5 Bearded Rockling

[Norrie]

I was talking to my mate from Fife this week re a comp our club had on. He had a 5 bearded rockling he reckons at 8-9in long,and at least 1/2lb in weight. He kept it in a bucket for a while, but released it when he thought it wouldn't last.Then we checked the record for one of these, 1lb and a tiny bit As a matter of interest, does anyone know the Scottish Record for these. It's too late now, but it would be nice to know if he would have been in with a chance.There are also Bass picking up baits in the "bay" which hasn't been seen for years according to the older anglers. A great sign for the future.

[Leon Roskilly]

er, be careful Norrie.

 

In other locations where bass have appeared, and anglers have discovered them, it hasn't been long before the commercials have moved in on them, particularly in areas where they are having a tough time with quota stocks.

 

Tight Lines - leon

[Norrie]

Hi Leon, Yes I know what you mean, thats why I said "bay" nothing else.There are hundreds of small bays on the east coast. It IS being kept really quiet about the bass,plus I think the locals would torpedoe any netting boats seen near ?????. But, thanks for your concern, it is MUCH apprecciated.I know where you are coming from on this.Hopefully at long last I will catch my first Bass ....

[Vagabond]

Most 5-beards are just an ounce or two here on the South Coast, although I did have one of 6 oz back in 1951 (gosh, over a half-century ago)

 

Does anyone come across any of the other rocklings - shore rockling (with two barbules) ; three-bearded and four-bearded ?

 

I've had a three-bearded over a pound, but have never seen the other two.

[Norrie]

Hiya, I literally spoke to my mate minutes ago, from the beach, he had another one tonight, but a bit smaller than the last one.... I'm going to give them a try sometime soon.

[Norrie]

P.S. I can see how some people get "hooked" on mini species.

[Smudge]

I had a shore rockling of 15oz 12 drms off the shore in Guernsey last year which was the Channel Island record at the time it which had stood for many years unfortunatly for me it was broken again a few months later by a fish a fraction over a pound. They tend to be caught when bass fishing with peeler crab I am amazed how they can stuff a bait like that into their mouths

[Kieran Hanrahan]

If I recall a converstion some years ago in Moneypoint, on the Shannon, a great spot for five bearded rockling, some to 2 lbs +, a marine biologists said that four bearded rockling are a deeper water species and never caught from the shore. He and I stand to be corrected but he did show how chicken livers can be used on the five bearded fish to deadly effect in only a few feet of water...

[boatman]

for a 5 beard the record 6oz ???drams.....

[Jim Roper]

I think it is mainly the 3 bearded type that is caught arounf Portland.