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).

I can't go fishing!

It’s November, but you all know that. Having cricked my back cutting the hedge the other week and then made it much worse with a (fishless for me) trip to the coast with Bill and Nigel, I’ve been banned from fishing until I recover. To make things worse my pals have continued to fish and – do you believe it – they’ve been catching?

On the second of the month Nigel went for a short evening session to a shingle/rocky beach. He reports that "There were a couple of big banks of maggoty weed on the shore, loads of sand smelt in the sea and that he "...saw a couple of "blitz's" from bass(?) but nothing would take any of his lures lure except four small pollack at distance on a 10g wedge and a gar that left the tip of its bill jammed in the split ring (amazing!!!)." He saw no mullet but says that the tide was too small and too late.

A couple of days later he went again to the same spot but this time he opted for an early morning session from 05:45 to 09:00hr. The wind was blustery from the west and big swells built up after the tide turned. This time he landed more than ten bass ranging in weight from 3lb to 4.5lb and a four pound mullet. Two thirds of the bass took a 7” Slug-Go, three bass and the mullet were caught on a maggot fly and a couple of bass were landed on a Delta eel and a “Dancing Eel”.

He described the conditions as “ A bit dodgy before first light - breaking swell and slippy rocks."...then it was full on until the tide pushed them offshore. Great fun on the ultra light rod - but 20year old Okuma reel starting to play up.”

Bill went to a different (rocky) beach on the same morning as Nigel’s bonanza. He spun from 08:30 to 10:45 and caught a thick lipped mullet of 3lb 10Oz (weighed) on a Delta eel used as a dropper in front of his Slug-Gill which produced a three pound bass.

He says -

“Mullet in the edge on arrival. Fished for an hour, no sign of any bass, tried several lures for bass but no joy so tied on a delta teaser. Fished for another 30 minutes getting annoyed at the mullet when I watched one swim along a wave and nail my little Delta eel. I was quite pleased with this silvery fish so weighed it, 3lb 10oz. Fished on ‘til 09:30, still no bass bites so had a quick look round the corner (and for fossils) then headed back as the tide ebbed. A couple of grubbing fish were seen and I hooked a fish of about 3lb. Not as successful as Nigel’s trip but I was pleased with the mullet (and bass of course) as I was actually trying to catch one.”

Needless to say, although I’m pleased to hear of my mates catching a few and Bill took some good pictures, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when I can’t go myself. Patience Mike!

Really nice picture of maggoting mullet - note the pink lips.

Bills mullet taken on the Delta - unusually they quite often take lures in November.

Definitely a thicklip.

Bill's bass on the Slug-Gill lure.

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BRAND NEW BOOK

"Fishing for Ghosts - Successful Mullet Angling"

ALSO THE NEW BOOK

“The Second Wave”

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