Trotting on the River Test - Jan 2016

The Test at Romsey

Once the new year had been seen in and all the Christmas celebrations were over my attention soon turned back to fishing. It was decided that my friend Dave and I would make the journey down to Hampshire to fish the River Test near Romsey.

The rivers had been all over the place locally due to vast amounts of rain over the Christmas holiday period. Our thinking was that the chalk streams of Hampshire would more than likely be fishable as they are far less affected by excess water than our Sussex lowland rivers.

We planned to float fish trotted maggots in the hope of catching grayling, trout, dace, roach and chub. The Test is a fantastic river for this style of fishing and we always enjoy our days down there. However, upon our arrival even the Test was out of shape....high and coloured. We looked on in disbelief as it was long journey to make to find the river unfishable!

Salmon Parr

Seeing as we were there anyway, we tackled up and decided to give it a go. The sun was shining for the first time in what seemed like weeks anyway so it was actually a pleasure just being out in the mild winter weather. Any fish would be a bonus.

Nice size Dace

The water was pushing so fast that our floats were 40 yards downstream of us literally seconds after plopping them in. It was very hard to find any water that was of a sensible pace. Eventually, after much searching we did find a few pockets of softer looking water and some fish seeking refuge within. They seemed to be thinking the same as us......find the steadier water to make life a bit easier!

Grayling

Once these areas had been located then a few fish started to come to our nets. Mostly dace, grayling and trout. In fact, in the end we managed a fair few fish as they seemed to be squeezed in to the steadier areas like sardines. A good day was had and we trundled back to Sussex in high spirits having thoroughly blasted away the mid-winter blues. No monsters but a great day out in good company with some beautiful fish. What more can you ask for!

Sussex Perch Fishing 2015/16

A nice Perch just over 2lb's taken on a worm bait

I love catching Perch and have had plenty of 2lb fish over the years but a 3lb fish has so far eluded me. A 3lb'er is a serious fish and anything bigger the fish of a lifetime in my book. It's nice to have something to aim for in your fishing and the colder winter months see me regularly out targeting this most impressive of fish. Big Perch are truly a sight to behold and still hold as much appeal now as they ever have.

There are some very impressive Perch to be found in many of the commercial fisheries local to me. Having been stocked as the apex predator when many of these lakes were first dug, these fish are now reaching very impressive sizes with even the odd 4 and 5lb'ers a realistic target for those willing to put in the effort.

A fine looking perch from Passies Pond taken on maggots

There are host of venues worth a look at down in Sussex close to me such as Alderwood Ponds, Tanyards, Passies Ponds, Whitevane and Sumners Ponds to name a few. All can fish well for the Perch on their day.

This winter I have done a few sessions at both Alderwoods and Passies with mixed success so far. I have been experimenting with different baits and techniques. Using prawns, maggots and worm have all brought results on their day. I've also enjoyed using the drop-shot method of lure fishing. This has produced some good numbers of fish for me but nothing of any great size as yet......still, it keeps me nice and mobile on those colder days.

Best Perch of the winter so far at 2lb 10oz on a worm bait

The best fish I have managed so far this winter is 2lb 10oz and this came from Alderwoods on a lobworm fished over plenty of worm chop. There have been a few other 2's and plenty of smaller fish as well. Some very welcome Roach have put in an appearance with some going well over a pound and a half also. Nice fishing!

A fine roach taken on a maggot hook bait

So the quest for a 3lb Perch continues.......and I am enjoying every single moment of it which is exactly how I like my fishing to be. Unitl the next time.....Tight Lines!

A Couple of Articles for the 'Anglers Mail'

After my appearance on BBC2's 'The Big Fish' TV show I was flattered to be approached by the 'Anglers Mail' magazine to put together a couple of features for inclusion in their pages back at Christmas time. I have read the magazine since I was a lad and first got in to fishing so I was over the moon to finally get a chance to grace it's pages.

I was given a 'Three Species Challenge' to complete for their cameras at a local fishery and had to catch a 1lb Roach, a 2lb Perch and a 10lb carp in one session. It was a tough challenge but I did well on the day and had a great time in the process too.......which is what fishing is all about really!

I also put together a piece about my winter pike fishing and the inspiration that I have taken over the years.

The articles are all shown below. Click on the images to see them in full size, they are the much easier to read. Tight Lines :)

Fly Fishing for Grayling on the Hampshire Avon

The Upper Hampshire Avon

The day in question was the first proper frost of the year back in mid November of 2015. Perfect Grayling fishing weather as it goes. After de-icing the van I made my way down to Hampshire to join a dedicated bunch of fly anglers on the Avon in a combined quest to catch 'the lady of the stream'.

I had been invited along by the guys from 'Wet Your Knot' who run a respected web community through their facebook page and have a dedicated following now well over 25,000 members strong. Their aim is to breath new life into the world of fly-fishing and bring it right in to the 21st century by bringing passionate fly-anglers old and new together in their own unique way. Click here for their web page Wet Your Knot.

A good day out with the 'Wet Your Knot' lads

I felt privileged to be invited along and was made to feel very welcome by the founders Adam and Julian and their friends. The stretch of the Avon was owned by the Army and we had been granted permission to fish it for the day. I have previous experience of fly fishing for grayling in the traditional upstream fashion using nymphs suspended under an indicator but was keen to learn all about 'Czech and French Nymphing'.

Mark bringing a Grayling to the net

This devastatingly effective technique was put on display to great effect by some of the other anglers that morning and I was lucky enough to be under the tutelage of a couple of well practised chaps, Simon and Lindsay. 

They put me right on the technique and showed me how the team of heavy nymphs was fished on a short line with a small fluorescent in-line indicator tied in for bite detection. By flicking the team of nymphs upstream of my position and then guiding them through the river on a tight line I was able to tease the flies through all the likely looking runs and glides. 

Had a go for a pike in the mill pool too, sadly no takes that day.

It took a short while to get the hang of it but I soon got into the rhythm of repeatedly casting and running the nymphs through all the fishy spots. It didn't take too long to bring a fish or 2 to hand and I soon realised the potential of this incredibly accurate and precise way of fishing. It may lack some of the finesse and art form associated with casting a fly line in the traditional way but it more than makes up for this in it's effectiveness. On it's day, it pretty much empties the stream....as many of the guys I was fishing with proved!

A nice Hampshire Avon Grayling

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day in fine company and always good to make new friends in the world of fishing. As well as learning some new skills we also celebrated the birthday of Adam with a fine BBQ and a very fishy looking cake. What's not to like :) Thanks to the guys at Wet Your Knot for the photos and for making me feel so welcome.

Adam and his very special 'Grayling' cake 

Autumnal Fly Fishing for Bass and Grayling

Fishing under the Seven Sisters

It's been a very mild autumn this year. We are into November now, yet to have a frost and it still feels warm. I've had a couple of free days this week as I'm waiting for my next decorating job to start. What better way to fill the time than a spot of fishing!

On Monday morning I was treated to the most incredible, misty dawn down under the Seven Sister's cliffs. I headed down there on the off chance that there might be a Bass or two willing to take a fly.

The weather over the weekend had been very calm and settled. On arrival I noticed that the water was nice and clear. This is essential to success on the fly in my experience and was a good start. I rigged up my new fly rod as quickly as I could, watching small fish topping no more than 30 yards out. Another good sign......it was looking very fishy!

I started fishing with an epoxy sand eel pattern on an #8 weight set up and floating line. The leader was 9 feet of 10lb fluorocarbon straight through.

Epoxy Sand Eel Fly

Starting at low tide, I waded in to knee depth and began casting. First straight out to sea and then by fanning casts around the clock to cover the water. It can't have been more than my fourth cast when the line pulled tight in my hand signalling a fish had hit the fly. I instinctively set the hook with my left hand by giving the line a good tug and the fight was on.

At first the fish was confused, topping once and floundering a little. Then it got it's head down and charged off out to sea, taking line as it went. At this point, I realised I was attached to something fairly substantial and the old knees started to knock a bit.

After a few more runs and some stubborn resistance the fish finally tired having given a good account of itself. I could now see it was a cracking bass hooked very nicely with the fly sitting comfortably in the scissors. This was my first bass on the fly for quite some time as my fishing efforts have been concentrated elsewhere recently. To say I was pleased is an understatement. I was over the moon.

In my eyes, there's not much better than taking a fish like a bass on a fly from my local patch. It's a pretty special place and they are pretty special fish.

I'd guess it went between 3 to 4lbs, so not massive but an amazing experience on the fly tackle. I followed this up with another 5, all of which were smaller, around the pound mark and like peas in a pod. Probably the last chance this year as the South Westerly winds have now picked up again bringing with them colour to the water. I'm glad I went.

Beautiful bass 

My friend and casting instructor Bob also invited me down to the River Itchen on wednesday to have a bash at chalk stream Grayling fishing. This is something I've always wanted to have a go at as the water is so clear it adds a whole new dimension to the fishing. You can see the fish and they can see you!

The technique here is to creep along the river, spotting fish as you go and covering them with your fly. Casting upstream above the fish and dead drifting your offering past the grayling or trout in the process was the aim of the game. Without being seen of course!

Bob in action on the Itchen

We were fishing #5 weight fly fishing gear, floating lines and bite indicators with a small leaded nymph suspended below on a 3.5lb tippet. Keeping off the skyline was essential as the fish were very easily spooked.

After a slow start and a little advice from Bob regarding mending the line and use of the wiggle cast, things started to improve. I managed a tiny grayling first off, more by luck than judgement I think. Then a move on to a carrier stream proved to be a little easier as 3 more reasonable grayling came to the net.

The stamp of grayling we encountered

It was a new experience for me flyfishing on the chalk streams but I have to say it really was very exciting. I'd love to go back again some time in the summer when the trout are rising to dry flies. That will no doubt be 'heart in the mouth' stuff. Until the next time - TIGHT LINES!

Monster Rainbow Trout - Chew Valley Lake

Now that's a TROUT!

A couple of months back I got a phone call from my old mate Rog from Bath with some good news. He was offering me a days fishing on Chew Valley Lake just outside Bristol. Being a mad keen pike angler, we've been friends and occasional fishing partners ever since we met back in the early 2000's.

Chew Valley Lake is legendary in the world of pike fishing at the moment. It has consistently been producing quantities of very large pike nudging the british record for some time now. It is one of the hottest tickets around and places to fish on their limited number of pike angling days are highly sought after. 

Many of the big names from the pike fishing scene are frequent visitors and are always seeking out that record breaking fish of a lifetime. Places go on a telephone lottery system much the same way as Glastonbury or pop concert tickets do. There are a couple of dates a year that the phone lines open and if you don't get through in the first few attempts then you can forget it until the next time.

Fly fishing for the pike there is available all through the coarse fishing season but the lure and bait fishing is restricted to the specific Pike days mentioned previously. 

The water is a prolific trout fishery as it's mainstay and herein lies the reason for the colossal sizes of the pike.....a readily available supply of high protein food. There are quite a few waters dotted around the country that offer trout and pike fishing together. Why Chew Valley Lake should be the one water that stands out in the numbers and sizes of these magnificent creatures is a mystery. It just does, and that is why it is so difficult to get a ticket. Now you understand why I was so pleased to hear from Rog as it's not every day you get the chance to fish for pike like these.

When the day arrived, the weather was kind to us with gentle breezes and intermittent cloud cover. If it blows up then being out on a large expanse of water in a small boat can be rather uncomfortable, so we were lucky. Armed with a selection of sea dead-baits and a vast array of artificial lures, the plan was to fish the baits under floats and cast around with the lures to hedge our bets.

The fishing was slow in the morning. The floats never twitched and the long anticipated slam on the lure rod never came. It wasn't until mid-way through the afternoon that I spotted a good sized fish follow my spinner in to the boat before diving for cover. I didn't get a proper look at it but it was a reasonable size.

A few casts later and the rod finally came to life in my hands as it hooped over and the first fish of the day was on. The fish made a couple of powerful dives initially before then surfacing right by the boat. It was without a doubt the biggest rainbow trout I had ever seen and was thrashing about on the surface looking like it could throw the hooks at any moment. Rog grabbed the net and bundled the fish in to it accompanied by contented whoops of joy. What a fish! 

I didn't want to stress the fish by weighing it so snapped off a quick photo before unhooking and a speedy release. I'd guess it was well into double figures, somewhere around the 12/13lb mark and was very happy with it after the hours of inactivity.

We fished on and had another couple of swipes to our lures before one of my pike floats finally slid away right on dusk. I went through the routine of steadily winding down on the fish before setting the hooks. The pike was attached for a brief moment but then spat the hooks which was a bit disappointing but at the same time it didn't feel like one of the lakes famous leviathans, so no great loss really.

It had been a great day and it's always good to catch up with old friends. the thing about fishing on a water like Chew is that every time you get a bite it could be 'the one' and it's little things like this that give us seasoned anglers the motivation to keep going back again and again. I for one will certainly be on the phone on speed-dial the next time some places are up for grabs - Tight Lines!

Fishing on the River Tarn in France - September 2015

I have just recently returned from a most wonderful 2 week holiday in France. My wife and I went to stay with some friends of ours at their idyllic place about 40 mins into the countryside out of Toulouse. Surrounded by vineyards, sunflower fields and arable land it was far removed from the hectic, overpopulated East Sussex we are used to. Just what holidays should be.

At the back of the house where we were staying was the most impressive vegetable garden tended to by our hosts Scott and Aurelie. We were never short of fresh veg and the most incredible tasting tomatoes we had ever eaten. It really is amazing how good it all tasted, kissed by the sun and grown organically using good old horse manure for fertilizer. 

There were plenty of animals running around too. Chickens supplying fresh eggs daily, quails, rabbits, goats, peacocks and a couple of rescued pigeons. There was also a pond full of various fish, small carp, rudd, bream and even a minature catfish. It really was the most relaxing place to be, impossible not to unwind fully which was just what we needed.

Scott is an old university friend of mine that some of you may know from earlier blog posts as my travelling and fishing companion on my Indian adventures. Naturally, we planned to squeeze in a bit of fishing during my visit. With the River Tarn being a mere 15 minute drive away we were ideally situated too.

The Tarn is famous for it's big catfish which have been filmed taking pigeons from the banks in much the same way as killer whales beach themselves when taking seals. They are formidable predators and a worthy quarry for the angler. Traditionally, they have been fished for with smelly deadbaits, pellets or livebaits. However, these days they are increasingly being targeted on the continent with artificial lures and it is this technique that interested me the most. Far more entertaining than sitting behind baited rods, that's for sure!

The catfish have very poor eye-site and primarily detect their prey through feel and vibration. It is therefore important to choose your lure accordingly. You need something that gives off a lot of vibration and displaces a good amount of water. Big paddle tails, wide swimming actions and large spinning blades are just the ticket.

Our first session saw the 4 of us set up camp for 2 nights in the most beautiful spot imaginable just downstream from a large weir. The plan was to fish the feeder and carp rods from base-camp and then also roam the banks with the lure rods for the big cats.

We baited up with a large bucket of maize and fished over the top of it for the carp and silverfish. The water was very clear so it wasn't until the light started to fade that we got any action. With a few small carp, one over 20lb and a couple of small barbel we were happy with our initial results,

Bang on dusk we spent an hour fishing our lures in a lovely looking deep water spot. It is a hole that had been successful for Scott in the past and on the fourth cast with my Rapala Super Shad Rap.....I hooked up. I could not quite believe it had happened so quickly but the fish appeared to be well hooked and charged off on a few blistering runs before hanging deep below me under the rod. When it finally tired Scott was able to glove it out for unhooking and a quick photo. It was a monster and a very fine catch on the lure rod, estimated between 50-60lb and a good 4-5feet long I was suitably impressed with my first experience of catfish on the lure.

To make it a true red letter day, 10 minutes later Scott also had a fish from the same hole. Slightly larger and this time on a clacker spoon. What a session! We called it a day after that and headed back to camp to relax by the fire with the girls. 

We fished a couple of more times during the holiday and I enjoyed some good sport with the small barbel and silverfish on the feeder rod but there was no further action from the catfish. I always enjoy fishing in France whenever I visit, there is so much water to choose from and so few anglers it really is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the often crowded banks back at home. Highly recommended. Vive La France!

WATCH THE CATFISH ON A LURE VIDEO HERE:

The Spring Squid Run

A good size spring run squid caught from my local harbour wall

Recreational fishing for squid is something that has recently started getting a lot more attention from the UK sea fishing community. With the 'All England Squid Fishing Competition' now a yearly event down here in my home town of Brighton I was keen to find out a bit more. With a spring run of squid along the south coast occurring around April/May time then it seems to fill a gap in the angling calendar quite nicely before the summer species really arrive. There is of course the added bonus that fresh squid really is rather delicious too!

For the squid to come inshore and be a viable target then settled, calm conditions are required. With this comes a good degree of water clarity that is so important for catching these sight feeding creatures. They are ideally targeted from a pier or harbour wall with access to deep water close in. The squid work the structure looking for small fish to prey upon. 

A squid jig

The best way to catch them is to fish a 'squid jig' under a float and to trot the float down the tide with the jig suspended around 2 to 3 feet off the bottom where the squid can see it. Accurate plumbing of the depth is required to keep the jig in the strike zone at all times - this really is the key to successful squid jigging. If the water is clear then natural coloured jigs are the way to go, however if there is some sediment in the water and visibility is low then brighter colours are the order of the day. If the going is tough then sometimes lashing some fresh fish (mackerel, herring etc) to the jig with bait elastic can give you a real edge.

Simple sliding float rig for squid jigging

Bites are usually a fairly positive affair with the float simply disappearing under the surface. It is important not to strike at this point but to wind down as quickly as possible and tighten up to the squid. Then it's simply a case of keeping the tension between you and the squid whilst retrieving line until it surfaces. A drop net is a handy accessory at this point if fishing from structure high above the water, it will prevent the soft bodied squid falling off the jig as you bring it up to your angling position. 

They can also be caught by using a jig in the same fashion as you would a lure for fish. This technique is known as egging. Simply work the jig slowly near the bottom back towards your casting position. The only problem with this style is that tackle losses can be high due to the many hooks attached to the jig and it can get a little expensive. Using a float to suspend your jig largely avoids this problem.

Fun for all the family!

Watch out for the ink as they frequently have a habit of defiantly squirting it at you as the jig is removed from it's tentacles. A swift blow to the the head will see the squid dispatched quickly and humanely.

A Bit of Spring-Time Trout Fishing

A nice bag of rainbow trout taken on montana nymphs.

With the rivers shut for the close season and the summer stillwater and saltwater species yet to wake up properly........now my attention turns to a spot of trout fishing. March can be a tricky time in the angling calendar when options are rather limited. The only real possibilities are a pre-spawning Perch from a stillwater, Plaice on the coast or as the case was today....a spot of trout fishing!

It's always nice to dust down the trout gear and chuck a little fluff about, of course the bonus with this style of angling is a good feed should one be successful. Today my venue of choice was Lakedown Trout Fishery whose webpage can be seen here: Lakedown. This fishery was created by the one and only pop legend Roger Daltrey of  'The Who' fame, he still owns it to this day. It is situated in the heart of his 420 acre estate set in the beautiful East Sussex countryside. I have yet to find a fishery to equal his in terms of beauty and tranquility. With 4 large lakes to go at there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy a superb days angling in excellent surroundings.

On arrival at the venue we were greeted with foul weather. The wind was howling from the south-west bringing with it a fine, misty drizzle. This made casting and presentation of our flies tricky to say the least. According to the fishery manager, patterns such as the montana nymph and damsel-fly nymph had been doing the business recently so it was these that we stuck to.

The successful fly - Green and Black Montana

After a good start and a fish in the bag on my fourth cast, it took a little searching and exploring of the lakes to locate the pockets of fish. It seemed they were all on the end of the wind as it was impossible to get a pull anywhere else. Hard work indeed casting into the teeth of the wind but distance was not important as the fish were close in. 

It was very difficult to spot the bites as the wind was causing all sorts of issues with regard to the drift but after about 4 hours I had reached my bag limit and called it a day. All my fish came to a green and black montana fished deep down on a 12ft leader with 4lb tippet. The retrieve rate was very slow.

A great days fishing and fresh trout for dinner. Job Done.

TIGHT LINES!

Tidal River Pike

The tidal reaches of rivers have a habit of producing some serious pike. One of the rivers close to me is no exception having produced fish to 38lbs in the past. I have been squeezing as much time as possible on the banks this week as the conditions have been near on perfect.

We've had very little rain for the last 3 weeks or so and the rivers have dropped and started to clear nicely. The temperature is hovering between 5 and 8 degrees most days at the moment and the weather has been still and overcast - Perfect piking conditions for the river!

I have fished one short session on deadbaits, two short sessions with a lure rod and all day today on the deadbaits again. The lures produced 3 fish between 7 and 10lbs, the deadbait has produced a low double and a bigger fish pushing 20lbs at a guess today. Easily my biggest river pike for years! I didn't have my scales with me today so can't be sure of the weight.....but who cares.....it was a cracking fish all the same.

Below is a short video clip showing the biggie from today - Tight Lines!!

Winter fishing 2014? And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A fin-perfect and stunning Perch from my local river.

Well....HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Out with the old and in with the new. I wonder what fishy surprises 2015 will have in store? The one thing I would dearly love more than anything is a big (2lb +) roach from one of my local rivers.....not the easiest of tasks to achieve but a good challenge none the less. I think if it's going to happen, it'll be between now and the end of the season or later in the year after September time. I will be out there trying though, that's for sure.

This winter has been kind for us river anglers so far. We haven't had the ridiculous amount of rain that the previous year brought and consequently the rivers have been in good condition. I have been out targeting the pike, perch and grayling over recent weeks and have had made some good catches. I'm still chasing down a 20lb + pike from my local rivers and will continue to do so when conditions allow through until the end of the season. It'll either be piking or roach fishing for me now.

I have made a short movie of my recent 2014 winter successes running up to the new year, all shot on my go-pro camera. Check out the action below....Tight lines until the next time!

Mid-Winter Grayling Fishing

A nice plump 2lb+ Grayling for me on a cold winters day.

What a Christmas Cracker! The cold spell we are experiencing at the moment leaves most species pretty much uncatchable as the low temperatures make them torpid.....except for the Grayling that is!

With frost on the ground and a real chill in the air my good friend Dave and I have been fishing the chalk streams and carriers of Southern England this week chasing 'the lady of the stream'. By simply trotting maggots or using a small block-end feeder we have been able to pick up this most handsome of fish whilst all the other species lie dormant.

Dave with the biggest of the day right on sunset.

If you can get out of the breeze then the sun feels wonderfully warm on your face and in fact not at all cold. It's a long dive for us but in conditions like these there is very little else willing to play ball. It was a good decision to hit the road and head West this morning, A good day was had by all - TIGHT LINES!

Perch fishing on the River Thames

With the onset of autumn, the Perch on our rivers become a viable target and it was with this in mind that Scott and I headed up to the River Thames last weekend for a bit of fishing. We had all the camping gear and fishing tackle necessary to spend a couple of days on the river and we were very fortunate in that Rhys had loaned us his boat as well - " Clive the Third "

The plan was to catch small bleak and roach for live bait and to then head off up the river fishing our baits under floats in all the perchy looking spots....of which there are many to choose from on the Thames!

In short, the fishing was pretty good and we managed to contact some terrific Perch and a couple of small pike too. The weekend was a resounding success and it was great to just be on the river and sleep under the stars. I'll let the video do the talking.........TIGHT LINES!

      

                                                                                                                                                                      

                 

Late Summer Fishing in Pembrokeshire and the Gower

The beautiful and rugged Pembrokeshire Coast

I love Wales. There's something about it that keeps me going back for more. This was my 3rd visit and the more I go the more the potential of the fishing reveals itself to me. Miles and miles of unspoilt beaches, towering cliffs and rocky shoreline are enough to keep the most avid angler entertained for many years.

This trip was focused around the Gower peninsular and the Pembrokeshire coast. The weather can be predictably wet and miserable given the proximity to the Atlantic ocean and the inbound weather patterns that come with it. This time we were lucky though with largely sunny days and cool nights, although a little breezy at times. On the whole pretty good!

It was just a long weekend visit so fishing time was limited. The first night was spent fishing the surf on a beautiful, deserted surf beach near to Port Einon. The action was pitiful with one decent bite all night that never developed into anything more. The freshly dug Lugworm I had was excellent, I expected better things to be honest...but that's fishing for you!

The other session was spent fishing into deep water off a couple of rock marks....Wrasse and Pollack country. The wind was howling on this day and it was hard to judge the bites properly, but eventually I managed to sneak out a few wrasse on my ragworm baits. They are always hard fighters and very welcome. The best was probably 2lb + but it's not about the sizes for me. Just being there perched on a rock with the wind in your hair and salt water spray on your face is enough for me. Fish like these are truly an added bonus. Happy Days! I'll be back......

Best of the day.

Most colourful of the day.

Saltwater Flyfishing on Brighton Beach - September 2014

The conditions have been perfect just recently for a spot of flyfishing on the open coast. With northerly breezes flatening the sea and high pressure dominating, it could not have got much better. The water has been gin clear and the baitfish have been pushed right up on to the shingle by the predators. I have managed to get out a couple of times choosing to hit the shingle an hour before any light creeps into the eastern sky and fish through til about an hour after sunrise. 

During the first hour, while it is still dark, the Scad have been obliging and put up a great scrap (no wonder as they are related to the trevally species!). As soon as some light creeps in then the mackerel and schoolie bass are in on the action with a few garfish for good measure too. 

My fly choice is simple. I just use my own home-tied clouser minnows in a chartreuse and white pattern with a little flash tied in for good measure. Simple to tie and the fish love 'em. This has been fished on an #8 weight outfit with a slow sinking intermediate line. 

I took my go-pro camera with me one morning and was fortunate to capture a bit of action and film the masses of baitfish in the edge too. Enjoy and tight lines!

Mullet Fishing - My experience so far...

A beautiful mullet from my local estuary

I consider myself to be a true all-round angler. It's the huge variety of species, different methods and locations that this wonderful obsession takes me to that really appeals. Be it salt water or fresh, running water or still, the sight of it's scaled inhabitants below the surface quickens the pulse and gets me going. Being able to see the fish I'm targeting is a big part of the whole angling experience to me and the mullet rarely disappoints on this front.

The sight of them effortlessly gliding through the surface layers leaving their tell tale wake behind them makes me weak at the knees and has me running for my tackle bag! Combine the visual aspect to mullet fishing with the different methods used to catch them and their legendary fighting qualities then you have a sport fish par excellence in my opinion.

Light tackle fishing allows a delicate presentation and gives the fish a chance to show off it's fighting prowess. This is where it's at for me. There's no pleasure in winching fish in with heavy lines and drag. Fair and balanced tackle giving the fish a chance and the angler a thrill is surely the way to go. Mullet fishing really scratches the itch in this respect and ticks all the boxes.

Thin-lip Mullet browsing through the mud for microorganisms and algae

I nearly always fish for mullet in the running waters of my local Sussex estuaries and creeks. I prefer the active style of trotting a float downstream and feeding by hand. It keeps me busy and focused and is always a preference to sitting behind a quiver tip rod and static bait. That's just me, I like to keep busy when I'm fishing. Having grown up spending a lot of time fishing in freshwater rivers I have a real passion for the art of trotting the stream, it just feels familiar and comfortable.

My mullet tackle usually consists of a 13ft freshwater trotting rod, either a small fixed spool or centrepin reel loaded with 5lb mono, a drennan loafer float and a strong size 12 hook. I never leave home without a pot of vaseline either and always keep the line well greased. I like to use a really good quality sliced white loaf for my hook baits, I find it is softer and stays on the hook better. For the groundbait then I go for the cheapest sliced white the supermarket has to offer. This is usually whizzed into a crumb in a liquidiser for hand feeding.

A fine Mullet caught over 7 miles upriver from the sea

I had caught small palm sized mullet as a child whilst on holiday in the Med with the family but it wasn't until the August bank holiday weekend of 2007 that I seriously set out to target one local to me. My friend Dave had been having some success with them on the River Ouse at Newhaven and persuaded me to join him on a blisteringly hot Saturday morning. At the time I had the bass blinkers on and was having some success on the local beaches with a string of quality fish (i'm sure there were lots more around back then!) so it was nice to have a change of pace and try something different.

The idea of latching on to a truly wild, muscle bound, ocean going fish on my regular freshwater float fishing gear was very exciting to me. Dave had already filled my head with tales of epic battles and screaming drags......who wouldn't be excited by that!

We opted to fish from a floating pontoon just downstream from the swing bridge in Newhaven Town. The beauty of this spot was that with the pontoon going up and down with the tide we were constantly at the same level as the water. So there were no long drops to contend with giving us better control of the float tackle and a far superior presentation.

A nice Thin-lip Mullet taken on a baited spinner

We chose to fish with an onion sack full of mashed bread and mackerel flesh as our groundbait. This we weighed down with a couple of bricks to keep hanging below our angling position in the current. The technique was to simply run float tackle down the tide from our position above the onion sack, shaking it regularly to allow a constant stream of feed for the mullet to home in on.

We arrived at the top of the tide and prepared our tackle, waiting for the ebb to pick up a little pace before starting. It was a small tide around the 5 metre mark which is preferable at this location. Any bigger then the water rushes through incredibly fast making the fishing uncomfortable and rather tricky. We have a big tidal range to contend with in Sussex which always adds an extra dimension and challenge to the fishing.

For the first hour it was pretty slow with just a few lightning fast bites but nothing to show for it. We could see the odd mullet cruising around and drifting past every now and then. With this in mind we kept the floats running through and giving the onion bag a good shake every few minutes. Surely it was just a matter of time until the mullet turned on to our feed?

Another Thick-lip Mullet falls to a pinch of bread flake in the docks.

2 hours must have passed and still nothing. Then I had the misfortune of an over-run on my centrepin whilst trotting the float down. I was trying to untangle the birds nest that appeared when I suddenly felt the rod tip pull round. I was fortunate that the unseen fish hooked itself against the curve of the rod because I was busy paying attention to the tangle at the time. Panic then set in as I realised I had a running fish on and a jammed reel! Not good news!

Thankfully, Dave came to the rescue and unlooped the line from around the pin, freeing everything up. The unseen fish was putting up a lovely scrap on the light gear, regularly ploughing down for the bottom and taking line. Dave was convinced that it was no mullet from the way it was fighting. When it eventually surfaced we were treated to the sight of a beautiful Shad - a first for me! After a couple of last minute lunges it was in the net and ours. Not the target species but a very welcome and unusual diversion all the same. A great fight on the light tackle too and just a little bit lucky!

A cracking Shad intercepts my mullet bait

Once the photos were taken and the shad revived and returned it was back to the trotting to see if we could connect with a mullet. It took a further half an hour of trotting and feeding before I finally had a positive bite and struck hard. The rod hooped right over against the weight of the fish and just stayed there for a second or two before the fish realised it had made a mistake and tore off. It was an incredible run right out across the river in a couple of seconds flat. The centrepin did it's job beautifully, burning my thumb in the process. This was clearly a decent mullet and it was doing it's best to get as far away from us as possible. It then came up to the surface and we got a good look. It was a cracker!

Realising that I was connected to a rather substantial fish meant that the pressure was on, I really didn't want to lose this one. So when it came tearing back over towards us and dived for the wood work along the dock, I cringed as I piled on the side strain to keep it from snagging me and cutting the line. I really thought the hook would pull as I gave the fish as much as I could. Fortunately, everything held and the fish begrudgingly came back towards us.

A fine looking Thick-lip Mullet

Eventually after a few more short runs, the fish tired and I guided it into the waiting net with a great feeling of relief. I was completely gob-smacked. This mullet was huge in my eyes. Having never caught one bigger then a pound or so this was like a giant. My first proper mullet. I didn't have any scales so have no idea of the weight but that doesn't bother me. I fish for the thrill, the experience and the satisfaction. That was an incredible mullet.

My biggest Mullet to date

After unhooking and a few photos I slipped the fish back to fight another day and watched it swim strongly away. I didn't fish any more that day, I was suitably content with my lot. It doesn't get much better. That experience has stayed with me to this day, I will never forget the epic battle with that fish.

I have specifically fished for mullet many, many times since that day and have never caught a fish close to that in size or strength. Some might call it beginners luck and they'd probably be right. There's always an element of luck involved in fishing and that's what makes it so great.

It's seeking out another experience like this one that has me regularly up to my knees in sloppy estuarine mud every summer. I have been fortunate enough to travel to India and Central America in recent years to pursue my love of fishing but there's not much that can beat the thrill of hooking a sizeable mullet on light tackle back home.........and that is why I keep on doing it!