft plastic on his light gear this was followed up with a smaller fish. We caught quiet a few pollack which coughed up bits of squid and we also caught a number of snipe.

We made our way back to LHG where I caught another bass around the 2lb mark

Dull Day but brighter finish

Arriving at the slipway at first light this morning the conditions did not look good with a 3-4 easterly wind and a fairly heavy swell. Derek decided to go as the wind was forecast to drop.


It was too choppy to fish standing up but Derek soon had a fish at PS around the 3lb mark on a slider, but it was very difficult. Moving onto another reef I placed my Patchinko in almost against the rocks when it was immediately hit by a fish of around 4lbs.

Fish became scarce and I took one fish on a sakura magic eel. Having been out since 7am and only 3 fish in the bag in 4.5 hours it was pretty depressing.

We moved into shallow water the IOB where we knew fish will often turn up just after low tide. I switched to a white z claw which I had got from Micks. For some reason it was difficult to use staying just under the water, perhaps had not rigged it right.

We could see some fish on the surface as conditions had improved. I was immediately into a fish around the 3lb mark

We took a total of 17 fish in this area bringing our total to 20 fish for the morning out.This brightened the day up

Weather Window

Decided to get out today with Derek before the wind came up.First light on  a low 26ft tide, northerly wind resulted in 8 fish all caught at LHG.
Derek was using a duel magnet surface lure which far outfished the Patchinko I was using.First cast at Micks corner resulted in a fish between 4-5 chasing Derek's lure up to the boat before turning away.

I took a small fish of around 2lb on a Sakura magic eel.We took 8 fish this morning nothing bigger than 3.5lbs

Top water action

I have promised to keep this as secret as possible and never to divulge the identity of this fisherman who has been persuaded today to  love topwater lures,He also goes by the name of Steve Olsen.

Setting off this morning with a 38ft tide and a slight northerly wind the undientified male was smuggled onboard as we headed east out of the harbour



We stopped off at a spot not far from the harbour and using a stinger slider eel which Tom from MONSTER TACKLE had given me to try I was soon into a bass of around 2.5lbs This lure continued to attract fish throughout
the afternoon.


2 more fish quickly fell to this eel whilst my mystery guest had managed 1 fish


 As the tide was dropping fast we made our way east

stopping at the next mark we were immediately into bass with a couple of fish being landed between 3-4lbs


The secret fisherman then took a bream on a nanjo

Early Morning Start

Having been out yesterday and only catching one fish, we decided an early morning start would be better. The tides are extremely small this week . At first there was no wind but picked up to a force 3-4 this coupled with a swell made it a bit choppy.

First stop was  a gulley at LH where we know fish will wait for the tide begin to flood, first casts with a patchinko and a skimmer for Derek result in fish attacking the lures, Derek hooking a fish for a few minutes before it came off.

Next cast for me and a fish was on and a fish of around 3.5lbs came to the boat.
a further two fish of a similar size were caught at this point before they moved off

We moved on further and I switched to a white gulp lure and immediately took another fishThis pattern continued with fish staying on the marks for a short period of time only. We ended up with 9 fish nothing bigger than 3.5lbs but good sport on an Autumn Friday morning

Surface Action

A sunday afternoon,with a light westerley wind and a 32ft low, I made my way to EC not far from my mooring and tried out a small patchinko.

First cast into a small gulley and a fish around 3lb was on, next cast another fish of the same size, next cast another fish the gulley seemed to be packed with fish. I took one more fish at this spot. Picking Paul up we made our way east to Mick Wards corner. The tide was just turning and the fish were there I took another 3 at this spot then further up the gutter another two. Paul of course had none.

Alternative Bass festival

with Jersey Baas Festival in full swing, Derek and I have been out and about over the last few days Wednesday produced 18 fish in heavy drizzle mostly caught at the point n shimmer eels, Yesterday we were out around IT in an easterly wind produced only two fish around the 2.5lb mark.

Today was a day for better fish but the hot and calm conditions made it difficult and most fish were again taken at the point, Derek taking two 5lb fish in quick succession. followed by some 4lb fish. We ended up with 9

More teaching

The day after I taught my son how to fish again I was out with my brother in law and a friend from England. We started off the day at LHG were a couple of fish were caught on Mick's corner before moving onto twin peaks where I picked up a fish of around 4lbs.

This was swiftly followed by another fish of around the same size caught on the other side of the reef at IT

Moving onto the point where we picked up more fish, The tide was big and the conditions were again calm. The fish took yum worms and shimmer eels

Teaching my son how to fish

Out today with my son (aged 28 years). He decided that he knew best on how to catch fish. The conditions were not good hot flat calm and a very big tide. This coupled by a fishing boat shooting a net within 10ft of our boat right across a large gulley.

Well I started with two fish just over 2.5 lb caught on shimmer eels before we moved on further east, by this time my son was choosing a new lure to put on despite me telling him to keep to a lure that works.a further 5 fish came to the boat all around the 2lb mark. Unfortunately all to me. By now the tide was extremely low and we moved out to deeper water where the tide was still running.

Bang a fish was on my eel again  and this time it was going like a train, where was my son, sunbathing so I had to net it myself



The fish was just over the 5lb mark

We switched to surface lures and eventually my son caught a bass of around 2lbs. We ended up with 10 bass, he caught one of those.

good fishing in choppy waters

Out with Derek yesterday in a force 4, Mick and Bob were out fishing gdz and they had 14fish up to 5lbs, we moved on to lh gutter were I took a number of fish using yum worms. This was on the falling tide and as the tide changed they seemed to switch to shimmer eels.

We also had 14 fish up to 5lbs

Same old, Same old

Out with Derek this morning, another lovely day, a small tide of 28ft It was not destined to be a good day for me as everything I threw at them they did not want to know but just wanted shimmer eels. We ended up with 11 fish the biggest being about 3lbs

Most were caught at the point when the tide turned

Lovely calm day

Out first thing this morning with Derek, testing some of the lures I had purchased in America. The one in the photo is a trigger lure which worked well this morning.

Very small tide meaning the fish were not very big, the biggest being about 2.5lbs. We ended up with 12 fish some at the offshore obs, also the reef and the inshore Obs. The surface lures were not working today although it was flat calm.

Couple of Early Morning Starts

During the last few days Derek and I have been out early morning fishing leh gutter, but the sight of longliners laying line after line.

Yesterday the weather was more overcast and a bit more breeze than today seemed to make it easier to catch fish on the surface. We took a number up to 3.5lbs I think we had 7 at lehg  before moving back to EC where we had a further 6 fish.

Today was a different matter with only 1 fish coming from LEHG, as the area was surrounded by longliners we made our way back to EC. This time I tried a Sakura Magic Eeel that Tom from Monster Tackle had given me to try.

Immediately I was taking fish compared to Derek who was trying the shimmer eels. I took fish fish before Derek took another.. We had a total of 9 fish this morning. This will be my last post until Mid September

Bad Day Good Day

Sorry if this post is a bit long but probably my last for a few weeks whilst I take a well deserved holiday from fishing. Out with Derek today no that is not the bad day but having seen a diver out and about whom we know he took great pleasure in coming up to our boat to show us a double figure bass that he had shoot in the head and was now in his cool box. Well done Mike Shearer as we said at the time it is alway great to see a dead bass laying in the bottom of the boat.

Clearly he realised our disgust and left us to get on with our fishing

The day started as per normal with most fish coming on surface lures

.
A couple of good fish attempted to take the surface lures but missed, I took a smaller fish on a plastic prawn once again,(sorry Tom no photo as it spat the lure when it was netted.

Just after low tide with about 12 fish  having been caught I went back to my shimmer eel, fished again slowly I took a couple of smaller fish up to 2lbs. I then had a gentle pluck as I let the eel fall then the fish that was on decided it was going to swim in a different direction. The drag on the van staal was as smooth as ever, and it is times like this you appreciate the quality of the reel. The fish went off on a number of good runs in the 8ft of water.

The first glimpse of the fish and Derek said it was about 4-5lbs what does he know any way. Eventually netted it weighed in a 9lbs on the BASS tape.


The fish being returned hopefully not for a diver to shoot through the head.

More Surface Caught bass

Another day of drizzle which got us pretty wet as we heade for the south east corner of Jersey. We started at the usual spot and picked up 4 bass around the 2lb Mark, I had my own a surface fished Nanjo that Andy Kendrick sent me over to try out. Thanks Andy I am always willing to try new stuff out.

The fish became difficult to find compared to yesterday and clearly favoured surface lures to anything else we offered them

Derek had a nice fish of about 3.5llbs on a surface lure followed by another around the 4.5lb mark

Later we saw a lot of terns diving and the sea was alive with sandeels. It sounded like rain on the surface, but not a fish amongst them. We had a total of 13 fish today.Out by myself tomorrow in a different area so less fish expected

drizzle and wind

The forecast was not good as we prepared for another day fishing , the wind blowing just under a force 4 westerley and a heavy drizzle was begining to descend. A lovely August day,

I rigged my rods up whilst waiting for Derek my HPR rod with keitech sexy impact the other one at this stage with a small Sakura eel both of which Monster tackle had given me to try. I have to say that the Keitech stuff is really working at the moment, I would not have tried them at this stage but probably remained using our shimmer eels.



We arrived at a mark where we knew that fish remained for a short time, and this remained the story for most of the day moving from reef to reef knowing from the knowledge that we have built up when fish were likely to be there. Derek was quickly into a bass of around 2lb on his surface lure whilst I took a fish on my Keitech sexy impact fished on a worm hook with a small bullet lead. Both of us picked another fish each this way.



Derek netting a small fish

The fish were all up to around the 3lb Mark and I think we had 7 in a fairly short period of time. The strange thing was that at one reef they would only take surface lures, whilst the next only sub surface and then a mixture so it was difficult to decide what to use. I tried my patchinko out and this produced a few more fish but a lot of misses including a couple of decent fish.Derek had put on a sidewinder tail on a jig head and was immediately into fish.


As the tide turned we noticed a lot of terns diving etc in the distance and I put on another Keitech lure a shad impact and immediately hooked into a fish.


The fish continued to bite for a short while then disappeared, then 5 minutes later the terns would show you where there were again.

I even had a tail bitten off the shad impact



Total for the day was 25 Bass up to 3lbs a couple of larger fish lost and some mackerel and Pollack.

Thanks Century

Just a quick post to thank Century rods for sending me those free gifts through the post. It is much appreciated and will be used. If any other people want to send me tackle to try out and to give it a fair and honest appraisal let me know

Century HPR Rods

Having had the chance to test these rods during their design phase, thanks to Keith White, I thought I give my honest opinions on this rod.

I am not one for saying things are good if they are not and was some what sceptical about the hype surrounding the rods, I am new to the style of fishing that these rods are designed for but they can cope with a wide range of lure fishing methods.

I had the chance last week to try the finished product thanks to Tom at Monster Tackle who dropped off a 7'3 equal butt size rod to me.The first thing I said to Tom was is the rod in the bag as it seemed so light. The next day was the first time I had used the finished product, since I had relunctantly given up the prototype a few months earlier.

I set the rod up with my Van staal vs 100 I am not a great fan of quoting line pe and flouro strength etc as I know what I can use without getting into trouble with knots etc. I was using a variety of soft lures using my favourite method of a worm hook and 2 split shot further up.

Casting light soft plastics is easy with rod and bite detection is also superb, feeling every little knock. The weight system makes the rod feel weightless in your hands. This is great if like me you are fishing every day, whilst almost everyday.

I know people have been critical of people behind the design of this rod but this should not influence whether people should buy this rod or not. You cannot knock the quality of the product I believe Century have a winner in this product. I could go on about build quality and the type of resin etc but all I am interested in is if the rod does the job and does the job well. Well this rod does

Early bird catches the Bass

early start at 0545 this morning just on low tide overcast drizzle, we made our way to lhg where numerous fish up to 2lbs were caught on surface lures, before moving further up where Derek took a nice fish of 5lbs whilst I took one of around 3.5.

As the tide came in we tried near Rhino and I picked a fish of around 3lbs on a keitech lure from Monster tackle

A total of 26 fish came to the boat a good day out.

Prawns are working

Having been given some plastic prawns to try out bt Monster Tackle I decidec to give them a try, second cast resulted in a small fish taking a natural coloured lure at the crossover between gig and lhg we had a few more on surface and also a couple of nice pollack on flourescent red prawns