Back on the bass - 24th April 2012

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 6.30 - 11.30 pm

Tide: HW at 8.00 pm

Weather: Light southerly breeze, overcast, dry, changing to strong easterly wind later and then rain

Bait: Crab

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley, 3/0 two hook flapper

Results: 5 bass, 1 Flounder




Report: I have been very busy with work over the last few weeks so was not fishing as much as usual, plus the weather has not been ideal. I had a few lure sessions at the weekends but the bass, if present, were just not interested. I also had a couple of bait fishing sessions but the results were poor, just a bunch of dogfish.

However, the conditions on Tuesday looked more promising. The morning was calm and the forecast for the evening was for light southerly wind veering to strong easterly closer to midnight. I planned on doing some lure fishing but brought along some crab as a backup. But when I got to the coast there was a much bigger surf than I expected and the water looked the colour of milk chocolate. It did not look promising, so I had a change of plan. Fortunately I had also brought along the beach casting rods and reels so headed to a nearby beach, where I could be almost sure of a few bass rather than waste my time lashing out lures into the cold murky sea.

There was a good surf on the beach, I made my way to a favourite mark and was set up by 6.30 pm. I had a 4/0 pennel pulley on one rod and a 3/0 two hook flapper on the other, both baited with crab. Shortly afterwards I had a strong bite on the first cast of the rod with the pennel pulley. It gave a good fight and after a few minutes I hauled a gleaming silver bass out of the surf. It was a 53 cm fish

About 20 minutes later I had another good tug on the same rod. This was not putting up such a strong fight. It was a 42 cm bass, but quite plump 15 minutes later I had another bite, again this felt to be a small fish, this time a 41 cm bass. It was taken on the two hook flapper

About an hour after starting, around 7.30 pm, I had a fourth small fish, a 36 cm bass, again on the two hook flapper

After that the shoal moved on. It was very quite over high tide, no more bass bites, although I was getting flounder nibbles and eventually hooked a small one of 22 cm.

I was hoping it would pick up again after dark on the ebbing tide. But around 9.00 pm the wind began to swing to an easterly and gradually increased in strength. It looked like the cold easterly was putting the fish off. I was thinking of packing up, then had a very strong tug on the rod with the pennel pulley but by the time I got to the rod the fish was gone.

That gave me some encouragement to stay on a little longer, Then at about 10.45 pm I had another very sharp pull on the same rod. This time the fish was well hooked. It was fighting very strongly, then surged in towards the shore before putting up a strong fight in the shallower surf. I eventually hauled a good size bass out of the breaking waves and on to the sand. It was a 67 cm fish and weighed just over 6 lbs

I fished on for another three quarters of an hour until the wind really began to pick up and the rain started. I left just in time, as I was walking back along the beach the rain became torrential. It was good to have had a few bass after a break of about three weeks.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

great report and pics frank
i think you could fall into an open sewer and come out with a bass clenched between your teeth man
just a tad jealous,,, does it show

well done frank back on the bass your always on the bass

another great session frank well done i was just woundering if you struck any of the fish or just let them take it them self after reading the section in the q & a

Tight lines beat me too it. did you try striking and not striking? Nice fishing btw. some lovely fish there.

Davy

Thanks guys,

i was just woundering if you struck any of the fish or just let them take it them self after reading the section in the q & a

ight lines beat me too it. did you try striking and not striking?

I would say I lifted very firmly into the fish rather than a "strike" - whether you would class that as a gentle/moderate strike is debatable.
The one I missed because it took me a few seconds to get to the rod obviously didn't hook itself and managed to shake itself free before I lifted the rod. If I had been standing right beside the rod I reckon I could have hooked it more securely using the same technique.

Great fishing frank especially as the weather has been horrendous,The magic never seems to cease happy days

Looks like this year will surpass last year. Some fine fish.

happy days RockHunter, great stuff
tad jealous myself too..

[/quote]
I would say I lifted very firmly into the fish rather than a "strike" - whether you would class that as a gentle/moderate strike is debatable.
The one I missed because it took me a few seconds to get to the rod obviously didn't hook itself and managed to shake itself free before I lifted the rod. If I had been standing right beside the rod I reckon I could have hooked it more securely using the same technique.[/quote]

Was wondering this myself. Seems the only fish missed was the one you couldn't strike.
Some fishin again Rockhunter and great report.

Tommy

Great fishing frank were you noting the drop in barometric pressure as the weather turned ugly

Thanks guys.

were you noting the drop in barometric pressure as the weather turned ugly

Yes I had a look at the pressure charts before heading out - there was a bit of a pressure drop predicted for the evening.

Was wondering this myself. Seems the only fish missed was the one you couldn't strike.

Yes, it took be a few seconds to get back to the rod stand and in that time there was at least three strong tugs on the line, with the last tug the fish managed to shake the hook. Over the years nearly all the bass bites I have missed have been when I was away from the rod, moving gear, sitting down or talking to somebody. So best to stay right beside the rod and be ready to grab it the instant the fish bites (when fishing for bass) or better still be holding the rod in anticipation of a bite.

superb fishing there bud - youre a skilled hand!!
dave

nice fish report rockhunter great pictures as well.

Lovely fishing and super pics. Can't wait to get down next week.....please leave me a few!!!!

Super fishing Rock Hunter - excellent reports.

StevieC.

ps I have sent you a PM.

Super report and pics Frank

Super report and pics Frank

Thanks guys,

Super fishing Rock Hunter - excellent reports.
StevieC.
ps I have sent you a PM.

You better send it again - I didn't receive it!

Lovely fishing and super pics. Can't wait to get down next week.....please leave me a few!!!!

Thanks Stan, dont worry there are plenty left!!