How do you fish ? Beaches

[Local/Brian]

Brian » 29 Jul 2023 19:41

This is just a talking/learning post on how everyone goes about fishing for our every day general target fish ?.
When am fishing I would put fish into 4 categories and use a rig and bait to suit .

Big slow or shy biting fish ?
I would never just strike at the first sign of a knock / rather leave it for a bit and let the fish take the bait in / you will soon get the hang of when the fish has taken the bait in as it will either just pull the rod tip right down or you will get a slack line as it moves off with the bait in its mouth.
Thornback ray
Small eyed ray
Bull huss
Conger eel
My way is rod in the rod rest with the star drag slackened off enough for the fish to take line but not enough for the tide to take line?
Baits will be 3-4" long but thin / I precent the bait either on a hair style rig with the bait in the hair loop and the hook just nipped through the top of the bait {NOT A DONGLE]
Or on a 3/0 or 4/0 J patten hook I would bait this up with the bait up to the eye of the hook and the rest hanging off below again this gives the fish the confidence to take your bait in without the fish either just holding on to the bait or spiting it out / again as above give it time .

Fast / no nonsense fish ?
I would hold my rod for this type of fishing as all will just hit a bait and have the ability to strip the hook of bait in a second.
Bass small
whiting
Wrasse
preferred rig would be a single paternoster of some sort / 1/0 hook and baits cut to the same size of the hook and slim YOU WANT nothing hanging off.

Fast / no nonsense bigger fish
I would have rod mostly in the rod rest again with the star drag slackened off and just let them run for a bit then just lift into the fish as it moves away
Bass
Smooth hounds
Cod
Sea trout
Mackerel
I would again stick with the neat slim bait same size as your choice of single hook and no bigger / Am not a lover of 2 hook pennel ? rig damage fish

Slow / shy / gentle fish that just suck the bait in.
I would use a variety of rig's and hooks on this one / and hold the rod for either the feel of a flatfish just plonking down on the bait or feeling for the fish just picking the bait up.
Plaice
Dab
Flounder at times / but they are mostly aggressive feeders
Mullet
Garfish
Sole
Gurnard
This type of fishing i would do the opposite and have half the bait on the hook and the rest hanging off the bend for attraction and let the fish just gently take the bait without feeling the hook / mostly once they have the first bit of the bait they seem to just take the rest confidently .

BE VERY INTRESTING to read how others fish and how differently we all think ???.
IF you read this please leave you thoughts / even if you think its a load of POOOOOO .

Cheers Brian

[Local/Brian]

I thought this post would of made a good talking point for us to discuss. How we all go about our own fishing style as regards Rigs/bait and approach to different types of fish.

Or is it just a case we now all just use the same rig and baits go to a venue and just cast as far as our ability lets us.

[briden]

For me ,I have simplified my fishing when I’m here.Continental rods ,50 lb braid straight thro ,fixed spool reels,Loop rigs with1/0 B90 ‘s.Bait fresh out yellowtails or blacks a full worm on each hook ,4 or 5 oz pyramid leads.Never hold the rods. Use sand spikes
I do not gut my worm keeping them alive,when baiting up I squeeze them so the gut pops out but is still attached to the worm,then using the type of needle where you lay the hook in a ‘V’ at the end and whip the worm onto the hook,I whip the guts to the outside of the worm.I also use the whole worm tail included.

[Big Kev]

I thought this post would of made a good talking point for us to discuss. How we all go about our own fishing style as regards Rigs/bait and approach to different types of fish.

Or is it just a case we now all just use the same rig and baits go to a venue and just cast as far as our ability lets us.

Give us a chance Brian,i`ve been out fishing

[Local/Brian]

Big Kev
Re: How do you fish ? on a beach.
Postby Big Kev » 30 Jul 2023 20:37

These days i tend to sea fish for 6 months,then go over to the dark side for 6. I`ll be on some Welsh beach between mid Sept to mid Oct in search of small eyed rays,fishing rising spring tides mainly after dark as they tend to produce better than daylght...on these occasions i`ll use 2 rods for either side of low water,and either side of high,going down to one rod for the main flood period as it`s a pain having to move all your gear frequently....up n over rigs with a 4ft hooklength,and i`ll be using dongles this year baited with combos of sandeel,squid and bluey.
For me the cod season does`nt get going at my favoured Seaforth mark until December,so until then i`ll be fishing the Rossall area....up n over pennel rigs,3ft to 4ft long baited with quality frozen black,fresh blow lug,squid and razor.
The only other species i`m really interested in is bass,which providing there is an onshore breeze,i`ll target with a 2 hook flapper as they are taken close in,loaded with blow lug or razor...as with 99% of my beach fishing,i`ll have my tripod set so my rods are parallel to the sea as i can tell the bites better,and to keep any headlights off the sea when fishing fairly close in for bass.
Distance can often be the key to cod/ray fishing on the marks i fish,so the single clipped down bait is the way to go...as i`m not fishing matches anymore (except single biggest fish ones) i don`t have to bother making any other rigs.

[Local/Brian]

So early days this post has had 2 replys from experienced and competent anglers but in reading the replys you can see we fish in a completely different way to each other .

Proving once again no one method of angering is right or wrong.
You are far better off reading how other anglers methods and ways work for them ?
And then take what parts of them anglers methods will suit you in your own type of fishing.

Cheers Brian.

[stan stevo]

I’ve always fished big baits big hooks but now I’m changing tactics going small bait small hook
I always fished with pulley Pennel or sliding ledger rigs going to use loop rigs cause that’s what the cracks use like our Kev and dyl ,so if it don’t work I know who to blame

[Local/Brian]

I’ve always fished big baits big hooks but now I’m changing tactics going small bait small hook
I always fished with pulley Pennel or sliding ledger rigs going to use loop rigs cause that’s what the cracks use like our Kev and dyl ,so if it don’t work I know who to blame

Good on you Stan trying different things
But also remember to be patient and give your change time.
You know what fishing is like ?
Your new method will need to be in the right place at the right time.
Our rigs and bait need more help form us than we need from them.
Even when I get it right I can be a fishing master on one session and the a circus clown on the next one .
Best of luck stan.