Bass on the lure - 16th & 17th April 2011

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: Various

Tide: 16th April: HW at 5 pm; 17th April: HW at 5.45 pm

Weather: 16th April: Warm, sunny, light northwesterly breeze, 17th April: Light southeasterly breeze, bit of sea mist, clearing later

Bait: Lures

Rigs:

Results:
16th April: 1 bass (6.25 lb+)
17th April: 3 bass



[b]Report:
16th April: I headed to the mark where I caught a good bass last week, getting there just as the tide was starting to push in. I started with a Feed Shallow but I was casting across a shallow reef with strands of weed and was getting snagged. I changed to the soft plastics. I put on a Texas rigged Slug Go and on the second or third cast I was hit by a powerful fish. It was pulling strongly and stripping a little line. I was worried that it would come off as I tried to get it across the shallow reef and waited until a bigger wave rolled in, then surfed it over the rocks. It continued to fight very strongly, twisting and splashing about in a shallow gulley and eventually I eased it on to the rocks. It was a fine 69 cm bass, weighing just over 6.25 lb

I continued fishing in the same area until the tide pushed me back. Moved along the coast and fishing into several small embayments but I could tempt no more fish. But I was happy enough with the one fish I did get.

17th April: I started in the same spot as yesterday but this time there were no bites. I moved along the shore as the tide pushed in but nothing was interested in a broad selection of lures. I worked my way through a series of small embayments and gulleys but there was not a fish to be seen. Eventually I reached a small cove with a lot of rotting seaweed pilled up on the shore. I reckoned there might be a chance of a bass feeding on maggots or small fish close to the margin of weed. I cast out a range of hard and soft lures but again nothing was biting. Then I spotted the outline of two fish, just submerged and crusing only 3 or 4 meters out from the shore. I cast a Texas rigged Slug Go over the fish and retrieved just in front of one of them but it showed no interest. I cast a second time but when the lure hit the water it spooked the fish and they disappeared. I continued fishing there for some time and every five minutes or so there was a small splash so I knew the fish were still there but still I could not tempt them to bite. Initially I thought they were bass but it's possible they were mullet.

I had intended to pack up at 5.30 pm as I needed to be home by 6.30 pm. So at about 5.25 pm I decided to have one last try at another mark not too far away. I started off with an Xlayer. On about the second cast I was connected with a good fish about 20 m out. It gave a good fight and tried to get around a jagged ridge of rock which would probably have snapped my line had it succeeded but I managed to turn it and gradually coaxed it towards the shore. It was a good bass, about 5 lbs, and just under 60 cm In my hurry to restart fishing I forgot to photograph it

I switched to a Feed Shallow. Second cast I was hit by another bass about 30 m out. This felt a heavier fish and was stripping some line. But when I eventually landed it I found the fish was much the same size, although fatter, with a weight of 5.75 lb However, it was hooked in the side, one of the triples was set just below the gill cover. The fish must have lashed at the lure with its gill plate. That explains why it was so difficult to land.

After a few more casts I had another savage bite. This felt to be another strong fish, and again stripped a little line. It was putting up the strongest fight of the day and it took a few minutes to get it in. It was just over 61 cm but weighed the same as the previous fish at 5.75 lbs It was only lightly lip hooked on one barb of the lower triple so I was lucky to land it.

It was 6.00 pm at this stage so I reluctantly packed up I reckoned I could have had a few more bass if I stayed but I was already late. But I can always get them the next time.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:16 pm, edited 3 times in total.

Couple more photos

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Well done rockhunter...i was the same at the weekend..nothing touched the plugs but bagged one on a texas style rolling shad...nice and slow...
nice fishing

Good report and super fish!

Well done Frank, yet again, simply super fishing! Two days of lure heaven Great report, pictures and results as always.

Brilliant fishing yet again, fair play to you.

When fishing the soft plastics texas style, do you put a clip-on type weight onto the hook shank, or do you simply have the soft plastic worm and hook? (Every time I've tried fishing weedless I have a very light lead attached to the hook but still can't seem to get any depth with it).

topclass fishing "mr Hunter" really nice bass
tightlines
fergal

Thanks guys,

When fishing the soft plastics texas style, do you put a clip-on type weight onto the hook shank, or do you simply have the soft plastic worm and hook? (Every time I've tried fishing weedless I have a very light lead attached to the hook but still can't seem to get any depth with it).

I didn't use a weight as I wasn't casting far. I let the lure sink for a few seconds, start a slow retrieve, stop and left it sink again etc. I didn't want to get much depth as I was fishing over a barely submerged reef and reckoned there might be a fish lurking in the drop off on the other side.

Well done Frank, yet again, simply super fishing! Two days of lure heaven Great report, pictures and results as always.

Thanks Paula, Yesterday it wasn't looking good but worked out well in the last half hour.

topclass fishing "mr Hunter" really nice Bass

Thanks Fergal

great fishing

Well done rockhunter.great fishing

pure class fishing rockhunter , absolute pure class, well done

some cracken fish frank well done

72 bass serious stuff ,still waiting for my first

Lovely fish Frank, your tally this year is rising nice and steady, down this way by any chance? The Slug-go is a great soft lure very realistic in the water.Top fishing again

Nice fishing Frank, you've had more bass this year than I've had hot dinners! No joke, well done! again!

frank your on fire looking like your going to top your best year totals by a mile

frank how do you find the distance when casting the slug gos?

pure class Frank keep it up!

Thanks guys,

rank how do you find the distance when casting the slug gos?

Without a weight I don't get much distance, but where I was using them attaining a long cast wasn't necessary as I just wanted to cast them across a shallow reef into the drop off on the far size. If casting with the wind I can get them out about 25-30 m but less than half that if casting into the wind.

Lovely fish Frank, your tally this year is rising nice and steady, down this way by any chance? The Slug-go is a great soft lure very realistic in the water.Top fishing again

Thanks Declan, no I have done very little fishing in the Waterford direction so far this year, just a couple of bait sessions. The Slug-go seems to be a good lure alright, I hadn't used them before.

frank your on fire looking like your going to top your best year totals by a mile

Thanks Seanie, I should exceed the 2009 total alright.

Well done Frank some great fish there