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).

Down to the sea again!

No, I haven't died. Over the past six weeks or so I've been to South Wales (see my last "Freshwater" page), Longleat, Wiltshire, London, Nottingham and a variety of zoos, museums, parks, houses, etc. etc.. None of these visits involved fishing and although, during a short lull, I managed a quick cast or two in the river, there was no chance of wetting a line in the sea. The three most enjoyable weeks were spent with our youngest son Dan and grandson Joshua on a visit from their home in Australia but now, at last, I've picked up the rods again and begun to have a dabble or two.

Being a glutton for punishment, on my first visit to the seashore I persisted in this season's campaign of trying to catch a decent bass on freelined bait. Having hooked a massive fillet of mackerel on my 8/0 circle hook, I lobbed it 1m out, just as it was getting light in flat calm, gin clear conditions. When the first bite came I could hardly believe it. The braid was jerked from my fingers and began to stream out, amazingly I didn't panic and waited for the fish to pick up speed but then - disaster struck. The bass went round a submerged boulder, felt the resistance and dropped the bait. I was gutted. The bait was still in good nick so I flicked it out again. Five minutes later off it went again but this time it only took a few metres of line before dropping the bait - then, no more bites. So, two definite bass runs both dropped – I consoled myself with the thought that possibly they couldn’t manage the large bait. As I walked back I thought about trying another 'hot spot' but there was a seal just where I wanted to cast and I didn’t fancy hooking that so I went home.

My next proper session was with my pals Nigel and Bill. We spent a couple of pleasant hours fishing from a shingle beach on a sunny, hot evening. It was near high water and there was lots of floating weed and seagrass in the edge. Bill had a couple of smallish bass on his lures and Nigel had a long but thin four pounder on a surface hard plastic. I stuck to bait for most of the session (stupid man) and had nothing. Poppy came with us, she enjoyed the walk and rolled in the remains of putrid gull.

I had one more short session with my freelined bait at the place where I had the dropped runs. This time, stupidly, I put two freelined baits out at once but fortunately had no bites on the ragworm rod. However, I began to get continuous twitching bites on the mackerel fillet so I inched it back until I could see the cause – it was mullet! The chance of one absorbing the 8/0 hook was minimal. I must try light legering with a tiny hook while this weather lasts if I can.

Bill and Poppy spinning from the shingle.

Got one!

Poppy licks her lips at the thought of a possible meal - she doesn't know they've all to go back.

A better fish for Nigel.

– PLEASE TELL YOUR TWITTER, FACEBOOK, EMAIL FRIENDS ABOUT THESE BOOKS.

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