A surprise, local success

The TV was rubbish tonight, excluding Hannibal of course. I decided to chuck a few lures locally with what I would describe as low expectations of success. I’ve never had a Bass locally on a lure. At this time of year there are a few fish around 15 minutes from my house, these usually fall to bait and mostly at night. I fancied trying somewhere that I’ve often thought might throw up a fish. With the wind that was blowing there would be decent movement in the sea with clear water ,that was about as good as I thought it was going to get.

Satisfied with this one

I got a shock on my third cast when the lure was thumped and I was into a decent Bass, probably described locally as a good fish. It gave a great account of itself in the waves with some nice runs. I didn’t get another touch over the next couple of hours but I was more than happy. It’s left me wondering if I’m missing a trick on my doorstep, worth exploring I guess.

Why we do it

I’m off down south this afternoon and should be in my bed at the minute. Having just arrived back home I’m wide awake after one of those sessions that reinforces the reasoning for the long drives, early starts and late nights.

I could have been back in Aruba this evening it was so warm. This was my first trip for Bass in July. I’m conscious the season is short and I know I’ve been missing out. Tonight went a fair way to making up for lost time, over four hours my itch was well and truly scratched.

The pick of the bunch, lovely fish in prime condition, deep and wide across the back. It came at the  lure twice hardly breaking the surface before I hooked it.

I noticed this fish following for a little while before committing. Nothing better than seeing that subtle ripple in the middle of the wake behind your lure. The was about the average size, pretty good and again in excellent condition.

My first fish of the evening. It flipped itself tail over head when it came up for the lure.

Just me, two Terns, Bass and a burning sun with nobody else for miles. One to hold onto for the winter I think.....

SW boat trip Video

Tope and Huss fishing SW Scotland from Martin A on Vimeo.

A day on Tickety Boo

I joined Gordon on Saturday to fish the Sharkatag event and club boat match. We didn’t have a great start in that we struggled to find fresh mackerel for bait as did a few of the other boats in this area. We made do with what we had and set off for a mark almost closer to the Isle of Man than Scotland. The forecast was for light winds with heavy and constant rain. For the first few hours it looked like we had dodged the worst of the rain but it wouldn’t last and we ended the day in some of the heaviest downpours I’ve fished in.

The objective for the club match was to catch Tope, Spur, Smoothhound, Thornback and Huss not easy but doable.



We got on the fish straight from the off catching a fish each on our first drop. We continued to get runs and hook ups landing fish and losing a few. We had a couple of tangles on the downriggers but when the tide was running hard they were pretty handy tools to have.

GG taking the strain of a nice Tope

A 30 pound male Tope
As the tide slackened off  the drizzle stopped and we had a few drifts over a wreck where we picked up Coalies, Cod and Pollack.

We went back to the Tope and picked up a few as well as a Huss for me. With the tide now in full flow we headed back in shore in search of some easier fishing as well as the other species on the target list.

The fishing was steady enough with Tope, Huss, Dogfish, Cod, Gurnard and a solitary Smoothie for Gordon. The rain was mental, so loud on the canopy of the boat that unless you were looking each other straight in the face you couldn’t hear a word of what was being said from 2ft away.

The boat canopy was a blessing on this trip

I had forgotten how strong Huss are when you try to handle them

As usual I had enjoyable day fishing with Gordon. This was despite some curios behaviour I discovered when reviewing the video footage from the trip.

We called it a day about 6pm. Gordon was staying down there to fish on Sunday. I had packed a lure rod. I fancied catching a Perch on the way home as I was passing somewhere I’d not fished for a while. Having been up since 5am I arrived at the loch at 7.30pm and have to admit, it was a struggle to get out of the car.

 

On my third cast with an SG Fourplay I picked up this little chap.

The next hour passed without incident and the need for sleep was catching up on me quickly. An end to the day was called before the midges started making things difficult.

 

 

  

 

 

 

Dont sweat the small stuff

I promised myself I would get a few mid-week trips in for Bass this month but with the blistering weather we had today as well as poor tides I opted for a more realistic option of success.  I picked up my Ultron drop shot rod, some weights, hooks, Gulp Sandworm and 20 ragworm and headed for the coast.

The action was thick and fast with bites on every cast.

                                                             A little Pollack.

                                                                             Small Cod

 

                                                            Goldsinny Wrasse

I saw a dad out with his kid both trying hard but catching nothing. The kid looked cheesed off as I swung in another fish. I shouted him over and I gave him two pre tied drop shot rigs and ten rag for him and his dad. He seemed pleased and with a spring in his step he ran over to his dad who went to work tying the rigs on and baiting the hooks. I had a chat with them for a couple of minutes and as I went back to my rod  the kid hooked up and swung in a little Wrasse, happy lad.

I had left my rod in with some slack hoping something might pick it up when I was doing my bit for the next angling addict in the making.

 

                                                       A little Dab had jumped on the hook.

 

Long Spinned Sea Scorpion, as always, one of the most photogenic fish that a lot of people might class as ugly.

                                        Then a not so proud looking Short Spinned Sea Scorpion.

 

It looks the weathers changing for Friday so I’m glad I made it out tonight. Boat trip for me at the weekend, maybe some Tope and Huss on the cards.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tompot corner

I’ve not fished with Scott for a while so we agreed to catch up over the weekend. We discussed a couple of likely venues before we agreed on a Wrasse bash in the SW at a spot neither of us was familiar with. It would be an early start on Sunday so Scott arrived after work on Saturday night and after a few hours sleep it was a quick breakfast before we hit the road.

When we arrived we had a look from vantage point before settling on a likely spot. We had a selection of baits to tempt the Wrasse, ragworm and hardback crabs but Scott started with an SP. I rigged up a sliding float and took a small Pollack first cast while Scott got a few taps from some small Wrasse.

We were fishing about ten yards apart and Scott landed a couple of Corkwing Wrasse. I seemed to be in Corkwing corner landing a few but missing loads of bites.

I had some big Corkwing knocking on for 6oz

As I changed my hook size again Scot came over to join me( in other words plunder my spot with a drop shot ragworm rig) As the depth increased  to about 25ft Scot’s method was proving more effective than my float rig even after the constant adjustments I made , he seemed to hook up on every cast.

Scott with a nice bend on a Ballan

The Corkwing, Goldsinny and Ballan came thick and fast. As ever, Scott also had Blennies on his mind so he dropped into a likely rock pool behind me and pulled one out within seconds. I made my mind up to change tactics but managed two lovely Rock Cooks and some Corkwings before switching to a drop shot rig with braid.

                                                                  Stunning little fish
Scot went to explore a point a short distance away in search of a Mackerel and I once more had the corner to myself, now named Rock Cook corner. After using nylon on my float rig it was a pleasure to be back using braid and being able to feel the little taps and hit the Wrasse before they nipped under the nearest rock.

                                                                    A lippy Ballan
Scott had caught a Launce and spotted lots of sandeels as well as a couple of Bass, that was enough to tempt me across. I made a few casts with an SG sandeel and then dropped straight down into the tide. It had just hit the bottom when it was duly nailed and the fish tore off in the tide. Not a big Pollack but it went well in the strong current.

We had a short break for some food and then went back to the Wrasse as the tide dropped off. The fish came steadily for us both and Scott got a Rock Cook as well. During the day I had mentioned Tompot Blennies to Scott a few times. By this point we were looking for some new species so every time I hooked a fish the chat was, it’s a Tompot.

Then it actually was! A new species for me and cool little fish.

                                    Scott arranged its eyebrows in a Mohawk for the picture

Over the next few hours the Wrasse continued to bite although they did get a little trickier. What was a bit of a surprise was that we ended up on two Tompot’s each. They turn up here and there in Scotland but to get four in a session is pretty unusual. The spot was now called Tompot corner.

We ended the day on ten species, Common and Tompot Blennies, Corkwing, Ballan, Goldsinny, Rock Cook, Pollack, Coalie, Poor Cod and Greater Sandeel. Just what I needed after a couple of weeks off, lots of fish and some good craic.

We arrived home just in time for the game starting. Lynne served up a nice Keema curry which we had with a couple of beers. I had the Germans at 3/1 from a few weeks back, nice way to end a good days fishing.

 

 

 

 

Sea Trout action video

Scottish Sea Trout from Martin A on Vimeo.

July is slowly being filled up by work and domestic commitments which also meant no fishing for me last weekend. Here's some Sea Trout action from a few months back,seems like a distant memory.

Blind squirrel finds a nut

June has gone by in a flash. My Bass fishing hasn’t got going as I’ve not been here for the most part. Last Thursday nights blank didn’t help and with some reports of good fishing around I squeezed in a few hours last night. Rather than go to the general area of the good reports I decided on the same place I blanked last week. This on balance was probably the wrong decision.

But even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

I picked this fish up at close range on a popper as the tide dropped. It gave up the ghost and put up more of a fight when it was in the rock pool at my feet. This turned out to be deeply recessed and I got nipped by a crab while guddling it out.  The best two hours of the flood passed without incident and being a school night I hit the road. Anyway, it wasn’t a blank and I’m looking forward to July.

 

Aruba mash up

No fishing for me this weekend but we blanked Bass fishing on Thursday night so not much to blog about this week. I put together another video from my trip to Aruba. There is some action from Ladyfish,Yellow Tail Mojarra, Mutton Snapper, Stingray, Barracuda as well as a little Tarpon action.

Aruba Palm Beach fishing mash up from Martin A on Vimeo.

A nice morning

Homeward bound

We’re leaving for home this afternoon and despite being a bit rough this morning I walked the beach for the last time.

I had 6 hits and managed to convert these into 4 Ladyfish, great fun. Although slightly smaller they leap and run well for their size and would be a great fish to catch on a fly rod.

I kept one for the security guard on the Tarpon pier, that’s’ his dinner sorted and a thank you from me for the opportunity to tangle with the big boys.

 

 

 

I said goodbye to Robert. He’s here for another week and is determined to get a Ladyfish, nice guy; I’ve enjoyed fishing with him.

The guy sitting on the floating jetty was catching some mini species and had kept a couple in a zip bag of all things, blenny ridiculous if ask me. 

I had a look at what he had and picked this out. This one’s for you Hutch, when you’ve done your homework let me know what it is…….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never a dull moment

I gave the fishing a miss yesterday but put my plan together for today. First stop bread roll thrown in to a lit area where I then cast 4 sabikis. A few chucks later and I had 3 small Polometa which were released into the bucket from my bedroom which was my mobile livewell….


En route to the Tarpon I put a crab pattern on a jig head and made some casts in the gully. I didn’t expect to hook a Stingray but that’s what happened. After a short run it bedded down for a rest and after 5 minutes it bit through my fluro, never a dull moment. There are people in swimming in some of these areas at 5am, not for me, your day could take a nasty turn for the worse.

Met my mate the security guard, gave him 4 beers and he seemed happy enough. He waved his hands about roughly 5 feet apart, he was right, big Tarpon, no babies this morning. I was shaking as I hooked the Polometa in the lip and dropped it in. I got a take straight away. I hit it hard and the fish tore off, leapt and spat the bait and the hook about 20 ft. away.  I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong but my inexperience on these fish is showing coupled with bad luck I think. They were very skittish after that so I moved off the pier, maybe tomorrow, but time is running out. I’m also now without a watch. I heard knock then a splash when I struck the Tarpon and later worked out that it was my watch. I couldn’t have fastened it correctly this morning, happy days…..

I put on my Megabass Edonis and connected with a Cuda straightaway and the light was coming fast.

I then bumped into Sean and Robert. I had given Robert a Wave crab and jig head a couple of days ago, he had an 8 pound Bonefish on it yesterday AM. As he pulled the fish up the beach the jig head straightened but he managed to the get the fish which was a result. There are some very big Bones here to about 12 pounds, awesome fish.


I started to make some long casts and got multiple hits from Ladyfish and managed to land three. I then played a fish for about 5 minutes before the hook pulled out, not sure what it was but it went some and thought I had it beat, maybe  Jack Cravelle. I was off the beach for 7.30. It’s way   too busy today, guys with paddle boards and wading with metal detectors isn’t conducive to catching fish.

Monstrous eyes on these fish as well.......




 

Interesting morning- more Tarpon torment.

I couldn’t sleep last night so I was on the beach for 3.30am.  Throwing a chunk of Ballyhoo into the gulley for a Snook seemed a great idea to kill an hour or so before I met up with Robert. About 5 minutes later I realised it wasn’t so clever. I settled in for what was a sweaty 45 minutes wrestling with what I guessed was a Stingray. I had made up a wire trace in case I connected with a Shark of some description but I had forgotten about these. It was brutal on my travel rod which was in danger of breaking. After 4 attempts I got it over the lip of the gulley an on to the beach dodging the flailing tail in the process before gripping it with my Leatherman. This was about the best solution I could come up with. Getting the hook out and getting it back without doing myself some harm was interesting. Won’t be doing that again in hurry….

Probably knocking on for 30 pounds a Southern Stingray, it was about 8 inches deep in the middle. If I put a bait out again it will be under a wine bottle cork, that might avoid a repeat.


I met up with Robert but he decided to wait for a Russian fly fisherman he had spoken to yesterday. I headed off to meet up with the security guard on the jetty. His palm had been greased so it was now Tarpon time. As I peered over the side into the shadows I could see about 8 fish, two of them were out of my league but I thought a few might be manageable. The GOPRO was on, the circle hook was baited and the stage was set but my knees were like jelly. They were wary but definitely interested. They could smell it and see it but I could tell they had been there before. It started to get interesting when 4 of the fish were close together and it looked like the competition was working in my favour. One of the fish sort of flexed itself turned and took the bait. I wound down and I felt the hook briefly catch but the bait popped out, gutted again. Having watched the video I didn’t strike and did exactly what I’ve down before with circles, it just didn’t get  a grip, possibly as I was more or less directly above the fish. I have one decent J hook, might be worth a try in similar circumstances.

Here is the moment in a still from grainy video imagery, I’m about 10ft up and that’s a big fish.

I then changed to a popper and one fish stalked it before fading away. If I can sort out a livebait either a crab or a fish I think it will be a more confident take.

Not much happened for a while so I changed lures and moved around looking for some action. I spotted 4 Bonefish and gave a wave to another angler who was fly fishing nearby; we had a few casts at them without a reaction. The other angler was Sean from Michigan. He returned the favour, he spotted a Snook and I cast my crab pattern in front of it twice and got two follows. The three of us walked the beach with not much to show for it. I had a couple of nips from what felt like small fish and then I had a proper take, thought it was another Bonefish as it fought really well. The drag was pretty light as I was now on an 8 pound leader, the first two runs were super quick and I got half the fight on video.

No idea at the moment, couldn’t hazard a guess. ( now ID'd as a Mojarra) I’ve not came across anything like it. A big eye tells me it’s a predator; the mouth is extendable presumably for sucking up crabs and shrimps. It’s an interesting fish this one. I’m wondering what else I can pick up casting along the gutter with a crab pattern…..

These are from Wave , tapped across the sand they look good, might try them in the dark cast about 2/3ft out and along the beach. After seeing that big Snook yesterday I suspect these and a lot of the predatory  fish just run the lip on the parts of the beach with the right gradient looking for entering or exiting crabs. The towels were on the sun lounger for 8.30am, not the worst morning I've had.

Spooled

Slow morning, no Ladyfish, Tarpon or Bone’s. The spot where the action has been was stone dead with the exception of a big Snook cruising 10 feet away from me in the gutter, must have been at least 10 pounds. I had two casts at it before it was spooked, nice to see which means they are present at least.

Rough night for this little chap I found on the beach, that's all inclusive for you.

Robert shooting a cast net and the results, look like Ballyhoo I’ve used for bait before but I’m not  100% sure.

 

 

They have curios arrangement for feeding. We have a plan for these. I’ve found about a dozen Tarpon up to about 4ft long that sit under one of the jetties just before dawn. For once I hope it's a smaller one that takes the bait. I’ve bunged the security guard ten dollars and Robert and I for a shot at them 5am tomorrow. Not sure if we can get live bait before it gets light but we’ll try. If not I’ll either chunk these or try a fillet and free line it. The other options are to go catch some crabs with them and fish these live.

 

 

I walked past my hotel on the way back, about 7.45am. I spotted some Pelicans and Terns working   off the end of the stone jetty. Unusually when arrived they were still there. I put a line out 60 yards and it landed right amongst the birds. I had about two turns on the reel and thought I had a hooked a bird, it was a fish which proceeded to go on a spool burning run for the horizon, no idea what it was. I was now left with about 10 yards of braid and 20 yards of nylon backing. I dabbed the spool with my finger to apply just a little touch more pressure and my leader snapped with  was  140 yards of braid out, mental.  I was really beaten by the range I hooked the fish at; maybe if it was a bit closer the outcome may have been different. You could be mistaken that this was a fishing trip I guess, but if it was I wouldn’t be as under gunned as I am, this was Stella and 30kg braid material.

Back in the hotel with my tail between my speedos for 8.30am. I think there are more options here for decent fishing off the beach than my web searches indicated or I might have come slightly more prepared.

 

 

A bone and a beer

Having tinkered with my gear a bit and got my eye in as to where the fish are or might be I had a break this morning.

I made my way along the beach stopping briefly to put a few casts into the shadows next to the lit areas looking for the elusive Snook. I had a little Snapper at one of these spots but didn’t really hang around too long. I then got to the spot where the Tarpon and Ladyfish have been in the last week. I thought I was a little early but after a dozen cranks of the reel handle I felt a slight tap and then the tip slammed over, game on.

Not a great picture with the blood etc, only so much you can of someone putting their towel on the beach this early.

I’ve caught Ladyfish before in Florida but they were smaller than this, cracking scrap being hooked at distance it made several leaps before it was on the beach.

I lost another one before I made a dash down the beach after spotting a pair of Tarpon cruising. I threw the lure ahead of them twice before they disappeared. I spotted them again 20 mins later and had another shot but they weren’t interested.

 

I was thinking about heading back along the beach, it was 7am and things seem to go quite about this time. I fanned a few casts around and then got a solid hit which turned into a screaming run. I kept the rod low expecting a leap but this fish felt different and I started to think it was a decent Jack Crevalle.  The runs the fish made were mental, I started to think Bonefish. The best scrap I’ve had from the shore was a 20 pound plus Jack in Mexico,  pound for pound this was well on par with that. I think I’ve caught it all on my GOPRO which was set up on a Gorillapod on the beach so I can check how long it took; it felt like a long time….

What a bonus, my first Bone and pretty big one at that. I didn’t waste any time in getting it back in the water but it took a while to recover before it swam off. I’ve been told they fight well and I’ve seen them caught on TV but I can now confirm, they’re something else. Time for breakfast.

 

I don’t normally drink beer for breakfast but this was a special morning for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life’s a beach

We had a nice day again today.

Lynne’s utilised the crutches for a Mojito holder. These insulated beach cups are handy. We’re doing a few trips next week so we’re just relaxing for the moment……

I met a couple of old school guys from Brooklyn the other day, colourful characters as it happens. Robert and Vinnie are in their 60 & 70’s. Fishing is a great leveller no matter where you come from, had a laugh with them early AM. Still, fishing despite having two knee replacements, three eyes and a bypass between them. I’ve borrowed some two trebles from the Stripper lures they have with them, no idea of the quality but they are a heaver gauge than the Owners I have. I was done twice this morning, bent trebles again, same place, same time.  I’ve dipped the rod, loosened off the drag but I’m not sure if the amount of line I’ve got out and the drag of this when they leap is the issue but at least I’m finding the fish.

Anyway, two new species and one I’d forgotten I’d caught.

Caribbean Polemeta, related to the Permit which took a little pink HTO jig. Caught these in Mexico.

An immature Black Drum

And another Snapper, saw this when I was checking ID’s the other day and noted the red fringe on the fins. There are so many variations in colour for these it’s hard to work if it’s one I’ve already caught, being this size and immature doesn’t help. I had couple of small Cudas as well so it was a nice couple of hours before breakfast.

I caught this when it was still dark. The lights on the beach attract small fish but when they're behind you it's difficult to avoid casting shadows. I'm sure there are a few Snook somewhere between the pier legs  so I'll keep plugging away.

 

  

 

Amateur hour on the beach

I’ve been lucky enough over the years to just about take this morning events on the chin.  Schoolboy errors happen and I’m putting this one down to tipping the barmaid last night and what ended up in fairly loaded Margaritas.

I found a nice spot yesterday and spotted two Tarpon in a dock area.  I made my way there at 5am in the pitch black and fished as the sun rose. I tried a small Savage Gear Fourplay on a 7g jighead which was about the same size as the bait fish present.

I worked it around the pier legs and between the boats and thought to myself that if I did connect it might be a brutal and brief affair.

I had a couple of knocks from small fish but was a bit disappointed that there was nothing else around. As I worked my way back along the beach I had two small cudas and another fish which I think is  an immature  Lane Snapper.

Even early AM its  blowing 30mph offshore wind so having changed  to a metal and  lobbing it up in the air   I was getting about 60-70 yards I guess. On one of these casts the lure was smacked by a substantial fish which tore off and leapt clear of the water……Tarpon on. Playing the fish was pretty hairy but I couldn’t believe my luck, a decent fish as well in the teens or twenties. It leapt another twice and threw the hook, gutted. I recast and hooked another one instantly, same thing happened again. I checked the hook points, these were fine. In the next 10 mins I hooked another 4 fish in what felt like some sort of feeding frenzy. I sat on the sand and checked the lure and the leader again.

What a dick. This is an Owner ST36BC which I put on the Hansen . OK, so not the strongest of the Owner range of trebles but still a strong reliable pattern. I hope this was a bad one as I’ve no chance of getting any upgrades here.

 

The points were fine but having just run my fingers over them I didn’t check them visually. I got so caught up in the moment; too busy looking at the fish moving on the surface. My leader was also badly worn as well, muppet.  I walked off the beach in disgust before 7am, first day at school material this.....