After numerous bait changes - squid, mackerel, sandeels neither Wendy or I had anything to show for our efforts and as the boats came in to moor up in the bay for some lunch we did the same.
I'm not entirely sure we were in the right place as we've never fished here before and although the lack of bites was disheartening the main problem was the snags and the unending loss of end tackle no matter how far we cast or in which direction. The rigs we were using were 'pulley rigs' but the lack of fish meant that the main function of the rig - which is to get the lead up out of the snags - never happened.
Wendy did get this rather 'natty' picture of me though. We called it "last cast" and made our way back to the cottage for a quick brew before the main event of the day.
As the next trip out was to be the last of this visit to Anglesey we emptied the fridge of bait and took everything with us; crabs, lug worm, mackeral and squid.
We headed south to ABC tackle to get some more sandeels where we spoke to Malcolm, the owner. We mentioned that we'd seen Gareth the previous day and Malcolm said he'd been in the wrong place and gave us directions to a mark a little closer to Beaumaris called the flagpole. We both took only our light rods and the minimum gear, it was still quite heavy by the time we'd walked from the car to the mark. We arrived about an hour before lo-water and set up the gear.
This was to be a challenge for both of us. I'd recently purchased "Hooked on Bass" by Alan Vaughan and Mike Ladle and it had made me re-think our approach to this magnificent fish. The tackle I was using consisted of a size 2/0 Varivas Big Mouth (from Veals Mail Order) hook tied onto about 3 foot of 20lb amnesia (it was a bit rocky and i didn't want the line to scuff too much) the other end of which was tied to a small swivel. A zip slider was threaded onto the mainline followed by a bead to protect the knot then this mainline was tied to the other end of the swivel. To complete the setup a 2oz lead was attached to the slider and a big juicy peeler crab whipped onto the hook. This was then cast about 20 feet out among the boulders and the wait began...
Wendy tried a bit of float fishing with the 'jif lemon floats' we'd made about a month ago - fishing a crab just above the rocks no result was forthcoming and it was soon too dark to see it. We'd been holding the rods rather than putting them in the tripod so that we could feel every little knock but as darkness fell the rain came down and we needed to put them down for a bit of a break. Then...
A small twitch of the rod tip, Wendy notices it at the same time - again and I strike! This fish is only about 20 feet out and is not happy at all. The rod arches over as I apply pressure. The fish fights back but the light rod takes the strain and a silver shape is brought to the beach! BASS! Wendy rushes forwards to help make sure it's out of the sea as I put the rod back in the tripod shaking as the adrenaline leaves my body.
I gather my prize and as Wendy fetches the camera the hook falls out - you just can't have too much luck! We'd previously decided to take one home for the table so I dispatched it as quickly as possible (it weighed in at 2lb 8oz although it looked a lot bigger), re-baited and cast back out. Wendy had changed over to a normal 2 hook flapper, baited with crab and flicked into the rocks.
Then Wendy's rod goes berserk. But the tell tale yellow eyes break the surface...A Dogfish.
That was the only silver bar of the evening and the only fish for myself. Wendy had a whiting to go with the doggy but was not to get a Bass this night, but there's always next time...
What suprised me was the 'bite' the Bass gave, it was very timid and I'm sure if I'd not been using a long hook length on the running ledger I'd not have got the fish. It mentions in the "Hooked on Bass" book that Bass are very sensitive feeders but after the hit and run type of bites at "Dinas Dinlle" if I'd not experienced it myself I'd never have believed it. As for Wendy not getting onto a Bass that night, maybe it was the end rig, maybe luck or maybe there just weren't that many there that evening. We're back on the island in another month so perhaps then it will be her turn...
