Fail! Weston Beach

[SpanishJon]

Being a newb, I did done tons of reading online about shore line fishing to make up for the lack of experience.
However, ive had a real lack of success in the last 3 outings ive made So i clearly still dont have a clue!

Trip 1 - Hayling Island, based myself near the sailing club, started fishing around 7pm with rag worm, and the wind was so strong I couldnt even cast straight... mind you, it got so dark that I couldnt even see if I was even landing on the water... however, I managed to catch someones snapped line, (not even the fish) that had a small bass!, the rig that came along with it was quite good so ive kept it!
That was about it, the conditions were awful.

Trip 2 - weston shore (woolston/netley), as its near my house, fishing with rag again... caught nothing and the frikkin crabs kept on eating my bait. Every time i cast into the water, i pulled it out with crabs all over it.
Fishing time around 7 again, the tide was nearly at its highest (not sure if thats a good thing) and full of algae and really shallow. Didnt appreaciate the small kid that came over, "Caught anything yet? No? my dad was here a couple days ago and he caught two massive bass in like 10 mins"..... Thanks for that....

Trip 3 - I have just come back from fishing from there again, quite pleasant conditions again, tipping with squid to try and keep the rag on the hook... I have caught nothing all day, not even a bite. I tried using a float, a wishbone rig, a pulley rig, rigs with spoons, etc... finally ive decided i hate the place!!! I did manage to pull about 20 small crabs off the water though! no joke!

Anyway this wednesday 18th fishing conditions are meant to be the best in a while (as per this weird moon fishing calendar thing that ive found), as you can see im even resorting to black magic! Fish are meant to be feeding early morning 5-7am and late 6-8pm 11-12:30pm... aparently

Whats the best recommendations that people got for a decent place to go?
Being a newbie my set up is probably crap and im doing everything wrong but I should at least get a bite!!!!

Sea fishing is so frustrating cos its hard to know if there are even fish around!

[scottish_and_mental]

don't despair my friend.. Weston is pants at the best of times.. pop over to town quay for a decent bit of fishing after dark..
As for the moon calendar i wouldnt bother lol . deifferent species feed at different stages of the tide - some venues you can only fish on small tides - some wind directions ie- strong easterley will mean the fish dont feed at all ..
theres plenty fish about - its about the right location with the right baits at the right time

[SpanishJon]

Thanks for the encouragement, in hayling island there was a real strong easterly wind and a passing by fella did say fish don't like it. When you say town key you mean behind margaritas?

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by SpanishJon

Thanks for the encouragement, in hayling island there was a real strong easterly wind and a passing by fella did say fish don't like it. When you say town key you mean behind margaritas?

Hayling fishes better on bigger tides. aim for Eastoke and fish to the left of the main car park or up at the Inn on the beach..
Town quay is where the red funnel ferry departs mate.. drive onto the 'peir' and you can fish on the right hand side with almost no weed nor damn crabs that fill the solent at this time of year .
I fished along near milford on sea last night and pulled out 3 rays and a dogfish on sandeel .
stick to rag in southampton water as fish baits get mullered by crabs.
Lee on Solent,Hillhead,gilkicker are all fishing well - just pick the right tides !

[SpanishJon]

Wicked, cheers for the shout. Gona go saturday, either there the town quay pier or lee on Solent. Lee on solent is probably harder to fish in but id like to go somewhere with a bit of scenery..
A few of my mates are up for it aswell, so there might be about 4 of us going. If anybody else wanto join up would be fun.
I hope the weather saturday is good! and the tide! and the wind! dammit.. so many things to take into account!

do you guys ever eat what you catch or you take it back? Mind you I cant think of ways to cook rays or dogfish... Dogfish is meant to be a bit tough.. :-p

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by SpanishJon

Wicked, cheers for the shout. Gona go saturday, either there the town quay pier or lee on Solent. Lee on solent is probably harder to fish in but id like to go somewhere with a bit of scenery..
A few of my mates are up for it aswell, so there might be about 4 of us going. If anybody else wanto join up would be fun.
I hope the weather saturday is good! and the tide! and the wind! dammit.. so many things to take into account!

do you guys ever eat what you catch or you take it back? Mind you I cant think of ways to cook rays or dogfish... Dogfish is meant to be a bit tough.. :-p

pm on the way with some info for saturday
Im out tonite as i work saturday nites but i'll have my fingers crossed for you all !

Most of us will keep a bit of fish for the table - bass around 1-3lb , mackerel,pollack,plaice etc.. dogfish is an aquired taste and effort to skin .. i couldnt bring myself to kill a ray - ive taken long enough just trying to catch one and think they are amazing creatures

[SpanishJon]

I would join you tonight but going out for a drink!
yeah thats fair enough bout the rays and the dogfish..
My mate has just mentioned maybe going to LEPE near calshot for a change sat morning
Ever been fishing there?

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by SpanishJon

I would join you tonight but going out for a drink!
yeah thats fair enough bout the rays and the dogfish..
My mate has just mentioned maybe going to LEPE near calshot for a change sat morning
Ever been fishing there?

Lepe country park is great for scenery but not that hot for fish in my opinion . there is a deep water mark up there but its probably better later in the season .. daylight wont produce much anywhere unless you find deeper water where the mackerel and pollack are about .. bass will take lures and mullet on bread up near lepe but not a lot else.
Magazine lane on the same side ( before you get to Hythe ) is worth a go after dark too ..
Hamble river for bass and mullet on float fished bread or rag during the day
Steve

[SpanishJon]

Cheers for the info. Man you know locations like the back of your hand. Do you go fishing, all the time??
I didnt think of bread, do you freeze it so it stays on the hook?
Im guessing bread is more of a daylight fishing thing, right?

Yeah I dont think its a good season, I been told this time of the year is good for plaice and flatfish though.

I been told by the side of the bridge is a good place to fish too.

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by SpanishJon

Cheers for the info. Man you know locations like the back of your hand. Do you go fishing, all the time??
I didnt think of bread, do you freeze it so it stays on the hook?
Im guessing bread is more of a daylight fishing thing, right?

Yeah I dont think its a good season, I been told this time of the year is good for plaice and flatfish though.

I been told by the side of the bridge is a good place to fish too.

Ive been fishing around here for over 20 years and still know nothing lol
fresh bread - as fresh as you can get it and gently pinch it onto the hook
plaice will come from the open beaches like Eastney and Chesil and dont venture into the estuaries .. small eyed and spotted rays will come to sandeel after dark .. too late really for flounders and too early for sole .
If it was me and i was going with some mates i would head for town quay - only scenery you will see is the local weirdos though or try Lee on Solent by the amusement arcades ( lots of weed around at the minute tho ) ..
by the end of the month the huge smoothounds will move in to feast on th epeeling crabs and the fun really begins