21st September - A.M. Marina East Arm

Fifteen spined Stickleback

This session with Paul had originally been requested as a rough ground bass session. But with the lack of recent results on the rough, Paul readily agreed to my suggestion that we change it to a float and prawn session on the marina. So, first stop to the prawn pools, where I encountered for the first time a fish I have wanted to see since my first ladybird guide to creatures of the inter-tidal zones. A fifteen spined stickleback. Far more delicate than I imagined, they are a wonder of nature, with a mouth and tail not dissimilar to a sea horse!! On with the prawning......

One boat trolls lures, whilst another picks up pots. The pressures our seas endure, right up to the beach.

Met up with Paul and we headed out on to the East arm. In idylic weather, the sea was a mass of craft, both pleasure and commercial. Rarely condusive to succesful bass fishing in shallow waters, so much surface disturbance. Was this the reason that no bass showed for Paul? Certainlt cant rule it out.

Long trotting the marina arm

Paul and Ballan Wrasse

Although the bass were not obliging, at least the wrasse were in a mood to feed. And then towards the end of the session, we swapped the prawn for mackerel strip, and Paul managed to extract a mackerel for his tea, which was actually quite a result, as on this day the seas were relatively empty of fish, compared to the week before....!!

P.M. Rough Ground

Brian with Bass

Regular client Alan was back with me this evening, along with his brother Brian. The plan was to fit in as much fishing as possible in a fourty hour period. Boy, did they ever come to the right guy......... First session was on the open beach, as finally we had a wind again, and the first wind without tons of weed in a very long time. I was expecting miracles from the conditions, but the miracle didnt come, and the first session was fishless. Re-charged with some food in our bellies, we headed out for the rough, for the second session of the night. Here, despite a very exciting bit of chop on the water, once more the fish were not playing. At the top of the tide, I put on Brians hook our only velvet peeler crab. He detected a rattle straight away, but on reeling in, no fish. The bait was good to go again. Out it went, and within minutes Brian landed the school bass above. The only undersized bass I have seen caught on this spot all year at night!!! With no more fish forthcoming as the tide slipped away, we retired to the bungalow for a few hours sleep, before we had to go and catch prawns for the next stage of the plan.