The Quest

[Old Smoothound]

Hi guys,

Just thought I would post a little something about my latest quest.

Since catching my first ever Grey Mullet I have become very taken with them, so much so that I have joined the National Mullet Club. To fulfil my latest ambition I decided to go fishing for the elusive Golden Grey Mullet or "Goldie".

I have tried a couple of venues but to no avail………………………until now.

I had heard on the grapevine that one or two "Goldies" had been caught from Rhossilli beach at Llangenith, a bit more digging revealed that the National Mullet Club had held a "Fish in" there at the beginning of July but the "Goldies" had eluded capture. (Not sure on that point) so with some degree of trepidation I laid plans to fish the revered Gower coast.

As it would be a long walk and I would be fishing standing in the surf with my rod held at all times, the outfit had to be light and comfortable.
Tools for the job were a Grauvell 11 foot spinning rod, light and with a good through action, enough to cast up to 4ozs. Reel was an Abu 5000 CT small and light, this gave a nice balanced outfit to fish with. No need to go heavy on this beach as the tidal pull is not as great as in the Bristol Channeland you are casting no more than 40 yards at most and generally 20 -30 yards.

The rig was a simple affair essentially a 2 or sometimes three hook flapper with 2 foot long snoods of 10lb fluorocarbon and no hardware such as swivels and crimps holding them to the 20lb Supersnood back bone of the rig. They were held there with loops and power gum stop knots. Hooks were size 6 B940 Kamasans. Bait was fresh "maddies"/ harbour rag / "mud worms" / "reds". These had been ordered in advance and were collected on route to Llangenith.

Low water was at 10am so my plan was to fish one hour down and 2 or 3 back up, the most productive period being in the first 2 hours of the flood. As it was a neap tide I would not be pushed back up the beach every 5 minutes and this would give me time to search the water for the elusive "Goldie".

So now with my rod set up, hooks baited with at least a dozen maddies on each, gear stowed on my tripod, I cast my first my first salvo into the surf.

The cast was no more than 20 - 30 yards just into the 3rd breaking wave, the rod was held low and with a tightish line to the lead to give me ultimate bite detection. After a short while, the tell tale plucks of the rod tip told me a flounder had got hold of the bait. I lifted the rod gently backwards and connected with the fish. A nice flounder of a pound or so surfaced 15 feet in front of me, and on my light rod it put up a bit of a scrap. With the flounder safely released, I re-baited and cast back into the surf. My next 2 fish were School Bass of about a pound / pound and a half or so and another 4 Flounder I even had a double shot!!

As I looked down the shallow water streaming up the beach to my right, about 20 yards or so, I saw them………breaking the surface……..fins!!

The cheeky little Mullet were actually closer in and were following food items right up, in no more than 4-6 inches of water. Damn I was in the wrong place! As it's easy to do with very little gear I moved down the beach 15 yards or so and started to fish there.

After a while I was wondering if these fish were actually taking the micky!! I was trying all sorts of tricks to get them to take my bait and one was to hold my rod a bit higher to lift the bait up a little….then it happened……. The rod top hooped over and my line was zig zagging through the surf…I was into my first ever "Goldie"

I will post a piccy tonight once I have sorted a problem on my computer at home.

I'm planning my next trip over there before the season ends………….but that will be a few weeks yet. They stay at Rhossilli until about October if it is mild, so I have a few more chances to catch another one or two until then.

[pingu]

excellant report and good tips smoothy,sounds fantastic
well done and look forward to pictures

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done mate and reads a wonderful day

Looking forward to the pic

[FlyingFox]

Great report mate...glad you got into one in the end and sounds like its gonna be the first of many well done fella

also looking forward to the pic (love golden greys myself)

Ollie.

[Portland Pirate]

Good catch and good report.

There is nothing more pleasurable than hunting down and catching a target fish.
I will give the same technique a go down at Weymouth Beach.

[Rob M]

Seriously good info Smoothy and fantastic report mate! I'm hoping to try for mullet soon with Ollie, can't wait!

Rob

[Old Smoothound]

Sorry fellas...the problems I am having with my computer at home is down to being virused nothing serious just lost all my e-mail stuff but its playing up.

So wil post piccies later sometime.

[Pross]

Well done Smoothy. I'm still awaiting my first mullet of any kind. If you fancy company on your next attempt give me a shout!