Totally new to sea fishing - portsmouth area

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

Hi all, i have in the last week had my first bash at sea fishing, i did lots of course fishing as a kid/teen but never any sea fishing..

I was on holiday in weymouth last week and bought a rod reel combo, went to chesil and caught over 40 mackerel on my first outing.

I have since got home and yesterday evening went to eastney, caught 2 mackerel on feathers and a nice 4 lb-ish bass round the point by the jetty on a wedge lure.

I am fairly up together with tieing rigs etc but i am a total dunce when it comes to bait what to fish for on what sort of rig and when.. i also dont know if the rod and reel i bought is gonna be any good for fishing round portsmouth

I bought a 9 foot pier rod, it seems like a robust rod, casting weight is 4-6 oz

The reel is a shakespere targa 050 salt water spinning reel rear drag control etc, dont really like the reel i have to say ..i dont know if it is me the reel or the line but i have never had so many birds nests ... the bail arm is reallt light also.. when trying to lob out my feathers witha 4 oz ledger i have to be careful not to give it too much well or it just flips the bail arm and i get a 20 foot cast..

anyhow wittering .. thatnk for reading, any pearls of wisdom or advice appreciated

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

23 reads and not even a hello... freindly bunch arent you...

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:39 pm

Hello, I don't have the answers you need for Pompey, but it seems you aren't doing too much wrong!

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:50 pm

Thats probably 23 guest reads mate winking

Ok , Pompey Area, Eastney et all, that's where I got hooked on sea fishing big grin

Bait

rag Worm, limpet and mackeral are your best there as they are natually occuring.

I go to Lock Stock and Tackle for my bait, and have found the guys (and girls) very helpful in there for information

At the moment you can expect Bass, Mackeral, Sole, Red Mullett, Bream Smoothies

HTH

Rich

Member Joined: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Portsmouth

Hello mate and welcome

Not sure if a 9ft rod is any good for beach fishing unless yr only going to be spinning of course. I personally use a 13ft beachcaster for fisher around portsmouth beaches

bait and tactics all depend on where yr fishing and what yr trying to catch but rag worm will catch you most species around

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:00 pm

Quote:

23 reads and not even a hello... freindly bunch arent you...

yes its probably 24 guest visits confused

First I see the topic and would just like to say welcome to the forum big hug

Cheers
mrix

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

there are people out there... happy

well many thanks for your warm welcome ... i am aware that the rod could be a bit longer though it has impressed me so far.. the real weak link is the reel... it is a POS

anyone recommend an inexpensive reel that will do the business .. i am sure that with a less sensitive reel i could get another 15-20 yards on my cast.. like i say i have many years worth of fw experience so technique aint lacking

as for what i want to catch.. well at the moment i want to eat what i catch where possible... not into stamp collecting (yet...)

Guest

ickypimp wrote:

23 reads and not even a hello... freindly bunch arent you...

Your post had only been there for an hour and a half mate.....and most people have limited time to answer during the day because of work and other pressures sad

I've never fished at portsmouth so can only give an opinion on your general queries...you will probably find the only limitations with a 9 ft rod are casting distance and a bit of control of things when reeling in.....you might also pick up more weed on the line as you can't get the tip of the rod quite so high as a longer one when its in the rest.

As for the fixed spool....I don't know the model but it sounds like the bail arm (or the spring in it) is maybe too light or faulty..the birdies may be as a result of line twist.

That topic has been covered here...have a look irt might help cure at least some of your problems with the reel.....I have to say that if you've been using feathers and wedges you will get twist though...even with expensive swivels you can't avoid it...

http://www.sea-fishing.org/ftopicp-30038-.html#30038

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

Many thanks blackdog...

the spool is indeed full of cheapo line that came with the reel, i will be replacing that tonight, i have not checked the roller to see if that is free.. will do that too.. reckon i will still be upgrading mind

as for my impatience for a reply... sorry.. the other forums i use for other hobbies have 10,000 plus members and there is always someone on to comment

Guest

ickypimp wrote:

Many thanks blackdog...

the spool is indeed full of cheapo line that came with the reel, i will be replacing that tonight, i have not checked the roller to see if that is free.. will do that too.. reckon i will still be upgrading mind

as for my impatience for a reply... sorry.. the other forums i use for other hobbies have 10,000 plus members and there is always someone on to comment

No probs mate....we're a bit slower thats all...

As a guide if you are spinning....I use good line (8 or 12lb depending on what I'm doing) for spinning and generally start to get twist after about 6 -8 hours of work. A trick to save money is to put some heavy backing on the spool (if its large enough) and load it so that 175 to 200 yards of the good stuff will fill it....that way you don't lose a whole spoolful every time you change your line.

It saves cash and makes you less prone to pushing your luck with dodgy line when you should really change it......and a spare spool for the reel is an absolute godsend sometimes if you have troubles on the beach.

See how you get on and come back if you still have troubles...

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

cheers mate.. though you dont get rid of me that easily... man you are gonna be soooo sick and tired of me by the time i am done..

Member Joined: Aug 22, 2007 Posts: 50 Location: Guilford

Hi mate, like you, I'm also new, but unlike you, i havent had as much luck :lol:

I did find some of the videos on here

http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=1135711403&channel=1126878784

Very useful for showing you what to do with
what baits, hope it helps.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:00 pm

Hi Mate, I have what I reckon to be a cheap but good FS reel: Okuma Pro 365, I think they have now replaced them with a "Halogen 365" which is essentially the same reel but poshed up a bit. I bought one on the off chance about 18 months ago for £20 and it has done very well. I saw one advertised by Glasgow Angling Centre mail order for the same price recently. If you look at Okuma stuff, you will also see their "Impact 65". Really cheap but it is not such a smooth operator as the Pro and not so well put together. Be a bit careful when looking at FS jobbies, there seem to be a few around with very "shallow" skirts at the bottom of the spool and line can get trapped underneath when casting. I have seen this problem with two of my friends quite expensive reels recently but it won't happen with the Okumas.

Member Joined: Sep 03, 2007 Posts: 32

thanks for that they have the Okuma halogen surfcaster pro for 25 shipped..

Looks like a nice piece of kit...

I was actually looking at a okuma motion last night for 24, sits between the impact and the halogen in terms of quality...

before i put my hand in my pocket i am gonna go to cash convertors and see what they have...

in terms of line i have gone for 15 lb with a 40 lb shock leader... seem about right ??

i am just writing a shopping list of bits .. ledgers swivels hooks etc...

it is difficult to know what to buy first..

I need the reel.. that is fact.. i need a longer rod also things like a rod rest ... sad

Guest

ickypimp wrote:

thanks for that they have the Okuma halogen surfcaster pro for 25 shipped..

Looks like a nice piece of kit...

I was actually looking at a okuma motion last night for 24, sits between the impact and the halogen in terms of quality...

before i put my hand in my pocket i am gonna go to cash convertors and see what they have...

in terms of line i have gone for 15 lb with a 40 lb shock leader... seem about right ??

i am just writing a shopping list of bits .. ledgers swivels hooks etc...

it is difficult to know what to buy first..

I need the reel.. that is fact.. i need a longer rod also things like a rod rest ... sad

Shock leader strength is dependant on the weight you will be casting.....10lb breaking strain for every ounce of lead....so it may be a little bit light if you intend to use 5 or 6 oz leads.

But you are still light years ahead of many beginners in that you have a shock leader and have actually thought about it winking