Bassing

I had the good fortune to learn about drift fishing for bass from the apprentice to a long time bass angler recently. And even more good fortune to put that learning into practice and bag some bass! Some of the tips were contradictory to other advice, but they worked. Here's what I learned.

This is about drifting offshore banks such as The Overfalls with live sandeel as bait. You can find suitable banks easily enough, just go to The Overfalls (marked on the charts), and look at your fish-finder! Bait has to be live sandeel, everything else is a poor substitute although I have heard of good catches on shads and sandeel-like feathers.

Rods can be anything, but a light rod is more fun. A 10 foot carp rod would be ideal. Fixed spool reels allow fast drops and retrieves. Line has to be mono, not braid - about 15lb BS max. "That's wrong" I hear you say. Nope. We tried it back to back ,and mono out-fished braid 16 fish to zero. I suspect that braid makes the weight bang on the bottom, mono has more stretch and the weight may bounce more naturally.

Weight no more than two ounces, and let it drift waaay back from the boat, trundling along the bottom. Trace length is about a rod-length for convenience. Hook is a fine uptide pattern, 2/0 was recommended but after I lost a number of fish I upped to 4/0 and hung on to all fish after that.

Sandeels are hooked by passing the hook through the mouth and out through the gills, and just nicking the belly with the bend of the hook. If you still have a bait left at the end of a drift, put it in a bucket of water while you motor back for the next drift. It speeds up fishing if you have a pattern, one person manages the boat while the other checks and sets up both baits for the next drift.

Takes will be obvious, and there is no need to strike: the rod will heel over as if you have snagged but the snag will be moving. Just tighten up and the fish will be on. The take zone can be before, over or after the bank so make your drifts long enough to cover all possibilities. Bass shoals move around so if you have a few drifts without takes, try a different track or a different bank. A chart plotter track is invaluable, you can position exactly to cover a successful drift or try an area a few yards to the side.

Any area of sandy banks can hold bass at the moment. Big tides are much better, the commercial line fishermen don't bother getting out of bed for Neaps. That is all I can tell you. The other 98% is experience....

Navy Activities Portsmouth 24-27 July

This could be worth going to -or if you are planning to fish in or near Portsmouth Harbour entrance you need to be aware of the QHM Nav Warning just issued:

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth that between 24 and 27 July 2008 due to the “Meet Your Navy” event (Navy Days) there will be the following Portsmouth Harbour Channel closures and adjustments to the Small Boat Channel Rules. These measures are necessary to ensure safety during the various air and on-water displays, which are planned to take place in the Harbour between South Railway Jetty and No 3 Buoy and in order to maintain security during the event. As far as possible, these displays have been arranged so as not to conflict with commercial movements within the Harbour.


2. Table of programmed closures:Date Time Closed Area Display/Activity24 Jul 08 1700-1725 Portsmouth Harbour area as RM Dynamic Display 1745-1810 outlined in para 3 (Rehearsal) 25-27 Jul 08 1300-1330 Portsmouth Harbour area as RN SAR Display Outlined in para 325-27 Jul 08 1405-1435 Portsmouth Harbour south of RN Historic Flight Display50° 50’ N and Main Approach Channel 25-27 Jul 08 1505-1525 Portsmouth Harbour area as CG SAR Display outlined in para 325-27 Jul 08 1610-1640 Portsmouth Harbour area as RM Dynamic Display outlined in para 325 Jul 08 1700-1730 Portsmouth Harbour south of Red Arrows Air Display50° 50’ N and Main Approach Channel These timings, which are subject to modification will appear on the Daily Harbour Movements Signal and be announced on the day by QHM Harbour Control on VHF Channel 11.


3. During the Red Arrows and RN Historic Flight Displays the entire Harbour and Main Channel south of 50° 50’ N will be closed and is to be clear of all traffic. During the other Displays a Temporary Exclusion Zone will be set up between the following points: the southern corner of North West Wall Jetty, to Pile 101, to Pile 98, to Pile 95, to Shell Pier, to the southern end of Oil Fuel Jetty to the southern end of South Railway Jetty. During Harbour closures and when this Temporary Exclusion Zone is in operation the Harbour will be patrolled by Ministry of Defence Police Launches and RIBs and vessels of the Volunteer Harbour Patrol.


4. As part of the safety requirement for the Red Arrows and RN Historic Flight Displays, the following Navigation Marks will be temporarily enhanced by the use of large yacht racing buoys: Ballast Pile, No 3 Buoy and Pile 96.


5. Outwith the closed periods outlined in paragraphs 2 and 3, vessels under 20 metres in length are to comply with the normal small craft rules as outlined in LNTM 42/05 and 28/07 adjusted as follows:a. For the duration of the “Meet Your Navy” Event, the Small Boat Channel will be extended northwards to the vicinity of No 3 Mooring Buoy. b. Notwithstanding the 50 metre exclusion zone outlined in LNTM 28/07, all craft are to use the extended Small Boat Channel when transiting the Harbour and are not to approach Warships alongside to avoid unnecessary security concerns.


6. Vessels should only cross the Harbour with direct permission of QHM Harbour Control and should only request this clearance if they have a confirmed booking at Gunwharf Quays or the Town Camber.


7. The routine Tour Boats will be allowed to continue but their operation will be affected by the Channel and Harbour Closures outlined above.


8. Further details of the “Meet Your Navy” event can be found at the website: http://www.meetyournavy.co.uk/


9. Cancel this Local Notice To Mariners Mon 28th Jul 2008 (12 days)

Seeing ships on your chart plotter

I have been watching ships in the Solent area on web pages just for fun while I was at home, without realising that the same AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology can plot those ships on your own chart plotter on your boat. How handy is that? Better yet, it costs under £150 for the parts, and gives more shipping information than radar costing more than ten times as much.

I recently fitted a NASA AIS engine to pass AIS signals to my Garmin chart plotter - more information and a "how to" guide is on my Boat Angling web site . I reckon it is a huge, and relatively low cost, addition to safety at sea. Most of us worry about being run down by large commercial craft who don't see us at anchor, or if we break down in a shipping lane. With detailed information on the vessels name, heading, speed and MMSI number displayed on the plotter, you know exactly how close it will pass, and if you are concerned you can dial in the MMSI number on your DSC VHF radio and a talk directly to their bridge. The chart plotter and AIS engine will not drain the battery like a radar will, so you can afford to leave it on, which has another benefit. You can set a safety zone around your own boat, and an alert will sound if the plotter detects that a ship is encroaching on that space. Handy if the fishing is good and you haven't had a look around for a while!

As an example, this photo is a screen shot of the very first alert that sounded when I connected the system up. The dredger Donald Redford is heading out of Langstone at 7.5 knots, and has entered the 0.2 mile radius "warning Zone" that is centered on Salar which is sitting in Southsea marina. Hardly a danger, but it proves a point. I didn't even know it was there.

Film Stars

The RNLI invest a lot of time and money trying to reduce the number of distress call-outs by working to improve safety and knowledge of everyone who goes on (or even by) the sea. Recently they analysed the call-outs to leisure craft and discovered no less than 11 different categories of marine sports that have resulted in distress calls. To try and improve safety awareness, the RNLI are making a series of short educational films, one for each of these different sports. It will be no surprise that one of them is sea angling.

I was contacted by Simon Jollands of The Knowledge Zone, a film company based in Cowes that have been commissioned by the RNLI to make these films. They needed help producing footage of real anglers, real angling boats and real fishing situations. Of course I was delighted to help, not just because it was supporting our favourite charity, it was also an excuse for a fun and different day afloat. I asked Arron to help out with Aquaholic, and last Tuesday Simon arrived at the marina in a huge and impressive RIB with his cameraman Steve Sleight, and Richard Devereux from the RNLI.

We spent an hour or so alongside the pontoon going through the script and filming sequences like engine checks, safety equipment (oops, my flares are out of date - best check yours too!) and radio procedure. Then we went out into Langstone Harbour for some simulated fishing and some moving-boat shots. Richard came along with me to play the part of a keen angler (although he wasn't).

I thought feathering for mackerel would be an easy start, but I didn't realise how easy it would be. I gave Richard a rod rigged with feathers, showed him how to drop it over the side and then jig it up and down. On the second "jig" his rod came alive and he was straight in - that was all of 15 seconds. So why did it take me over an hour when I really needed bait last week? Richard could not be persuaded that fishing can actually be quite difficult, and proved his point by hooking (and losing) a reasonable-looking bass!

Simon and Steve put some good sequences of Salar and Aquaholic in the can, and we are looking forward to seeing ourselves in action. When the set of films are finished they will be distributed free by the RNLI, I hope to have a link to the relevant ones on http://www.boat-angling.co.uk/ . The photo above shows (left to right) Simon, Steve and Richard after we had finished filming.

Now its the Round the Island Race!

No respite for us peaceful anglers! Last week it was the start of the Round Britain Powerboat Race, now on Saturday 28th June marks all around the Island will be unfishable because of the annual Round the Island race. You can find details of the RTI course here; and the following warning notice was issued by QHM Portsmouth today:

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS

No 15/08

ROUND THE ISLAND YACHT RACE: 28 JUNE 2008

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth in conjunction with Associated British Ports Southampton and the Cowes Harbour Master (Notice 10 T / 08) that the “Round the Island” (Isle of Wight) Race will start from Cowes between 0600 – 0740 Saturday 28 June 2008. Around 1700 yachts are expected to take part in this event.


2. The anti-clockwise course around the Isle of Wight will be from Cowes starting West-about around the Island and back to Cowes. Turning marks for the race are at the; Needles Lighthouse, Saint Catherine’s Point, Bembridge Ledge Buoy and No Mans Land Fort, all marks being left to Port.


3. Due to the number of competitors taking part the starting times have been staggered to take place at approximately 10 minute intervals between 0600 and 0740.


4. Starts will be from the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Westerly Transit Line, off Cowes, between the Squadron and the West Bramble Buoy.


5. The main bulk of the fleet of yachts is expected to pass the Bembridge Ledge Buoy between 1500 and 1800 whilst the peak finishing times at Cowes is more likely to be between 1600 and 2000, these times are nonetheless wind and weather dependant. Should the weather forecast indicate light airs the finish line may be adjusted to be within the vicinity of Bembridge Ledge. All yachts taking part will be equipped with VHF and will keep a listening watch on Channel 16 and 37A (M).


6. Cancel this Local Notice To Mariners Sun 29th Jun 2008 (6 days)

Round Britain Powerboat Race, Portsmouth

More information on the race itself is on http://www.roundbritainrace.co.uk/ . The following was issued by QHM Portsmouth for safety information regarding the relevant dates:

LOCAL NOTICE TO MARINERS
No 14/08
THE 2008 ROUND BRITAIN POWERBOAT RACE 21 - 30 JUNE 2008

1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Queen's Harbour Master Portsmouth in conjunction with Associated British Ports Southampton (Notice 47 (T)/08) that the Round Britain Powerboat Race will start from Portsmouth on Saturday 21 June and finish in Portsmouth on Monday 30 June 2008. There will be approximately 48 powerboats in total taking part in the event with two starts, one at 0930 and one at 1000. As part of the race build up, there will be a ten minute aerial performance by the ‘Black Cats’ Helicopter Display Team to the south of Southsea castle, starting at 0910.


2. The Race StartThe Race Boats will depart from Gunwharf Quays from approximately 0830 onwards, exiting the harbour on the Eastern side under the control of the QHM Volunteer Harbour Patrol and proceed to the holding area just West of the Submerged Barrier. At 0930 and 1000, a Race Start Boat will lead the Race Boats to the Start Line which extends from Southsea Castle to a Committee Boat 3 cables to the South. Once over this line, the Start Boat will initiate the Race Start by lowering the Start Flag. In the event of reduced visibility in the Solent or congestion in the area of the proposed course, the Start Boat will lead the Race Boats at a reduced speed through the Solent until the visibility improves or the congestion clears. QHM Harbour Control will make warning broadcasts throughout the morning on VHF CH 11, which will include a Portsmouth Main Channel closure between 0900-1000A.


3. Once clear of the start line, the Race Boats will then pass between the following gates before exiting the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth to the West:
   Gate 1: Spit Sand Fort and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the North.
   Gate 2: Gilkicker Point and HMS GLOUCESTER 5 cables to the South.
   Gate 3: NE Ryde Middle Buoy and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the North.
   Gate 4: N Ryde Middle Buoy and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the North.
   Gate 5: South Bramble Buoy and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the South.
   Gate 6: East Lepe Buoy and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the North.
   Gate 7: West Lepe Buoy and a Mark Boat 2 cables to the North.
   The course then proceeds West past Hurst Point.
   Mark Boats will fly an extra large Blue RYA flag with Yellow writing.


4. Black Cats Helicopter DisplayPrior to the Race Start, there will be a ten minute Display by two Helicopters of the Royal Navy “Black Cats” Display Team commencing at approximately 0910. The display will take place in the general vicinity of the Race Start Line, approximately 100 to 400 yards south of Southsea Castle. All craft are to keep clear of this area during the display.


5. The Race FinishThe first Race Boats to finish are expected to enter the Solent from the East at approximately 1200 on Monday 30 June 2008. They will leave Horse Sand Fort to starboard and immediately turn North to run towards South Parade Pier leaving the submerged barrier to Starboard. Approximately 3 cables from the shore they will then turn to the West around a large inflatable yellow Mark to cross the finish line which extends from Southsea Castle to a Committee boat, or another inflatable mark, 3 cables to the South. QHM Harbour Control will make warning broadcasts on VHF CH 11 that the Race Boats are in the Solent. The first Race boat home will be escorted into harbour by QHM’s Launch via the main channel to berth in Gunwharf Quays. All other Race Boats will enter harbour in the normal manner. At 2100 the finish line will move South to Horse Sand Fort.


6. Spectator CraftThis is a high speed race and in the interests of safety all craft not participating in the race must keep well clear of the Holding Area, Start Line and the intended track. All vessels should proceed with caution and keep a good lookout whilst navigating in or near the area of the race.


7. Safety/Marshal BoatsFor the Race Start on Saturday 21 June, there will be approximately 50 Race Safety/Marshal Boats displaying a large Blue RYA Flag with Yellow lettering stationed along each side of the intended track through the Solent. Mariners are strongly advised to heed the advice given by the safety and Marshal Teams.


8. Cancel this Local Notice To Mariners Tue 1st Jul 2008 (14 days)
   Mon 16th Jun 2008Semaphore TowerHM Naval Base, Portsmouth.

Mackerel aren't always easy

Thanks to Scott at One Degree West, Salar is now back up and running after the burst oil pipe was located and replaced. I took her out on Friday on a long cruise around just to make sure the engine was running OK. First stop was at Horse Sand Fort to catch mackerel for bait (and if the rest of the day was a blank, at least I could say I caught some mackerel). Trouble is, after an hour drifting and feathering, only three of these oh-so-easy mackerel were in the cool box.

Then I remembered my own advice from last year - mini lures. I had made a string or two of miniature mackerel tinsel lures tied to 20lb line which worked well when the mackerel were being choosy, but had forgotten about them. I found a set, tied them on and within two minutes had a take, then a full string. Ten minutes later I had enough bait for the day. I even caught more with the rod dangling over the side while I was baiting up later on. Is any more proof needed that sometimes those mini lures work better than standard mackerel feathers and lures? There is a section on my web site called "Catch More Mackerel" describing how to make them (for little more than the cost of the hooks).

Mackerel and DIY

The mackerel are here in force, which is great news because they are a fantastic bait, taste great in all sorts of guises, and with light spinning tackle can be very sporting. We have been catching them around the Forts, at the harbour entrances and also over the fishing marks too. When you are using strings of feathers I am sure you will have found that after only an hour or so, the feathers or tinsel can be stripped leaving a perfectly good set of line and hooks. Recognise this?

Although they are cheap there is no need to throw them away. You can buy mini squids from some tackle shops which make ideal replacements - just slide then over the hooks and fix in place with superglue.

The downside is that the squids probably cost the same as a new set of feathers! Here is a much cheaper alternative. Rummage through your gift-wrap box and find a length of tinsel cord - the sort that is made up of braided tinsel around a core of string. Silver, gold and colours all work.

Pull the string out, cut off a 5cm length and thread it onto the hook like a worm. Tease out the tail with a needle, fix the head in place with superglue and your feathers are ready for action again.

If you want a lot more sport with mackerel than feathering, try spinning with a light rod, fixed spool reel and a small heavy lure like one of these:

If mackerel are near the surface, the seabirds will give the game away by wheeling and diving. When this happens, take your boat upwind or uptide, kill the engine and drift down onto the feeding zone. Make some long casts into the shoal, let the lure sink a few feet then strip it back fairly fast. Takes will be aggressive - you could hook a mackerel, scad, garfish or bass and any of them will give you a good run for your money on light tackle. My favourite spots for this type of fishing are between the Blocks and Langstone Harbour entrance, and even up to the East Winner if the wind is not too strong. Enjoy!