21st August

[keana]

Parked at the end of Fort Road and walked the short distance throught he cutting in the cliff to the very end of Lavernock point. I walked around to the right about 300 metres just on the edge of the pebbles and boulders where the beach turns to shallow ledges which are filled with smaller stones, sand and kelp. Lots of fairly large lugworm casts and their holes were dotted between the stones. Perfect Bass territory. I had just been to collect my bait from the local tackle shop, half a dozen soft back crabs and a fivers worth of Rag. I also took some frozen squid, mackie and sandeels which I thought I would use on my second rod in the form of a coctail. High tide (a neap) was at 6.30. I started fishing at 2.30, some 4 hours before high tide and with a strong westerly blowing. I slid some ragworm up the hook of my pully rig followed by a softie which was duly lashed with elastic thread. I had left half the legs unlashed to give the effect that they were scrabbling along the bottom. I Lobbed this out about 50 - 60 yards and put the rod on a stand while I set up the other. I set the other rod up and gave it a lob out to get rid of the loose line from my previous session as I didnt want it birdsnesting with juicy rag and crab bound to the hook. I retrieved the lead quite quickly with my Daiwa SL30SH. Just putting the rod down on the rest and the tip of my other rod arched ferociously towards the beach below it in one movement. The but came up off the beach and went crashing down again as the pressure on the tip subsided. By the time this had all happened, I had dropped the other rod and tripped over its but in an attempt to get to this bite quickly. I picked the rod up, reeled in some slack and waited........and waited. After about 5 mins, I reeled in to find the bait almost intact except for a few missing crabs legs....the ones I`d left dangling. This must have been a Bass hitting my bait at speed, picking the crab up by its loose legs. Must have been in such a hurry that it didnt come back for the rest, or it might have felt the hook.
Apart from a slack line bite on my next cast (which I also missed) that was that. Another blank but at least some bites this time. Maybe I got there too late. I wonder what it would be like there with the same bait but fishing the first couple of hours of the flood tide..........I might go back to find out.

[Greenheart]

Nice Report Keana but a pity about the Bass. Had the same thing happen to me when I fished Brean Down. Don't half wake you up when the rod crashes over. Missed my fish too. Better luck next time.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Shame about the fish mate - great read

[fishypaul]

smashing read keana,you will get the bass next time mate