Fishing Ramsgate Pier (night) Missed Bites

[Logix69]

hi i have started sea fishing once again after a 5 year change to fresh water and have been taking a few trips down to my local pier which is ramsgate in kent, it has been fishing well with some cod coming in at just under 3Lb and lots of whiting, in a 4-5hour sesion i am catching on average 12+ fish each trip but i am getting some really wicked bits that basically nearly pull my rod over the water but i cant seem to get them to hook on.

I have tryed a smaller hook and even holding the rod for when they bite i can stick better but no such luck has anyone got any ideas?

[Lewis 77]

Presume the bites you are missing are probably whiting ? Often around here if we are missing whiting bites, sometimes by shortening your snoods (to around 8 inches) can often increase your hook up rate. Shorter snoods mean once they attack the baited hook they also feel the resistance of the lead weight quicker and should hook themselves. Also smaller baits can also help if there are plenty of fish about.

Size 2 hooks are normally adequate for whiting fishing.

[Logix69]

I have tried smaler baits strips of squid but i dont seem to get as many bites, could it be that i am using the long wire booms with about 8-10 inch of line with the hook on it

[Lewis 77]

Originally Posted by Logix69

I have tried smaler baits strips of squid but i dont seem to get as many bites, could it be that i am using the long wire booms with about 8-10 inch of line with the hook on it

Assume you are using grip leads as weights ? If you were using plain lead weights this could account for a few missed bites. Sometimes if the tide is slack and no current running whiting can be harder to hook.

How long after the initial bite is it before you start to wind in ? Could leave it out longer if you reel in straight away, also make sure your hook points are exsposed when baiting up.