rock fishing tactics

[jhcabs]

Gave Hook head a go yesterday for some rock fishing without any luck. While i did enjoy spinning for pollock which weren't there, i was wondering how any angler could sucessfully fish the venue with all those massive boulders, and huge kelp forests. i could see very small patches of clean sand but very little. looked like a tackle graveyard to me. i'd imagine Jelly worms over the kelp would work if the fish where around or float fishing, but i'd like to try bait out without losing too much.

Are there any really good tips or angling secrets to fishing a rock venue like this? do i just cast into the clean ground or straight down onto the rocks and kelp? I understand rotten bottom rigs can help but losing a lead per cast is expensive and hooks get caught up so easily too.

[JOHN1]

Try a simple single hook pulley type rig does not need to be clipped down, if you know of any local mechanics / garages go and get some old spark plugs from them and use them for weights, keep your casts fairly short because the further you cast out the harder it will be to get it back in

[Al]

You could try rotton bottoms with junk leads, use match hooks that can bend out and also tie your hook length directly onto your mainline if not using a pully to save on gear lost if you're snagged.

http://www.whitbyseaanglers.co.uk/rotten-bottom-rigs

[roger de dodger]

thick tough main line ,rotten bottom,lead lift and a tough fixed spool setup ,when fishing straight down make your shockleader go full depth if you get snagged you have 60 lb straight through to pull free with

[The Austrian]

you said it yourself - float fishing is the key, rubber bead and stopper knot above the float to set the depth properly, another bead and a weight before the 1st swivel which connects to your chosen trace. Just watch the reaction of your float - one of the most exciting fishing techniques and so simple. Tight lines!

[jhcabs]

Thanks for the tips guys.

[kstaff]

Most importantly try fish these marks at a more productive time of the year when there are more available species, Hook Head is a cracking place to fish in Summer Autumn,

[sparkey+1]

What part of the head where you fishin near the lighthouse of around the cliffs past the cattle/Bulls?

[Moldaguus]

I was with jhcabs, we started at the back of the lighthouse and then tried a few different spots along the cliffs and rocks heading towards slade castle, but not actually going down as far as slade, if that makes sense.

[joebhoy]

As Keith said the time of the year is important as the rock marks dont tend to fish until summer/autumn. I also find that pollock tend to feed most late afternoon/early evening if you are targeting them.

Rotton bottom rigs all the way for wrasse but it has to be jelly worms/SP shads for the pollock. Also if you are fishing over the top of kelp beds you will need a fairly stiff rods to keep them from diving into the kelp....

[jhcabs]

As Keith said the time of the year is important as the rock marks dont tend to fish until summer/autumn. I also find that pollock tend to feed most late afternoon/early evening if you are targeting them.

Rotton bottom rigs all the way for wrasse but it has to be jelly worms/SP shads for the pollock. Also if you are fishing over the top of kelp beds you will need a fairly stiff rods to keep them from diving into the kelp....

I must admit, i didnt take into account the time of year for them. I'm going to try again closer to may. Going to pick up some city slug-go's, Senko worms texas sytle to have to hand.

If i keep the retrieval over the kelp will they still come up for it? I know people bump along the bottom but around hook i'd say i'd only lose rig after rig. The place is amazing though. Like something out of "clash of the titans..."

good tip on the stiff rod tip. I recently got an 8 foot spinning rod to get me started. No sure its up for the job though so i might use an 11.5 foot powerstix bass rod instead. Thanks for the heads up.

[corbyeire]

def go for the longer rod

[lugworm]

def go for the longer rod

dats wat she said...........

[m.b3]

you can use hooks with weed guards or rig the lures weedless. it works quite well over heavy ground.