Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

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SEA FISHING

27 May 2002 I am away in Scotland until Tuesday next so no further updates 'til the back end of next week - Mike

Another shallow water bass.

Steve Pitts has not been down to see me for a while so it was pleasant to hear him on the phone the other weekend. He said that if I wanted to go fishing on the Saturday morning he would pick me up. I suggested that we should meet at 05.30 hr and have an hour or so fishing the tide race where I had caught fish earlier in the week.

When we set off for the coast I was concerned to see that the wind had switched right round overnight from the east to the south west. We parked the car and were relieved to see that although the sea was choppy there was not much of a swell so we would be able to fish safely from the low lying ledge of rocks. The tide was falling and we had to wait about fifteen minutes before we could wade across the gully to our fishing spot. While we were waiting we fished a gap in the rocks where the ebb tide was creating a mini race. As we fished half-a-dozen terns were diving just in front of us - they caught more than we did but not by much.

Soon the water was shallow enough for us to risk a crossing and within a couple of minutes we were fishing. Steve had never fished the race before so I suggested that he tried from the end point of the ledge. I used my shallow diving J11 Rapala and Steve fished with a blue and silver jointed thunderstick. Despite our best efforts for half an hour or so there was nothing doing, not so much as s sniff of a bass. Even the eddy which had produced most of my fish appeared to be devoid of bass.

We cast and retrieved over every inch of water and as we fished the kelp frond were beginning to show above the surface. I knew that it would not be long before we had to give it best. I watched as Steve cast his lure right along the boiling crest of the race and began to wind. Suddenly his rod jerked round as though he had hit into the kelp but the "kelp" began to kick and rush about. The bass fought very hard and sheered about between the faster flow and the slack water behind the ledge. It took several minutes before he was able to bring it under control and slide it onto the ledge at his feet. Certainly more than two kilos in weight, he unhooked it and carefully returned it to the sea. Another five minutes fruitless casting and it was time to pack in. An excellent morning!

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you.'get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Steve is into his fish!.

Beaten at last.

Well done!.

Ready to go back.

Back she goes.