Back on the bass - 24th April 2012

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RockHunter
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Back on the bass - 24th April 2012

#1 Post by RockHunter »

People: Me

Duration: 6.30 - 11.30 pm

Tide: HW at 8.00 pm

Weather: Light southerly breeze, overcast, dry, changing to strong easterly wind later and then rain

Bait: Crab

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley, 3/0 two hook flapper

Results: 5 bass, 1 Flounder




Report: I have been very busy with work over the last few weeks so was not fishing as much as usual, plus the weather has not been ideal. I had a few lure sessions at the weekends but the bass, if present, were just not interested. I also had a couple of bait fishing sessions but the results were poor, just a bunch of dogfish.

However, the conditions on Tuesday looked more promising. The morning was calm and the forecast for the evening was for light southerly wind veering to strong easterly closer to midnight. I planned on doing some lure fishing but brought along some crab as a backup. But when I got to the coast there was a much bigger surf than I expected and the water looked the colour of milk chocolate. It did not look promising, so I had a change of plan. Fortunately I had also brought along the beach casting rods and reels so headed to a nearby beach, where I could be almost sure of a few bass rather than waste my time lashing out lures into the cold murky sea.

There was a good surf on the beach, I made my way to a favourite mark and was set up by 6.30 pm. I had a 4/0 pennel pulley on one rod and a 3/0 two hook flapper on the other, both baited with crab. Shortly afterwards I had a strong bite on the first cast of the rod with the pennel pulley. It gave a good fight and after a few minutes I hauled a gleaming silver bass out of the surf. It was a 53 cm fish :D :D :D :P :P :P

About 20 minutes later I had another good tug on the same rod. This was not putting up such a strong fight. It was a 42 cm bass, but quite plump :D :D :P :P 15 minutes later I had another bite, again this felt to be a small fish, this time a 41 cm bass. It was taken on the two hook flapper :D :D :P :P

About an hour after starting, around 7.30 pm, I had a fourth small fish, a 36 cm bass, again on the two hook flapper :D :D :P :P

After that the shoal moved on. It was very quite over high tide, no more bass bites, although I was getting flounder nibbles and eventually hooked a small one of 22 cm.

I was hoping it would pick up again after dark on the ebbing tide. But around 9.00 pm the wind began to swing to an easterly and gradually increased in strength. It looked like the cold easterly was putting the fish off. I was thinking of packing up, then had a very strong tug on the rod with the pennel pulley but by the time I got to the rod the fish was gone.

That gave me some encouragement to stay on a little longer, Then at about 10.45 pm I had another very sharp pull on the same rod. This time the fish was well hooked. It was fighting very strongly, then surged in towards the shore before putting up a strong fight in the shallower surf. I eventually hauled a good size bass out of the breaking waves and on to the sand. It was a 67 cm fish and weighed just over 6 lbs :D :D :D :P :P :D :D :D

I fished on for another three quarters of an hour until the wind really began to pick up and the rain started. I left just in time, as I was walking back along the beach the rain became torrential. It was good to have had a few bass after a break of about three weeks.
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Last edited by RockHunter on Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cod season Winter 2013/14: 117 cod (best fish: 6.5 lbs)
Cod season Winter 2014/15: 193 cod (best fish: 4.25 lbs)

Bass Totals:
2007: 1
2008: 37
2009: 120
2010: 44
2011: 151
2012: 79
2013: 20
2014: 19
2015: 11
2016: 3

http://rockhunter-southcoastbass.blogspot.com
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Al and Jordan
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#2 Post by Al and Jordan »

great report and pics frank 8)
i think you could fall into an open sewer and come out with a bass clenched between your teeth man :o :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
just a tad jealous,,, does it show :oops: :cry: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#3 Post by gitsea M »

well done frank back on the bass your always on the bass
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#4 Post by tight lines »

another great session frank well done i was just woundering if you struck any of the fish or just let them take it them self after reading the section in the q & a
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#5 Post by davybrown99 »

Tight lines beat me too it. did you try striking and not striking? Nice fishing btw. some lovely fish there.

Davy
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RockHunter
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#6 Post by RockHunter »

Thanks guys,
tight lines wrote:i was just woundering if you struck any of the fish or just let them take it them self after reading the section in the q & a
davybrown99 wrote:ight lines beat me too it. did you try striking and not striking?
I would say I lifted very firmly into the fish rather than a "strike" - whether you would class that as a gentle/moderate strike is debatable.
The one I missed because it took me a few seconds to get to the rod obviously didn't hook itself and managed to shake itself free before I lifted the rod. If I had been standing right beside the rod I reckon I could have hooked it more securely using the same technique.
Cod season Winter 2013/14: 117 cod (best fish: 6.5 lbs)
Cod season Winter 2014/15: 193 cod (best fish: 4.25 lbs)

Bass Totals:
2007: 1
2008: 37
2009: 120
2010: 44
2011: 151
2012: 79
2013: 20
2014: 19
2015: 11
2016: 3

http://rockhunter-southcoastbass.blogspot.com
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#7 Post by fishy1987 »

Great fishing frank especially as the weather has been horrendous,The magic never seems to cease happy days :D
Species 2011 (25) :Cod 80 , Whiting 50 , Coalfish 42 , Sea Scorpion 6(3shortspined/3longspined) , (3b)Rockling 2 , Dogfish 72 , Flounder 32 , Bass 2 , Poor Cod 16 , Dab 16 , Ballen Wrasse 2 , Turbot 1 , Tompot Blenny 3 , Smoothhound 1 , Tub Gurnard 1 , Mackeral 78 , Pollock 10 , Corkwing wrasse 2 , Black Goby 5 , Pouting 4 , Cuckoo Wrasse 1 , Ling 1 , Conger eel 6 , Silver eel 1 , ( Year End 31st October )
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#8 Post by Eoghan »

Looks like this year will surpass last year. Some fine fish.
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10Ib 5 oz
9Ib 2oz
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#9 Post by chuckaroo »

happy days RockHunter, great stuff 8) 8) 8)
tad jealous myself too.. :cry:
:oops: :oops: :)
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#10 Post by Tommy B »

[/quote]
I would say I lifted very firmly into the fish rather than a "strike" - whether you would class that as a gentle/moderate strike is debatable.
The one I missed because it took me a few seconds to get to the rod obviously didn't hook itself and managed to shake itself free before I lifted the rod. If I had been standing right beside the rod I reckon I could have hooked it more securely using the same technique.[/quote]

Was wondering this myself. Seems the only fish missed was the one you couldn't strike.
Some fishin again Rockhunter and great report.

Tommy
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#11 Post by seanie35 »

Great fishing frank were you noting the drop in barometric pressure as the weather turned ugly :?:
Species....good film.....I'll get my coat
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#12 Post by RockHunter »

Thanks guys.
seanie35 wrote:were you noting the drop in barometric pressure as the weather turned ugly :?:
Yes I had a look at the pressure charts before heading out - there was a bit of a pressure drop predicted for the evening.
Tommy B wrote:Was wondering this myself. Seems the only fish missed was the one you couldn't strike.

Yes, it took be a few seconds to get back to the rod stand and in that time there was at least three strong tugs on the line, with the last tug the fish managed to shake the hook. Over the years nearly all the bass bites I have missed have been when I was away from the rod, moving gear, sitting down or talking to somebody. So best to stay right beside the rod and be ready to grab it the instant the fish bites (when fishing for bass) or better still be holding the rod in anticipation of a bite.
Cod season Winter 2013/14: 117 cod (best fish: 6.5 lbs)
Cod season Winter 2014/15: 193 cod (best fish: 4.25 lbs)

Bass Totals:
2007: 1
2008: 37
2009: 120
2010: 44
2011: 151
2012: 79
2013: 20
2014: 19
2015: 11
2016: 3

http://rockhunter-southcoastbass.blogspot.com
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#13 Post by weedave »

superb fishing there bud - youre a skilled hand!!
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#14 Post by caseys »

nice fish report rockhunter great pictures as well.
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#15 Post by Stan »

Lovely fishing and super pics. Can't wait to get down next week.....please leave me a few!!!!
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#16 Post by StevieC »

Super fishing Rock Hunter - excellent reports.

StevieC.

ps I have sent you a PM.
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#17 Post by seaotter »

Super report and pics Frank :|
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#18 Post by seaotter »

Super report and pics Frank :|
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Re: Back on the Bass - 24th April 2012

#19 Post by RockHunter »

Thanks guys,
StevieC wrote:Super fishing Rock Hunter - excellent reports.
StevieC.
ps I have sent you a PM.
You better send it again - I didn't receive it!
Stan wrote:Lovely fishing and super pics. Can't wait to get down next week.....please leave me a few!!!!
Thanks Stan, dont worry there are plenty left!!
Cod season Winter 2013/14: 117 cod (best fish: 6.5 lbs)
Cod season Winter 2014/15: 193 cod (best fish: 4.25 lbs)

Bass Totals:
2007: 1
2008: 37
2009: 120
2010: 44
2011: 151
2012: 79
2013: 20
2014: 19
2015: 11
2016: 3

http://rockhunter-southcoastbass.blogspot.com

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