Bass feeding frenzy - 29th March 2011

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 9.40 pm - 2.45 am

Tide: LW at 9.30 pm

Weather: Southwesterly breeze strenthening later, cloudy with a little light rain, very mild

Bait: Lug, razor

Rigs: 4/0 and 6/0 pennel pulleys, 2 hook flapper (2/0 hooks)

Results: 17 bass, 2 flounder, 1 codling




Report: I decided to venture further from home this time, much further to the west. I arrived at the beach at low tide, there was a lot more features (depressions and gulleys) than I am used to on the local beaches. I set up on the edge of an area with a lot of structure, as the tide pushed in I intended to cast into this area and use a ball weight so that the bait could settle in a depression. There was a good surf, not too big and it was weed free . The tides were slack but I reckoned that the good surf would bring in a few fish.

Initially I set up one rod baited with lug and a second with razor/lug but as the night progressed I was only getting bites on the rod with the lug so I switched to lug only baits. For a while I had a third rod set up for in close but as the night progressed this became redundant, and I was busy enough with the other two rods so it was out of the water most of the time.

At first it was quite, apart from fish robbing my worms (probably small flounder). After about an hour I noticed that the rod with the ball weight was running diagonally up the beach. At first I thought it had been dragged by the current and I began to retrieve but then connected with a fish. I felt a good size fish, presumably bass, but I lost it in close

It remained quite for the next hour. Then as the tide began to push strongly I had a good tug on the rod with the lug and I reeled in a 41 cm bass I had a 34 cm flounder shortly after that, again on lug. This was followed about half an hour later by a small bass-codling double on each hook of the pennel also on the rod baited with lug.

I had a 29 cm flounder after that on the rod in close on the two hook flapper, it had swallowed the hook but I got it free and the fish swam away seemingly without a problem.

I had intended to head home about midnight if the fishing was poor but so far it was OK, so I thought I would stick it out for another hour - just as well I did. I had a couple more small bass over the next hour. At this stage I changed the second rod to lug also as the razor was not getting a bite. About 1.30 am a bass feeding frenzy commenced as a shoal of small bass moved in. They were on the rampage - I was getting a bite a cast, usually after less than five to ten minutes, and at one stage I had just placed the rod on the stand after casting when I had a bite and reeled in small bass. All the bass were small, mostly in the 32-38 cm range, with one more just about 40 cm and a couple of very small guys at less than 30 cm.

By 2.30 am I was almost out of lug, I scrounged up a few small worms from the bottom of the bait container and put them on for a last cast, and returned to razor on the second rod. Nothing has happening for a while then I had a good tug on the rod with the last of the lug - I struck and started to retrieve. This time it felt heavier and stronger than the bass I had been catching so I was hopeful of a better quality fish but when I hauled it out of the surf I found that it was two small bass, one on each hook of the pennel rig.

Again there was nothing on the razor, so with all the lug gone it was time to pack up and face a long drive home much later than I had intended but with a total of 17 bass it was my best ever session, although they may not have been big they were still bass. Afterwards I realized that with that my bass total for 2011 is now equal to my total for the whole of 2010 and it's not even April yet - looks like been a bumper year for bass

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Last edited by RockHunter on Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

great session frank ive been out and about with my usual big crab baits for nada single lug baits accounting for a lot of fish in ww

Last photos:

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Big well done frank, I thought the 12 bass plugging session was good but 17, thats an amazing session. I've only razor, whitebait and mack in the freezer so i've been putting off the next outing until I can go for a lug digging session. Looks like its definately the No.1 bait at the moment!

what a haul of fish!outstanding must hit the beaches asap!

Hey Frank,
Looks like we'll all have to tail you from here on in . Well done, that's excellent fishing .

Thats great fishing well done. beating your entire haul last year already!

Thanks guys,
Report back up with photos of undersize bass removed.
I just want to add that all bass were rapidly unhooked, quickly photographed and released with the minimum delay and all swam powerfully away.

Im glad to see your post back up frank gives us all hope for a few bass this year!!

dude thats awesome fishing - i hope that sort of display makes it to the north coast this year as last year was my most productive and i'd love to see it get better.

well done on your catch.

dave

well done frank, some nights fishing

Brilliant report, fair play to you Rockhunter that's inspiring reading.

PS. Nice to see you've put a blog together, I'll be following with much interest.

Well done Frank that's some session alright

what a session frank. you certinly live in a wonderful part of the country man. shows you just how bad the fishing is up our neck of the woods. a 38cm bass would be the highlight of a session up here . so what's the house prices like down your way then anyhows man

Well done sounds like the perfect night fishing

If i were you,i'll get lotary ticket as soon as posible.
you are the man bro...
17 bass amazing,well done mate
Hope you"ll breake your bass receord again very soon there fore we could read one more excilant report

Thats a good session mate well done .......

17 Bass, thats awesome fishing

Crackin session-well done

There is no reason not to take time to get a shot of a fish, well done Frank on the fishing and your being challenged for taking photos is just silly.

If a fish swims off powerfully its as right as rain.

Edit!! I think I got the wrong message there re why there were issues over your post Frank, regardless, enjoyed your post and good fishing, that was a great session, as Al says, we live in hope of a bass of any size up here.