Woolacombe and Baracane 23rd - 25th Oct

[bulletproof]

Took the opportunity to have a go at Woolacombe and surrounding coves this weekend whilst on a family break.

Weather on the Saturday morning was pure evil. The whole bay disappeared and was covered in pea-sized hail, so much so that it acculumated on the roads and pavements like heavy snow. Had to actaully stop the car as I couldnt see a bloody thing. The whole bay was then spectaculary light by fork lightening which boomed around the hills and made us feel more than a bit vulnerable in the 'luxury' caravan we were in.

The worst of the weather eased off in the afternoon so our party decided a walk on the beach was good. Using a cheap 14ft beachcaster and a 4oz dexter wedge I had a go pretty much from slap bang in the middle of the bay. It was too windy TBH and my line couldnt make any distance (even standing up to my knees in the breakwater).

The Sunday was a beautiful day and the sea had calmed down significantly so we opted for a day on Putsborough to the western most side of the bay. Had two or three sessions during the day the last of which (around 4-5pm) myself and a fellow angler could actual see the bass flipping around in the shallows as the water washed back out! Only a matter of time I thought before I hooked my first bass.

I was hitting the spots with my wedge exactly where we could see the bass (no more than 30 metres out and casting across the beach rather out to sea) but they just werent interested. So frustrating. I could see impressions they were making in the water no more than 20ft from me!

What was I doing wrong?

I also rigged up a bit of limpet with a lead but they werent interested in that either.

Dito for Monday on Baracane (to the east of the bay) although couldnt see any fish there.

I have a lot to learn me thinks. Still, a beautiful place to be.

[pingu]

sounds good
dont think doing anything wrong, if the fish have plenty of bait there that they are chaseing will regulary ignore lures, keep at it , it wil happen soon enough

dave

[Martopp]

the bass were scooping sandeels up putsborough is stuffed with small sandeels april / may you get small turbot in close doing the same thing

[bulletproof]

Would it be best then to fish with a sandeel-type lure rather than the generic dexter wedge...?

[scottish_and_mental]

Originally Posted by bulletproof

Would it be best then to fish with a sandeel-type lure rather than the generic dexter wedge...?

better off leaving the artificials in the cupboard till the spring
As the weather gets harsher and the natural food sources dwindle i.e mackerel which in turn means sprats and sandeels fish become more switched on to natural food sources like worm ,crab and fish baits ..
As Dave said i doubt you're doing much wrong and its frustrating to see fish happily take the mickey out of you
I regularly use artificial shads and jellyworms plus leadheads and pirks on the boat and know for a fact that changing lure colour and size can make a massive difference to what fish react like .. Pollack and Bass are ambush predators and will sometimes hit a lure out of badness rather than hunger , sometimes its a flash of red that sets them off - other times a more natural looking 4" shad ..worth bearing in mind for future spinning forays ..
Limpets work well on beaches where they occur naturally , and during or after a blow when fish expect to find them.. If it was my sessions i'd be looking at lug,peeler,squid or mackerel nailed on the bottom with large baits on 3/0 hooks and keep the wedge till the mackerel shoals appear again next year

[bulletproof]

Thanks SM.

That's yet more helpful advice. Have to say I prefer the sport of spinning rather than looking at rods tips (even if my back and shoulder dont).

I'm still very much learning so guess it's a case of trial and error (and the helpful advice of folk on here).

I will land a bass one day.

[cuckoo]

Great report mate , you will soon be into the fish

[bulletproof]

Hope so. Might give Severn Beach a go this weekend in search of new species.