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Spinning with dead baits

Dead Bait Spinning

When most people think about spinning, they think about posh plugs, lures, feathers or spinners. There is another option and a very viable one at that. Dead bait spinning is a great option to catch fish and one you must explore.

What is it?

Well, you will be glad to know that it is not complex. All it means is using dead sand eel, small Pollock, joey Mackerel even squid and presenting them with the action of an injured individual. You get lots of attractive qualities. Scent, look, feel, colour and a vulnerable, easy meal. This combines to a deadly combination to help improve your catch rate and provide dinner for your family.

Due to the set up, you are also able to fish hard in gullies, banks and between ground as well as using balanced fishing tackle to target your species. This last point is one of my mottos – light balanced tackle – It will provide you with much better sport.

The Rig

A simple clean rig. A weight on your Main line at your desired breaking strain to a swivel (use a weight carrier to prevent line abrasion). I like the torpedo weights and spinning weights, they prevent line twist. A trace as long as you can handle to a hook to match your target species. ( Don’t be scared to use a large hook for Bass and most predators, look at the size of their open mouths! )

Thread the hook through the mouth of your dead bait, then the hook point should come out of the belly. A few turns of bait elastic to secure it and off you go.

Fishing method

Treat this like any other lure. Cast from boats, kayaks, shore or rock and retrieve at a moderate pace. Then try changing the retrieve rate and style until you find what works. If you get interest, keep reeling at the same pace and wait until your rod goes heavy, then strike and play the fish in.

Please comment on this post if you would like to add anything to this set up, or you disagree with my opinion!

New Shimano 2010 Catalogues

Fishing Tackle

The long awaited 2010 fishing tackle collection from Shimano is here for you to order.

There are products for sea fishing, game, coarse and just about all anglers around the world. Shimano have long been one of my favorite reel manufactures. Here is a quote from the Shimano web site:

The new Shimano catalogue is available now in 21 languages. 180 Pages packed with new Shimano products and innovative features!

During EFTTEX (June 2009) the Stella SW was awarded “Best new spinning reel”. Take a look at this reel and the other models in the SW range, a range especially developed to cope with shear intensity of the Saltwater fishing environment.

Follow this link to order your new shimano catalogue

Fishing Gifts

Fishing gifts for Christmas

Image by Blue J

Well I have posted this every Christmas for 5 years now and never got a good result. So COME on and tell us by commenting:

WHAT FISHING GIFT WOULD YOU LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS?

You can follow this on Twitter if you like Fishing-blog and let us all know what you would like to open on Christmas day!!!

Ah we have a bite

• HuntingLife – A new fly reel
• BeverleyJohnson – A pond and some maggots?
• I would like a new Kayak to fish from
• Paul – A heavy weight beach caster for winter cod!
  

Mackerel fishing tips

Mackerel Fishing

I have a lot of respect for the Mackerel. Have a look at this article I wrote in 2007 about the Mackerel. They are a beautiful fish that taste good and are a great bait for sea anglers. They are powerful and can provide some great sport, but how do you catch them!!!

Image from: adactio

How to catch Mackerel

There a a lot of different methods for fishing for Mackerel and it depends on your location and experience as to which method you should employ. The two many categories are:

• Shore fishing for Mackerel
• Boat fishing

Both of these platforms can be sub divided again depending on your requirements. If you want to catch a lot of  Mackerel for bait, from a boat, the feathering for mackerel is the fastest way to get results. However if you are on a boat and want some great sport fishing, then a spinning rod with a single lure or SWFF (saltwater fly fishing ) will provide you with some stunning sport.

Beginners to Mackerel fishing

I believe that Mackerel fishing, offers the new angler a great deal of confidence when setting out in the sport of sea fishing. They are not hard to catch from safe areas, you learn how to cast and handle fish, as well as a little on the best conditions to catch fish – this knowledge can be applied to other species.

• Peir fishing – This allows you to fish in a decent depth of water, where fish such as Mackerel hold in the summer months. The structure you are fishing from is flat and easy to cast from. It is safe, as long as you fish in sensible conditions and choose a suitable area away from water craft . Use railings etc to prevent a fall!! If fishing with small children it might be worth purchasing buoyancy aids or a floatation suite. You can use a cheap fixed spool reel with a 10 – 12 foot rod suitable for casting 1 – 3 oz. 15 lb main line with 30lb shock leader or use 30lb line straight through.

• Beach / Rock  fishing – Often harder to find a mark with deep water close by but still achievable. The location you will fish from will be un-stable and this can cause problems to newbies casting technique. The tackle used and rigs can be the same as above. Fishing from rocks or beaches is technically a little harder, so I would recommend a pier first!

The rigs you use differ depending on the Sport level you are looking for. Anything that uses multiple hooks for Mackerel fishing might take away from the fight. This is because the fish pull in different ways and you are fighting the dead weight not the individual fish! So the rigs are :

• Sliding float – Thread a cigar float onto your main line, with a bead above it and one below.  Place a ball weight below this, enough to cock the float (make it stand up-right) another bead and then a swivel. The beads prevent abrasion! To the bottom of the swivel attach your trace, 3 foot of 10 lb line should do. Then attach your hook. Size 1/0 to 3/0 should do, here is a guide to fishing hook sizes . You then need to tie a top knot above the top bead. This prevents the float from riding up the line and the weight just going to the bottom of the sea! I would bait it with a strip of Sand eel or Squid and then get fishing. You can adjust the depth you fish at by sliding the knot up your line!!
• Feathers / lures – This is an easy set up. You by your chosen lures - I prefer the holographic silver type, but had great success for years on colored feathers. 3 to 4 lures on a string is plenty. Attach a swivel to your main line and tie the traces of mackerel lures onto your shock leader, not the loop end! Then attach your weight to the bottom loop and cast away!!!. You then let the lures stop on the sea bed and retrieve them by pumping the rod towards you then lower the rod tip and wind up the slack line. You can experiment the speed of the pumps under different conditions to see if this changes your catch rate. On broken ground, you want to retrieve fast to avoid any snags.

Advanced Mackerel fishing  Shore and Boat

So you have been hauling Mackerel for years and are a good angler with a sound cast!!! Have you ever considered making more sport from your Mackerel fishing?? A two pound Mackerel on matched gear will provide some great sport, the best being on SWFF tackle. Here are some things to try if you don’t already.

1. Mackerel Traces – Rather than use a standard weight attach a perk from a boat or dexters wedge from the shore. You can get some interesting results!!
2. Float fishing – Float fish a trace of Mackerel lures under your chosen cigar shaped float. You can cover a huge amount of water and a bit of bait (sand eel or squid) can increase rate. Gar fish love a bit of sand eel fillet!!
3. SWFF Shore – Great sport. Choose hot sunny days with a good tidal range and use a floating line with a flashy lure. Fish hard, not forgetting to fish close to the shore line (I have seen Mackerel hunting in 18 inches of water!). You don’t want to use heavier than a weight 8 set up.
4. SWFF Boat/kayak – If the Mackerel are high in the water column, then use a sinking tip line or dry line with a weighted lure. The lighter the rod the better. I used a brook rod, 7 ft and had amazing sport from my kayak!!. For early season fish you can employ a fast sinking line and wait for the knocks and sport when you hook a channel racer!!!!!
5. Spinning – A dexters wedge on light spinning gear will catch you lots of Mackerel, Bass and Pollock in the right locations. Fish all the depths and fish hard. Use balanced tackle and enjoy the fight…

The Mackerel is a much underrated fish. Its tastes great cooked on th BBQ. Get out there and approach your sea fishing with a new out look. Let us know here how you get on, or other tips by commenting on this post about Mackerel fishing tips.

This message was emailed to me the other day. Can you help out the angler please……….

Hi Guy’s

I would like to join a fishing club for fresh water and Sea fishing, I have just moved to St Annes  in Lancashire from Zimbabwe and don’t know any one in the area as yet.

Regards

Bill

Comment on this post and I will forward these to Bill!

Cathy BOAT FISHING

Sea fishing for ladies

Sunday 2nd August marked the first sea fishing trip by the Fishing For Everyone Ladies Fishing Club, run by Lucy Bowden.

The trip, which took place out of Amble Harbour saw 10 ladies take to the high seas Mackerel fishing in chartered boat, ‘The Warlord’. Captained by Jeff Davidson and his Skipper, Duncan the girls had a fantastic time and managed to catch 28 Mackerel between them.

Club Member, Mary Snowdon said;

“How exciting was that! What a great trip we had. Poppy and I just loved it and am definitely on for the next one.”

Due to popular demand another sea fishing trip is currently being organised. Our next Fly Fishing event will be held on Saturday 29th August at Sweethope Lough, Bellingham. Any ladies interested in this event should contact Lucy.

For more information on the Fishing For Everyone Ladies Fishing Club visit www.fishingforeveryone.com

Sea fish

I have been asked on a few occasions to create a species guide, which I have started to do, but I need some pictures of fish to go with it. I have hundreds of photographs of most species, but nothing digital. Have you got some digital photographs of fish that you would be happy for me to use here on the fishing-blog???

Sea fish photos

If you have a few pictures you are happy to share, please email them to me – comments@fishing-blog.co.uk

Thank you in advance. I will of course mentioned the photo provider and give you a link if you have your own site or business.

Image from – david.nikonvscanon

Wrasse fishing

Fishing for Wrasse

Interested in some great sports fishing? looking for regular catches then Wrasse fishing is for you. Done right, the humble Wrasse can provide you some top quality sport which will leave you wanting!!!! Want to know more…. Read on.

The Wrasse

There are a few species caught here in the UK waters. as follows:

• Ballen Wrasse – Heavy built fish with small mouth, with thick rubber lips and armed with teeth. Colouration varies with age and sex. Young fish are generally a shade of green, with older more mature fish a reddish brown / dark green, with lots of small white spots. Sometimes dark bars or lateral white banding may occur. Feeds on mollusc’s: crab, shrimp. Lives in rocky areas with heavy weed, loves gullies and over hangs to hide in.
• Cuckoo Wrasse – Similar shape to the Ballen Wrasse, but generally a bit finer (longer and thinner) with a longer more elongated mouth part, containing sharp teeth! Colour changes with age and sex. Females and immature males, are generally a yellowish brown to red, with 3 dark marks  on the base of the rerar section of the dorsal fin. Fins edged in pale blue. Mature males are striking with bright blue heads and sides, and into the first of the dorsal fins. The blue edging of the other fins also tends to be greater, when compared with that of the female, or immature males. The colouration of the mature males head, tends to be replaced by white, during the mating session. The top and bottom rear thirds are a strong yellow colour. Habitat is similar to the Ballen Wrasse, but I have caught them more often higher up in deeper water (edge of deep drop offs etc).  Feeds on the same foods as the Ballen Wrasse.
• Corkwing Wrasse – The most common species in the UK and the fish you are most likely to catch from the shore. Very similar to the Ballen Wrasse, with thick set body, head and neck and similar mouth part. The gill coverings on these guys have spines, be careful! Colouration is highly variable, although usually green to greenish brown, with darker pigmentation along the back and top sides, pale belly, with body scales highlighted by brownish dots or marks. A black smudge is to be found in front of the fin rays of the tail, below the lateral line. There is often a crescent shaped dark patch behind the eye. Males have blue to green, wavy lines on their head.

Fishing methods for Wrasse

You need to make a careful selection of the mark you are going to choose to fish for Wrasse from. Clean unbroken ground will not hold any wrasse, unless its on the edge of a reef or similar underwater feature. Rough broken ground, covered in weed and full of nooks and crannies is the best Wrasse fishing ground. Take a look at google maps to find hidden underwater reefs and fish holding areas. It might be worth snorkeling your ground, if you are fit and it is safe to do so. I have seen many 6lb plus Wrasse 5 feet from the shore in 6 feet of water….

With the above in mind, your tackle wants to be clear from the bottom, presenting your bait about a foot off the rocks. Float fishing tackle is the best choice in my opinion. You can test your rig at depths, until you find the bottom, then shorten the rig to present your bait just above the bottom. It will snag occasionally, but that’s hard fishing for you. The other advantage with a float set up is if allowed to drift in the wind or current you will cover a huge expanse of ground. Remember that the tide will effect the depth you are fishing!!!!

Bait can be most things, but rag and crab have produced the best results for me in Cornwall. Consider what Wrasse eat, how they are formed and you should draw the opinion that any mollusk would be a suitable choice for the Wrasse – try it! Keep your baits small as smaller wrasse will pick at the bait and never find the hook point.

Wrasse Rig

Your rig should be made of tough line. 20 – 30lb fluro Carbon is a good start with size 2 carp hook (they are strong and small!!). You need the heavy rig line to avoid loosing fish in the rocks. use a reasonable sized float, so it can been seen clearly at range. Many add a few red beads to the hook length as they feel this gives an added edge to the catch rate.

Wrasse bites are normally very rattly. Give them plenty of time to mouth the bait, but as soon as you think they are hooked, play them hard as they will dash for the safety of the rocks. Play them hard initially to get them high up in the water column, then get them to shore as quickly as possible, they will kick up a stink and make great sport. You need some forceps, in case they swallow the hook – those Wrasse have great TEETH!!!

You might want to have a look at this article – Wrasse fishing from a kayak

NB the set up can be a bit lighter from boats and kayaks, because you are pulling the Wrasse directly away from the rocks

A quick post regarding a Poll.

Would you be interested in a forum here on the fishing blog??

It will be mainly targeted for the beginner to Sea Angling, but would require some knowledgable anglers to assist.

Anyhow, the poll is over on the right — >

Fish finders for kayak fishing

This post is going to be a growing list, a dynamic post where I want to detail fish finders used on Kayaks.

I would like you to comment on this post or send me an email with the fish finder you use on your fishing kayak, detailed with why you have chosen this particular model of fish finder, why you chose it, if you would recommend it and what advantages has it got over other models. I would like to build a review list for people searching for the best kayak mounted fish finder.

• Here is a past post on how to fit a fish finder to your kayak

• Here is a big-game prowler kayak with all the additions – Prowler fishing kayak

• Here is a list of fish finders to buy from amazon

Fish finder list

1. Humminbird Matrix 47 3D fishfinder – A great, very popular fish finder with large clear display and excellent functionality.