Sea Fishing FAQ's - ANSWERED! Add Your Question Now!

The Cornish Kingfisher · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 08:52 PM

Hi guys. On numerous occasions - members, freinds and family have come to me and asked me many questions about sea fishing - i now answer the these top 12 and you can add your own!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
If so - why not ask me? I have answered the top 12 most FAQ's on here, but if you have a question for me about any prospect of sea fishing - please do feel free to add it to this thread in a reply or private message me. Good luck!

Top 12 Asked Sea Fishing Questions - ANSWERED:

Q: Why sea fishing?
A: Most people prefer to sit in a quiet area with sandwitches fishing - coarse, carp and fishing that's a bit more relaxed. On the other hand - many people - like myself for example - prefer sea fishing - mainly for the simple reason that it's ''more exiting''! Everyone will have their own different personnal view on every type of fishig - but some people prefer the exitment and exiliration of the sea.

Q: When beach fishing - where and when should i fish?
A: When fishing at unknown beaches - it always pays to have a walk along the beach at low water looking for areas of broken stone amongst the sand, weed beds and lone rocks. These features can hold shrimps, crabs, small fish and shell-fis, and all types of fish will swin around these areas at high tide in search of that food - so the more fish food you find - go back there! Other good ground features are deeper parrallell gulluies that run alongside the beach, holes scored out by the tide and areas where sandbanks rise up higher then the surrounding ground and the ends of wooden groynes and sea defences. As tide will stir that food - it can move the fish into the gullies - whitch is where to aim for in good times. Locating these hotspots will increase your chances of catching! Most experianced anglers prefer to fish in the early morinings.

Q: What bait should i use for beach fishing?
A: Good baits for this are ragworm, lugworm, small strips of frozen mackerel, sandeel, crabs and possibly some squid. All of these can be found in various places or easily bought from most tackle shops and local fishing stores.

Q: What rig should i use for beach fishing?
A: An easy and simple shore fishing rig starts with a three-way swivel tied at one end of a 24-inch legnth of a 20lb main line and a 2/0 ovel split ring lead link at the other end to take a 3oz - 6oz weight. The trace should be about 15in and half - three quaters the streghth of the main line.

Q: When pier and breakwater fishing - where and when should i fish?
A: The best time to fish for mackerel and garfish off these venues is ussaly in the early morning or late evening. They can still be caught during the day but a bright sun and passing boats can drive them down tne water deeper and deeper. Mackerel and garfish are quite easy to catch and are great as a summer fishing target. They can be found from most spots on piers and breakwaters but are mainly around the very end of the area where the tide movement will be a bit more then along the sides. Also, try inside the pier or breakwater away from he main tide run. As the water depth increases - mackerel will come into the harbours and piers. The garfish can do the same although they are usslay based a few more feet deeper but can rise to feed on the mackerel. It's always best to cast where the birds are flying!

Q: What bait should i use when fishing off a pier or breakwater?
A: Mackerel and garfish will generally eat fillet strips of smaller mackerel and fish. They will also feed on sand-eel, crabs and ragworm. Feathers and lures are great for catching mackerel.

Q: What rig should i use when fishing off a pier or breakwater?
A: The older and traditional float method is probley best for these paticular venues. To do this - you will need to attach your elastic, bead, float, ball weight, another bead, a swivel, your trace and a hook to make this float rig.

Q: When rock fishing - where and when should i fish?
A: It's probley best to choose ipen shore rock platforms that can allow your to cast into a good depth of water. For pollack and wrasse, a depth of at least 20ft can give you great results. The wrasse will be right under your feet at the rock ledges. They will also hang around narrow gaps in between and underneath the rocks. They will usslay be around in mid-afternoon as they don't come out that much during the nighttime. Small pollack will also live amongst these gaps and ledges - so keep a look out! They ,ay also be around weedbeds whilst feeding whitch may need a further cast. Bass will happilyu swim in more shallow waters, around 10ft - 15ft and will ussaly feed, like pollack - more near dusk although may still feed eraticly during the day - depending on the quantity of smaller fish and food present.

Q: What rigs do i use for fishing off the rocks?
A: Spinners and many lures will work great for bigger pollack and bass. You can use any method you want but bigger bass will deffialy be attracted to lures - or sand-eel and mackerel on a paternoyster float rig for bait.

Q: How should i handle and return my catch?
A: Always hold fish in a cloth - prefrebley that is moisturised with sea water. If you handle fish with bare hands - it can really harm them. Some fish such as bass and gurnards will have sharp spines on their back, belly and possibly under the fins to be carefull of these! Unhook the fish as gentley as you can. Never throw the fish back - especiily at a rock - it's always best to get as close as you can and place them in the water. It's also a good idea to hold them under water for 5 - 10 seconds before letting them go again.

Q: What safety tips and precautions should i follow?
A: For a full guide on your personal safety whilst sea fishing - please see this thread: Your Personnal Safety Whilst Sea Fishing...

Q: What guidlines should i adhere to when sea fishing?
A: For a full guide on the shore anglers code on conduct - please see this thread: The Shore Anglers Code Of Conduct...

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR OWN QUESTION FOR ME TO ANSWER! I MIGHT ADD IT TO THIS MAIN POST!

I hope this information helps!
Tight Lines!

The Cornish Kingfisher · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2008, 04:12 PM

Q: I am thinking of changing to multiplyer reels. What key features do i need to look for and what price am i looking at?
A: Multiplyers costing under £40 ussaly have a qusetion mark above them as far as durability is concerned. Although nowadys - better quality and lower priced reels are avalible. You need to bear in mind that winter weather and salty seas can play havock on poorly-made reels. Good makes are: Abu, Shakespere, Daiwa and Penn. Try to avoid certain reels with a ''level line system''.
Magnetic brakes are a great feature to look for in today's multiplyers - although most now already have them so look out for some!
At the moment - try checking out the new Grey's G-Mag multiplyer - it's a nice capacity reel for all-round shore fishing.