Managed to get a pleasant few hours in this morning down at Chesil Beach with a few fish to boot. I had been keeping an eye on the weather all week with the run of north easterlies due to break today and for once the forecast held firm giving me the opportunity to go for it… an early start though as I wanted to fish high water down to low – high was around 5:30 a.m. I arrived bang on time, got my kit together and headed off into the dark… it was chilly.
Once I reached my preferred starting point it was a case of walking and casting and in the early darkness I opted for the trusted Zonk in Hot Shad flavour. Just as the light started to come up I had a hit but this was no bass and sure enough the first of about a dozen mackerel was found to be the culprit.
Like all mackies they do have a tendency to go nuts…
Same mackerel when it had decided to quieten down a bit…
It was obvious why they were there too… there was lots of evidence washed up with tiny bait fish strewn along the tide line of the shingle bank.
I was struggling to get past the mackerel to be honest – as well as the Zonk I took them on Gunfish at the surface and then the Duo Tide Vib Slim 140 deeper down though my hopes were raised when I had a more familiar take from a bass on the Duo lure. I didn’t get to land it as it shook itself off in the surf close in but, all the same, it was more encouraging. Lucky it wasn’t of any size otherwise I would have been less benevolent with myself!
A couple more mackerel followed but then finally I got my bass tally off the mark – nothing big but it put up a decent scrap nonetheless and was again a victim of the Duo Tide Vib Slim…
A word on the Duo lure, it seems to work well at this venue where it’s a relatively clean bottom and all the bass I caught on it today were by the sink and draw method allowing the weighted nose to sink fast. I’ve really enjoyed fishing this lure this year – it’s a bit different and in big surf it really does come into it’s own – casts well and doesn’t get bullied by the waves.
Another bass of similar size followed before a couple of other lure anglers caught up with me – they had similar success with mackies and small bass. By now it was getting on for 11 a.m. and I’d walked a fair way so decided to about turn and fish my way back – I changed the lure back to a Zonk and immediately had a take from a bass but it was another one that shook itself off in the surf and thankfully again it was no monster. Plodded back a further half mile and the Zonk was hit again and this felt slightly different with a lot of manic thrashing – the offender soon identified itself as a garfish… another lively customer!
Next cast and it was bass time again which thankfully didn’t unhook itself – like all they bass today they were not much to write home about but good sport on the lures…
One more followed but by now I was tiring so decided to call it a day and trudge back to the car into an annoying and increasing headwind! It was not the most pleasant walk I’ve ever done!
Here are a few more photos from today…
The Chesil sky today…
The Megabass Zonk in Pearl Rainbow…
Down at water level…
So, as I say, a pleasant few hours and nice to pick up a mixed bag of fish – just need those bigger fish to play ball! Not sure when the next trip out will be but hopefully sooner rather than later – I reckon there’s some good Autumn ‘bassing’ to be had yet!
Until next time…
Hooks, Lines & Sinkers 