ANDY ROGER'S BEACH ANGLING ADVENTURES

 

Elsewhere on this web site there is an article in reply to a Coarse Angler who wanted to try his hand at Sea Angling.  It generated lots of interest and subsequent correspondence.  You can quickly access it to read it by single left clicking your mouse on the logo which is below this paragraph, if you haven't done so already..

I received several Emails from Andy Rogers, who wanted to give it a try and so put my advice to the test.  Here's Andy's own account of how he fared.

Many thanks Andy for the story and your excellent photos.

 
I arrived in Dartmouth on the Thursday evening before the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.

On the Friday morning I went down to purchase some tackle and bait from the local tackle shop.

I went to buy rag worm as that is what I am find I am having most success with, but unfortunately they were waiting for a delivery, but at least it meant they would be fresh when they arrived.  So, I bought some frozen sand eels and some mackerel feathers.

As it was very hot I thought I might try to catch some mackerel on my carp rod and reel.

I went to the eastern end of Blackpool Sands, near Stoke Fleming, about 4 miles from Dartmouth, where I set my beach caster with my rig which I had made with the help of a website that animates sea fishing rigs.  It's a two hook rig with red and black beads, on the line of each hook.

I used a 5oz weight and 2/0 Mustad "Aberdeen" pattern long shank hooks.

After a few hours of no luck on the carp rod and only one or two twitches on the beach caster I decide to return to the bait shop to see if the rag had arrived which they had.

Within an hour I had had a tremendous bite at about 80 yards out near to the rocks at Blackpool sands, and reeled in my line to find the largest Ballan Wrasse I've ever caught, (I've only caught 3 mind).  It was beautifully marked and looked wonderful in the bright sun.

To summarise, I arrived at the beach at 1 pm set up and purchased my rag worm at 4pm, then caught the wrasse about 5pm.

After the wrasse it went quiet for quite some time so I turned my attention to the carp rod trying the feathers and several different lures and spoons, but without success.

Just when it was getting dusk I had another bite on the rag and landed a tiny Pollack about 8 inches in length.  It's nice to see so many species there.

I continued into the night, and not long after dark the light on the end of the rod was bouncing in the rest.  I struck the rod and found I had caught what I thought was a small Ling.

I later learned it was a good sized Three Bearded Rockling.  It was small but I was so pleased to catch another different species, as I had only shore fished twice.

Within about 15 minutes of catching the Rockling, I had the best bite I had of the day.  I knew straight away from the bite that it was a Lesser Spotted Dogfish, having caught one from there on my previous trip to Blackpool Beach.

By this time it was late and I wasn't expecting to stay as long as I had, (but you know how it is!),  plus I promised my girlfriend I would be back before midnight!

I had no lantern or torch with me; only my cigarette lighter, to see what I was doing, not professional at all!  My next tackle purchase will certainly be a head torch and a lantern!

I certainly find that going at night produces better results, and faster bites.

Oh!  I almost forgot to add that all of my fish were all put back alive and well.

 
My next session at Slapton Sands was a disaster.

Now I have got used to my rod and reel, I find I am at my limit with casting.

The locals I meet in the tackle shop tell me you don t need to cast as far at Blackpool as you do at Slapton and since I am only maxing about 85/90 yards I don't think this is far enough.  Plus, the wind was greater at Slapton and I found it hard to keep my line from bowing, so it was much more difficult to spot bites.

Also I was quite sun burnt from the Friday so I was under the umbrella most of the time, and what few bites I had, I missed.

I didn't  stay all that long there as I prefer Blackpool Sands.

I have been scratching my head, about the casting/distance issue and read a few articles on the web and posted in a few forums.

I think that my Paul Kerry 12ft beachcaster is perhaps a little short and I might be better suited with a 13ft+ rod, and also my Abu Garcia 6500 C3 needs the level wind mechanism taking off.

I should use my thumb, to help me control the cast better, but I find that putting a slightly heavier weight on gave me about 10 extra yards.

My technique is still in a developing stage, and on my next trip I will be practising some other styles that I have been looking at also on the web.

 
Thank you very much for interest over the last few months and thanks once again for helping to introduce me to this fascinating hobby.

Here's the sequel - my reply to Andy - I trust it may help as he develops his abilities from such a promising start.

Hi Andy,

I’ll gladly publish your tale.  It will be of interest to many who want to fish in and around Dartmouth while on holiday.  It shows how it can be done with a good degree of success.

I think the fish you think was a small Ling looks as though it is a “Three Bearded Rockling” and quite a decent sized one for that species.  It’s difficult to tell from the photo, but I’m fairly certain that is what you caught. 

You do not need to cast very far out from the beach at Slapton to catch good fish, but it is essentially a night venue.  It gets trawled close in to the beach (unlike Blackpool Sands), which can wreck its potential.  I have caught very large Dab (over 2 lbs) from the centre of Slapton beach within the past 3 years, but I find it can be an unreliable venue which varies from really good to dreadful!  It fishes best the day after a good hard easterly blow, when you can see a brown line about 30 or 40 yards out from the beach, as you approach down the big hill, from the direction of Strete Village.  You only need to fish 50 yards out at most at such times for good bass & flatfish.

The most important factor in any fishing situation, whether it is from shore or boat is to use the best bait you can and present it attractively.  You don't need to cast it over the horizon in most cases, as your success has already proven.

Do keep in touch and let me know how you progress.

Best regards,

Mike

 

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