Where to start?

Joined: May 19, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Wales (SW)

I'm sorry if you get a lot of these kind of posts but I'm having terrible trouble finding useful, up to date information online. Any advice would be great, even if it's just how to refine my searches.

I've just moved to Wales (just west of Carmarthen) from the Midlands, where I course fished. Being near the sea I've decided that I'd like to take up sea fishing. I've tried fishing on beaches before but almost always unsuccessfully. I've got a large, fixed spool sea reel and a 9' pier rod (like casting with a broomstick) and, after the expense of moving, that's all I'm going to have for now. So what's the best way to get started (a nice subjective question for you)? Tomorrow I'm intending to check out the coast a bit for places to fish, starting at Llansteffan (where I failed miserably last weekend) and heading west, so any ideas for good spots along there would be nice. I'm particularly interested in harbour walls or some such places to start with, rocky places worry me a little as I'm afraid that losing too many rigs might frustrate me too much, and beaches requiring long casts (anything over about 40 yards at the moment) might prove difficult.
So there you go. I've probably narrowed it down to 'go back to the canal/river you wimp', but please be gentle.

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 9:20 pm

Is bangor pier too far? Ive done well from there in the past and no matter what the weather you can fish as it affords covered in glass type huts. Hope this helps. Also Holyhead breakwater, the longest breakwater wall in the uk. casting distance is unimportant. keith

Joined: May 19, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Wales (SW)

That would be a bit of a trek to start with but my wife has an aunt on Anglesea so we'll be up there at some point. It definately sounds like the sort of place I'm looking for.

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 10:22 pm

Well you can drive your car right along the wall to the exact spot you want to fish at. Also amlech forgive my spelling. keith

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 12:24 am

carmarthen to bangor is about 2.5 hours away

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 5:05 am

Is that going by horse and cart?. It doesn't take me that long from Blackburn to holyhead.

Member Joined: May 17, 2008 Posts: 15

Horse and Cart is the usual method! I live in Swansea, and its sometimes easier for me to get to N Wales via Birmingham!

Member Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Pembs

saundersfoot harbour wall usually produces makerel in the summer along with the occasional bass, i dont think you need to be able to cast a huge distance, its about 30 mins from camarthen. but it will get busy there in the holiday months

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:40 am

rabbi2 wrote:

Is that going by horse and cart?. It doesn't take me that long from Blackburn to holyhead.

trust me mate it takes around 3hrs from swansea to wrexham but thats not going the motorway going through the a and b roads

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 2:11 pm

Slugsalter try floatfishing with your coarse gear over rocks with sandeel, peeler crab or small live fish, a carp rod or avon rod can be used with a small pike type float taking 0.5 to 1oz, same gear can normally cast a 2 or 3oz watch lead about 100m if the wind isn't too strong but should only be used over clean sand with sandeel, worm or peeler the best baits. Hope this increases your options a bit big grin

Joined: May 19, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Wales (SW)

Oh, excellent! I hadn't thought of float fishing and I do love watching a float. Is there anything I should know about suitable rigs?

Regular Joined: Oct 14, 2005 Posts: 400 Location: Holyhead

Leggyman is right I live in North Wales and often fish with light tackle when targeting fish such as Bass, Wrasse and Pollack close-in. Light tackle is not suitable for bottom fishing in deep water over rocks but is ideal for spinning and float-fishing. Some of the best Bass i've seen have been caught in shallow water on light tackle.

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 6:20 pm

10/12lb line sliding float rig like a pike set up but unless very shallow don't use self cocking floats, the weight is needed to drag the bait down. I normally use a sliding barrel lead stopped by swivel and bead. On the other end of the swivel tie a 3ft hook length and about half way down add a couple of split shot AAA size, this helps stop tangles. Hooks can be carp hooks size 8-2. Depth to set sliding float depends on venue and species so try anywhere between 5 and 16ft. If you have time to collect them also try live prawn and gobies if not frozen sandeels, smelt or mackerel strip all work. Peeler crab more use for wrasse and bass fished near the bottom. If you see any mullet anywhere treat them as you would large chub using 6lb line and breadflake but I warn you after chasing tame carp these things are a challenge to hook and land, 6lb mullet=20lb carp in my eyes. Good luck and let us know how you get on big grin

Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 6:33 pm

Sorry one more thing: make sure your line floats DON'T fish sunken line tactics like the waggler boys.

Joined: May 19, 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Wales (SW)

I'm a fairly all-round course angler so I have gear for most of it (bar a pole). I'm quite happy catching Gudgeon all day or Carp off the top, some of my best days fishing has been Chub chasing, though my favourite fish is Perch. I do fish for Pike too, so I'm familiar with the tactics you describe. I feel a lot more confident now that I know what I'm supposed to be doing. Thanks, you've been a huge help.
One of the beaches I saw today that looked ideal for float fishing (very rocky) was Wiseman's Bridge. Anyone familiar with that beach?