Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

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SEA FISHING

For anyone unfamiliar with the site always check the FRESHWATER, SALTWATER and TACK-TICS pages. The Saltwater page now extends back as a record of over several years of (mostly) sea fishing and may be a useful guide as to when to fish. The Freshwater stuff is also up to date now. I keep adding to both. These pages are effectively my diary and the latest will usually be about fishing in the previous day or two. As you see I also add the odd piece from my friends and correspondents if I've not been doing much. The Tactics pages which are chiefly 'how I do it' plus a bit of science are also updated regularly and (I think) worth a read (the earlier ones are mostly tackle and 'how to do it' stuff).

Dave's bass.

I feel just about fit to fish again so no doubt I'll be out and about soon. In the meanwhile I had another interesting email from my pal Dave which shows that maggot feeding fish aren't restricted to the tiny tidal range of the Dorset coast (I knew they weren't anyway!) -

Hi Mike

Not still crocked I hope?

Just back from the westcountry,the first week was the usual windy, odd rain shower stuff and neap tides and I managed just 1 bass of 3lb on a Maria Chase at the start of the flood in a metre of water over sand between the mussel strewn rocks. Had a bite the next day also but quickly came off.

I had my eye on the weed and a dead seal in the little shingle beach during that first week and the maggots were loving it. First time the tide reached the weed during the 2nd week the sea was awash with maggot and weed and surprisingly only a few mullet came in. The next evening the dead seal(had to watch I didn't snag the bugger) had joined the maggots in the water and the mullet were there in force but still no bass. 3rd evening and I started plugging early, caught 1 small bass as I made my way to the area. I could see the gulls lifting in the distance and sure enough the sea was splashing with mullet AND bass this time. I couldn't see any maggots as 3 big tides (biggest of the whole year) had already been and gone but they were attracted to something and I could see small fish in the waves which the bass wanted. First cast 4lb bass followed by two 3lb bass then a succession of schoolies on the Evo Redgill. Total of 11 until they moved on.

Next morning 2 bass caught at dawn and numerous bites but I suspected all small fish. Back for the evening and even though the weed, Mr Stinky Seal and any signs of maggots were long gone the fish came in again and 8 small bass were caught on Maria Chase and Evo Redgill. Tried again in the morning but just 1 small bass still lurking to show for my 10 minute walk from my bed. The weather had been boiling, as you know, for this period but the sea was still rough and a couple of evenings later I picked up the last bass of the trip on a mid day plugging trip on the flood.

Tried for mackerel and pollack a few times in the deep water but they weren't about and only caught 2 mackerel - strangely on my very first and second casts of the whole trip then nothing for 2 weeks!

Cheers for now, Montauk in 9 days so must sort my gear out,again.

Dave

Not bad at all eh! Well done Dave. The lucky devil will be catching stripers and bluefish now I expect.

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

Maggoty weed.

Not pleasant to look at but great for fishing.

Fish on the top.

Much the same as on the Purbeck coast.

Nice bass.

It really had a good go at Dave's Redgill.