thunderhole tonight

[devondave]

ok simon didnt leave a message so thought i would tonight me and kev and simon went down too thunderhole simon sat back on the beach at meadfoot but i am not certain what he caught so i will let him add that bit.

me and kev climbed over the rocks and dropped down into thunderhole we both got fishing and the bites soon started i think i had one doggie and about 15 whiting and what i think was a poor cod right on my last cast had some good runs on the worm that i missed every damn time! could have been whiting yanking it around i suppose.

and kev had a dog several whiting and a small pout the whiting we had ranged from 8 oz up too just over 1lb so all in all a good night.


but didnt the gf tell me off when i got home

[wellyfish]

sounds like you all had fun down thunder hole,nice one ,may try around that area at weekend "weather permitting"

[Simon TorbayFishing]

I ended up with a personal best dogfish, 1 wrasse, 3 whiting and a Pollock.

Had to leave earlier than I wanted because the misses had a problem and needed me back. I was fishing from the beach next to Thunder hole (opposite the beach huts) and it was really active with lots of bites. I had run out of pulley rigs and couldn't be bothered making more :) so I just had a running ledger with a Pennel rig on the end. Only lost 1 rig so it wasn't too bad but the 2 hooks certainly made sure I pulled in more fish than normal.

The dog fish was a really weird one and I've not had this happen before. I had a tug and then nothing. I checked the line and it was tight. After 10 minutes I thought I'd reel it back in to change bait. I thought I had weed on the hook because the end of the line was heavy. I checked to make sure it wasn't a fish and for a minute just held the rod up. No movement at all so I carried on reeling in with no movement at all. As I beached it I had a 2 1/2lb dog fish just sitting on the end of it.

I've not known them not to struggle at all before. It went mad when I beached it so it wasn't tired. Strange one.

[wellyfish]

Originally Posted by Simon TorbayFishing

I ended up with a personal best dogfish, 1 wrasse, 3 whiting and a Pollock.

Had to leave earlier than I wanted because the misses had a problem and needed me back. I was fishing from the beach next to Thunder hole (opposite the beach huts) and it was really active with lots of bites. I had run out of pulley rigs and couldn't be bothered making more :) so I just had a running ledger with a Pennel rig on the end. Only lost 1 rig so it wasn't too bad but the 2 hooks certainly made sure I pulled in more fish than normal.

The dog fish was a really weird one and I've not had this happen before. I had a tug and then nothing. I checked the line and it was tight. After 10 minutes I thought I'd reel it back in to change bait. I thought I had weed on the hook because the end of the line was heavy. I checked to make sure it wasn't a fish and for a minute just held the rod up. No movement at all so I carried on reeling in with no movement at all. As I beached it I had a 2 1/2lb dog fish just sitting on the end of it.

I've not known them not to struggle at all before. It went mad when I beached it so it wasn't tired. Strange one.

hey simon had the same thing happen to me when fishing slapton a couple of months ago with kiwi,thought i hooked a dead weight or a load of weed till i got it on the beach and guess what ! a doggie

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Simon TorbayFishing

I ended up with a personal best dogfish, 1 wrasse, 3 whiting and a Pollock.

Had to leave earlier than I wanted because the misses had a problem and needed me back. I was fishing from the beach next to Thunder hole (opposite the beach huts) and it was really active with lots of bites. I had run out of pulley rigs and couldn't be bothered making more :) so I just had a running ledger with a Pennel rig on the end. Only lost 1 rig so it wasn't too bad but the 2 hooks certainly made sure I pulled in more fish than normal.

The dog fish was a really weird one and I've not had this happen before. I had a tug and then nothing. I checked the line and it was tight. After 10 minutes I thought I'd reel it back in to change bait. I thought I had weed on the hook because the end of the line was heavy. I checked to make sure it wasn't a fish and for a minute just held the rod up. No movement at all so I carried on reeling in with no movement at all. As I beached it I had a 2 1/2lb dog fish just sitting on the end of it.

I've not known them not to struggle at all before. It went mad when I beached it so it wasn't tired. Strange one.

Well done Simon,

Sounds like the Devon boy's did it again!
When bought fishing i have had doggies that don't fight at all, but when u get them to the side of the boat they wake up and go bonkers.

I am a firm believer in Pennel rigs and use them exclusively in the Bristol Channel, for Sole, Cod, Bass, Thornbacks. It suppose it gives extra confidence that you know one of the two hooks is going to get a good hold.

You bloke are so lucky down there such good fishing (over ehem "sand") so close.

Cheers
Shaun

[Simon TorbayFishing]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

Well done Simon,

Sounds like the Devon boy's did it again!
When bought fishing i have had doggies that don't fight at all, but when u get them to the side of the boat they wake up and go bonkers.

I am a firm believer in Pennel rigs and use them exclusively in the Bristol Channel, for Sole, Cod, Bass, Thornbacks. It suppose it gives extra confidence that you know one of the two hooks is going to get a good hold.

You bloke are so lucky down there such good fishing (over ehem "sand") so close.

Cheers
Shaun

I am starting to use Pennel rigs more and more. They increase the chances of catching a fish so much more than one hook. I even have a pennel rig when I float fish

No sandy bottom yesterday so I was using a 6oz weight to drop directly to the bottom and then left it there with the line just tight enough for it not to move.

On the pennel rig I had a size 2/0 for the rag and a small 4 for the top hook holding the top rag in place.

I think it was Kiwi who mentioned that I hadn't shown how to secure the top hook on my pennel rig guide so I added that to it. Pennel rig guide here

[Old Smoothound]

One tip mate,

Don't go too small on the top hook its ok for smallish fish, I have found with costly experience up here the bottom/top hook relationship needs to be closer i.e. 3/0 bottom hook size 1 or 1/0 top hook 2/0 bottom hook 1 top hook etc etc. Give it a try and see what you think.
I only ever put three turns on the hook shank and I use amnesia or better still Memorex less kinks in the line.
We normally use the 3/0 size 1 set up for Cod. As sometimes you get a ratlle from a whiting, leave it on there and Wham! Entrance made by Mr Cod... exit Mr Cod into my freezer!

Cheers
Shaun

[pingu]

usually use the pennel rigs but do find doggies hook properly and foul hook when beach when they struggle, had that strange nothing but weight with doggies as well
think it depends on how they hook

[devondave]

well i think simon caught one sleeping on the beach! because all mine put up a fight and at least now the whiting are in! some quite nice sized ones too maybe worth a trip down berry head or hopes nose after we have this big ole blow next week

[Ben]

i use a pennel alot, get lots of small fish hooked on it ie. bream with small mouths taking bites outa it
i also managed to hook 1 in its side
i have taken to using the same size hook for both top n bottom, either that or only 1 size difference
depends on bait i am using though
if using baby squid a smaller top hook is fien but with big squid a bigger hook is needed to be able to fit worm on proper as well