JeffB

Following up from this I have since read that deadbait Sand Eel is only good for clear water fishing as they don't give off much scent to attrach Bass that will predominently be hunting by smell in the murky Southend waters, is this fairly right???

Cheers MBM, you know what though, I haven't a clue what a pennel rig is if you'd perhaps know a link to one or tell me how it's made up I'd be most greatful...

Good morning all! I wondered if any anglers from North Wales could help in recommending any nice fishing marks up there? Myself, wife and son are visiting my parents near Porthmadog this time next month and I'm hoping to get out fishing a couple of times The immediate coastal area of Morfa Harlech is a mixture of shallow, open, sandy beach to the right with a vast area of large natural bolders to the left. I have fished here with my beach casters before but with little success due to my lack of local knowledge. I wouldn't mind fishing here if anyone has any tips on this area of beach, but really I'm most interested to fish from my favoured rock marks, or jetties, piers and break-waters. If you guys from that part of the world can recommend any of these types of feature within a 45 minute drive of this area I would be most most most greatful!!! Thanks in advance! Jeff [ 16. June 2005, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: JeffB ]

Hello again all, Keen Bass angler here again I have put together what I consider to be a fairly good list of bait for the weekends Bass mission. My question is as to how good dead-bait Sand Eels are? OK, I know they are a killer bait when fished live, but do they still have a better than average appeal when fished dead? Presentation wise, I am thinking of presenting them on a long snood keeping it a little off the bottom to drift enticingly in the tidal current, is that a good idea, if not what do you recommend? Cheers as always, Jeff [ 16. June 2005, 10:51 AM: Message edited by: JeffB ]

I was going to ask the same question... I have fished quite a few times while visiting family in Cornwall. Patchy success while watching the locals bag-up was usually the form :0( I saw one chap fishing with a bubble float bellow which he had an artifical worm. He took a nice Bass of around 3lb from amoung the rocks and weed on the north coast of cornwall... I'm going there again next year and will be aiming to predominantly lure fish. Let us know how you get on buddy ;0) Jeff

I have to say that as much as I do like a boat fishing session I am not such a big fan of going on long distance trips much prefering to at least see dry land ;0)

That's what I wanted to hear Cheers guys, that's another cheap and easily sourced bait going with me this weekend. OK, like you have said, it needs to be fished under the right conditions but it will make yet another change-bait if other prefered options arn't scoring... Thanks again, Jeff [ 15. June 2005, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: JeffB ]

I am always on the look-out for cheap bait alternatives to pricy worm-baits such as Rag as wonder if I can include squid in my armary for a bassing session this weekend? I am taking mackerel and sand eel along with a pack or two of rag and lug but wonder, in the interests of keeping the bait bill down, if small squid fished whole is a good bait for bass??? Cheers, Jeff

Lots of good ideas, cheers chaps... I will take 2 beach casters, one hopefully fished with livebait with the other fished with macky head and guts. Lives I'll hope to catch on one of my carp rods... p.s. one thing that I forgot to question is the possiblity of avoiding those dam crabs! I'm not concerned about the livebait being bothered so much but I imagine any deadbait will be torn to bits in no time? Thanks, Jeff

Probably a combo of all the above mentioned and other than the good reason of leaving the Ospreys in peace while they nest I think it's a great shame that you have to stay away because of others anglers littering, happens all too often though...

Norm, sounds like you've had some great fishing of late! I'm 45 mins away from my nearest sea water of Southend being stuck in outer London ;0( I'd love to live close enough to just pop out for a short session... oh,well we'll be moving closer to the coast within 5 years so I can be patient...

Cheers Salar, Some nice ideas there buddy and I right fancy some of that artificial fishing as it gives me a lot more freedom to explore the pier instead of being tied to one spot... I suppose the mackerel will be in again this summer, they have seemed to be getting smaller and smaller as the years go buy with most practically being joeys nowadays. I don't like taking such small fish for the pot but one or two used as lives might do the trick, what do you think?

Good afternoon all, Following up from my first thread I am now hoping to target the better bass that I know lurk around Southend Pier. As much as I am happy to use livebaits I will not always have enough time to spend catching them before a bassing session as I sometimes only get out for a few hours here and there... With this in mind I wonder if there are any other methods I can use to get ammoung the better fish, I am thinking scaled down mackerel flapper or large Red-Gill type rubber lures fished in a running tide so to give them movement... What's you thoughts on that guys? Cheers, Jeff

Cheers all and thanks for the feedback, Sam, I have got 2 carp rods as I do coarse and game fishing also. Do I fish them with the 12lb mono that I have on their acompanying reels...? I think I'm going to get an ordinance servey map of South Essex so I can really look for good marks.... Something else I wanted to enquire about is how successful lure fishing is in the areas mentioned, only that it frees you from the task of having to buy or find bait...? Cheers again, Jeff

Good afternoon all, Newbe to the site and thought I'd kick off by asking how I can better get to grips with the sea fishing around the lower Essex coast, say from Southend Pier up to the Blackwater River at Bradwell-on-Sea??? I have a couple of beach casters so can fish from the beach, saying that though I am a BIG fan of fishing features such as sea walls, jettys, piers and harbours and would therefore love to know of a few spots to try for a mixed bag? Bait tips and tackle shop locations for my bait are also very welcome Cheers everyone! Jeff

Hello all, New to the site, why I've never found it before is beyond me... Sam, that's a really good fish, as were the Bass you had from Southend Pier! You seem to know how to get the best from the Essex coast which is not easy, what's your secret buddy? I'd love to get something decent from Southend Pier when I visit in the next few weeks, what tactics might you recommend...? Cheers, Jeff