What fish are about and how do I catch them?

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BlueSkyNick

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being a relative novice, with an unused boat rod on board, I fancy going after a few mackeral or better still bass ..... or anything else around, come to that.

Are there are plenty about, so I can just put a few feathers on the line and pull them in?

What about while sailing in light airs, eg 4kts boat speed. (instead of our normal 8kts!)
 
There's a bit about fishing in this months PBO.

Last time I went fishing was just off Dingle, we just stopped the boat, dangled mackerel feathers over the side. It was everything we could do, not to catch them!!!
 
I was out last week with my son and his friend, My son started off with some lures that I bought which had some silver paper type material attached to it. After hauling in a few mackerel there was nothing left but bare hooks, he continued fishing with them and continued to catch mackerel.
4 knots is a bit fast you would have problems getting any feathers or lures deep enough.
 
I catch loads of mackerel but never seem to manage anything else.

I have a paravane gadget [this kind of thing] that pulls the business under water. The lure is a shiny metal thing called a spoon which has a triple pointed hook attached. All the instructions come with the paravane.

You tow this behind the boat when sailing along. 2-4 knots seems to be best but I have caught a hungry few at 5 knots plus.

The paravane is supposed to rise to the surface when you catch a fish but mine often doesn't.

Other equipment to have ready is a pair of forceps [or pliers] to remove the hook, a sharp knife for beheading and gutting, a chopping board and a hot frying pan and some vinegar/lemon juice.

It is a good idea to take in your towed log, if you use one, before streaming the fishing line astern. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
To add to Twisterowners useful list of equipment - a piece of rag -old towel is good - for holding the fish while you get the hook out.
For bass, a rubber eel (also known as a Mevagissey eel and/or redgill) is very good - no weight, just the eel and a swivel plus snap hook on the nylon line, towed at around 2-3 knots. Look for diving terns to find a shoal feeding on whitebait and you'll have some fun. I think the limit for bass is 16".
 
It is illegal to land bass under 36cm (360mm) whether caught by angling, professional fishing boat or by beach casting - I was looking it up over the weekend. I've measured and cut a piece of lathe to check with. Mind you, if you've cooked and eaten it before hitting land the evidence is gone BUT if you have it aboard and have the misfortune to be boarded by one of the FPV's out there - you're snookered!
 
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being a relative novice, with an unused boat rod on board, I fancy going after a few mackeral or better still bass ..... or anything else around, come to that.

Fishing Experts are rather shy at revealing techniques normally.
Fishing/ Angling hot spots, Sea or Freshwater, again closely gaurded secrets also.

I suggest you contact MajorCatastrophe of this Parish by PM.

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I dont know if you are based in a marina or on a mooring but you can freeline small pieces of bread just before the turn of the tide, you can get through half a loaf before you get a reaction.
Freelining is the use of a small #6 size carp hook and no weight.I used 15lb test as they fight like billho
The best part of this type of fishing is that it doesn't cut into your valuable sailing time, you freeline when the boat is stationary preferably while on your mooring or at your marina so SWMBO is not bothered with bits of fish getting in the way while she enjoys the quiet.
Also never got boarded in the marina, Haslar.
 
I sail with a guy who fishes and who has attempted to teach me how. The surprise was how much skill / knowledge was involved to do it with reliability - and when he says "we are going to catch bass" we have a 100% hit rate.

Based on this the best thing I can suggest is going out on one of these fishing / tripper boats. Most will take beginners and teach them. Certainly a few comments on the net wont get you anywhere really. There's more involved than that.

One tip though - its a great deal easier IMO to catch crabs in a pot than fish on a line, and since they taste much better too ................
 
[ QUOTE ]
I catch loads of mackerel but never seem to manage anything else.

I have a paravane gadget [this kind of thing] that pulls the business under water. The lure is a shiny metal thing called a spoon which has a triple pointed hook attached. All the instructions come with the paravane.

You tow this behind the boat when sailing along. 2-4 knots seems to be best but I have caught a hungry few at 5 knots plus.

The paravane is supposed to rise to the surface when you catch a fish but mine often doesn't.

Other equipment to have ready is a pair of forceps [or pliers] to remove the hook, a sharp knife for beheading and gutting, a chopping board and a hot frying pan and some vinegar/lemon juice.

It is a good idea to take in your towed log, if you use one, before streaming the fishing line astern. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

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Its easier to just cut the body away from the head (after dispatching humanly of course) leaving the head on the hook and chucking the lot back in in the hope of catching something bigger.
A spanner or some other heavy object is useful to have at hand as a priest for dispatching them as opposed to leaving them to die slowely as I observed folk doing while fishing at Ardgarton campsite shore last wk.
Using a fly rod and Rainbow lures either white or pink, is an exciting way of catching Mackeral if you can get among a good shoal.
To find them it can help if you watch to see where the gulls are working on the water as this is an indication that they are feasting on sand eels forced to the surface by feeding mackeral below.
Screaming reels.
C_W
 
[ QUOTE ]
Its easier to just cut the body away from the head (after dispatching humanly of course) leaving the head on the hook and chucking the lot back in in the hope of catching something bigger.
A spanner or some other heavy object is useful to have at hand as a priest for dispatching them as opposed to leaving them to die slowely as I observed folk doing while fishing at Ardgarton campsite shore last wk.

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I usually bait the hook with a little piece cut from where the tail joins the body, I've never thought of leaving the head on the hook. I'll give it a try this summer and see if I can get something other than mackerel, which are very nice eating but a change would be welcome now and then.

I use an old bronze winch handle as a "priest".
 
[ QUOTE ]
being a relative novice, with an unused boat rod on board, I fancy going after a few mackeral or better still bass ..... or anything else around, come to that.

Are there are plenty about, so I can just put a few feathers on the line and pull them in?

What about while sailing in light airs, eg 4kts boat speed. (instead of our normal 8kts!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Mackerel on feathers with a weight on the end. Go really slow at the entrance to estuaries, lower the weighted feathers down to near the bottom for like five seconds and then pull them up with about 5 mackerel on. Repeat until you get enough for tea and brekkie.

Pollack and bass I use dexter wedges cast or trolled over weedy/rocky areas respectively.

Grey mullet, which are a ready source of slimy, grey, foul tasting meat in marinas and harbours, are caught using teensy carp hooks in a coarse float fishing stylee. But only fishing dons have ever caught them, such as myself.
 
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Other equipment to have ready is a pair of forceps [or pliers] to remove the hook ...

[/ QUOTE ]When we were catching for an aquarium we used barbless hooks to minimise injury, and after that I have continued to use them. Just cut the barbs off with a pair of side cutters or file smooth. Those work perfectly well for trolling or jigging, and you release the fish simply by turning the hook point down and the fish drops off. Much less grisly especially if you're releasing unwanted fish or if they're foul hooked.

One lesson learned - don't leave your mackerel in a bucket - its really hard to fillet a semicircular fish.
 
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