Pompey Matt

Yeah thanks for that Richard. At least now I know I'm not doing everything totally wrong. :cool:

Bryan, I think that's a good idea mate. Let me know. RichardB - I nearly always buy a pack of ammo Joeys and have never caught anything using these yet. I usually just use a fillet section of the joey and pennel rig it. We also nearly always use either baby squid or normal squid for tipping our rag. But I will try your suggestion of casting short, I've always thought the bigger the bait the further out you would need to cast it. Guess that's not the case. Thanks for the help.

Yeah I know chesters1, it was just that most pics I have seen, the rod is sitting up the right way with the eyes on top.

Thanks for the links SandTiger. Hi Bryan, Last couple of times I've been out I have blanked. The best fish I caught this year was a starry hound off Warsash beach 3 hours after high tide using a running ledger rig and squid tipped rag. He was only about 5lb but that made a change of catching a fish that weighed more than my gripper I was using. Usually and especially with Shoal bass, I don't know I have caught one until I saw it, they are so small. Hoping to go out this Sunday, not sure where yet though.

Thanks Autumn, I'll give that a try.

Hi guys, just a couple of questions this time Since I started sea fishing only in late April early May this year the main rig I have been using is a simple running ledger, is it ok to use a pennel set up with this kind of rig and is this rig ok for general solent area fishing or could someone suggest something better ? Second part of this is back to my slosh30 reel, is it normal for my rod to twist back round so the eyes and reel are underneath whilst sitting on my tripod ? Thanks in advance

Spur-Dog. Great post mate, thanks. That's helped me alot cheers Thanks everyone else too. I know doubt will post more questions for help here as and when I feel the need. hehe

Bryan, will do mate. After reading the Chesil Baits thread and seeing the beach featured in Go Fishing, a trip to Chesil for me will be on the cards pretty soon hopefully.

quote: I think I can remember a article in Sea Angler a few years back on how to get crabs to peel. It recomended you poke their eye out, they said it never failed. How cruel is that ?

Well I am only shore fishing. Not too sure what is meant by the term "Rotten bottoms" though ?

Hi bryan. No I haven't met up with Shonzy yet but after my attempts at casting using my SLOSH 30 I think it is something I hope to do real soon.

Thanks Mr W. Thanks for the links too @AUTUMN@. Appreciate it

Ok thanks for the advice. The reason I bought 80lb was that I read that you should have 10lb of line for every oz of weight and as I often use a 6 oz gripper (6oz weight = 60lb shock leader) plus an extra 20lb for safety. So I guess a 60lb shock leader for the type of fishing "I try" and do would suffice. Thanks.

Ah right. So what about my original question about rigs and shock leaders ?

Hoping to catch a fish instead of sweet FA which is what usually happens.

I've got a question that I hope somebody could answer for me. I've got an 80lb shock leader attached to my 25lb main line. what I'd like to know is, to what extent is the shock leader used for your rig ? For example, would you tie your weight straight through to the end of the shock leader and then have a hook trace attached to a swivel that is crimped or tied to your shock leader? How do you set up your shock leaders/rigs for say just a normal shore session ? Thanks in advance

quote: blimey matt its a crab not a labrador!!!! LOL Good point

Me and my mate bought some live peelers the other day but neither of us could conjure up the courage to cut them up whilst they were still alive. It some how felt cruel. Any tips from anyone on how to feel ok about cutting a live crab up ?

Toerag - I have now put 25lb on the reel and will be using an 80lb shock leader. I'm going to test it out tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to get on alright with it.

Thanks for the help everyone Sandpipper - That was brave of you to tell me where you live - I'll be in touch. Shonzy - you have mail mate

Thanks for the help Stan.

A shock leader eh ? Even more confused now. I always thought you only needed a shock leader if you were fishing rough ground and are after big fish. I didn't know they were used as a safety feature. Maybe you could explain a bit more to me regarding shock leaders then. I certainly don't understand the safety issue. Sorry to be a pain

Thanks for the replies. It's nice to feel welcome too I shall let you know how I get on with it all.

Thanks Thurso Bryan, yes I am from Portsmouth and have also heard of Shonzy from another forum. Ken - Ahh.. I thought as the picture of the SL30SH showed the handle on the left side it would be a left handed reel but I guess that's not the case then. ?!

I am a complete beginner to sea fishing and I'm slowly learning the ropes. I have just purchased an Imax Beach 4 stroke 6 rod and a Daiwa SL30SH. I have only used Fixed spool reels up until now so I have no clue really as to how a multiplier works. From a quick look at it yesterday it appears that the handle only turns backwards. Is that correct ? Also it came with 2 small red things in a bag. What are these and do I need to put them on before I use the reel ? I was thinking of loading the reel up with 15lb line but I have never spooled a reel with line before so is their a trick to doing this ? Any help anyone can give will be truly appreciated. Many thanks Matt