Duration: 7.00 - 9.00 pm
Tide: LW at 6.00 pm
Weather: Partly cloudy with some sunny spells, light southerly wind
Bait: Lug, rag
Rigs: 2 hook flapper (4/0), 4/0 pennel pulley
Results: 5 bass
Report: I had some lug left over from the weekend so thought I better use them up while they were still alive. I dug a few rag to supplement the bait. I decided to try a beach I only fished twice before (the first time there was a big surf and lots of weed, the second time it was dead calm and not a fish to be had). So I was hoping that this would be third time lucky.
I set up the first rod, baited with rag on the two hook flapper and cast it out. There was a good surf but a lot of weed in close to the beach. Before I even had a chance to get the second rod out of the rod bag there was a knock on the first - I thought it was just a clump of weed and picked it up but then I felt the definite tugs of a fish. I struck and had a good fighting fish on the end. I hauled it through the surf to find a 59 cm bass
Unfortunately it was deeply hooked. The hook was set into the gut - I have had a few of those recently. So that was one for tonight's dinner.I rebaited, again with rag, and recast. Within moments there was another knock on the rod - hardly another bass so quickly I thought. I struck and could feel a strong pull on the line. This time it was a 48 cm bass
I cast out again - this time I snagged a clump of weed. I hauled it in and recast. Before I had time to set up the second rod there was another strong tug on the line. I struck and felt a good fish for a few seconds then it was gone. When I retrieved I found that the upper snood was gone - my knot must have come undone
But still I already had two bass and had only been there for about 20 minutes at that stage so I wasn't too upset at loosing the fish.The first two fish had taken the bait on the lower hook so I cast the same rig out again. While I was rooting in my rig box for a new rig I noticed another strong knock on the rod. I grabbed it and struck. Again there was a very strong pull on the line. This fish was putting up a stronger fight. I eventually hauled a 63 cm bass ashore
This was a very lively fish and I could not get it to stay still for a photo on the ruler. I cast out again having switched to the 4/0 pennel rig. The tide was beginning to advance at this stage so I moved the gear back up the beach. I had forgotten about setting up the second rod at this stage. No sooner had I moved than there was another knock on the rod tip. I struck and again hooked a strong fish. This time it was a 57 cm bass
There was a longer wait for the next bite - ie only about 15 minutes - then there was another strong knock - this time it was a 60 cm bass
So in the space of probably less than an hour I had now equalled my best ever bass total from one session. But these were much better fish. I was hoping that there would be a few more. But the fish moved on. The rod tip remained motionless, apart from catching a few clumps of weed. As the tide was rising the weed was getting worse. So after about a hour without another bite I packed up. But I was delighted with that session, especially as I was not expecting that much from it initially.
