richsurfer

Thanks for all your views and sound advice guys - I think I'll be just taking at the most what I need now and again to eat (which was my plan) - and obviously not getting carried away with the mackeral fishing - incredible that they die just from handling. I've managed to catch my first few bass recently and I can see why they are so prized as a sport fish. You've got a convert to catch and release(if not mortally wounded) in me with the bass.

After the recent bass C & R discussions I’m just after some broader reasoning on the subject – not just ‘don’t take home (for food) the fish you catch’, which I think is only a valid attitude if you don’t eat fish. As a newcomer to sea fishing, personally I've found it difficult even dealing with the deaths of my mackeral so I've been in a bit of a quandary over what to do - whether to take any fish for the table at all. Do all you catch and releasers not eat any fish at all? Myself and family regularly enjoy different fish from the supermarket - now I've started catching some myself I admit I don't like the process of killing them to eat. But to not do so would make me a hypocrite - there's also the fact that for every one fish you or I buy from the supermarket others will have died needlessly as by-catch or spoiled on their way to the shops, not to mention other organisms harmed in the process. Obviously feelings run high over bass but what about all the other species? I keep hearing that the cod population is on the brink of irreversible collapse and the size of the humble mackeral they are stocking in the supermarkets seems to be tinier than ever. Sorry about the rambling but I have a bit of a crisis of conscience :confused: .

Hopefully I am wrong JRT and our bass are hardier than the striped - studies of which have shown that anything up to 10% or so of catch and returns die depending on fishing method. The undoubted extreme stress placed on a caught fish is sure not going to do it any good - reproduction is one of the first physiological functions of an animal to be affected by stress. I'd be interested to know if the moratoria imposed on bass fishing in the USA which led to their recovery banned all fishing for them or just the killing of them?

Been out round the Point du Raz area a few times surfing - just watching the tidal race there was awesome. Seeing the pics of the kayaker out there makes me think we should have a go at St Aldhelm's Head for a bit of practice (fun?).

Thanks speciman for a good trip and all your help. With regards to all the catch and return comments, I thought the bass in question was too small really to take and did say this to Hungry. But to suggest not taking any is just hypocrisy from a bass angler. If you cared so deeply for them you wouldn't fish for them at all - a certain percentage of catch and returns will die anyway, or their ordeal will compromise their health and reproductive success for a while. This percentage for 'guys who catch a lot of fish regularly' will obviously be a larger number. From what I've read a minimum (not just-legal) and maximum size limit should be adhered to - as Simon E says. As to protecting our sport - in the wider community most people I've spoken to who are not keen on, or actively dislike angling seem to think that actually catching the fish for food as opposed to 'fun' is a mitigating factor for a blood-sport.

Speciman, how close inshore do the cod come? Are they spread all along our stretch of coast or are there hot spots? The family would be well impressed if I managed to catch one. Hungry - if you're ever down Bournemouth / Purbeck way put a post up - I'm keen to get out with some fellow yak fishermen having only just started myself.

I was planning to fish through the winter wearing my 5 mil wetsuit and cag like Zzippy, along with thick neoprene booties. I've got a variety of neoprene hoods to try if its really cold - you lose most of your body heat through your head and with these it doesn't matter if you get wet. What sort of species do we get in the winter to fish for along the stretch of S coast from Southampton water to Weymouth?

The Poole 'cash prizes' look tempting. Last time we were out there were about 5 motor boats fishing around us - one with 5 or 6 guys lined up fishing on it - didn't see anyone catch. We seem to get on well two fishing on the malibu - I put the crate in the middle of the boat (it has 4 pipe rod holders). Not room for much else. Makes it seem a lot more tippy though - you have to be pretty co-ordinated. Both of us paddling sets up a cracking pace.

I've tried out round Old Harry before but blanked - loads of Japweed I think its called to get snagged on aswell. The tidal race can be pretty fierce there. Today I paddled straight out to sea with my brother to the big boat channel - very choppy and busy but we both caught (he got a 3lb bass) which made it worth the effort.

That would be great Speciman - trying out the caper would help make up my mind, plus it would be good to meet up and maybe get some fish. I could probably get away any afternoon/evening next week apart from Tuesday. Have you been out recently? This last week I've managed a couple of sessions - being a beginner I'm still getting the odd new species to me. At Durley I managed to get more mackerel, some pollock and a decent gurnard. Today I got my first Bass (about 2lbs but put up a good fight) plus mackerel, pollock and garfish paddling out from Studland.

Sounds like an amazing session nifty - gives me something to aim for with more experience.

I'd go for safety with a bright colour - I've read stuff before on visibility at sea of kayaks and blues/greens just disappear, red is one of the most visible. This applies if you're adrift or in danger of being run over - a real possibility on the S coast. I was thinking of getting a caper - do users out there think it is a decent fishing yak? From the spec it looks small and light at 10.5' and 44lbs, which is why I'm interested in it - my malibu II is really too big if I'm out on my own. The 13' Prowler is nearly the same weight as the malibu II and longer, so I'd have the same problem handling it on land. Anyone know of any better, lighter fishing yaks?

Yeah, they have nipped surfers - I think the ones to watch though are those habituated to people - around harbours etc. where they are fed and not scared. Most of the really wild ones keep their distance - there's always a first time for a kayaker to be continuously mauled though!

Just had my week in Cornwall - might see you down there next year Austen as I've booked 5 weeks next summer holidays at Hayle again. Having the yak to fish from was brilliant - my brother and I (both total beginners at sea fishing)never blanked once. We were only catching 'easy' fish but it was good fun on light gear getting loads of mackerel, small pollock, garfish and mullet. The scenery and wildlife you get to see from the yak was stunning too. Even had a sun fish drift by us on its side in Mount's Bay - it was big, and with its top fin flapping out of the water now and again we thought it was a shark from a distance. With regards to the waves, last weds even Mount's Bay was breaking. From what I've seen Porthleven is the best - the Cribber looks more of a big challenge than a good ride. N. Fistral used to be my favourite, but since my separation from Cornwall its now Kimmeridge and Lynmouth when they break. Surfing on a yak is way more difficult than standing up!

Sit on tops are very stable, especially if you've tried sit in kayaks, and I've found my malibu 2 takes a real effort to turn over in calm conditions. Add in some breaking waves or an incompetent crew-member (my brother) and we capsized twice last week . Once was while fishing just outside (or so we thought) the surf zone. Turned round to see a rather larger wave breaking outside - no chance to do anything and took a full broadside . Luckily the water is warm at the moment and all my gear was leashed. Second capsize was heading in through a nasty little shore-dump - my brother volunteered to get out and swim us in. He didn't realise we were still out of his depth and plunged over the side pulling the kayak and me over with him :mad: . We washed in - me impaled on one of my own hooks (I didn't find it funny as it was happening).

Seals definitely have right of way - not just because of their teeth - they also usually outnumber you if they are around and if they managed to capsize the yak I don't fancy the chances against them. I spent last week yak fishing in Cornwall - the only place we didn't catch much was around Godrevy which had a large seal colony - the big males seemed to escort us off their patch while the rest cheered on from the rocks with their weird noises. I'm just glad I didn't have a yak full of fish - that's my excuse anyway.

Speciman - I've paddled out from Kimmeridge quite a few times, going both ways and staying inshore - going west to Worbarrow/Mupe bay areas there always seems to be lots of fish activity on the surface. Got to be careful of the firing days though. I fancy going out from Lulworth aswell - I had an aborted trip there a few weeks back without a trolley - didn't realise they close the road down to the cove in the summer - now got a trolley as carrying my yak is not an option. I don't think tide strength is a problem due to sheltering from Portland - don't know about several miles offshore though. When I get back from Cornwall I'll try and get time for some trips - can do late afternoons/evenings most days while still light, plus weekends. Simon - is the Aberdovey of the Tope meetings located near Aberystwyth? Looks quite a tortuous route on the map for me, but with the chance of a weekend off from the family..... What's the campsite called?

Trouble is, if there is a good wave you're going out whatever is in the water (except maybe a great white). Wouldn't be sure about eating the fish from bad sewage areas - probably safer than swallowing the water though. Not sure I've picked the best week for kayak fishing in W Cornwall - there's a long period 6m swell forecast for later next week, along with the first of the autumn lows coming over - I'll have to try round the S. coast estuaries.

Thanks Simon - how did you get your encyclopedic knowledge of the Cornish coast? I haven't got a fish-finder yet so what tactics as to where to fish are best employed when heading out from these spots in the yak (features to look out for etc.) - I was going to stick pretty close inshore going for mackerel,bass, pollock etc. I'll give the vingling a try - not always easy to avoid the weavers though - a surfer mate stood on one and his leg went from pain to feeling totally numb for the rest of the day. I used to spend a lot of time in Cornwall - perhaps surfing Portreath harbour wall sometimes was why I picked up plenty of gastro-intestinal upsets.

Thanks for the offers - I'm off to West Cornwall for the week on Saturday for some surfing and kayaking and can't make tomorrow (looking after my two lads) but would be keen to head out anywhere in the Bournemouth/Poole/Purbeck area on my return. Do you guys manage to get out most days the conditions are good?

Sorry I missed this one - what did you catch? I could really do with a trip out with someone who knows what they are doing yakfishing-wise. I'd be up for another if you've got one planned speciman and don't mind a sea-fishing beginner along (I'm OK at the paddling bit).

Hi barramundi I'm heading down to Hayle for a week's surfing and kayaking (judging by the big swell forecast for next week mostly surfing I expect). I was hoping to try fishing around Porthcurno and Praa sands areas if the sea state is OK. Do you know of any sheltered spots in W Cornwall for launching and fishing when the conditions are a bit dodgy?

Good to hear you enjoyed the experience. I've recently started and love being out on the water in the yak whether I catch much or not.

I've got a big red malibu 2 and red cag but when it's busy out there something more is needed - it was pretty extreme when I was out though - I was about to head in but the fish started biting and the Arrows turned up. The flag and air-horn sound like effective, easy additions - I'll have to get them.

Cheers Speciman - I was going to head down to Poole for a paddle in the next few days so I'll pop in to B'mouth canoes.