The European Sea Bass (Dicentrachus labrax) must surely rate as one of the most sporting fish in our seas. It can be caught using many different methods and techniques and certainly has to be just about the best looking inhabitant of our underwater world. The sight of a bristling bass with shimmering silver sides and the trademark spikey dorsal fin standing erect in defiance is hard to beat.It's not just that they are simply stunning fish to be around, but the amount of time and effort that most dedicated bass men put in to catching these creatures makes each and every capture of a specimen fish that much more special. The places that bass fishing takes you to are often some of the wildest, scenic and remote out there which to me is a great part of the appeal. After a long week at work there is nothing like heading out to one of your favourite marks and spending a few hours in pursuit of our spikey friends. Within minutes of reaching the shore all the stresses and strains of modern day life are forgotten.
In these days of depleted stocks and overfishing the bass has not fared too well, they can be found on the menu of far too many restaurants up and down the length and bredth of the country for my liking. Consequently, the glory days of the 60's and 70's will probably never be seen again unless some serious action is taken by the powers that be to protect our stocks and help restore them. The Irish government have set a precedent by severely limiting the commercial fishing and introducing a close season and bag limits. Consequently, their bass fishing is probably the best in Europe. Now - if only the UK government could think that way....
Having said that - there is still a very real possibility of coming into contact with some quality fish these days and always a chance of a beast over the magical 10lb mark. There are reports on the internet and in the angling press of large bass being caught with some regularity, so it can be done. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. With bass fishing I firmly believe it's a case of only getting as much out of it as you put in. You won't catch many bass sat at home thinking about it, one needs to be out there fishing and learning from each and every session - be they successful or not. There is always something to be learnt and keeping a diary is a great way of getting an understanding of your quarry, I've found looking back over previous entries can be invaluable.
Living in Sussex as I do, I am fortunate to have some excellent bass fishing grounds right on my doorstep. The area east of Brighton and running all the way along to Eastbourne has historically been a well known and documented bass fishing area. One man in particular who needs a mention at this point is John Darling who is sadly no longer with us. He spent 30 years of his life documenting and fishing for bass along this coast whilst making Seaford his home, he wrote many articles on the subject and a couple of seriously good books that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in this branch of the sport. What that man did not know about bass and bass fishing is'nt worth knowing and I owe a great deal to him for the deep rooted passion that his writing has instilled in me. Another reputed bass angler that has contributed greatly to the sport is Mike Ladle who is alive and kicking and still regularly fishes down near his Dorset home in the Purbecks. Try googling him for more information, theres plenty to be found on his website.My first bass was caught as a little boy whilst casting lugworm into the surf on West Wittering Beach (near Chichester) whilst on a family holiday. I remember being very curious about the small, lively fish and a little surprised when it spiked me as I tried to hold it. From that moment on, the bass was treated with a little more caution and the respect it is owed. There were plenty of schooly bass caught in my formative years usually whilst fishing worm baits off local piers, harbour walls and the likes but it was'nt until much later in my angling life that I came round to the decision to specifically target the bigger fish. This meant actually fishing for them in the most selective way possible to cut down on bycatch and increase the chances of putting a bait or lure in front of a specimen fish. As already mentioned, I owe alot to John Darling for his influence but also a couple of other dedicated local anglers I have had the pleasure of fishing with in recent years. There's alot to be said for surrounding youself with successful anglers and immersing yourself in the world of the bass - there is much to be learnt.
- Barry (top) and Neil (bottom) - Good friends and bass fishing companions -
It was just 4 years ago that my attention turned to specimen bass fishing in a big way. After spending the majority of my teens and early 20's freshwater fishing, a lure fishing trip to the West coast of India reignited my passion for saltwater angling. On my return home I could think of nothing more exciting than catching a bass. After having great success with the barramundi whilst away the bass seemed like the not so distant cousin that I had been waiting to meet after a long time apart and certainly a viable prospect. The 2 species have alot in common when you think about it, the only major difference being the colossal sizes that the barramundi can attain. Many of the techniques and watercraft skills required are fully transferable between the 2 species and it seemed like a logical progression.
The 3 main techniques for catching bass are bait, lure and fly. My personal order of preference would have to be fly, then lure and finally bait fishing. Unfortunately, the conditions in Sussex are usually more favourable for bait fishing because of the coloured water that forms due to the chalky bedrock that many of our local reefs sit on. It is only during periods of settled, calm weather that the sediment drops and the water clears leaving suitable conditions for presenting a fly or a lure. As it happens, bait fishing is more likely to give you the best chance of hooking a really big fish anyway with the fly and lure approach often producing smaller specimens. It's not to say that the big lunkers can't be caught on artificials, it's just less likely. Well known bass angler Graham Hill caught a 14lb bass on a lure last year in Southern Ireland, so it is possible. All my big fish have fallen to large baits fished after dark.
My best on a lure was a 5lb specimen caught last October (2008) on a Chug Bug surface popper. My best on bait was double figure specimen taken on a whole fillet of fresh mackerel last August (2008). My best fly caught specimen was a 2.5lb clutch screaming beauty from the River Ouse near Newhaven this July (2009).
- My personal best double figure bass -
BAIT:
When it comes to bait for bass there are 2 main types we use. Live and Dead. Many bass anglers will tend to use dead bait for the sake of convenience and the fact that it is a deadly and proven method. The most popular baits are as follows: Mackerel, Squid, Cuttlefish, Herring, Sandeel and Slipper Limpet.
All these baits can be purchased from your local tackle dealer and will be frozen which does'nt seem to bother the bass much but if you can get it fresh then this is always a better option. I personally rate mackerel and squid as great all round baits and would be happy fishing with them anytime and anywhere.
Slipper Limpets need a particular mention at this point as they are one of the greatest and free, seasonal baits going. After the first storms of Autumn it is possible to walk the tide line and collect slipper limpets by the bucket full. When you find them on the beach in these quantities you can guarantee that the bass will be switched on to feeding on these, often ignoring all other baits. I have had many good catches on such occasions with the bass totally pre-occupied on getting as much of the tasty shellfish down their throats as is possible and it won't cost you a penny. The bass is an opportunist feeder and will gorge itself on anything of the correct nutritional value if made available to it. Never ignore the signs mother nature displays to us.
- Beachy Head on a wild and stormy October morning -
With regard to live bait, the most popular baits are as follows: Prawn, Crab, Lugworm, Ragworm, Live fish and Sandeels.
Prawns come in to their own in clear water and are best fished suspended below a float, this is a very nice way of taking a fish or two. Theres something about watching a float which I simply adore. Pleasing in appearance but more so in it's disappearance. You can get your prawns by simply returning to childhood ways and scooping a little fishing net around rockpools. It's great fun and you may even have enough spare for a feed aswell. Very tasty indeed!
Crab is a bass bait par excellence particularly during the early part of the season up until around July time. Best used as peelers just before the crab is about to pop out of it's old shell the juices and scent given off will attract bass from a long way downtide. Frozen crab does'nt seem to turn the bass on anything like a fresh one so is best avoided if possible.
Worm baits tend to attract the smaller fish and can give great sport particulary when fishing in surf conditions. They are not the most selective bait to use and don't have alot of appeal to the larger fish. If you are after quantity rather than quality then fishing low water surf conditions with worm baits in Sussex is just the ticket.
- Fishing the surf just after sunrise -
Live sandeels can be fished in much the same way as the prawns under a float, which again is most pleasing but obtaining the eels in the first place is a very tricky business around these parts. I do believe there is a chap in Pevensey that can supply live eels through the local tackle shop - The Anglers Den.
Live fish make a great bait, particularly later in the season when the bass are fattening up for winter. Live mackerel, pout, wrasse, whiting etc.. all make good baits and I find them best fished freelined off a beach or harbour wall after dark. This is truely exciting fishing as when a big bass hits into one of these baits you are going to know about it. Light tackle such as a spinning rod can be used in these circumstances giving the bass a good oportunity to show it's fighting prowess and leave you with trembling knees! They can also be fished on standard bottom fishing tackle if some lead is required.
BAIT FISHING:
For bait fishing from rock, reef and beach I use a purpose designed 12 foot, 2 - 5 oz bass rod coupled with a 6000 size shimano fixed spool reel and 15lb line.
My standard rig for bottom fishing is a very simple running paternoster. This gives excellent bite indication at the rod tip and allows the bass to take line without feeling any resistance. This is a very important point as the bass is a naturally cautious fish and if it feel resistance upon picking up a bait it will very often drop it immediately and not give it a second look. Another advantage of the running paternoster is that it can be constructed with a weak link between the lead and swivel for when fishing over rock. If the lead snags then the weak link breaks first meaning it is only this part that needs reconstructing as opposed to the whole rig. The rig is also quick and easy to tie consisiting of the lead, 2 x swivels, a bead and the hook. The trace is generally 25lb mono.
Nearly all of my bait fishing is done at dawn, dusk or mostly after dark. After dark, the bass love to move right in to the shoreline and can often be found literally under your feet. Long casting is not needed, if anything it puts you at a disadvantage. So clipped down baits and fancy rigs are not neccessary and to be frank, a waste of time. Keep it simple, fish big baits in close after dark and you won't go far wrong.
I only ever fish with 1 x rod when out bassing and choose to hold the rod at all times. Having 2 x rods in a tripod is a sure way to miss bites and blank. With rods in rests the bass may well pick up your bait but by the time you've noticed the rod tip nodding and picked the rod up, the fish has felt the resistance, dropped the bait and you strike into nothing. They are quick and you generally only get one bite at the cherry so it pays to be vigilant and hold that rod at all times.When holding the rod, you can feel every vibration transmitted down the blank to your hand and believe me there is no mistaking even the most delicate pluck or touch from a bass like this. If you feel a tentative pluck it pays to drop the rod tip giving the fish a few yards of slack, this will often then pull tight as the fish moves away with the bait at which point you strike solidly setting the hooks and with any luck it's fish on. Some of the bigger bass can give very delicate bites so it pays to be on the ball.
On other occasions the bass can be in a rather bold mood and there really is no mistaking the bites, the rod can literally heave forward as a fish screams off downtide and a simple strike should see you right in these instances.
- Wading back to safety before the tide rises too far -
For float fishing a standard sliding float rig is all thats required with a drilled bullet to cock the float and 2 - 3 feet of 12lb flurocarbon trace tied to a swivel.
I feel a mention should be given to the bubble float rig here too. This is simply a bubble float half filled with water for casting weight and attached to a 4 -5 foot trace of 12lb flurocarbon. This can be used for presenting prawn, worm, sandeel and fish strip baits as well as the small artificial rubber eels.
The best presentation by far if you can get away with it and conditions allow is to freeline your bait. This is particularly well suited to fishing from rocks over rough ground with big crab, mackerel and squid baits. There is nothing to get snagged and this can be a real advantage in these situations, especially as the fish come in so close.
LURE FISHING:
Lure fishing is a wonderfully simple and enjoyable form of bass angling. We are merely casting an imitation of an item of food the bass recognise and retrieving it in a manner that imparts life to the lure. The idea being to trigger an instinctive response from the fish and hope that it strikes at your lure.
The basic tackle required is a 7 - 9ft spinning or plugging rod coupled with a decent fixed spool reel loaded up with mono or braid. I prefer braid as there is no stretch and you are in direct contact with the lure, feeling every wiggle as you retrieve. Some prefer mono, it's all down to personal preference although once I changed to braid there was no going back. The benefits far outweigh those of mono in my eyes. I do use around 2-3 feet of 20lb flurocarbon or mono leader on the end of my braid as I find it prevents tangles.
- The Storm Chug Bug Popper -
Lure choice is a very big topic as there are just so many different types to chose from and it can be a very costly habit. Prices range from 50p for a little rubber delta eel up to £25 for the latest all singing, all dancing high-tech plugs from Japan. A good starting point would be to go for a couple of surface poppers, a couple of sub-surface shallow diving plugs, an abu toby lure, a dexter wedge and a few rubber eels and weighted shads. That should cover most bases that you are likely to encounter in any lure fishing situation. These lures will come in all manner of colours but to start with it would be advisable to go for a natural finish as theres plenty of time for experimentation later on.-The Slug-Go Rubber Eel -
There is a new wave of lures coming onto the market at the moment known as soft plastics. Theses are made from highly flexible rubber/latex and have a very lifelike action once in the water. They can be moulded into just about any shape or size and have been making waves in the bass fishing world recently. They either have an internal weight or the weight is supplied by threading the lure on to a weighted jig head. It's still early days for this style of lure here in the UK but if the success and hype of the overseas markets is anything to go by it won't be long before we hear alot more about them here. Keep your ears open.
- The classic J-ll Rapala lure - Old but gold! -
When out lure fishing the beauty of it is you are carrying the minimum of gear and are totally mobile. It pays to take advantage of this fact by trying lots of different spots and fanning your casts around to ensure as much water as possible is covered by your lure. Keep moving until you find the fish. If you stay in one place continually casting then sure enough a few fish may move through in front of you but the law of averages states that by keeping on the go you are likely to present your lure to more fish. These same rules apply equally to fly fishing.
FLY FISHING:
In my eyes, catching a big bass on the fly has to be the holy grail of bass fishing. It's about as pure a style of angling as you will ever find. The ultimate light tackle thrill. I am yet to encounter a big bass on the fly but I can assure you when the right conditions present themselves then I am usually to be found with fly rod in hand and I hope that one day I will get the opportunity to catch and release a huge fly caught beauty. I know that when it happens it will be very satisfying, certainly worth all the time and effort put in.
The gear required as a starting point would be a #8 or #9 weight rod with a decent large arbour reel capable of taking a fly line and 150 yards of backing. A full floating line and a floating line with a sink tip would be a good choice of lines to begin with and hopefully cover most eventualities. I personally use a leader consisting of 9 feet of 12 lb flurocarbon straight through, keeping things simple. Many like to use tapered leaders constructed of differing line strengths but I have not found this neccessary as the large, weighted flies I use have no problems turning the leader over on the cast.Fly choice is again something I like to keep simple. A few clouser minnows in a variety of colours (chartreuse over white and pink over white seem very effective) , a few deceivers, shrimp and sandeel imitations should see you right.
A decent hat, polaroid glasses, line tray and waders are also essential bits of kit if you are to make the most of your fly fishing.
TIDES AND WEATHER:
As a rule of thumb for fishing the shore, the bi-monthly set of spring tides are considered the best. The reason behind this is thought to be because the greater tidal flow out to sea due to the bigger tides forces the fish inshore to find more comfortable surroundings and in doing so brings them in reach of the shore angler. This is during the phases of the new and full moon.
The period around an hour and a half each side of high water is a classic time for bass to be feeding on the beach. They will often run the beach during this time and bites can be expected. Many local reef marks are fished over the low water and early flood tide as this is the only time access is possible.
Bass of course do not follow these rules by the book which is why it's merely a rule of thumb and a starting point. Only by fishing your marks at different times and states of the tide can you really build up a true picture of what the bass are up to and where they are. By keeping a record of your findings, patterns will start to emerge over time and this is the secret to craking the bass fishing on any chosen mark. It's time and experience that really count and in my eyes is a big part of the satisfaction of bass fishing, it's not just about catching the fish.
When the weather is blowing steadily from the West or the South the fish get pushed on to our coasts and with the heavy wave action lots of food is scoured out for the hungry bass to mop up. It's in these conditions that I reach for the bass rod and bait bag and head out to fish the surf. The bass are quite happy feeding in relatively rough conditions, as long as there is'nt too much sand and grit suspended in the water to irritate their gills then some good fishing can be expected. The dreaded weed can be a real problem too and often cuts short what you hoped would be a productive session. If you happen to find a nice, steady, clean surf running then you're in business though. Fishing in beautifully clean surf up to your kness in the water is a great experience and certainly a few small bass with the chance of a bigger specimen could be hoped for.
When the weather is blowing from the north and east this has the effect of flattening off our inshore waters. This in turn allows the sediment and colour to drop out of the water and for it to clear out. When the water clears is the time to do a spot of lure or flyfishing aswell as having a go at float fishing some prawns. We are now in a position to appeal to the fishes sense of sight as opposed to relying on scent in dirty water. I personally prefer this style of bass fishing as it enables you to use lighter tackle and make the most of the fighting power of the fish.
After a period of settled weather and clear water the winds will eventually swing back from the South and West bringing in low pressure systems from the Atlantic. During the first few hours and maybe even a day after the change the clear water will suddenly become choppy and start getting stirred up by the new wind direction, this is a prime time to be lure fishing in my experience. The fish seem to love the chop combined with the clear water conditions. Surface poppers can score well later in the season in these conditions.
LOCATION:
Bass can turn up absolutley anywhere. From deep, offshore mid-channel wrecks to several miles inland. They are a truely wandering, opportunist hunter. There are a few things that can help locate them though and that is their love of structure, turbulent water, tidal races and food.
Anywhere there is structure and a potential ambush point for a fish is worth a look or presenting a bait or lure to. Rocky groynes, wooden groynes, sand bars, deep holes, bridge supports, boat ramps, rocks and rough ground all deserve attention. Structure in the estuarine environment produces changes in direction of current and flow as well as pockets of water where the fish can lie and get out of the main push. These spots are well worth a look but will probably only be fishable at certain states of the tide.
Turbulent water is always worth investigating as it disorientates the bait fish and small food items making them easy prey for the bass. This is why fishing in the surf can often be productive, the fish are working the situation to their advantage.Tidal races and rips are another spot worth investigating, the fish often lie up just out of the main current darting in to pick off prey or waiting for food items to be brought down to them.
Concentrations of bait fish will also attract the bass for obvious reasons. Presenting a lure or fly around the edges of the shoal or to visibly feeding bass can score here. Sight fishing for the bass has got to be the best experience of them all. You can't beat the anticipation of casting to a visibly feeding fish and watching the reaction. Moments like this are often few and far between and to be treasured.
CONSERVATION:
In this day and age I feel it's important that we as anglers should make an effort to conserve the stocks we do have for future generations to enjoy aswell. It would be a real shame for our children, grandchildren and future generations not to be able to experience the exhileration and joy of bass fishing that we have been lucky enough to know.
I personally keep the occasional fish in the 2-4lb bracket that make good eating size and fit in the oven nicely. Anything of larger, genetically sound breeding stock and all juveniles get returned.
I know it's not alot and I know the commercial fleets regularly hammer the bass stocks but every effort counts toward the bigger picture.
The day bass fishing becomes a hopelessly lost cause will be a very sad day indeed.
