25th September - Seaford

Mike and Ray experiencing the challenge that is collecting your own bait.

Back out with regular clients, brothers Mike and Ray. After mike and his son Alex's dire session on a weed filled rough ground bassing session recently, I was very much listening when they requested a session that would see the rod tops nodding a bit more often. At this time of year, Seaford is such a venue that fulfills the criteria, with stacks of whiting and pouting about, as well as some sole, codling and always the chance of a decent spikey. As I had to go and dig the bait for this session, I invited Mike and Ray along to see what the fuss was all about. Foolishley, they accepted my offer. Two more people that now realise what is involved in bait collection. Two more anglers that now agree worms from the shop are extremely good value. Bait secured, we headed off to Seaford town.

Mike with a season first for my clients, a codling!!

Priority on arrival was to get the back leaded sole rigs out, partly to seek sole, and partly to assemble some live pouting for bait. Fishing at twenty yards with a size six hook and a single blow lug is a long long way from my usual approach for cod fishing, so you could have knocked me down with a feather when Mike's first fish up the beach was a 2lb codling. Mike tried to return it, but half an hour later I noticed it washed up on the beach half an hour later. Retrieved, it was put in the dinner bag...!!

Mike with a new PB 8lb 9oz

We had a nice steady procession of pouting entering the livebait bucket, and soon had plenty enough to begin the spikey quest. After finding no fish on the Brighton beaches, Malcolm Turnbul's experience at Seaford recently had at least given me the encouragement that a few fish were sitting up East. With the live pout deployed, and plenty of action on the back weighted paternoster from whiting and pouting. If the worm rods were not retrieved every ten minutes, the hooks were bare. No sole showed, most likely as they didnt get a look in with the swarms of pouting around. I was re-baiting a worm rod with Ray when we thought we heard something coming from Mike's direction. Ray went down to have a look, and didnt come back. I stopped what I was doing, and casually walked down to see what was happening. "Got one on" says Mike. "Dont think its very big". As the fish neared the shingle, I took hold of the leader and beached the fish. "Looks pretty big to me" I commented. 8lb 9oz of perfectly conditioned bass was laying on the shingle. This fish, which sets a new client best for 2009, ironically beating brother Ray's previous best client fish of 7lb 10oz, saw both brothers alight with enthusiasm, and one slightly tired fishing guide visibly relax, the pressures of too many sessions devoid of such fish already becoming a distant memory. So, lets see if we can find another one, I suggested.

My effort. About 6lb's smaller!!

And another one we did find, to my rod, at the top of the tide. But not quite in the same class. With daybreak came the realisation that we were all extremely tired, and we called an end to the session. Well done Mike, on a most excellent personal best. And dont worry Ray, I will see if we cant help you regain the lead............