seaweed problems and hi

[Pee Dee]

Hi all
Just thought I would introduce myself. A newbie to sea fishing, apart from a few mackerel caught from Bournemouth pier in my teens, and eels and crabs from Poole quay. After a long break decided to renew my fishing interest.
Off to a bad start though. Bought a new 13' beachcaster, a reel, and some tackle and went for my first attempt off Swanage pier. First cast, lost it in the weed, snarled up good and proper. So, over to the float. Had a few nibbles, lot of little Wrasse sucking the rag off the hook
Oh well, down to experience, nice sunny day, even the missus enjoyed it.
Next outing, yesterday, went down to Worbarrow bay. Guess what? Lost two lots of tackle to the (I assume) dreaded weed. A two hook rig, and a pulley rig. As I bought these ready made, that's five quid up the Swanee
After just two hours, gave up and went home. But am I disheartened? No.
Having found this wonderful web site, my confidence is renewed.
So, help please. Is this a common problem around the coast, and how do I get over it? Is there some special rig that keeps the hook above the weed?
Look forward to all my problems being solved, well, fishing problems anyway

Regards
Pee Dee (Pete)

[geejayy]

hi m8,
i've not been to warbarrow but it being on the purbecks i'd expect it to be rocky rough ground which will be tackle hungry unless you float fish or use rotten bottom rigs and or random scrap for weight old nuts/bolts etc , anything valuless.
stronger mainline may assist you pulling out of weed , what b/s do you use?
or you could fish venues that are less snaggy.

bournemouth/southbourne beaches are clean/sandy snagfree ground best fished imho at dawn or over night. under the grange hotel is my fav spot but most ppl fish at the bistro or end of prom.

[Pee Dee]

Hi Geejay
thanks your advice. It could be rocks I guess, as there was no give at all when I tried to retrieve my tackle. But at Swanage I think it's just weed.
My line is 10lb bs on a fixed spool. The line broke, and not the rig, so might need a stronger bs, say 15 or 20lb?
Noted your advice re Bournemouth beaches, and I guess Sandbanks might be good too. Guess it'll all come clear eventually
Rotten bottom rigs? Can you give details please?
Cheers
Pete

[BaggieRich]

Welcome to the forum Pee Dee.

A rotten bottom is an arrangement that connects your weight to the rig safely and firmly to allow you to cast, but disengages on impact with the water, leaving just a very weak B/S line the only thing between the weight and the rig once it's been cast.

The theory is that you can still cast safely without the weight flying off and killing someone on the beach, but if you do get snagged up the weak b/s line will break first and you only loose the weight as opposed to your rig/shockleader/fish.

It doesn't stop you loosing weights, hence people use spark plugs, old leads, heavy bolts, bags of sand.

I use an oval ring at the bottom of the rig and one on the weight with a panel pin holding the two together, then 10lb b/s line with a couple of overhand knots in it as the weak link between the two oval rings.

[Pee Dee]

Hi Baggie Rich
thanks for the reply, very useful. I just did a search on here for rotten bottom rigs and found a nice picture of the rig you describe. Looks a bit complicated, but i'll get down the Poole tackle shop for the bits and pieces and try and put it together. Nuts and bolts, sparkplugs, I like it! I'm all for improvising

What's the fishing like down Exmouth way. Go for a Sunday drive down there occassionally, West Bay, Sidmouth, nice area.

Pee Dee

[geejayy]

hi p/d ,
10lb i recon is a bit light for general beachcasting 18-20lb will be easiest to start with maybe dropping to 15lb on clean ground once you get confident & require more casting distance.
the 20lb will cope with most things but my rough ground reel is set with 30lb straight through, i don't fish into the rocky ground much so i'm still learning what works , either way over rocks your going to get snagged and loose tackle as a matter of course all you can do is try to limit losses.

for cheap rigs tie your own - hooks, swivels & snap links/lead links are the basic components plenty of ideas posted here and there but a basic flowing trace will suffice.

i'm undecided as yet but may fish southbourne thursday night. if ya want a natter

[Greebo]

Hi all, total beginner here, but been reading and thinking about this...

Just a thought mate, but are you using a shock leader? If you're losing a lot of rigs, then I suspect your end tackle isnt strong enough to disngage from the weed or rocks and will break at the wekest point - usually this will be where your main line joins the end tackle so maybe usinga 40 or 50lb shock leader will help you.

Like I say, just a beginner, but this shock leader thing was the first thing my mate told me about.

[Pee Dee]

Hi Greebo
Not tried shock leader yet, will look into that.
Have been using a weak link (10lb bs between rig and lead), but, ironically not had any snarl ups since to test it! Can't be bad