Basics?

[barbelblanker]

OK I know someone who has been fishing as long as me should know this (I am a lifetime coarse fisherman who has fallen in love with the the sea NOW I LIVE IN THE MIDLANDS AHHHHHHHH!, sorry rant over) .

What are the basics that the seasoned shore members go through.

Particularily.
Rigs.
How far to cast.
Just how do you use sandeel?
Baits.

I see a humble pie that needs eating and I've got the custard...

[geejayy]

hi m8y, for me its-

basic's b4 i plan a trip-

check weather and tide conditions , most importantly tide + recent catch reports.

select roughly the area i wish to fish and think about a couple of venues.

decide wether i wish to fish heavy beach rods and baits or lighter spinning/bass/ float gear, or a mixture of tactics.

once on the mark-

rigs, depends what i've got in my rig wallet , i almost always fish with a pulley rig one one rod if on an open beach,
otherwise , flowing trace/ 2 or 3 hook flapper / or clipped down rigs for distance casting.

distance , anywhere from 10 ft to as far as i can cast ,( i won't claim more than 130yds with a bait).
either casting to where i know the fish will be or searching various ranges till i find them,
there's a bit to be said about casting to a more or less specific range so as the contiuous dropping in of baits creates an area where scent and bait bits draw fish and other food items ie crabs /prawns/ small bait fish. that bigger stuff will be looking for.

sandeel-

live, hook on a long flowing trace , usually from a boat or float fished ,deep beach or rocks, either hook lightly through the lips or hook through the mouth and out of the gill then lightly nick through the bellie , not for strong casting though .

dead bait, fresh or froze, when frozen, a soft bait that often needs binding with bait elastic, fresh ones i'm told are a bit tougher, fished either nicked through the tail then into the flank, half hitch the snood line around the tail or bind with bait elastic.

or on a pennel ( 2 hooks in tandem one above the other, one into the tail , t'other in the flank about 3/4 or so down) again bind with laccy. 2 or 3 together if you want a large bait but dont mask the hook point.

sandeel top bait for rays or bass here on south coast at this time of year.

mackerel, best fresh or blast frozen .

rag/lugworm often seen as a bait for small fish but good general purpose + larger specimens will take it.

squid, i like squid, its a tough bait and lasts a while , i use it either whole or to tip worm or fish baits.

peeler crab, expensive and much saught after at this time of year for the smoothound run and further north spring cod run?
most species will be looking for it now.
alternitives are hermit crab or hard backs but hardbacks are only likeley to catch the smoothound or wrasse.
squid or ragworm are alternates for the smoothies.