southport beech

[tommy710]

me and my mate are newbies to fishing only place weve been so far is the canal and a local pond,where slowly catching up with you all (really slowly) but loving the fishing hell of a lot more than we thought we would.
We fancy trying the marine lake at souhtport (as we both fished there when we was kids) and whilst where there thought wed like to have a bash in the sea too,now when we was kids we just used a ledger in the marine lake (always ended up with flatties and snig which is fine where easy pleased) but we wasnt sure how to fish in the sea off the beech,what to use as bait how how to set the rod up ledger.rig.float.etc..
basically we have no idea about how to fish the sea so any tips would be great,keep it simple as where idiots.
thanks in advance.

[pingu]

easiest way to start on the beach, rig wise is to pop to the nearest tackle shop and get a simple 1 hook rig size 1 hook or thereabouts, and weight that youre rod can handle and at this time of year mackeral is as good a bait to try to start with smallish chunks on the hook, ledgererd

if calm you can float fish mackeral pieces for more mackeral and garfish

dave

[scottish_and_mental]

Tommy if you fancy a go of proper fishing then go to your nearest pier as its easier and you wont have to worry about heavier gear for beachcasting . As Dave says either float fish small strips of mackerel or whack a bait out onto the sea bead in the same way you would ledger a lake ..

[tommy710]

Is it ok to fish off the pier or do you need permission or a permit etc?(southport pier to be exact) and if i use simple big hook and ledger is that ok? how do i know when ive got a bite,do i just watch or feel my line (someone said something about a quiver tip but ive no idea what one is and im sure i dont have one) when weve ledgered weve been using washing up liquid tops on the line just above the reel to see if it goes up (not with much sucsess).
And i never knew you could use a float in the sea,which would be great if you could as its the simplest way to fish and basically the only way we can manage (sorry but where really bad) if so what kinda float should we use (we use cheap ones from the pound shop but theyve done the job for us so far)and also will depth be an issue in the sea?
What other bait can we use in the sea,were gonna try worm for a start and some mackerel(should we just buy a tin from asda or do you mean fresh mackeral from the fishmongers?) anything else thats easy and cheap to get hold of ie maggot,sweetcorn,bread etc.
thanks again for all these tips and im sorry if you feel like your talking to a 6 year old,but like i said where really shit at fishing and know nothing so thanks for keeping it as simple as poss.
cheers

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by tommy710

Is it ok to fish off the pier or do you need permission or a permit etc?(southport pier to be exact) and if i use simple big hook and ledger is that ok? how do i know when ive got a bite,do i just watch or feel my line (someone said something about a quiver tip but ive no idea what one is and im sure i dont have one) when weve ledgered weve been using washing up liquid tops on the line just above the reel to see if it goes up (not with much sucsess).
And i never knew you could use a float in the sea,which would be great if you could as its the simplest way to fish and basically the only way we can manage (sorry but where really bad) if so what kinda float should we use (we use cheap ones from the pound shop but theyve done the job for us so far)and also will depth be an issue in the sea?
What other bait can we use in the sea,were gonna try worm for a start and some mackerel(should we just buy a tin from asda or do you mean fresh mackeral from the fishmongers?) anything else thats easy and cheap to get hold of ie maggot,sweetcorn,bread etc.
thanks again for all these tips and im sorry if you feel like your talking to a 6 year old,but like i said where really shit at fishing and know nothing so thanks for keeping it as simple as poss.
cheers

You will know when you have a bite as the rod tip will rattle ( more of a slow tug if its weed )..remember as long as there is about 90 degrees between your rod tip and line the biting fish will cause the rod to bend ..
because you need to use bigger baits you will need bigger floats but a tackle shop will sell you one ready rigged up with the weight and the hook.
As for bait get a frozen mackerel from the tackle shop or fresh from tesco..
buy herring,mackerel or raw prawns for bait and you wont go wrong

[tommy710]

cheers for the advice,i think im better sticking with herring or mackeral cos if i buy prawns ill end up eating them all,i have a sea rod i was given ill be made up having an excuse to use it.
do you have any idea if its ok to fish off the pier (southport) or if you need permission or a permit,i think theres actually a gate on the pier so im not sure if i can even get on (not been for years ill have to check) but ill be happy under it or just on the beech.
thanks again dude

[Boxerman]

Hi Tom
I see you are in Wigan. Why not get on the M6 to Preston and have a fish off the Bullnose at Preston dock? it's a very user friendly venue and if you get there early enough you can almost fish out of the car.
It's a Flounder and Eel mark, baits = Lugworm, mackerel, prawns (I use ASDAs frozen in shell) or if you're rich - ragworm.
Use 5 or 6 ounce grip wire weights - Breakaway or Gemini type and 2 hook flappers with smallish hooks (you'll need some bait elastic to tie the prawns onto your hooks).

Don't choose a very high tide as the rip current of the tide coming in makes fishing impossible until virtually slack water. Get there about 2 hours before High Water (or earlier if its a nice day - it can get busy)

PM me if you want more info

Rgds
Frank

[tommy710]

Sounds like a plan,although im not too well up on preston but im sure we can find it,well add it to our 'sea fishing list' where gonna have a go at southport,hesketh bank and bullnose now,and i like your choice of bait ie asda prawns ,a man with the same fishing budget as me,HIGH FIVE.

Bit confused about some of your terminology,are grip wire weights the little small round weights you stick on your line to cock your float (my mate calls em bobble heads dont ask hes weird) whats a type 12 hook flapper (sounds rude but ill try owt once) and whats with the bait elastic,cant i just stick the hook threw em like a maggot?

thanks for the info dude and eveyone else keep em all coming.

[Boxerman]

Originally Posted by tommy710

Bit confused about some of your terminology,are grip wire weights the little small round weights you stick on your line to cock your float (my mate calls em bobble heads dont ask hes weird) whats a type 12 hook flapper (sounds rude but ill try owt once) and whats with the bait elastic,cant i just stick the hook threw em like a maggot?

Grip wire leads are usually "bomb" shaped with wires sticking out to grip in the sand/mud to stop the tide from moving it.
It's two hook not 12 hook look here: Paternoster Rig!!!
Bait elastic - ask for some at the tackle shop, if you just hook the prawns on, they will either fly off when you cast or break up in the water.

HTH

[tommy710]

Originally Posted by Boxerman

Grip wire leads are usually "bomb" shaped with wires sticking out to grip in the sand/mud to stop the tide from moving it.
It's two hook not 12 hook look here: Paternoster Rig!!!
Bait elastic - ask for some at the tackle shop, if you just hook the prawns on, they will either fly off when you cast or break up in the water.

HTH

Cheers for the pic of the paternoster set up,thats right up my street,i struggle with the terminology sometimes on here so being able too see the set up is great,im basically just gonna copy that,i never would have thought to use more than 1 hook,brilliant,can you use more than 2 hooks or am i better keeping it simple as a novice,also do i use the same bait on each hook or use different baits??

Also someone earlier in this thread said use a size 1 hook,that seems awfully big compared to what ive been using,even though ive been fishing ponds and canals and know there is a big differance (beetween size 12 to 18 normally) but that seems like a huge jump,be made up if i catch sommat sizeable on that though,ill probably drop dead of shock.
cheers