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).
Christmas kingfish.
I know, I know, I haven't posted any pages for almost two weeks - it's because I haven't been fishing.The weather doesn't get any better. Today I took my pal Phil pike fishing. At least it was supposed to be pike fishing but, as expected, the River was still bank high and filthy. The only consolation was that the sun was shining but since we could not even get a sniff on maggots and failed to catch a bait (don't ask me why) we had to resort to spinning. This was equally effective to the maggot fishing and we both blanked. What a downer! To add to my sorrows the forecast is for rain, rain and more rain this week so I may not do any serious fishing until after Christmas. Anyway, I had a couple of emails from Alan Bulmer in the Antipodes this week so here's a little something to cheer us up in the depths of winter:-
Hi Mike,
Hard day out on 'Intrigue' today. Went out at 11.15 am and got back into the marina at 6.15 pm. Strong wind from NE gusting 25 knots. No legal fish until last spot when Peter caught three 35cm snapper in quick succession. One on bait and two on soft plastic. Jim Humphreys then proceeded to hook and land a 17lb, 77cm kingfish on a heavy duty Sabiki rig that was initially baited. Photograph below. Fought like only kingfish can with many long withering bursts before succumbing.
I only hooked and landed one small snapper all day. Major issues with line management as wind billowed braid mercilessly. Gave up fishing for'ard as it was too dangerous. Had about 40 minutes fishing astern.
Cheers and tight lines,
Alan.
Clearly it wasn't hectic but that's a nice kingfish.Alan's picture didn't come through so I wrote back and he followed up with one or two nice shots of the capture. He wrote again:-
Hi Mike,
As promised, please find attached the images of the 17lb. kingfish boated yesterday by Jim. Stonking fish. Angler recovering slowly. Upside is that his arms are now long enough to scratch his ankles when hanging limply down by his sides.
Many thanks and best regards,
Alan
That should cheer anyone up eh? They deserved it after seven hours flogging in heavy seas for a couple of modest snapper. Well done Jim!!!
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
The 'rig'.
It's on.
The proud captor.
