Hoop

This is not cheating.... at all!!? 😅 A guy this way (that knows what he's doing) has had a couple of GG's to the same shallow diving lure! Jammy ... I'm down that way in a week, fully intend on taking lure gear.. any marks worth a go for Bass?

Mullet are easy once you've got them cracked. Feeding habits change from location to location. When you can see the fish up in the water like this on top, throw in half a slice of bread and sit on your hands and watch. Rip into finger tip sized flakes but don't squash the bread and knock the air out..as it will obviously sink. Key is to gradually build up the offerings and only when they confidently numing the bread should you sling in a line... and then beyond the feeding fish and bring your line in slowly to the area where the fish are feeding. Hooks? Mustard B983's, size 8 or 6. I use a carp self cocking float .. hook length is tricky as fluoro will sink so just a good quality line, about 5 ft should do it.. bread flake should be pinched around the eye of the hook. Mullet will also feed differently upon location, creeks can be tough if they are sifting silt for micro organisms.. no different from chucking surface lures for Bass if the bass are noses down looking for crabs.. match the hatch to a degree.. Harbours, sea walls at depth is easier again but less fun.. shop bought ground bait, mix in some bread.. shitty mackerel if you have it and ball it in to start then gradually feed.. as for set up? Waggler style with a reasonable drop or as some of the less finesse guys approach is to drop down a two hook patt small hooks and mould bread to hook, obviously exposing the hook point. Another tip, mould bread or ground bait around the sinker.. also worth fishing mackerel strip! Time of the day plays a part, off the top.. early mornings late afternoons into evenings.. Fishing deeper, you'll catch any time of day or at night.. When we used to get round to Hurst Bassin on bait gear, we used to regularly catch Bream and Mullet on 8/0's, mackerel head and gut baits. Goes to show that Mullet are not all that difficult.

Hey guys, happy new year!! 🤔 It's that time of year again and the fishy season kicks off for me in 6 days! Funnily enough, Andrew.. I was recently talking to someone about the deeps, apparently.. it's bloomin amazing!? Mostly spinning Shark dits but other species also got a mention.. I'm all for cracking tricky spots but our session there still gives me nightmares. Best left to those with webbed hands and funny shaped heads I reckon..

Hey @Malc.. I know you asked 'boats' but I'll through some shore knowledge in!! Chesil / Brizzle Channel Codin, pully or up and over then tie off a short hook length beneath a gaff. 7/o or 8/o. School of thought, size 4 or 6 baited with small worm squid bait. Allows for streaming and maximum range when casting, for example hitting clay patches at Chesil we know that are at distance. Draw backs with the method are obviously your not wanting to regularly check the end as you may have a perfect live bait sat on it.. though sounds like you've got this weighed off with a scratching rod beside.. Live baits are always more likely to be picked up and the theory about Cod hoovering up whatever doesn't stack up in my experience.. Another method worth considering is a bait sliding rig, especially when the Cod are up in the water, when they've turned onto sprats for example. As with all live baiting, it's all or nothing. Whatever you connect with is going to be worth while... Conger are a regular bycatch along Chesil and Brizzle worth tying heavy leaders.. I know a man that does just the job! 👌 Oh, save some Whiting for Spring Thornies.. nearly as good as (fresh frozen, not the shop bought frozen) Mackerel!

Any size to them? If Haddock were a viable option this way, I'd probably not fish for anything else!

What are the realistic species to target along your patch, Malc? Yet to see a single Whiting this end, never a bad thing! A local youtuber (local marks fishing) fishes beach and harbour / Solent in a Sib at night, filming live streams as he does so, have been catching more Conger than anything else. Good luck shaking off the cold, if not.. stick another jumper on!

🤣.. don't you worry, I will be down that way after Cod! 😉

Really good shout this and having just checked Google maps, Southbourne is only a short hop along the coast. May squeeze in a trip that way, thanks for the steer. Ref coddies, stacks coming out chesil way by all accounts?

After much clambering around yesterday a venue for the evenings festivities had been agreed, an outing to Milford.. a venue put forward by our friendly bait supplier. The desired target was sole, the brief was simple ish.. a venue with easy access on proven sole ground, milford seemed to tick the boxes,. However, upon arrival the beach is undergoing works and the step down was not achievable so back in the car.. Google maps, Barton I called out!? Nope, the old fella doesn't agree with the slope leading to the beach.. wonderful! After 5 minutes he pipes up.. 'Lee'?!!.. an hour later, we had arrived on a mark 5 minutes from my front door.. 😭 My buddy just enjoys being out with a line in the drink, catching for him is truly a bonus.. though I like to think my outlook mirrors that of my bud, in all honesty, I'd sooner blank being in the 'right place' than blank somewhere convenient not likely to throw anything up.. last night, we ended up on a convenient mark. Big tide, patchy skies, warm with intermittent bright moon appearances. First cast mate had a great bite but failed to stick it, then that was his lot till the last cast with a tiny hound pup.. I fished one at range - 6/o pully, squid and blank lug.. 30 year old Bass rod fished in close with size 4's, tiny black lug tipped squid. While the big baits remained untouched all night, first cast on the bass gear I had a smut pup. Just before wrapping up I had a cracking bite and upon picking the rod up I felt something pulling back! Happy days, moments later.. up popped a Codling. My mate insisted on weighing and it went 4lb 12. Sadly with it gut hook, it ended up coming home. Safe to say, the Sole were no where to be seen. A match last week on Hillhead that's widely regarded as the local hotspot had a turn out of 18, not a single Sole was caught.. another fish with changing habits? In other fishing its been kinda slow, had a decent Bass Friday around 7lb, stalked which made it quite satisfying. Even squeezed a Mullet session in a week ago on floating bread. In an hour I had 2 Bass and 1 Mullet.. nothing big but pulled the string nevertheless.

Lovely way to spend a few hours, on my favourite mark too. Must get over that way soon for a go at the coddies, hear from the salesman at the tackleshop that the big beach has been throwing a few up in recent weeks??

Awesome looking creature, always strikes me as looking prehistoric. Do the scales give an indication of age?

Surprising they're keeping it going with Tyler gone, Zep wrapped it in after Bonzo popped off.. nearly comparable??

Sometimes, it's hard to be mad when the task undertaken was nothing short of exceptional.. 😇

Black minnow strikes again!! I don't mind the occasional wrasse when they pull back. See on face ache earlier, some chap fishing metals in an estuary out west for flounder and snagging a few!! Silly dog 'appy to see her old man?

Agreed. Horrible, combat style of fishing. Surely decent technique and ability but far outstripped mine. Lovely little session Neil, always had a soft spot for Bream on light gear.

Fair enough, I'd have thought there would be banks over that way rammed with summer species!? Everyday's a school day mucker!

What did the Skipper put the poor showing down to? whenever I've been out and had a poor day, the Skipper has always pointed at the tide fished being the issue.. whether they picked the tide or not!

Held a slammer in the shop a while back and was surprised at the weight.. thing was built like a tank and not cheap, talking reasonable shimano money. Not heard the issue with the vanford before, that's not to say there isn't one. Am I right in saying that the vanfords replaced Stradics? I can speak to that, I used and thoroughly abused mine and for years I didn't have a problem, one would hope that when a range is updated that its improved as the cost increases. Moved my Stradic on without fault, as I imported an Exsence from Japan that has been flawless and does what I need it to do, beautifully - though, I do recognise UK & Aus fish the complete opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to what pulls back on the other end. Have you ever had a flick with a Shim Lunamis? Ci4 reel seat made for ci4 reels.. never needed nipping up. Adored mine for bigger top waters 125's, Patch 2's etc.. but for soft plastics felt it wasn't subtle enough so moved it on, have thought about getting another for metals when it's blowing up.. The Apia that I have now, awesome rod.. though would loathe getting it out in ugly conditions.

Thanks guys. Blown away with your very kind offer, Malc. TY. I'll ping you over a message. Thanks again.

Very sweet, can't go wrong with a Spaniel, unless it's one of those ugly pug nose faced things.. Pippa looks right at home in the skippers seat, all she's missing is the hat! Thanks for the Tope, pointer. I'd love to use mono but used to find the heavier the line the more of a pain to get it to knot probably, (thinking about which, guess could use crimps?) any particular mono / knot suggestions? Wire is a pain for developing kinks, due to the removal of bait elastic.. the application of which is never shy.

Ahhh bless him. Common traits in labs? or so I've read. Bred for Boar hunting? Must be a beast of a dog? Presumably a pack dog?

🤣, ahh yes, the Common Pompey skate, rarely found under 100kg. Indigenous to portsmouth water. Right gob on'em too. When landed they make the strangest grunt that when recorded, slowed & cleaned through digital means, the result can be most closely linked to the word 'cunt'.. 😳

I bet he felt it as an older dog getting off the boat too. Did he bulk up into adult/seniorhood? Cooper, great name for a pooch. Was he a street dog? Do you know the makeup? Bit of doberman in there??

Lovely little reels, great sport for the smaller bits. I've noticed that Penn have taken over in tackleshops here, understand they are bulletproof but the line lay and weight doesn't come close to shimano.. wonder if its a supply / distribution issue!?

Hi Nick, good to have you on the site buddy. Oban, isn't this the big Skate grounds ?