LLangennith Beach - Monday Evening

[JuanPablo]

Headed down to Llangennith on Monday evening armed with a spinning rod and some frozen sandeel that I had left over from a fishless session last week!
Was hoping to bag a turbot to be honest - have had some off the gower beaches at this time of year and whilst they are mostly small some are of a keepable size.

Fished a running ledger with a size 1 hook attached to a 4ft snood and a 1oz lead as there was little surf and i couldnt use anymore weight on the spinning rod!!
I waded out in a pair of shorts - mistake it was absolutely freezing especially as it got dark!!
First cast fishing a chunk of sandeel body I reeled in a mackerel - perfect livebait size but I didnt have suitable hooks so returned him. Didnt expect any mackerel to be honest as was fishing a small tide on the ebb!? to be honest i didnt expect any fish at all i just wanted to get down the beach for the evening!!
anyway second cast again with a chunk of eel and i have a cracking bite - i strike and the fish is on, doesnt feel very big but is fighting more like a school bass than a mackie.However she is lost just as im about to catch a glimpse!!! Bait was obliterated including the bait elastic...
Next cast - Im REALLY cold by this point and again a typical bass bite - strike and this one is nodding away and stripping line!!! I cant believe how good this mini last minute session has panned out. This feels like a certain bass and of a reasonable size. Im nearing the point in the closest surf table where I lost the last fish and Im taking it much easier this time, my instinct tells me to wade into the surf more and meet the fish but its just too COLD!

Unbelievably I lost this fish too - I cant blame bullying, I gave no slack line, the bait was a perfect size for the hook and was secured with elastic so the point wasnt masked, the hook was sharp as hell and brand new. Ive come to only one possible conclusion - apart from my own incompetence i think my spinning rod wasnt capable of setting the hook properly when i struck.
i hadnt taken into account i had mono on for a start, i had a wave generated bow of line coz i was fishing with a very light rolling bomb and whilst the spinning rod is fine when a bass hammers into a plug or spinner because most often they hook themselves with the bottom fishing method i needed my bass rod.

i will never forgive myself for these shortcomings and am hoping to redeem my sins tomorrow when i intend visiting Llangennith one last time before I head back offshore for 3wks.
Im going to stick with the spinning rod but adjust my striking style and hopefully all will be well!

[pingu]

good luck juan

nice too see you out again

dave

[fishypaul]

good report jp,better luck next time out,don't forget your waders mate

[Norfolkboy]

Nice report John, shame you lost a couple of fish.