Caught nothing in 12 months !

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 98

Iv'e been sea fishing around the south coast for the past year, and have only caught a crab! I get the feeling, im not casting out far enough...Ive been using a small telescopic and a cheap reel, but have now bought the proper gear....Does anyone think, that this may have been the problem, while fishing for Bass? I have been fishing the high tides every time, using mackerel as bait....but have only really cast out around 50ft...any hints would be good.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:43 pm

Feel for you my friend but I am afraid you just have not been using the right gear. A 50 ft cast is just not going to get you anywhere except perhaps off a pier or jetty. 50 metres is more like it but even that is often not good enough. Most of us are casting between 70 and 100 metres or even further, depending on species and you have to have a rod of at least 11 ft to so that. In fact I would not use anything less than 12 ft for beach casting. Where are you? I would be quite happy to show you a few tricks if you are near Hayling.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:45 pm

Check out this link which shows how to use different baits.
http://www.allaboutangling.co.uk/page7.htm

Check out the sea rigs in the left hand menu.
cool

Just because you use a telescopic it doesn't mean that you can't catch fish.
you can catch fish if you cast 3 feet in front of you at certain marks.
The trick is to vary bait and rigs to see what is working.
If you stick to one method that isn't working you won't catch anything.
Practice casting in a large open space, place a tennis ball over your lead weight and see how far you can get.

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 98

I can cast....just didnt have the right gear to achieve long ones...eccles, we chat on here last yesr, i,m in Berkshire...had a stint in mudiford and hengitsbury head, if you remember....havnt tried hayling yet, but I did check it out, after your recommendation...going to try Selsey bill soon though....just begining to think, after a year, that somethings really not right sad

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:33 pm

Yep, I remember now. You are just going through the learning curve which we all have to do. Still remember all the blanking I used to do when I started (still happens now sometimes - that's life) Right at the moment there is not much about anywhere except at night and even that is not wonderful. Went down last night with my mate - casting about 80 yds - we had a few whiting and several small bass - hardly worth the effort but it was a nice evening. Anyway, don't give up, hang fire for another month or so and it will get a lot better. Don't know much about Selsey most of my fishing has been done on Hayling or at Southsea. Mid march, the plaice will start to turn up, last year it was very good at Eastney (eastern end of Portsmouth seafront) provided you could get some worm bait out 100 yds or so. You are welcome to join us for a session in the spring if you want but I couldn't promise you anything at present.

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 98

Cheers mate, I'll hold you to that...went down to clarence pier on Sunday night...if you remember that rough night...got the car washed , in the pub car-park, by the waves, and lost a rod big grin

...that was interesting...should have brought the surf board too. big grin

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:02 pm

If the weather forecast says force 6 or more I just don't go, it's too much like hard work and fishing is supposed to be fun.

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:35 pm

hang on in there, if you have the will you will find a way. dont get fixated on one type of bait or rig. when you fish it would pay to have a walk now and then. check out other anglers. sods law says that you will meet one of us and we are more than happy to allow you to pick our brains, show you rigs bait set ups ect. there are plenty of anglers out there who are more than happy to answer questions from the less experienced, we were all less experienced once. spend a little time watching others and it will all come together if you work at it and use the advice you get. dont get carried away with the distance thing tho. sometimes the big hump puts your bait over the fishes heads. above all read, sea angler or total sea fishing caters for anglers of all experience. i hope it happens for you soon mate

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 98

cheers chap..I'll have to do some reading I think...Thing is, I never meet any other anglers, who arnt using or doing exactly the same thing as me...never mind. It's a day out i guess sad

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:09 pm

Hi all if you not having Much luck
Try Magazine lane in Marchwood hampshire fish of the wall its well lit and sheltered good for night fishing and day, fish the tide over and try and cast out to the shiping lane bouys are a good mark at the mo its manly poutint and whiting have seen a bass caught by the yacht club 7 th feb but watch out for snags down that end, all along the wall is safe of snags if you go to the beach fish the middle as either side has nets in to hold sea defence rag and sqiud work well even caught a dogfish on makeral in late January you dont have to cast out more than 30 yards to be in with a good chance give it a go Eastney tride on monday 18th feb no luck then Southsea parade
no luck there

Member Joined: Apr 08, 2007 Posts: 98

wont the fish at marchwood be a bit weird...around an oil refinery.

Member Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Posts: 6 Location: Lanzarote

As a beginner myself I understand the frustration. You can imagine how excited I was last weekend to catch my first edible (only just) fish, a sea bream.

Guest

If you fish off a pier, very often the best fish are under it. Just lower away with good bait.

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:23 am

1. Tie hooks on your line.

2. Put bait on hook.

3. Dangle the whole lot in the water.

4. Sit there for a few hours.

5. Go home to wife to be comforted.

6. Have "A GOOD DAY"

Guest

Don't bother with the lottery either!