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Bob Fowler's Holiday Fishing Story
 

(ED: Bob Fowler Emailed me in June, saying he was coming down to stay near Slapton, and enquiring about shore fishing in the local area.  I recommended he might try Plug fishing, or drifting a live Prawn under a float from shore, along the rocky coast between Start Point and Prawle Point, several miles west of Dartmouth.  I also suggested that early mornings and late evenings provide the most productive opportunities.  The middle of the day when sunlight is bright and boat traffic can also disturb the fish is generally a waste of fishing time, though still very pleasant.  Bob changed his approach to try this tactic, which was clearly a success.  Well done Bob and many thanks for your fascinating insight.)

Here's my tale of my recent holiday angling trips in your neck of the woods.  I didn't get out and about as much as I expected, due entirely to the Mediterranean weather and the consequent degree of inertia engendered by same!

My first move was to explore the low-tide rock pools on one of the local beaches whilst my Wife lazed in the sun nearby.

The rock pools produced a good number of medium sized Prawns to my push net, and these were kept alive by means of a bait pump.  The cunning plan was to find a nearby rock mark to try for a float fished Wrasse or Bass, but somewhat unfortunately, the Prawns proved too tempting and finished up cooked, shelled and smothered with mayonnaise in brown bread sandwiches.  Oh well, back to the drawing-board!

Eventually, I did manage to get down to fish the rocks between Start point and Prawle on three occasions, pretty much in the spot you mentioned in your email.

I have to say it was worth the effort of getting up at 4:30 am, as not only was I guaranteed to have the seashore to myself, it also meant that I didn't meet anyone on the roads (roads, what roads?) and in consequence didn't jeopardise my life by meeting any "Kamikaze" drivers on my tortuous journey to the coast!

The fishing was better than I anticipated.  My first visit was intended to just check out the possibilities; more of a scouting mission than a serious fishing expedition.

On first inspection the low-tide terrain looked fairly intimidating, not to say distinctly daunting.  I spent some considerable time systematically working my way along the rocks at the tide-line, before even attempting to set up my spinning tackle.

The first few casts didn't produce anything other than seaweed and the odd brush with submerged rocks, so I decided to keep moving east.  (ED: When plugging explore the water in front of you by fan casting, then move a little way and try again)  Good move, as I found a prominent rock stance which allowed access to slightly deeper water.

I was encouraged to see Sandeels in an area of deeper water in front of me, which I certainly felt enhanced the chances of fish being nearby.

After the first few casts with a shallow diving plug, I had not increased my catch by one iota and had experienced a few hook-ups involving nothing more than solid contact with rocks and weed.  As an aside to this, I found in every case rather than pulling hard to try and free the lure, if I slacked-off the line and let the natural buoyancy of the lure exert itself, the plug would come free.

As the tide continued to make and the water deepened, the snagging became much less frequent, plus I found that if I adopted a slower retrieve rate, the plug would work at a shallower depth, probably to a maximum of four feet.

Having tried two or three different plugs, I clipped on a "Red Wolf" plug that I had picked up in some tackle dealer's bargain box a few years ago.  First cast some forty yards to my left (I was fishing by now in what had become a small cove in the rocks) and the rod hooped over, big swirl on the surface, line screamed from the clutch only for it to go instantly slack.

Pulse racing, swearing quietly to myself at my inability to hook what appeared from my brief glimpse to be a reasonable Bass in the three pound bracket, I sent the plug back out slightly more seaward.  Instant success, a good battle ensued with something fairly meaty which took line and tried to work its way into the weed and rocks in front of me.

After a few seconds, the fish came back towards me and I glimpsed a decent Wrasse of three pounds or so, doing its best to snag me in rocks and weed at my feet.  Disaster struck again, the hooks pulled free and the Wrasse went back to its lair in the rocks.  Clearly, this was not going to be my day!

The sun by this time was just starting to make an appearance above the shoulder of Start Point away to the east.  I knew that as soon as the sun started to gain any height the fish would switch off, so I hastily sorted out the minor tangle caused by the sudden departure of the Wrasse and sent the plug on its merry way out into the cove.

Hardly had the plug started its homeward journey when the rod tip pulled hard over and that great feeling of a decent fish taking line against the clutch communicated itself.  No monster this, but a pristine Bass of approaching two pounds in weight was soon beached in a small rock pool just above the tideline.

Just one of Bob Fowler's dozen Bass caught while plug fishing from a shore rock mark west of Start Point July 2005 Photo courtesy of Bob Fowler

Returning the fish, several more of its brethren followed in the next half-hour, one or two smaller, but mostly of a similar size. This was exactly the type of sport I had hoped for, although inevitably, the Bass lost earlier was certainly a better fish and would have been a good fish to land.

The sun by now was well up, so reluctantly I departed for my temporary home at "Lilac Cottage".

Next morning, I headed straight to my mark of the previous day.  On with a "Storm Thunderstick"; second cast straight into a small Bass of about 1¼ lbs.  A couple more followed of similar size, before the rod hooped over and a better fish headed for the sanctuary of the rocks.  After a short tussle, a Wrasse of over three pounds was beached, photographed and quickly returned.

Bob Fowler's quality Wrasse caught while plug fishing from a shore rock mark west of Start Point July 2005 Photo courtesy of Bob Fowler

Caught one more Bass of about 2½ lbs (retained for dinner) and went home for breakfast.

What's happening?  I have become a creature of habit.  For the third morning on the trot I am scrambling over the rocks in the half-light, eager to get to my chosen mark.  I can't remember how long it is since I felt so enthused about the prospect of another fishing trip, it reminds me of days gone by when I had all the enthusiasm of youth and the energy to match.

I decided to try another bargain lure, a small slim weighted spoon which cast like a bullet.  I stood on my prominent rock and cast back into the cove towards the shore, landing the lure just five yards or so from the small shingle beach.  It could be thought that this was a strange thing to do, as the natural tendency is always to try and send the lure out to the horizon. There was a method in my apparent madness however.  As per my observations of the first day, Sandeels were shoaling within the cove which led me to think that the Bass might try and herd them into the beach.

Isn't it great when a plan comes together!  The Bass certainly seemed to be following the script for a change!  Nothing big, best about 2 lbs, but another five fish to add to the growing tally.

That unfortunately was my last trip of the holiday, as my ageing bones cannot stand too many crack of dawn starts and despite not being 'fished out', I thought it prudent to spend some time with my long-suffering wife and to avoid the extreme feelings of weariness which for some inexplicable reason kept creeping over me in the middle of the day!

The rest of the holiday was spent in walking, sightseeing and general idleness, but whilst walking in the Noss Mayo area, I did just happen to spot some amazing Mullet feeding in the Yealm estuary. Maybe next year ...........................................

From a fishing perspective, the holiday was great.  I learned some new approaches and re-learned the art of applying knowledge gained by observation.  I caught nothing huge, but enjoyed some steady fishing on fairly light tackle.

My total of about a dozen Bass and a decent Wrasse in three trips was one of the best returns I can remember, certainly in recent years.  The one Bass retained was thoroughly enjoyed by my wife and I and I felt no remorse in keeping it - certainly not when accompanied by fresh brown bread from Frogmore Bakery and a nice glass or two of chilled Sauvignon Blanc!

I didn't get a chance to undertake any traditional open beach or deep rock mark fishing which is my normal habit, but certainly don't regret the time I spent with my light spinning gear on the rocks.  I have no doubt that in future I shall be more inclined to travel light and to explore the shoreline with a view to the spinning and plugging approach, rather than focusing purely on the heavier aspects of shore fishing.

I appreciated the advice you offered in your previous email Mike, more so in the fact that whilst you didn't and couldn't give me a precise mark to fish, it enabled me to use my own initiative to look afresh at the general area and to discover what is there for all to see and find if one is prepared to look.

I shall be trying the same approach on some of my local south-east marks, although we are not blessed with the clear seas of your patch, so am not entirely sure whether it will work in the same way.