Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

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).

Late mullet.

It's getting to that time of the year when tides suitable for mullet fishing on the top coincide with them being at work. Of course it's dark by the time they can get down to the shore so excursions with the maggot fly tend to be curtailed at the end of October. Anyway, we had one last go at the end of last week and it proved interesting.

Bill and Nigel both beat me to it and were pitching maggoty compost into the sea as I approached along the shore. Nigel was the only one who had taken his fly gear and nothing was showing, despite their efforts to groundbait, so we all began by spinning. Conditions didn't look too bad but the bass were notable for their absence and none of us had a bite.

After a little while one or two mullet appeared pretty close in on the edge of a patch of drifting foam. Now usually we like to see decent groups of mullet competing for food if we are to fly fish for them but on this occasion it was too much for Nigel so he picked up his fly rod, baited up the fly with a few maggots and began to cast. As anticipated, it proved really difficult and by the time the light began to fail still we were all biteless. Occasionally Nigel's spirits would rise as two or three mullet gathered into what was almost a shoal. Once or twice he even managed to drop the fly between a couple of feeding fish but they studiously ignored his offerings.

We were on the verge of packing in and could barely see what was happening when Nigel's fly rod arced over and he was in. I immediately put down my gear and picked up the camera to try and record the action while Bill prepared to help our pal to land his fish. The mullet had other ideas and repeatedly set off for the far distance but eventually Nigel had it wallowing in the breaking waves. With a quick lunge he scooped it ashore and we were able to take a few more shots before it was returned to the sea. An excellent end to a tricky session..

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

Drifting scum.

Concentration.

He's in!

A run.

Got it!

Back you go!

Bill's picture.