Well it seems from the latest poll results that most of are are interested in catching what ever we can when we are on a mark. This type of sea fishing is generally called scratching. But how do you scratch? image thanks foxyparr
How to catch what is there
That title above is really all that scratching is. It most certianly is not loosening the flesh around a flea bite! I guess if you are considering going to a sea fishing mark and edging your bets, increasing you chance of going home with a fish rather than blanking, then you are scratching.
If you go to a new mark that you have been told fishes well for plaice on mussel and you set up the ultimate plaice rig, baited with mussle held on with bait elastic and arm your beachcaster to throw your gear 150 yards to catch that plaice, you are narrowing your chances of catching other species. You could be missing out on other prize species.
Everytime you go to a new mark or even an old one, its worth scratching. Fishing for other species will help you learn what might be there and the shap / structure of the seabed. Being open to trying ideas is what will increase your catch rate fatser than anything else.
How do I scratch while sea fishing
This method is not only for beach casting, but includes boat and kayak fishing as well. To be Honest its nothing to complicated, in fact its dead easy.
Fishing in ireland on a few boat comps I learnt that one of the most powerful scratching rigs was as simple as baited mackerel lures. You have the attraction of the lure, baits close to the sea bed and some higher as well as a few different baits on the 3 lure hooks that make up the rig (many comps have a hook limit)
When beach casting from the shore a 2/3 hook paternoster works well. A smaller hook on the bottom paternoster scratches for the flatties and micro species with a size one on the other hook lengths. remember that if you hook a good fish, play it and respect it as your hook size might be small and delicate!
If you are a master scratcher, let us know what system you use, or how your opinion differs from mine by commenting on this post.
Firstly I didn’t know it was alled scratching but it’s what I do alot of the time! I normally fish around the Plymouth area and one of my favourite ways to do it is with silvers. It’s so simple add a 2 or 3 oz lead to the inverted silvers and add a different bait to all 4 hooks. I often try the odd cocktail but there is no need. Doing this I have managed to catch Balkan wrasse pollack dogfish bass whiting rocking and even a dab, all at the same venue!!! Well worth a try and you never know what is going to surprise you on the next bite.
It is a great method to learn what is in the water in front of you. You can then use more balanced tackle to for good quality sport!!
when scratching in the north east{holderness coast we use a bait and hook combination we put two holderness rigs on two hook system bottom been larger then the top on the bottom set hooks a large raggie or slapper live gully is fed on to the large hook using a bait needle and then the smaller hook is fed through the tail end and pulled tought to present the bait with hook top and bottom of the worm then the deeper rig usually same holderness rig stuffed with a squid peeler crab coctail tied with bait elastic both rigs held in placeby silicone tubing knots and beads so that depth can be altered on each cast until the catch depth is found the upper holderness shorter and larger hooks