Hooky

Hi, visiting a friend in Swansea for the next week. He is a complete novice at boat fishing and I am not much better, with my boat experiences limited to a few holiday abroad trips...... I have looked at websites for Enterprise and Dominator, does anyone have an opinion which would be better for newbies? Or are there other / better boats for the keen Bass fishermen?? TIA, Alan.

Mid Cornwall, on the coast overlooking the wonderful Atlantic! However so foggy today I can only just see the beach......

As someone who spends a good part of their working life intervening in differences of opinion and trying to help others see alternative perspectives to there often entrenched beliefs, may I make one small comment. Mental health problems are often trivialised and this merely serves to increase stigma to our friends and neighbours (Conservative estimates suggest that 1 in 4 of us will consult a health professional with a mental health problem at some stage in our lives) I hope that references to the medication posted earlier was meant humorously. Alan

Hi Dave, The spot you are staying sounds idyllic!!! Definately worth a bash for Bass and Flounders. The area you talk about in Falmouth, is I presume near Pendennis Castle?? There is some good fishing around that area, depends what you are after......... very close by is one of my favourite marks in Cornwall. Other local folk may disagree, but I just love the fishing at Swanpool Beach. Easy close parking and a good variety of species. I think I have only blanked once there in the 8 years I have lived in Kernow Carbis bay gets a bit busy with wave riders in June, have you tried St. Ives? Excellent fishing and good shopping for your partner and any kids you may have in tow There is also the Modern Tate Gallery which is a cool place..... Feel free to mail me if I can be of any help Alanc38@aol.com Cheers Alan.

Apparently a burrowing greenish worm with two long tenticles Try http://www.mikeladle.com/chapter3.html DOH !!

Well done Winter 50 up

Hi Hermes, good advice given so far Whereabouts are you going in Cornwall and at what time of the year? If its not too far for me to travel and work allowing I may be able to meet up with you and let you have a go on one of my spare beachcasters. If you are interested then give me a mail. Cheers Alan

Happy birthday Steve!! Cheers Alan

Hi Dave, Whereabouts at Malpas are you staying? Anywhere near The Heron pub? Several Bass there but they have always been fairly hook shy for me ....... I have heard of people taking good amounts of large schoolies on a variety of baits including lug, bread paste and even cheese!!! I would go fairly light on your tackle as the water there can be crystal clear. Flurocarbon leader would be a must if using braid. Flounders also possible to worm baits fished quite close in. The Bass will probably need a bit more distance on the cast. Hope this helps, if you need any pointers on sea marks give me a shout Cheers Alan.

Is it safe to come out and play

Forgot to mention that when I was in the Maldives on honeymoon in 2003, I was told that shore fishing was prohibited, however that did not appear to stop the locals Deep sea fishing was awesome but quite expensive $100 for a 4 hour trip (including travelling to mark) Still managed a 35lb Dorado

Ken, the area I referred to was right at the north end of the Red Sea, near the Israili, Jordanian borders. I sought advice from the local tour guide, tourist police and local dive school. All of them stated that over the last 10 years the authorities have clamped down massively on shore fishing in this area. The marine sanctuary was apparently set up in 1995, a few years after this area was handed back to Egypt from Israel. The Egyptian government also apparently sought help from the EU, in how to go about establishing the sanctuary!!! No irony there then........ How long ago were you in Cairo? What an incredibly mad city that is Maybe the area of El Gouna has different rules, as the coast is very long! Cheerts Alan

Hi Richard w, I have just returned (yesterday) from Taba, which is an area in the north of the Red Sea. I Can advise you that shore fishing is not allowed as I have been informed that pretty much the whole of the Red Sea on the Egyptian coast is now a protected marine sanctuary. Although I was disappointed at not being able to wet a line, I have discovered a new hobby - snorkelling!!! You simply must give snorkelling a go. It is incredible to see the amount, size and variety of fish that have grown in the area we stayed I feel that by spending quite a bit of time observing the behaviour of fish, particularly when feeding, I have a better understanding of where my shore fishing could be improved!!! I wonder if UK stocks could improve so dramatically if there were protected marine sanctuaries.

Thanks Norm B, Going to a place called Taba, which is close to the Israeli and Jordanian border, in Egypt. Looks as though the boat fishing may be the way to go Having caught Baracuda and Dorado previously, I can't wait!! Alan

Thanks for the reply Vagabond, what did you use for bait? I think the use of divers for livebait is banned now..... When you went a few years ago, do you remember roughly how much the boat fishing trips were? Thanks again, Alan

Going on holiday to the Northern Red Sea on Tuesday Just wondering if anyone knows wether it would be worth packing a spinning rod and a few lures? I plan on getting out on a boat as well... Any advice greatfully received. TIA Alan

Good link Stevie. ICCAT otherwise known as the International Conspiracy to Cath All Tuna Oops Cath = Catch.......

My thoughts are with his family and friends...

Good luck mate Keep us posted on how you do

Peter you have PM also

Hi Peter, Gwithian tends to get very crowded with local surfers and holidaymakers at this time of the year. You could try just outside of the Hayle estuary for schoolies, try either lug or rag on a size 1/0 running ledger. You can also get better sport by using lures and either spinning from the beach, or any of the rocky headlands in the area. However you should note that this is a bass nursery area, so CPR only... St Ives itself offers a variety of species from the many accessible rock marks, as long as you can find somewhere to park Mackeral can be caught just about everywhere, you could try float fishing a small strip of Mackeral, its a bit more sporting than the old feathers A couple of notes of caution, please be careful if you are exploring rock marks, we get a lot of rogue swells at this time of the year. Also if you are bringing little ones please be mindful of the fact that we had a recent tradgedy where a 3 year old girl was buried in a hole that had been dug in the sand. She tunneled into the side of the hole and the tunnel collapsed onto her. RIP If you want any further info please feel free to pm or mail me. Above all enjoy the fishing

THE END OF THE LINE by Charles Clover. ISBN 0-09-189781-5 What an amazing book!! For someone that is trying to improve his understanding of the politics of modern fisheries, I found this book immensely helpful. By the way I am not related to, or have any vested interest in promoting this book!!! I do however feel that the picture it paints of the wholesale disregard by Goverments, governing bodies and individuals of sustainable fisheries makes sobering reading. The issues of aquaculture are also explored in depth with examples from around the world. I just hope that there will be some fish left for my hoped for grandchildren

Hi dutyhero, Lamorna cove is a beautiful spot to try for Bass, I have had some success of the rocks to the left side of the cove. I tend to use Rapala J13 in blue/white. Not had a lot from the wall except straps, pollox and the occasional random mullet Have seen a lot of the local big hitters, scoring with Turbot, on sandeel or mackeral fished at distances I can only dream of

Hi Pugs, have you tried, http://invisionfree.com/forums/gowerrockho...pers/index.php? I have found them to be really helpful in the past and they come highly recommended Tight lines, Alan

Congrats FTH! Looks in good condition for a nipper Hope you run into its mummy at some point