Thinking ahead. Yarmouth area oct 2010

[10lber]

Once again its time to plan for my next foray on the isle of wight.
This year we will be staying at the boathouse in Yarmouth and i can forsee various hurdles to overcome.
The tide will be quite strong as it will be on its spring cycle and as anyone that knows this area, the tide can race through hurst shingle banks at a rate of knots.
I normally use a paternostered pennel rig on 1/0+ 2/0 hooks on quite a shortish trace of about 2'6".Mackrel being the choice of bait.
Can anyone tell me of a setup that will overcome these strong riptides and what i might be expected to catch in this area in oct?
I'll be there for a week and i'll be fishing right outside the boathouse right next to the beer store and kitchen HA HA.
ANY TIPS WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
Tight lines.

[cuckoo]

Hello mate , your best bet would be to pm solehunter , what he dosent know about island fishing isnt worth knowing

[10lber]

Thanks for that cuckoo. I'll see what tips he's got. Hopefully my long term planning will pay off come October.

[solehunter]

Originally Posted by cuckoo

Hello mate , your best bet would be to pm solehunter , what he dosent know about island fishing isnt worth knowing

Haha, well i dont know about that!

Hi mate, yes i know the area very well, you have picked a nice time of the year and a great bass venue to come and visit. Also the thought of a few beers and a few bacon baguettes on the beach with the rods out doesn't get much better in my eyes! Nice choice of holiday. Bet you cant wait!

The area by the old pier ( dont try to climb up on it unless you like swimming ) and the beach adjacent to where you are staying is a very good bass mark. That time of year shouldnt see the weed much of a problem to you unless its been blowing a stiff north east as that will kick it up a bit.
The trick is to fish in VERY close. 10 to 20 foot is ample and as your not out that far, a strong tide race shouldnt make you change your fishing style to much, though a 4oz gripper might just help you keep the bait where you want it without checking it every 5 minutes. Large mackerel baits will be favored and i have also done ok on whole squid around that time of year.

Personally i would use a running ledger set up for close in work with a flowing trace around 4ft using a 5/0 or 6/0 hook and a large bait. If you like pennel traces then i guess you can go a bit smaller if you with but 5/0 is about the norm for most bass anglers here.

Other than that, you should see yourself with a good few bass if you are fishing a good few hours.
Night time and early morning ( sun up ) are the best times. The first of the flood is a good time and expect bites strait away as it starts to trickle in but the best time is when the tide starts ebbing and you can fish the whole of the ebb with a chance of a good bass all the way through til low, then off you go again!

Just try to keep reasonably quiet and keep major light sources off the water and you really should see a good few fish.
I might be able to help you out with a few fresh mackerel if you remind me nearer the time.
The link below will give you an ariel view of where you`ll be staying. You can zoom in and out, go left or right and explore the area. I have put the cross hair on the boat house
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.70....3&r=0&src=msa


Hope this helps you and good luck!

[barbelblanker]

Solehunter you are being a little bit on the humble side there, it's fair to say either you know or you know someone who knows. Humility (to me anyway) is the sign of a good angler.

[10lber]

Brilliant news. I just knew when i clocked this venue that it stank of bass. Iv'e done all my hard fishing in my twenties and now i like it a bit cushy.(dont we all when were honest with ourselves). Hence this dream of a beach house.
Thanks very much (to you too cuckoo for the right directions) for all the information. I may try your technique on my boat rod as it dosnt cast that far anyway.Especially thanks for the kind offer of some mackrel.
Some real gems of information there.Thanks also for the map upload. My wife will be impressed
Hopefully i can get some nice photos of the venue and its bountyful supply of released bass( with luck) and i'll upload them to my report come october.
I'll keep in touch
and thanks again