New bass mark - 29th June 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me and Melissa

Duration: 7.00 - 9.00 pm

Tide: LW at 6.00 pm

Weather: Partly cloudy with some sunny spells, light southerly wind

Bait: Lug, rag

Rigs: 2 hook flapper (4/0), 4/0 pennel pulley

Results: 5 bass




Report: I had some lug left over from the weekend so thought I better use them up while they were still alive. I dug a few rag to supplement the bait. I decided to try a beach I only fished twice before (the first time there was a big surf and lots of weed, the second time it was dead calm and not a fish to be had). So I was hoping that this would be third time lucky.

I set up the first rod, baited with rag on the two hook flapper and cast it out. There was a good surf but a lot of weed in close to the beach. Before I even had a chance to get the second rod out of the rod bag there was a knock on the first - I thought it was just a clump of weed and picked it up but then I felt the definite tugs of a fish. I struck and had a good fighting fish on the end. I hauled it through the surf to find a 59 cm bass Unfortunately it was deeply hooked. The hook was set into the gut - I have had a few of those recently. So that was one for tonight's dinner.

I rebaited, again with rag, and recast. Within moments there was another knock on the rod - hardly another bass so quickly I thought. I struck and could feel a strong pull on the line. This time it was a 48 cm bass

I cast out again - this time I snagged a clump of weed. I hauled it in and recast. Before I had time to set up the second rod there was another strong tug on the line. I struck and felt a good fish for a few seconds then it was gone. When I retrieved I found that the upper snood was gone - my knot must have come undone But still I already had two bass and had only been there for about 20 minutes at that stage so I wasn't too upset at loosing the fish.

The first two fish had taken the bait on the lower hook so I cast the same rig out again. While I was rooting in my rig box for a new rig I noticed another strong knock on the rod. I grabbed it and struck. Again there was a very strong pull on the line. This fish was putting up a stronger fight. I eventually hauled a 63 cm bass ashore This was a very lively fish and I could not get it to stay still for a photo on the ruler.

I cast out again having switched to the 4/0 pennel rig. The tide was beginning to advance at this stage so I moved the gear back up the beach. I had forgotten about setting up the second rod at this stage. No sooner had I moved than there was another knock on the rod tip. I struck and again hooked a strong fish. This time it was a 57 cm bass

There was a longer wait for the next bite - ie only about 15 minutes - then there was another strong knock - this time it was a 60 cm bass

So in the space of probably less than an hour I had now equalled my best ever bass total from one session. But these were much better fish. I was hoping that there would be a few more. But the fish moved on. The rod tip remained motionless, apart from catching a few clumps of weed. As the tide was rising the weed was getting worse. So after about a hour without another bite I packed up. But I was delighted with that session, especially as I was not expecting that much from it initially.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:13 pm, edited 2 times in total.

well done there! cracking session..

Have you tried debarbing your hooks? I know it means a few more fish lost, but it is somethin I have moved onto. Conor(saltydog) showed me the future of hooks- circle hooks, which work great for lip hooking, but I found the barb was still adding time to dehook, so I actually used a pliers to push barb down, not fully, but mostly.. I had a doggie session with 2 rods, and if it wasn;t for this they would all have major hook damage, but I could just pop em straight off with these hooks.
just a thought.

well done again man

Nice session Frank, very good going for a couple of hours.

Nice fishing rockhunter, all good sized fish there.

We had a session a short while ago where the bass were nailing the bait within seconds of it hitting the water, we debated whether the splash had attracted them towards it.

Thanks guys,

Have you tried debarbing your hooks?

I don't think even that would have saved the first fish. It had completely swallowed the bait - the hook was into the top of its stomach - so with hauling it ashore its internal organs were pulled up into the base of its throat - even if the hook had come out easily I would have been surprised if it could have survived.

We had a session a short while ago where the Bass were nailing the bait within seconds of it hitting the water, we debated whether the splash had attracted them towards it.

You could be right there - most of the bites came within a few seconds of casting.

well done frank nice and in day light to . you are getting a good few fish at the moment

well done frank 5 fast bass, have to put my thinking cap on for the mark hmmmm

Well done Frank thats a great session good stamp of Bass there

ah I understand, yeah, I've had fish like that, can;t be helped sometimes,

Fantastic result though. I'm envious.

nice session,well done on some lovely bass

5 bass in less than an hour ,,,what a session, well done Frank

Thanks guys,

5 Bass in less than an hour

I was quite shocked myself. I was lucky to have hit it just at the right time - If I had started an hour later the bass would have been gone and I would have probably blanked and might have never returned there

I will have to try that beach again soon at the same stage of the tide when there is a similar size surf.

amazing fishing a big well done

nice one frank. 5 Bass in an hour is good going, even for you

super fishing

Thanks guys,
I will have to give that mark another bash this weekend, with the southerly breeze at the moment it should be ideal - I would have returned during the week but had a sore foot.