The best day off ever!

Today was my last day off for the season as I'm leaving the island on Monday. Thus I was planning to make the most of it in terms of fishing. Firstly, I would hit my morning mark for bass and also try for mullet, then head to the East side to target big wrasse and then at midday go to a mark only accessible during low tide that yesterday saw a friend of mine catch two bass and lose another.
I headed off at around 07:00 and finding the sea choppy and the water cloudy, I was in high spirits for the outcome of the session. I started casting various soft lures but didn't get any action and seeing the mullet feeding hard on the surface, I decided to go for plan B and target them instead. I read on line that other anglers target them successfully with small spinners baited with Power Isome and i did the same. I used a #1 Mepps Aglia silver spinner and half a pink medium Power Isome on the treble. I started casting near the feeding shoals and did see some interest form the fish. I kept casting closer to the shoal and aimed to pass the lure through the mass of open mouths hoping to get a reaction bite.. I got a few plucks and finally a solid take followed by a near unstoppable run! The fish was peeling line of the reel even with the drag set quite hard. It was making powerful runs that put to shame all bass and for a moment I thought i foul-hooked it. After a few minutes the fish started to get tired and with the help of a wave I brought it in. The fish was hooked fair and square in the mouth and thus got me more confident in targeting them by spinning. After hundreds of more casts I managed to get another one, that fought even harder.. What a pity this fish is not more predatory!

Nicely hooked

Fought like hell!

After the mullet got scared away from the fight of the second fish I decided to switch back to the Bass lures. After a few casts while retrieving I gave the lure a pause and I got a bite. The fish was on and after a few runs I got a nice bass on the rocks.

I then moved to the Eastern mark but other than a small wrasse on a modified Savagear Sandeel on articulated jighead, I got no more fish, something that I was expecting though as the time had passed and wrasse feed very early lately.

After a few hours rest, I picked up my gear to go and meet a friend fishing in a mark near the North called window in the rock. On reaching the mark, I saw him already with a nice bass of 55cm that he had just landed. Losing no time, i rigged up and started casting as I know that the fish here feed for a short time around 2-3 hours before low tide and then move on. After a couple casts and seeing my friend get some bites, it was my turn with a solid take and following a decent fight another bass landed. I quickly took some pics and released the fish in order to recast. On the second cast I was in again this time with a larger fish that came up quickly and was just thrashing on the surface. It only did a half-hearted run and i got it in soon after. The fish had engulfed the whole lure and that explains the disappointing fight. After using the pliers to remove the hook I let her go in good condition.

The first one.

And the second.

I was really happy with my results and wasn't bothered after missing two bites as I couldnt ask for more! This was my last serious fishing session on the Island and it all came along as I would like. I might try for a big wrasse the following days but I'm now in planning mode for my holidays..

Thanks for reading!

Gear used.
Rod: Major Craft KG Evolution KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g
Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f
Mainline: Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid 10lbs, YGK nitlon DFC fluoro leader 10lb
Lures: 12cm Sakura Majikeel Shad Tail (soft), Savagear Sandeel (modified weedlesss), #1 Mepps Aglia spinner, medium Power Isome

The articulated jighead.

One type of rigging/presentation that Ive been using more and more lately is the articulated jighead combined with an offset hook and slim paddle tail lure. I have come to realise that along with weighted hooks for slim sluggo/ribster lures, these two presentations are very suitable for targeting both wrasse and bass successfully without having to specialise the presentation too much according to species. As this would be impractical in the short amount of time I have available along with the gear at hand...
Thus Ive had some really nice wrasse lately, in the early morning sessions while targeting bass. When the bass don't play ball I just start working the lure slower and near the bottom and big wrasse are usually up for it.. At times I had really aggressive takes when the fish attacked near vertically taking the lure subsurface! The jigheads Ive been using the most are from the company Delalande at 10gr and the lures have been the Sakura Majikeel Shadtail and modified Savagear Sandeels.

As I had some large Savagear Sandeels spare since I don't use the heavy gear as much, I decided to modify them so that I could use them with articulated jigheads, albeit in smaller weights. To achieve this I just make lots of incisions to the lure (makes it loose) as shown in the pics and also cut a small part off the front part, to make it a bit smaller and closer to the profile of the sandeels Ive seen here. (around 12cm).

The cuts.

The finished lure.

The weather has started to get more unstable and it seems to have affected the bass, as I haven't encountered them on the last two sessions. Moreover the fry has also moved from my usual mark and I'm thinking to try a couple different marks in the coming week as it is going to be my last week on this Island and I want to go with a bang! I don't think I will manage to target any bream as the time is short and I intent to focus on wrasse and bass even more.
 The night fishing shows no sign of slowing thankfully, with Scad coming in ridiculous numbers. Again, when the right pattern is found the results are instant. I have noticed that around high tide the fish push sandeels up to the surface under the harbour lights, while as the tide ebbs, they prefer to hunt near the bottom. I have used a 1.8g Tict Dart jighead combined with a 2" Sakura AJ Worm to great effect, working it near the bottom with a medium-slow retrieve and jerks letting the lure flutter down and pause it. I usually get hit as the lure falls or when I move it again. Moreover 3" Gary Yamamoto swimming senkos have worked well, especially with a heavier jighead when fish were active near the surface.

 

The following week I will try and devote as much time as possible to fishing but even if I don't catch  any big ones I think it wont matter as Ive had a very good season this summer and thoroughly enjoyed the fishing here. More over I'm really looking forward to fishing on my holidays for different species and back in freshwater too!

Tight lines and thanks for reading! 

Gear used.

Rod: Major Craft KG Evolution KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g and Golden Mean Symphonia, 8.6", 0.6-8g
Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f and Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid 10lbs, YGK nitlon DFC fluoro leader 10lb and Toray Bottom Attacker Fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Lures: various

New reel christened..

For some time now I have been wanting to get a proper sized reel for my medium rockfishing tactics and rod. So far I couldn't justify buying a new one as the little Mitchell has done very well for years.. Lately though it started to show signs of strain and since I'm going on holidays soon, I didn't want to risk being left without a reel. Thus I bought myself a Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f that really makes a nice combo with my Major Craft KG Evolution.
Wanting to try it as soon as possible, I decided on an early session for bass the next day.  The braid I filled it with, was the Spiderwire fluorobraid at 10lbs test,
I headed to my spot at around 06:00 and started out with a Sakura Magikeel shad tail on a 10g Delalande articulated leadhead. After getting some strikes without hookups I was getting a bit frustrated but persisted as the tide and time were still good.
 At some point I casted over very shallow water and speeding the lure up in order not to get snagged I saw a bass accelerating behind the lure and smash it in front of my feet!
 After a short fight I got the fish out and was really pleased managing to christen my new toy in the best way..

Later I got a smaller one on a Lunker City Swimming Ribster and a nice wrasse.

In the evening I went down to the harbour and after a few casts I got some nice squid and the usual night suspects.

Overall the reel seems very good  with a really even line lay, smooth drag and no wind knots on strong casts. Of course only time will tell if it was a good purchase but first impressions are good..
The fishing is really improving lately with most species being very active and obliging, The larger wrasse have become harder to catch as they seem to be definitely affected by the high temperatures and prefer to feed early in the day now, but I hope to get a good one before leaving the island. Moreover I have heard reports of black bream catches and I would really like to have a go at them with lures in the following weeks.

Tight lines!


Gear Used.
Rod: Major Craft KG Evolution KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g
Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4 2500f
Mainline: Spiderwire Ultracast Fluorobraid 10lbs, YGK nitlon DFC fluoro leader 10lb
Lures: 4" Lunker City Swimming Ribster, 12cm Sakura Majikeel Shad Tail (soft)

Early morning bass.

For days now I have been wanting to do some early morning sessions for bass, but work took its toll on me and I just couldn't be bothered getting out of bed! Today though it was a different story...
I woke up around 06:30 and grabbed the gear that I had prepped from last night. After a short walk I reached the mark as the tide was coming in.
The mark is a point with two gullies around it, very close to a channel between the main island and a smaller one. There are very strong currents in the channel and this place is kind of a 'refuge' for smaller fish.
I started fishing with a Sakura  Majikeel Shad Tail 12.5cm on a 10g Delalande articulated leadhead with a #2/0 Maruto Offset hook. After letting the lure touch bottom on a tight line I got the first familiar bite of the day and the first feisty wrasse was straight on,,, Getting the fish out I got a quick snap and let it go back.. After a few more casts I got the same thing again and another wrasse came up.. This fish was strangely familiar and after checking the photos later, it was actually the same fish!

I didn't just flip it over!

After a while I wanted to move to the other gully, but just as I was getting the lure out of the water a bass attacked and almost gave me a heart attack! A bad habit of this fish to hit when you least expect it... Of course I didn't hook the fish and after persisting more without any more action, I moved to the other gully. The tide had risen considerably and now covered a large boulder that is a very prominent feature in the middle of the gully. I flicked the lure right up to it and let it fall on a tight line. As the lure was nearing the bottom, it was taken.. I snapped the rod upwards and the fish woke-up. As soon as it started fighting, I knew it wasn't a wrasse. The fish was moving out of the gully and fighting at midwater taking considerable line. The fight lasted a good few minutes but eventually managed to bring the fish in and was left admiring her beauty.. I estimated the fish at around 3-4lbs and let her go after a few photos. Persisting in the same gully and after some more casts, while I was retrieving the
lure from the bottom I saw four fish circling it and in a second the larger one snapped the lure... A very good fight ensued but again the fish was landed safely and now I was over the moon! This was a larger specimen and absolutely stunning.. I took a couple photos and she was back in the sea, where her mates were waiting for her... After the second fish I tried some different lures and got some follows, but it was clear that the fish had been spooked. Thus feeling very happy chappy I went back home for a quick nap before work!

the first one.

the second.

Going back home.

the lure of the day.

A very successful short session that I hope to repeat soon. The fish are there and feed at very strict times/patterns as they do back in the Mediterranean, although with a marked preference for daylight hunting.

Tight Lines


Gear used.

Rod: Major Craft KG Evolution KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: Berkley Nanofil 0.10mm, YGK nitlon DFC fluoro leader 10lbs
Rig: Delalande articulated leadhead 10g, 2/0 Maruto Worm 19 weedless hooks
Lures: Sakura Majikeel Shad Tail 12.5cm Soft version.