Wrasse fishing article
Mon Jul 02, 2007 7:29 pm
Summer Wrasse fishing:
A plump summer wrasse
Visually Ballan Wrasse are one of our most stunning looking sea-fish. Not unlike freshwater tench in appearance they have often been nicknamed "rock tench" and their colour can vary greatly, from dark mottled browns and greens to bright orange and gold. Built thick and strong to survive in their rocky domains wrasse are hardy fish and thick set. They are game for a fight and any big wrasse ( over 4lbs) will test even accomplished anglers skill and tackle. They have an impressive dentition with strange almost human-like teeth at the front of their mouths that they use for prising limpets and mussels away from their rocky footholds. They also use these teeth for slicing through crabs and other thick shelled prey. Wrasse also possess a set of pharangeal teeth ( similar but tougher than those of freshwater cyprinids like bream) that are capable of grinding a limpet shell to dust, given this its not a good idea to put your fingers into a wrasses mouth when unhooking them.
When small, wrasse are one of the most obliging species to be found in Irish waters, taking a variety baits with an enthusiasm which makes them very exciting to catch. They are also not too picky with bait presentation, at least when they are young, and will hit a variety of baits presented in a variety of ways. This makes them both a highly accessible and enjoyable species to catch. The angler aiming to catch bigger wrasse however needs to bear quite firmly in mind, that your tackle will have to be tough and up to do the job of hauling a big ballan away from its bolt hole.
The wrasse "season" as it were, kicks of usually around May ( although sometimes earlier) which is when the wrasse move back inshore from their deeper over-wintering grounds and fish may stay inshore as late as November. Access to very deep water right off the shore could see wrasse present all year round. Wrasse are visual hunters and feed mostly during daylight hours. They will be found in great numbers on any rough rocky venue and also piers, breakwaters and jetties. Wrasse are frequently found close to deep cracks and fissures in the rock face and this is often where the bigger fish will be. Long distance casting is not required as the wrasse are often right under your feet. Manmade structures like piers will mostly hold smaller fish and its possibly true to say that the more isolated, rougher and difficult to access a mark is the more and better wrasse it will hold. They will be found in the summer in water as shallow as 10 feet and as deep as one hundred.
Wrasse are territorial fish and slow growing, so when fishing for them conservation should always be considered. Try to release all fish unharmed and decide before starting where you can quickly and easily return fish. Bring a set of long nosed pliers as forceps are too flimsy for dealing with the tough as nails mouths possesed by ballans.
Ballan wrasse are distributed all along the Irish coast but their real strongholds are the Atlantic facing shores from Cork all the way up to donegal. With the massive Irish record of 9.5lbs coming from county Kerry. Small fish are catchable from almost any rocky mark or harbour , but the bigger specimens are more isolated in distribution and can take some finding.
A specimen wrasse caught on crab
Baits:
Wrasse are opportunistic feeders and will take a wide selection of food. Sandeel, mussel, squid, mackerel, prawn and even lures will all take fish at one time or another but the two baits that stand out as real wrasse catchers are crab and worm. Big wrasse will have no qualms about taking a hardback crab and small live green shore crabs about one inch in diameter are excellent baits that often pick out bigger wrasse . Peeler crabs are equally effective . Worms , both lug and rag, are the other prime wrasse baits and can be fished individually or in small bunches. Prawns and sandeel are good change baits that are worth a try when the usual suspects are not working. As wrasse fishing is mostly done close in to shore groundbait can be used effectively as an attractor. A mix of breadcrumb and chopped up pieces of bait like worm, limpet, squid and sandeel with added fish oil can be "balled in" to the area you are fishing in order to pull wrasse towards your bait, this can work particularly well when float fishing.
Methods:
Float fishing is an excellent way of catching wrasse and a fun way too. There is something mesmerising about watching an orange topped float bobbing in the waves, waiting for it to dive under as a big wrasse makes off with your bait. It is an effective method too and has an advantage of suspending your bait over snags and kelp fronds, which can give you a few extra seconds to react to a diving wrasse and can help you prevent it from reaching sanctuary. The best method of float fishing for wrasse is probably a sliding float rig. A large sea or pike type float is perfect and should take about 25-35 grams to cock. A drennan zeppler is hard to beat but cheaper sea floats or even home made floats would be an excellent option in really rough spots. The float should be set sliding fashion with a bead and stop knot above and a further bead and drilled bullet below. Hooklenghts should be about 2-3 feet long and of a lighter breaking strain line than the mainline so that of a wrasse snags you only the hook will be lost. Hooks should be strong forged varieties in sizes from 1-2/0 depending on size of quarry and bait used. Wrasse do not have huge mouths and would struggle to take in a bigger hook. Stinger rigs can be a help for really finicky bites.
The other main method used to catch wrasse is ledgering. A simple one, two or three hook flapper rig is all that.s needed as long casting should not be needed. The important thing to remember when ledgering for wrasse is to use a long rotten bottom to your lead and this should be about two feet long. This will not only reduce losses on snags but will also let your bait wave about enticingly just off bottom where the wrasse can see it. Use as light a lead as you can get away with and make sure your gear is strong and that there are no weakpoints in your set-up. If there are a wrasse will find it. Both float fishing and ledgering will account for many other species of fish when ballan wrasse fishing and you can expect ocassional pollack, coalfish and other types of wrasse to all show up.
A near double figure pollack caught on crab while wrasse fishing.
Freelining is another method that will catch a lot of wrasse. You simply tie a hook on the end of the line, bait it with a live prawn, bunch of worm, crab or peeler crab, and drop it into the water where you expect the wrasse to be. Cast out and let the bait fall for a few seconds and then close the bale arm and let the bait slowly arc towards you. Once you feel the pluck of a taking fish drop the rod tip for a couple of seconds then strike and hold on!
Wrasse will also take lures on occasion and some big wrasse have been taken this way, but I have not personally had any success with wrasse on lures, though I have taken them on baited jellies,sabikis and feathers from the boat.
Tackle:
For float fishing a strong pike spinning rod of about ten feet in length should be perfect, but it must have a powerful blank. This will do for lure fishing and freelining also. Mainline should be about 20lbs and hooklenghts 15lbs. If you think this is overkill for fish that only average 2-3lbs you must bear in mind the rough terrain over which wrasse are caught and the fact that they are very powerful scrappers.
The other rod I use when wrasse fishing is a standard 12 - 14 foot beachcatser. This is used for ledgering as it has sufficient power and backbone to prize a big wrasse away from the sea bed again strong mainline is a must. A big fixed spool reel may preferable to a multiplier for speed of retrieve, although a multiplier would be a stronger and tougher option.
Summer wrasse fishing can be challenging, exciting and rewarding but rock fishing can be dangerous. Don.t take any silly risks just for a fish and don.t fish alone. Keep an eye on the tide and watch out for big swells and freak waves. Otherwise enjoy it and get ready for some fireworks.
Adam Shannon
A plump summer wrasse
Visually Ballan Wrasse are one of our most stunning looking sea-fish. Not unlike freshwater tench in appearance they have often been nicknamed "rock tench" and their colour can vary greatly, from dark mottled browns and greens to bright orange and gold. Built thick and strong to survive in their rocky domains wrasse are hardy fish and thick set. They are game for a fight and any big wrasse ( over 4lbs) will test even accomplished anglers skill and tackle. They have an impressive dentition with strange almost human-like teeth at the front of their mouths that they use for prising limpets and mussels away from their rocky footholds. They also use these teeth for slicing through crabs and other thick shelled prey. Wrasse also possess a set of pharangeal teeth ( similar but tougher than those of freshwater cyprinids like bream) that are capable of grinding a limpet shell to dust, given this its not a good idea to put your fingers into a wrasses mouth when unhooking them.
When small, wrasse are one of the most obliging species to be found in Irish waters, taking a variety baits with an enthusiasm which makes them very exciting to catch. They are also not too picky with bait presentation, at least when they are young, and will hit a variety of baits presented in a variety of ways. This makes them both a highly accessible and enjoyable species to catch. The angler aiming to catch bigger wrasse however needs to bear quite firmly in mind, that your tackle will have to be tough and up to do the job of hauling a big ballan away from its bolt hole.
The wrasse "season" as it were, kicks of usually around May ( although sometimes earlier) which is when the wrasse move back inshore from their deeper over-wintering grounds and fish may stay inshore as late as November. Access to very deep water right off the shore could see wrasse present all year round. Wrasse are visual hunters and feed mostly during daylight hours. They will be found in great numbers on any rough rocky venue and also piers, breakwaters and jetties. Wrasse are frequently found close to deep cracks and fissures in the rock face and this is often where the bigger fish will be. Long distance casting is not required as the wrasse are often right under your feet. Manmade structures like piers will mostly hold smaller fish and its possibly true to say that the more isolated, rougher and difficult to access a mark is the more and better wrasse it will hold. They will be found in the summer in water as shallow as 10 feet and as deep as one hundred.
Wrasse are territorial fish and slow growing, so when fishing for them conservation should always be considered. Try to release all fish unharmed and decide before starting where you can quickly and easily return fish. Bring a set of long nosed pliers as forceps are too flimsy for dealing with the tough as nails mouths possesed by ballans.
Ballan wrasse are distributed all along the Irish coast but their real strongholds are the Atlantic facing shores from Cork all the way up to donegal. With the massive Irish record of 9.5lbs coming from county Kerry. Small fish are catchable from almost any rocky mark or harbour , but the bigger specimens are more isolated in distribution and can take some finding.
A specimen wrasse caught on crab
Baits:
Wrasse are opportunistic feeders and will take a wide selection of food. Sandeel, mussel, squid, mackerel, prawn and even lures will all take fish at one time or another but the two baits that stand out as real wrasse catchers are crab and worm. Big wrasse will have no qualms about taking a hardback crab and small live green shore crabs about one inch in diameter are excellent baits that often pick out bigger wrasse . Peeler crabs are equally effective . Worms , both lug and rag, are the other prime wrasse baits and can be fished individually or in small bunches. Prawns and sandeel are good change baits that are worth a try when the usual suspects are not working. As wrasse fishing is mostly done close in to shore groundbait can be used effectively as an attractor. A mix of breadcrumb and chopped up pieces of bait like worm, limpet, squid and sandeel with added fish oil can be "balled in" to the area you are fishing in order to pull wrasse towards your bait, this can work particularly well when float fishing.
Methods:
Float fishing is an excellent way of catching wrasse and a fun way too. There is something mesmerising about watching an orange topped float bobbing in the waves, waiting for it to dive under as a big wrasse makes off with your bait. It is an effective method too and has an advantage of suspending your bait over snags and kelp fronds, which can give you a few extra seconds to react to a diving wrasse and can help you prevent it from reaching sanctuary. The best method of float fishing for wrasse is probably a sliding float rig. A large sea or pike type float is perfect and should take about 25-35 grams to cock. A drennan zeppler is hard to beat but cheaper sea floats or even home made floats would be an excellent option in really rough spots. The float should be set sliding fashion with a bead and stop knot above and a further bead and drilled bullet below. Hooklenghts should be about 2-3 feet long and of a lighter breaking strain line than the mainline so that of a wrasse snags you only the hook will be lost. Hooks should be strong forged varieties in sizes from 1-2/0 depending on size of quarry and bait used. Wrasse do not have huge mouths and would struggle to take in a bigger hook. Stinger rigs can be a help for really finicky bites.
The other main method used to catch wrasse is ledgering. A simple one, two or three hook flapper rig is all that.s needed as long casting should not be needed. The important thing to remember when ledgering for wrasse is to use a long rotten bottom to your lead and this should be about two feet long. This will not only reduce losses on snags but will also let your bait wave about enticingly just off bottom where the wrasse can see it. Use as light a lead as you can get away with and make sure your gear is strong and that there are no weakpoints in your set-up. If there are a wrasse will find it. Both float fishing and ledgering will account for many other species of fish when ballan wrasse fishing and you can expect ocassional pollack, coalfish and other types of wrasse to all show up.
A near double figure pollack caught on crab while wrasse fishing.
Freelining is another method that will catch a lot of wrasse. You simply tie a hook on the end of the line, bait it with a live prawn, bunch of worm, crab or peeler crab, and drop it into the water where you expect the wrasse to be. Cast out and let the bait fall for a few seconds and then close the bale arm and let the bait slowly arc towards you. Once you feel the pluck of a taking fish drop the rod tip for a couple of seconds then strike and hold on!
Wrasse will also take lures on occasion and some big wrasse have been taken this way, but I have not personally had any success with wrasse on lures, though I have taken them on baited jellies,sabikis and feathers from the boat.
Tackle:
For float fishing a strong pike spinning rod of about ten feet in length should be perfect, but it must have a powerful blank. This will do for lure fishing and freelining also. Mainline should be about 20lbs and hooklenghts 15lbs. If you think this is overkill for fish that only average 2-3lbs you must bear in mind the rough terrain over which wrasse are caught and the fact that they are very powerful scrappers.
The other rod I use when wrasse fishing is a standard 12 - 14 foot beachcatser. This is used for ledgering as it has sufficient power and backbone to prize a big wrasse away from the sea bed again strong mainline is a must. A big fixed spool reel may preferable to a multiplier for speed of retrieve, although a multiplier would be a stronger and tougher option.
Summer wrasse fishing can be challenging, exciting and rewarding but rock fishing can be dangerous. Don.t take any silly risks just for a fish and don.t fish alone. Keep an eye on the tide and watch out for big swells and freak waves. Otherwise enjoy it and get ready for some fireworks.
Adam Shannon
Last edited by Adam S on Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:29 pm
Adam that was brilliant and you did justice to what in my opinion is the hardest fighting fish in our waters Fair play to you.
Danny
Danny
Mon Jul 02, 2007 10:30 pm
excellent article Adam
Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:35 pm
What can I say Adam, absolutely superb posting 8) :wink:
A real credit to you :wink:
Steve
A real credit to you :wink:
Steve
Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:48 pm
have to agree , well done adam
Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:54 pm
Hi Lads what do you think of a Wrasse fishing expo :?: :?: Now that the weather ant to bad :!: we could do an overnight somewhere along the west coast what do ye think :?: :?:
Danny
Danny
Re: Wrasse fishing article
Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:28 pm
good article alright...took a nice wrasse the other day myself,great fighting fish
Re: Wrasse fishing article
Wed Jul 15, 2009 1:18 pm
Excellent read Adam, love seeing those kind of posts!!
Re: Wrasse fishing article
Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:32 pm
Excellent Post... Fair play!!