A strange request?

[redtail]

Hi all, I'm a coarse angler and have never sea fished (apart from a couple of trips after mullet with coarse gear) but I'm interested in catching new species and would really like to have a go for flounder using coarse gear but have no idea how to go about it. I know quite a few flounders get caught by accident in matches at places like Cardiff docks etc and would like to have a go for them.

 

I was thinking of targetting some coastal streams using a maggot feeder set up, any tips greatfully received

[RUDD]

A carp, speci rod that can handle a 2 or 3 oz flat lead. 12- 15 lb mainline ( if lighter used you may need a 20/30lb leader if distance casting).

Simple two or three hook flapper (paternoster rig) or a single hook running rig. Plenty of beads, sequins or a flounder spoon on snoods of 8 - 12lb and size four hooks baited with harbour rag, silver rag or small bits of kingrag.

Fish over high tide as they move over bait beds plus less of a cast needed.

For more detailed info have a search on world sea fishing.

[redtail]

Many thanks for your reply and I'll have a look on world sea fishing, when the weather warms up a bit, I'll let you know how I get on

[grumpybum]

I've just gone down this road myself so hope hope the following will help.

 

Do a search and see if theres a local sea angling forum.

 

Heres a link to a good forum. http://www.worldseafishing.com/

 

The tackle you suggest will do at a push. How ever as an estuary would be your best choice there would probably be a very fast tidal race as the river floods at high tide and again as it empties, Even a 6oz grapple lead has problems holding in these types for flow. Sea anglers work to a formula fo rthe leader of 10lb bs for every ounce of lead cast. ie 5oz lead 50lb bs leader

 

If your fishing from rocks or a pier etc thers no way carp tackle would cope with heaving fish up a long drop.

 

Look for areas that are muddy for flounders, Bait, earth worms can be a killing bait, not sure about maggots. Alternatively tackle shops near the coast probably sell black lug either fresh or frozen. half a worm on a size 1 or 1/0 hook. strips of mackeral or squid. In some areas peeler crab is a killer bait.

 

Before others jump in the above has been gleaned fishing the Mersey estuary.

[redtail]

thanks for the tips, to be honest I was thinking more of some small-ish streams by the coast, so I could just use feeder gear, in North Somerset there are several such streams. Many of them have a tidal flap/sluice at the end so arn't too badly afffected by the tides

[gozzer]

thanks for the tips, to be honest I was thinking more of some small-ish streams by the coast, so I could just use feeder gear, in North Somerset there are several such streams. Many of them have a tidal flap/sluice at the end so arn't too badly afffected by the tides

I don't know if I'd bother with the feeder if I were you. I've caught mostly on a straight leger, with worm as bait. I used to cast out, and after leaving for 5 or 10 mins, reel in a coule of turns, so the lead caused a cloud from the bottom. A bite often came within seconds of doing that.

 

John.

 

Edited March 13, 2013 by gozzer

[garylee]

I usedto fish for flounders many moons ago in the River Orwell near the Orwell bridge and the local docks.

I used an old 13ft glass match rod, 1oz - 1.5oz leads, small hooks about size 10 on a 3 hook snood trace and 10lb line.

Harbour rag cast out leave for 5 minutes then give the reel handle a 2 or 3 of turns flounders are quite predatory and do like to chase a bait so aim to make puffs of mud as they will be drawn to this.

 

In the docks I used sit on a jetty chop up some rag mix it with bread crumb and feed in small balls of this and float fish down tide with a stick float. Used to catch flounders and scool bass in summer, in winter flounders, small cod and whiting: great fun.

When there was little tide in the docks I would often float ledger.

 

I still sometimes fish on a pier with a float and carp rod or on the beach with a 13ft shimano extra heavy feeder rod, 30lb braid and leads upto 4oz

[chesters1]

Your tackle will be fine for estuary or tidal stretch fishing but be very vigilant in washing your kit extremely well after each trip as its not designed for salt water ,strangely today even stuff sold for sea fishing needs washing each trip as its so badly made from cheap materials

[redtail]

I don't know if I'd bother with the feeder if I were you. I've caught mostly on a straight leger, with worm as bait. I used to cast out, and after leaving for 5 or 10 mins, reel in a coule of turns, so the lead caused a cloud from the bottom. A bite often came within seconds of doing that.

 

John.

 

Briliant, cheers John, a plan is starting to form, just need to find somewhere to try it out now!

[redtail]

I usedto fish for flounders many moons ago in the River Orwell near the Orwell bridge and the local docks.

I used an old 13ft glass match rod, 1oz - 1.5oz leads, small hooks about size 10 on a 3 hook snood trace and 10lb line.

Harbour rag cast out leave for 5 minutes then give the reel handle a 2 or 3 of turns flounders are quite predatory and do like to chase a bait so aim to make puffs of mud as they will be drawn to this.

 

In the docks I used sit on a jetty chop up some rag mix it with bread crumb and feed in small balls of this and float fish down tide with a stick float. Used to catch flounders and scool bass in summer, in winter flounders, small cod and whiting: great fun.

When there was little tide in the docks I would often float ledger.

 

I still sometimes fish on a pier with a float and carp rod or on the beach with a 13ft shimano extra heavy feeder rod, 30lb braid and leads upto 4oz

 

thanks for the info, hopefully will get out and give it a go soon