Harwich

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Firstly Id like to say hello!

I shall be moving to Harwich within the next few weeks and wish to start sea fishing. Ive course fished both rivers and lakes in the past but know that sea fishing is totally different concept which i'll need to learn. I plan to buy a rod/reel etc from tackle shop (is there one in Harwich?) and ask them for advise.

Ive tried to find sea fishing books, but the bookshops in Loondon dont seem that interested in fishing. So I was wonder if anyone could offer me any advice on fishing the surrounding areas of Harwich and best times? Is sea fishing much like freshwater in that I mean best fishing is of evening through the night? and also on baits,set ups generally Id be grateful lol!

Tight Lines

Cheers Jason

Member Joined: Nov 26, 2005 Posts: 24 Location: IPSWICH

Hi Jason
Welcome to this brilliant site.
I am not from you area so to speak, I am from Ipswich Suffolk, just across the River Orwell from Harwich as the crow flies, but about a 40mile ride in a car, one way.
Any questions you may have can be probably found on this site by searching, but ask away and I will try to answer any that I can.
regards

Ronnie

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Hi Ronnie,

Thanks for the reply mate, and yes like a great site. I'll probably start by reading a few books over the next few weeks, and try to gain alittle knowledge. I have a couple of questions, may seem stupid but as said reallly am starting from scratch.

The rod/reel and tackle I shall ask for advise in a local shop, not unless you know of a descent rod/reel combo to start with?

Do you think I should start making my own rigs or buy ready mades for now? I was thinking of making my own from the start so it gets me toknow the different types of knots etc.

And last and not where would be a good place to start sea fishing on the east coast?

Happy fishing and tight lines

Jason

Member Joined: Aug 03, 2005 Posts: 18 Location: Ipswich

Hi Jason,

I'm also based in Ipswich but may be able to answer some of your questions. From your neck of the woods I heard that they were catching codling to 5lb in Clacton from the beach (before Christmas) I don't know about specific marks on your side of the Orwell but in the summer you can get Bass, and winter Codling, flounder etc. for flounder you might want to try further up river, they should be running in the next month (if they're not already) on our side of the river down stream from the Orwell bridge is a flounder mark.
On rods and reels a tough one but look at the reviews in sea angler, sea fishing etc. they are usually very good, for a reel if you are from a fresh water background you may want to stay with a fixed spool reel, you can get more distance when practiced with a multiplier but if you are not used to them you will also get birds nests, which on a cold day are no fun at all.

Rigs, you local shop should sell some ready made ones fairly cheaply or you can pay a bit more for Gemini and Mustad rigs, I personally prefer to make my own.

I'm not sure about tackle shops in Harwich, but if you neet to come to Felixstowe the guys at Tackle up are very helpful and have a good selection of gear Tel. 01394 274600.

Another bit of kit you may want to look at is a Beach shelter: Ron Thompson do a Beach Buddy type £40-50 a must for the beaches in cold / windy weather.

Fishing times, I have always found that the night is better fishing but have also seen some good fish caught during the day 20lb cod at Alderburgh in Nov. But on the whole I will be found hoping for a fish on cold dark nights LOL.

Good luck mate

Simon

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:07 pm

Welcome to the site and the area,

Your questions are big ones and made me realise just how much information experienced anglers hold in their heads and prob take for granted

To start with I would use ready made rigs because you will know they are well made and you wont lose that big one!! However you should be able to see How they are made and then you can buy the ness componants and have fun making them yourself. I often spend evenings making rigs and dreaming of fishing when I cant get out. There are also a lot of sites on the web that tell you how to tie them. Thers a couple of links on this site.

Your best bet is to try and get out with an experienced angler, you will learn so much quicker and easier. Its how I did it all those years ago and most sea anglers are more than happy to help out in my experience.

Tackle shops are a good source of info as well except from the fact that they always seem to tell me an area is fishing really well as I am buying my bait so I double my order.....Strange that eh!!!

The only thing I would change if I had my time again is I would buy a good middle of the road outfit from the start and then progress to the best after that. I remember going through many transformations over a couple of years trying to do it on the cheap and you really only do get what you pay for. Its a hard life for tackle on the beach.

The best of luck to you.

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks, Simon & Dan

I'll keep you posted on how I get on. I'll have a walk around on Saturday and see if I can pick up any tips.

Cheers

Jason

Member Joined: Nov 15, 2005 Posts: 37

All good advice posted.
A few thoughts.
The easiest time to start beachj fishing in this area is September fishing around dusk and into darkness. As long as you can cast a bait into the sea from one of the local beaches usind the tackle described above you will catch fish e.g. Whiting. Also the weather is still mild.
Late autumn and winter the fish should be bigger but fewer and more skill is usually needed to catch them. Also the weather tends to be worse so not catching is more difficult . Try the piers (walton and clacton).
About now (January) there is often a lull in fishing and most people even those out in boats are struggling.
Come late February to April we get another run of codling and although not as easy as whiting fishing the novice can do OK.
Through the late spring and summer fish after dark and the piers might be your best bet.
Come late August/September the whiting are back...

So once you have mastered casting set up at dusk fish at night and don't dispair if you don't catch immediately (i.e. no one is catching much at the moment). Find when the best tides are and target these times e.g. high tide at Walton pier.

Try and find someone to go with.

Always report back good or bad trips then we can all help each other.

Keep posting, don't be like the dozens who look but don't share.

best of luck
nick

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks for the advice Nick.

Went to Halfpenny peir at Harwich this afternoon and speaking to one guy who was just packing up, he said that he didnt have a knock and he was there for about 5 hours.

He did tell me that the peir is really good in the summer months and the bass get around there, so should be good sport.

Oh, just one other question, do I need to get any sort of permit to fish the coast/sea?

Tight Lines

Jason

Member Joined: Nov 15, 2005 Posts: 37

No permits required for fishing in the sea in the UK.
I take it you are not targetting salmon / sea trout.
You may need to pay for access to some piers and areas of estuary.
Watch out for car parking as even in winter traffic wardens and clampers show no mercy and a few anglers have been caught recently!

If you are fishing in the Harwich Harbour and Essex rivers you can use your pike or heavy carp gear (2oz leads) but obviously take care to wash it down with tap water immediately after use. In winter off the beaches you will need 5oz leads and a rod that can cast them. Use a 50/60lb shock leader and 15/18lb mainline.
With the flood tide in summer you can get away with those light leads and from certain places float gear and lures for the bass. The harbour in spring/summer/autumn will hold flat fish, bass and mullet.

Forgot to mention as a beginner to sea fishing find a good tackle shop and if you are a regular and buy a little each visit they should help you with decent advice e.g. Tackle Up, Felixstowe and Markhams, Ipswich.

nick

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Cheers Nick thanks for the advice mate.

Jason

Joined: Jan 21, 2006 Posts: 1

Hi Jason.
Saw your post and joined the site just to respond........... ;-)

I live in Harwich and have fished here and the surrounding area for over thirty years (on and off). Sadly, Harwich is not the venue it used to be. I'm not surprised you're man on the ha'penny pier had nothing as thats not unusual at all. Its also very snaggy off there and I don't fish it any more.

Other Harwich venues are very patchy bringing in fish maybe once or twice a season (winter).

There are good venues within easy reach of Harwich though such as Frinton, Walton (mainly the pier), Clacton and Holland on Sea. Unfortunately, distance tactics tend to be the order of the day on these beaches and an ability to cast a bait to around 150 yards usually pays dividends with the Codling and some reasonably sized Cod.

Which brings us to you and your sea fishing ambitions. Can I suggest you get yourself over to Metcalfes at Walton on the Naze. Speak to Richard and tell him I sent you. This guy will give you all the advice about the gear, casting lessons, tactics etc and won't try to sell you the most expensive stuff on his shelves.

For the answers to some of your other questions
1. I buy all ready made rigs, they are cheap and its easier, plus they are well made.
2. If you have never sea fished before, try to team up with someone who has, its the quickest way to learn. (Join a local club)
3. Be careful of buying low budget gear, you'll only be disappointed as you quickly increase your ability but find your rod 'locking' up too early.

Good luck

Member Joined: Jan 11, 2006 Posts: 8

Barry,

thanks for the information mate that going to help. especially the tackle shop. Are there any clubs in harwich i can join?

tight lines Jason