17th November - East Sussex beach with Keith

Keith with Whiting

Out with regular client Keith, who possess a very green and economical vehicle, which has had an LPG conversion. So, I asked him if it would be too cheeky to drive an hour or so east, to a beach that excites me more and more as I get a feel for it. "No problem" as the reply, and so wqe were off. The plan was to get there an hour before low, pump some worm, scavenge for whatever the storm might have deposited, and fish one rod long for a cod, and one rod short for a bass.The worming was bountiful, and the scavenging gave us some slipper limpets, a big live brown clam, and a live queen cockle. The short rod on the worm was into fish straight away, schoolies, and the odd whiting, including one plenty big enough to be destined for fish cakes.

Keith unhooks a schoolie

As the tide raced in, and we were forced back more and more, so the flow increased, and with a fair amount of fiborous weed, the long rod became unfishable. I retired it and prepared another bass rod. As the worms had so far only produced schoolies, I put on a single 4/0 and baited the huge brown clam, lobbing it just out the back of some rough ground, on a patch of sand.

Brown clam caught 2.5lb bass

This bought an almost immediate response, with a very confident take. I must admit that all the way in I thought I had a half decent eel on, as the battle didnt at any point indicate a bass. But a bass it was, with 2.5lb bass well hooked in the jaw. And the clam was still remaining. I recast, and put the rod in the triupod to roll a cigarette. It slammed around with force, and line sceramed off the baitrunner, and then dropped back. Typical!!

Keith with Brown clam caught 4lb 4oz bass

That take had removed the soft body of the clam, leaving just the tough siphon remaining. I lobbed it back out. Holding the rod, I was ready for the next take, but missed it, or so I thought. I left the bait sitting there, in case the fish returned. Two minutes later, I went to retrieve the line to see if the siphon had gone, to feel the lunge of a good fish. I screamed at Keith to take the rod, which he did, and he then made a very good job of playing the fish in heavy wave, with wooden sea defences to work the fish around. As it came to the edge, I grabbed the line and slid the fish up the shingle. 4lb 4oz of prime bass, and I am on the lookout for a supply of big brown clams. I love this beach!!