simple questions to help a novice

[colin]

Hi Guys,

I am new to sea fishing and, if I am honest, don't have a clue what I'm doing. I'm hoping some of you will be able to help me with some questions I have.

If I am fishing from rocks what's the best rig to use?

I have read a lot of stuff about shockleaders etc, what should my line, from spool to rig consist of?

What's the best bait to be using, I'm not fussy what I catch as long as I catch something.

When's the best time to fish i.e. tide in or tide out, coming in or going out?

How do you know what depth to set a float line at?

I think that's it for the time being. Obviously any help is much appreciated and any other stuff you care to share.

thank you

 

[greggthe1]

Welcome to NESA mate. You are in the right place for help.

Pulley rigs work best for me from rocks.

I never use shockleader just 35lb line straight through.

Best bait depends on what you want to catch but off the rocks try fresh or frozen peeler and mussel. Worm baits should also start catchin more as it gets colder.

Best time is 2hrs either side of high or low tide.

You need a good stiff rod for rock fishin and a reel that will pull you out of some thick kelp.

Forgot the most important thing...rotten bottoms on your rigs....leave them off and you could loose loads of gear and worse.........that ONE BIG FISH!!! hope this helps.
This is just my opinion as i'm still learning myself.

 

[The Great Wallsendo]

Hi Guys,

I am new to sea fishing and, if I am honest, don't have a clue what I'm doing. I'm hoping some of you will be able to help me with some questions I have.

If I am fishing from rocks what's the best rig to use?

I have read a lot of stuff about shockleaders etc, what should my line, from spool to rig consist of?

What's the best bait to be using, I'm not fussy what I catch as long as I catch something.

When's the best time to fish i.e. tide in or tide out, coming in or going out?

How do you know what depth to set a float line at?

I think that's it for the time being. Obviously any help is much appreciated and any other stuff you care to share.

thank you

Hallo Mate - welcome to Nesa

Shockleader - 10lb of breaking strain for every ounce of lead you want to cast with EG 50lb line for 5oz lead....plus about 10 turns of leader on the reel.

Bait - really depends on what you can lay your hands on. Worm baits, fresh/frozen peeler etc - they all catch ...I'm currently a huge fan of mussel.

Float Depth - tie a stop knot in the line and adjust it to suit the depth..if your float is lying on it's side then you set it too deep. It's often a case of figuring out where the fish may be and that could take several casts.

Cheers Tony

 

[colin]

Thanks Guys,

I have tried mussel Tony. However, the time I got them out the shell they were very difficult to get on the hook as they were in bits, once on the hook I tied them with elastic and tried them on a 3 hook flapper ........ no joy though. Do most fish take mussel and should I be getting the mussel on to the sea bed with a sinker?

Greg what rotton bottom set up do you use if you use 25lb staight through, how do you set a rotton bottom on a pulley rig?

Cheers

 

[The Great Wallsendo]

Thanks Guys,

I have tried mussel Tony. However, the time I got them out the shell they were very difficult to get on the hook as they were in bits, once on the hook I tied them with elastic and tried them on a 3 hook flapper ........ no joy though. Do most fish take mussel and should I be getting the mussel on to the sea bed with a sinker?

Greg what rotton bottom set up do you use if you use 25lb staight through, how do you set a rotton bottom on a pulley rig?

Cheers

Leave the mussel to go a bit rubbery...then pile it on, I agree it's a pretty difficult thing to hook when it's fresh...it just takes practice ...I like mussel (in lieu of crab) coz it's smelly and will bang out a a decent scent trail...also cocktail it with other baits.

I'll let Gregg tell you about rotten bottem rigs as i've a feeling we'd say the same thing LOL

 

[colin]

When you say pile it on how many mussels do you out on and on what size of hook? Do the mussels go on the hook shank leaving the bend, barb and point free? How long does it take for the mussel to go rubbery? I have been shelling mine the night before, puting them in an airtight container and leaving them in the fridge.

Cocktail it wioth other baits? By that I take it you mean put more than one kind of bait on the hook, what do you cocktail yours with?

what size of sinker would you suggest for a pulley rig? do you bait both hooks, the main one and the little one right above it?

Cheers muchly

 

[phill_itofish]

Rotten bottoms:

Basical the idea is you have you weight on a week link so if it gets snagged it will snap off and you only lose your weight and not your whole rig. The obviouse problem with that is the light line wont withstand a cast! the solution is a rotton bottom rig, theres plenty of ways to do this. I fint the 'escape links' ear the easied but many people just use a rig clip. in either case you put your 'escape link' or 'rig clip on the bottom of your rig tie you week line to it then to the weight, then clip you weight into the 'escape link/rig clip', the idea being when you cast the weight is attached to your rig/stronger line, on impact it release and is kept on by the week line, if you get nagged the week line will snap and you'll get your rig/fish back.

 

[The Great Wallsendo]

When you say pile it on how many mussels do you out on and on what size of hook? Do the mussels go on the hook shank leaving the bend, barb and point free? How long does it take for the mussel to go rubbery? I have been shelling mine the night before, puting them in an airtight container and leaving them in the fridge.

Cocktail it wioth other baits? By that I take it you mean put more than one kind of bait on the hook, what do you cocktail yours with?

Cheers muchly

Let the air get to the mussel to dry it out a bit...the missus will prob complain like

Depends on the size of the hook and what you're targeting....obviously Flatties would be on something no bigger than a 1/0...which could easily accommodate a couple lashed onto the hook shank and leaving the barb free. You could tip this off with fish strip, or worm.

With a larger hook, for larger species, you could bulk out the bait with other shellfish - Razorfish, Clam etc etc and don't worry that these sound exotic as most Tackle Shops will sell them in frozen packs....as long as you leave the barb free you can really pile on the bait....there's a certain Angler on here who fires out tennis ball sized baits

Again like Gregg I'm no expert - I've only been back in the game myself since early summer...a lot of the answers I've given you were given to me by the lads and lasses on here LOL...so I'm just regurgitating their fine wisdom

Another way is to get out and about with people off here...I've fished with a number of the lads on here and you can learn quite a bit....I had to convince my lass this wasn't a dogging website - especially when I'd say i was off to Blyth (saying that you could always ask KeithB about his experiences of Blyth Beach :exclam::question:he he he)

There's a few of us fishing Blyth Pier/Beach on friday night if you fancy coming across

 

[phill_itofish]

oh and if your fishish St Abbs your most likley to be fishing in kelp, if you are i'd just tie up a very simple single hook flapper with a rotten bottom! if your using pennel pulleys the extra hook and bait clip/impact shield is just somthing else that can get you snagged!

 

[colin]

Thanks or the invite mate but I'm working Friday night, I do night-shift, maybe some other time.

the Mrs's isnt to pleased about how much time i spend on the forums and isn't totally convinced we just talk about fishing LOL, didn't help matters when I come home after my first outing stinking of fish and telling her I had cought crabs LOL

At St Abbs we just fished from the harbour entrance, we had the kids with us so couldn't get out over the rocks, next time maybe.

I am off to Filey on Monday for 4 nights so I may take the gear and give it a go down there.

thanks for all your wisdom amd help it is appreciated. I am going to order some stuff tonight to make my own rigs, that way it will be cheaper and a more sustainable loss LOL

 

[KeithB]

I can recommend this site for cheap swivels etc

Fishing tackle on-line shop for lures, pike lures, carp lures plus swivels, traces, hooks, rods, reels, rigs, traces and floats

 

[jamcod]

colin the best advice i can give to learn sea fishing is to join a local fishing club . i had the same problem new nowt i joined shiremoor and my fishing took off , go to the meetings and sit and listen to the club lads , jamcod

 

[alan]

I never use shockleader just 35lb line straight through.

Hi Colin
There is nothing wrong in Gregs advice regarding fishing straight through without a shockleader from the rocks,just remember for general sandy beaches,harbours and piers its advicable to use a lighter breaking strain main line and a shockleader,

 

[Hillbilly]

Allright mate,
might pay to join a club and spend some time fishing with experienced anglers,dont fish many comps myself thesedays but have learnt alot when younger fishing local comps.Also with regard to Mussel,I agree with the lads good bait,I like to shell it and put it in fresh water which makes it swell and go off a bit maybe even add a bit runnydown juice with it and freeze it.Almost edible!!!!

 

[peter.m]

For what it's worth I would advise staying clear of the rocks until you get a hang of things. Have a bit time on the beaches and piers and start catching some fish without the hassle of losing and re-tying gear. Once you've got a bit confidence going then try the rougher stuff. Seen many people get hacked off and give up after trying the rocks.

 

[codnot]

hi

hi

check the rig section out on the left m8 & the tips there is a lot of info their good luck m8

 

[gazzawill]

i agree with peter on this one try the beach's peirs ' jetties or esturies first till you build up a bit of knowlage on rigs baits ect then hit the ruff stuff

 

[colin]

Hi Guys,

First of all thanks to everyone who has given advice, it is appreciated and noted. I have been informed, and my own research would suggest, I need a bigger and better rod, spool and line so can anyone suggest a decent rod about 12ft-14ft. As I am new to this sport would you suggest I stay away from multiplier reels or are they more superior and not as difficult to master as I now fear?

Line - I bought myself some okuma ultra max 20lbs 0.44m yellow line, is this ok for the main line and is the main line refered too as the fly line? Obviously I can't use this straight through and will need a shockleader. If there is such a thing what would be a versitile shockleader and sinker weight for fishing from rocks, jetties, peirs etc?

If anyone stumbles over a good rod & reel combo deal can they let me know, my budget is limited though so nothing top of the range but nothing that's tat either.

Lastly can I thank you all for putting up with my relentless questions, I'm hoping once I get the right gear sorted out I can discuss marks with you all and tell you about the huge fish I catch LOL.

Cheers muchly again

 

[codseeker]

shockleader 10lb strenght to every ounce of weight so 6 ounce weight would recomend 60lb shockleader

 

[The Great Wallsendo]

Line - I bought myself some okuma ultra max 20lbs 0.44m yellow line, is this ok for the main line and is the main line refered too as the fly line? Obviously I can't use this straight through and will need a shockleader. If there is such a thing what would be a versitile shockleader and sinker weight for fishing from rocks, jetties, peirs etc?

For a beach, light line and shock leader is fine...if you are fishing off rocks however it's best to have 30lb+ line straight through as you'll only end up having to re-spool a shock leader length every time you lose your end tackle (something I've recently learnt myself:red

I'm currently fishing with a large surfcasting style fixed spool and to be honest, from a beach, it's horse for courses whether you go with a multiplier or not. But from the rocks I am going to invest in a multiplier - as you'll need something with a bit more winching capability to get through the snags.

As to a rod...well there's umpteen choices you can go with...various lads on here will tell you their favourites and the pros and cons associated. As a novice (which I still class myself as one) I guess you have to sometimes take a leap of faith and go with other peoples wisdom...