Beach casting Loe Bar, Cornwall

Well I took my own advice and decided to make the most of the stormy weather and get on the beach for a session of beach casting. The target species were Cod, Whiting and Dog fish, but it wasn’t to be.

Going Sea Fishing

A few friends from work arranged to joined me on the beach. We parked and headed along the cliff path. Dave and I fished together near the fresh water outlet. The others went to a mark further along as they heard it was producing good catches of Whiting.

We were armed with Beach casters, spinning rods to drop a bait close in, Sand eels, Squid, Mackerel and 70+ Lug worm from a local tackle shop (quick tip - phone and book your worm to prevent a 40 mile round trip to find some worm!) Coffee was in plentiful supply and coats were zipped up to the max to keep out the cutting breeze. Looking like Noddy and Big Ears we strode off towards the beach.

On getting first sight of the beach it became quickly apparent that it was going to be a challenge to hold bottom! The waves were a good 6 foot high on average and there was a powerful surge, drawing shingle off the beach and into the belly of the waves.

I set up with a 3/0 pulley rig, loaded with 5 worms and a long strip of Squid to tempt the fish. I cast out and within about 5 mins the line was being buried under shingle. I was trying to hold my fishing rod as high as possible, but the wave action was too powerful. Dave wet his line at about the same time.

Those fateful rigs were to never return, nor their brothers or their sisters……… In-fact we lost a total of 11 rigs in about 90 mins. That equates to about £30 worth of gear at a rate of £20 per hour - far faster than I earn the stuff!!

Dave, who is a well qualified coarse angler, was heard understandably to mutter words to the effect of “THIS IS TOTAL BOLLOX“while hurling his rod through the cold night air, in the style of Fatima Whitbread on acid.

After spending about 5 mins getting the sand out of the intricate workings of a performance fishing reel, we decided to move to pastures new. I was at this point prepared to call it a day, but found a second wind.

PHEW! - The Harbour

It was fishable and with haste two beach casters were set up with gear scratched out of the bottom of our tackle boxes. In fact it was so fishable that we armed and fished two spinning rods for close in work. Rigs were coming back, re-baited and cast. The spirit lifted while catching the odd glimpse of shooting stars.

We made contact with the other members of the party who had decided to return home and drink beer while being warmed by a fire. Sensible idea many would argue. It was just after that call when Dave landed a medium size edible crab - there was life in this dark unforgiving water after all.

Over the next few hours we landed 3 Pollock at about ¾ of a pound, and I lost a fish that took line from the reel. We sorted out world debt, touched on politics, cleansed our minds and most importantly had a smile and a feeling of satisfaction that we had developed, moved on and found success.