Jika rig and new arrivals...

The past couple weeks I had almost zero time for fishing and that wasn't agreeing with me.. So as soon as I got my day off yesterday, I was out fishing... There were strong south westerly winds that ruled out fishing at my usual marks, thus I visited the same area as last time even though I was dreading the descent that followed... Reaching the large rock-ledge, I started getting ready and prepared a jika rig with an offset hook and 5gr sinker on a size 1 Owner split ring. This presentation is meant to allow the lure to move relatively free and close to the bottom. It is not as snagless as a pegged texas rig but the movement the lure gets is very appealing..
 First cast near the rock wall and got a good bite. I set the hook and after a spirited fight got a wrasse on the surface. I got the net in my hand but by then the fish managed to shed the hook..! I recast again in the same area and felt a tap while the lure was sinking . I set the hook again and the fish started an unstoppable run and cut the line in the end! By this point I was getting really pissed off with this but I persisted and finally managed to get one, albeit smaller than the lost fish..

Jika rig.

The weather was getting worst and I decided to move to another mark. I went to the northeast side of the island and thus had the wind on my back. The waters are not so deep here but there is plenty of vegetation and reefs. I settled on a small gully and I could see a reef about 20m in front of me. I cast there, let the lure sink, and after a few twitches got the firs bite. I strike but missed the fish.. I continued the retrieve and let the lure settle in a clear patch. I got bit again and after feeling weight I stroked hard and had a big fish on the end of my line. The fish made some powerful runs but slowly I managed to bring it closer by applying steady pressure. When it came closer I could see its bulk and knew that it was another trophy! It was moving left and right but I managed to slip the net under it and land it. It was a beautiful wrasse of 2.4kg and I was really gutted I didn't weigh my previous big wrasse as that one was even bigger!

After the big fish I decided to take a break as I had some plans for pollock fishing in the evening.
Around 19:00 and with the tide coming in I went down the harbour as I had heard that pollock started to show along with mackerel and didn't want to miss out. I got the heavier gear with me as I was planning to fish mostly with pirks and shads. Arriving at the harbour I saw some locals fishing with floats and feathers, and they were absolutely smashing them! Some friends were also fishing with sandeel imitations but had only managed one pollock. I decided to throw a 25g Solvkroken Jensen pirken and soon I got the first little pollock of the season.. After that the fish went quiet for us, while the float boys were getting all the attention, landing some nice pollock and mackerel! I was puzzled by the fish preferring to be caught on such crude gear but it also gave me food for thought about my presentation. They seemed to prefer sandeels fished static under the float, thus I changed lure to a 3'' Big Hammer swimbait in a silvery green colour and fished it slow on the bottom with occasional twitches. This paid off with two more pollock before I called it a day.

After that session I still had thoughts on improving my presentation. I was thinking that I would have more chances to catch these fish with the LRF gear as they preferred smaller baits (common in spring time as the fry is still too small). Thus I went straight to the harbour this morning to test my theory and I got a pollock and a mackerel in a quick session before work. Both fish were caught on a 5g mini pirk with a silver and green colour...

All in all I'm glad the pollock and mackerel are finally here, as they offer something different from the usual bottom wrasse fishing and plenty of fun too! Nothing wrong with wrasse (I love them) but after two consecutive months catching nothing but them I d like some variety!
Im now thinking about different presentations for specialising on these two species, maybe involving floats or bombardas but will need a lot of testing and more gear purchases (!) but I'm sure that this summer will be very productive.

Thanks for reading and tight lines!

Gear used.
Rod: Golden Mean Symphonia, 0.6-8g, 8'6'', Shimano Beastmaster bx stc, 2.40-2.70m, 14-40g
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000, Abu Garcia Soron Stx 40
Mainline: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 3lbs, Berkley Nanofil, 0.10mm
Rig: Jika, 5gweight, Owner N1 Rig n Hook offset, Owner N1 split ring
lure: Reins 4'' rockvibe shad, Reins 3'' bubbling shad, Jensen pirken pirk, Big Hammer 3'' swimbait, Jaxon 5g Ice mini pirk.
 

Angler on a ledge...

On my day off I wanted to do some more exploratory sessions around the island. I have been here for a month and a half now and there are still marks I haven't visited! On Tuesday the weather gave me an extra reason to do so, as there were strong westerly winds and they affected the fishing on my usual marks (most on the west side of the island). Thus I gave a look at the map and found a promising area on the east side.. Only downside is that the access would be very difficult as it is a sheer cliff-face..
Not knowing if I could fish there I still took my LRF gear and went for a hike.. The only accessible mark I found was a beach, that although lovely wouldn't contain many rock-loving species like wrasse... There was a path amid bushes and shrub, leading on the top of the cliff and after a while it lead me close to the sea and to a less bushy area. I carefully descended and managed to find a single rock-ledge that I could stand and fish on. The waters where deep and on my right there was a small bay, full of big boulders in close proximity to a drop-off and a few reefs about 20 meters out. A very fishy spot..
I started fishing with a Trigger X craw imitation, on a weedless jighead and as soon as I dropped it on the bottom I started getting taps. The fish weren't taking very aggressively and after a few missed takes were I didn't manage to set the hook properly (big hooks on light rod) all went quiet..
I tried many other softbaits but there was no more action. I reverted on the Trigger X craw, but this time texas rigged on a N1 Owner Rig n Hook offset hook and a 3.5g bullet weight. I kept casting almost at the rock-walls and let the lure sink on a semi controlled drop (letting line when it was getting tight) and after a couple casts I got some taps. I let them develop and as soon as I felt the weight I set the hook and managed to land the first fish of the session  after a spirited fight.

The rock ledge.

After the first fish all went quiet again and I decided to move to some rocks (exposed by the tide) closer to the centre of the boulder-strewn bay. I continued using a craw softbait, but changed to an Ecogear Bug Ants. First cast into a deep hole and I got a bite. Tried to set the hook but the fish let go.. Second cast, bite and this time the fish was on.. I felt solid weight and the first run was unstoppable.. A few more runs and I slowly started to get it under control. With steady pressure I was getting it closer and away from the bottom. When it came near the surface my jaw dropped! It was a proper rock-pig! And since the tide had fallen even more I now needed to find a way to reach it with my net.. After some 'panicky' moments and a last  run, I finally managed to net the fish and get it on the rocks.
I had no scales with me but this fish was well in excess of 2.5 kgs as it dwarfed my previous pb of 1.8kgs. Anyway, It was an impressive fish on my LRF gear and a new pb so I was over the moon!
I kept fishing the small bay and managed a few more fish, all on the Bug Ants. After that I decided to move as I felt completely 'full' from this session.
The way up was a martyrdom, but it was all worth it in the end..

 

 

I had another session yesterday morning and only managed two little wrasse again on craw lures, The conditions seemed perfect but as I have started to note, fish so far have tended to bite better at midday and after. More over I'm noting that fish start to show preference for creature baits and this is pretty reasonable as I haven't seen any fry about yet.
All in all, I'm hoping that this weather stays like this, so that I can get some action with the summer species!

Thanks for reading!

Gear used.
Rod: Golden Mean Symphonia, 0.6-8g, 8'6''
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Rig: texas, 3.5g bullet weight, Owner N1 Rig n Hook offset.
lure: Trigger X flappin craw 7cm, Ecogear Bug Ants 3''


 

Trying for something else... Wrasse again!

The past week, the weather has been stable and relatively nice with plenty of sunshine. Moreover I have been hearing reports about pollock and bass being caught around the Channel Islands and thus thought that its about time I got the heavier gear out and give it a go...
I only had time for a couple short sessions and adding that they were around low tide, didn't fill me up with high hopes. Nevertheless, I had a session at the north part of the Island, at a place that although seems promising, hasn't provided something special so far. I chose that mark because there are strong currents and mixed bottom as well as some reefs close in. I got my Shimano Beastmaster BX S.T.C (2.40-2.70m, 14-40g) and my bass/pollock lure boxes and started trying some lures that have been successful in the past. I was casting mainly metal jigs, large soft plastics and minnows for a good part of an hour, but with no touch or even a follow... Meanwhile I could see under the rock-ledges I was standing, some wrasse moving around.
 Getting fed up with the heavy stuff, I changed to a 3.5g Illex Texas jighead and mounted a 3'' Big Hammer swimbait and dropped it down near the base of the ledge.. Immediately after touching bottom, I got some taps and after striking lightly, I landed the first wrasse of the session. Not a monster (this area doesn't seem to hold big ones) but a blank-saver. Soon after, I was getting more bites and managed to miss a few of them, but the culprits were landed soon after, being greedy little wrasse!
I was having a lot of fun, but I had to stop and go back to work.

Today I had a chance for another short session, but this time I got my LRF gear and headed to my favourite mark. The spot is very deep with kelp, big gullies and semi submerged reef. It has provided the bigger fish so far. As it was low tide, even this area had low water levels, but I was sure the fish would be hanging out in amongst the kelp and boulder bases. One of my favourite methods and very suited to fishing for relatively passive fish holding near structure, is the dropshot. So I tied a size 1 Owner wide gape offset hook with a palomar, about 50cm from the lead (to be visible just above the kelp). I mounted a Berkley Gulp Bibi worm and casted near the edges of the gully I was facing. I managed to hook a fish second cast but after a short fight it managed to shed the hook.. After not seeing any action from the gully, I moved to another spot where a big rock is constricting the water flow with good depth and kelp. I tried to cast as close to the rock as I could and this paid off with a nice wrasse.

The bites dried up a bit and I changed lure to a Keitech live Impact. I got some interest with a fish taking the lure on the drop but failed to hook it. Soon after I got another wrasse that shed the hook while I was ready to net it! The hooks are too big for my little rod to set them properly me thinks...
 While I was bringing it in, I saw another one follow it from under my feet and immediately after loosing the first one, I let the lure drop. I got a bite but the fish wouldn't commit. At that point I saw some interesting shapes and shadows moving near the surface and thinking it could be bass, I changed lure to an Ecogear paramax on a 3.5g jighead. After a few casts, I got no interest and as the time was nearing to the end of my break, I tried to fool the same wrasse under my feet. I let the lure drop and with a couple twitches up and down got the fish to bite and managed to hook it! I landed it and although small it was really interesting seeing the fish take the lure so close..

Well, tomorrow is my day off and I hope to get some more 'quality time' on the rocks!

Thanks for reading

Dimitrios

Gear used.
Rod: Shimano Beastmaster BX STC, 4pc, 14-40g, 8'-9', Golden Mean Symphonia, 0.6-8g, 8'6''
Reel: Abu Garcia Soron STX 40, Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline:Berkley Nanofil, 0.12mm, YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Rig: Illex Texas Jighead and dropshot.
lure: 3'' Big Hammer Swimbait, 4'' Keitech Live impact, 7cm Berkley Gulp Bibi worm, 3'' Ecogear Paramax.

Red letter day!

Today was my day off and the weather was very agreeable, so without second thought I grabbed the gear and headed out with my brother. We walked towards Little Sark, at the south part of the island to do some exploring/fishing there. On reaching an area I already noted at google earth, I was really getting a good feeling as it seemed it could hold fish. There was a relatively deep and broad gully with some large boulders and plenty of kelp. A true wrasse-mark. The tide was coming in and there was a light breeze. I started by using the wacky rig as I wanted to test it on wrasse for a while and this place/conditions seemed ideal to do this.
I rigged a 4'' Keitech Live Impact on a 3.5g Molix Racing Guard jighead and casted in the middle of the gully. As soon as the lure touched bottom, the bites came and after waiting for a couple seconds so that the fish takes the lure better, I struck and following a short tussle, the first wrasse of the day was in the net. It was only a small one but very welcome.
Following this fish I recast and after some jiggling on the bottom the same thing happened, only this time the take was much more violent and after a hard run, I felt the line go limp as the fish managed to cut it on the rocks.
Big wrasse on LRF gear can mean some lost fish... I retied the same jighead (on doubled line) and kept fishing. I had fish biting everywhere and they were coming thick and fast, providing me with serious adrenaline doses! They weren't monsters, mostly 1-2lbs but on a 0.6-8g rod they gave good fights and even snagged me a couple times. Again I was just waiting and letting them on a loose line until they made a move, this worked most times.

The mark.

 

 

After having a few fish on the Live Impact I decided to change lure to something cheaper as they were on a feeding mood and tearing the soft plastics apart! I put on a 7cm Berkley Gulp Bibi worm, straight hooked on the jighead and worked it slowly with a few twitches and stops. The fish didn't seem to mind and kept coming to be netted by my brother..

 

Working my way along the rocks, I reached the head of the gully, where the water was much deeper.
The wind had also picked up and waves were crushing but it seemed fishable. I scrambled on a boulder and dropped the lure straight down. It took a while to reach bottom, and after some twitches, I felt some bites and then solid resistance with the drag screaming, but again the fish managed to bust me up. I pulled a little one later from that spot and then moved to the adjacent bay.
The water there was much more turbulent but I still managed a nice fish on a texas rigged Reins Curly Curly.

 

 

Overall, this has been the most successful day of fishing Ive had on the island so far. Most of the fish weren't big but since I was fishing with my LRF gear, I couldn't expect much.. A 3lbs line is not enough for the bigger fish in this environment. Moreover I was very impressed at the hook up ratio and general effectiveness of the wacky rig, as I only lost a couple fish (due to striking too early).
I hope I will get some more sessions like this one on my days off...

Thanks for reading and tight lines!


Gear used.
Rod: Golden Mean Symphonia, 0.6-8g, 8'6''
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Rig: mostly wacky with a 3.5g Molix racing guard jighead
lure: 4'' Keitech Live impact, 7cm Berkley Gulp Bibi worm, 4'' Reins Curly Curly.





 

Ups and downs..

The past week was not very successful. A combination of several factors contributed to no fish on the bank.. Although the weather has been sunny, the sea has been rough from swells and intense winds that in combination with my limited time didn't allow me to fish the most protected  (and hard to access) areas. Another major negative factor was that I managed to break my little travel rod (first and hope to be the last time) and thus was left with only my heavier setup which doesn't really lend itself to fishing light soft plastics..
Fortunately, I had ordered my new LRF rod (Golden Mean Symphonia 8'6'') a few days before the disaster and managed to get my hands on it very quickly. I tried the new rod only a couple times but the rough sea was a constant problem..
Things changed today though. The wind died down a bit and the sea was fishable. Getting an early break from work I moved hastily to my favourite mark and started fishing straight away.
The first impressions from the rod were good as the sensitive tip registered every move of the lure and due to being very light was a joy to use. I was fishing a deep gully that fish tend to stay under my feet and using an Ecogear Bug Ants with a 3.5g weight, started fishing directly beneath me. I was working the lure with small twitches and letting it touch bottom again and after a few casts got the first tentative bite. The fish didn't commit but I persisted in working the same area and after a second bite, I let the lure static with limited line tension and I observed the tip of the rod as the fish was taking the bait and starting to move. A quick strike and the fish was on! I felt a solid weight on the end of the line and the drag started singing, after a while the fish got me snagged... I released tension on the line and the fish was soon moving again. I got her on the surface and slipped the net under her. She was only about a pound but on the LRF rod she was a ton of fun! Cant imagine a fight with a 4 pounder!

R.I.P

New toy.

After the first fish the bites dried up even though I tried other baits and retrieves. But considering the unlucky events lately, I was happy to have caught a fish and test my new rod!

Tight Lines!


Gear used.
Rod: Golden Mean Symphonia, 0.6-8g, 8'6''
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: YGK Nitlon DFC fluorocarbon, 3lbs
Rig: Texas, 3.5g bullet weight
lure: Ecogear Bug Ants, 3'', 252 colour on a N1 Lunker city texposer hook.

If only I had more time...

Well the weather has been ok for the past week, but due to work, I had only enough time for very short sessions... Apart from that though, I saw action every time and really enjoyed the fishing.
On the first day I went to a hard to reach spot that seemed 'alive ' with wrasse as I could see them moving around at low tide. The access to the water was difficult as I could barely reach with my landing net but it was worth a shot.. Although I could see plenty of wrasse, they didn't show much interest in my offerings and I had to work hard to get one to bite.. I finally got a pounder on a 4.5" Big Bite Shaking Squirel on a Jobee weedless jighead that came relatively easy.

The next day I visited my usual mark near home that never fails to give some fish and managed to get a good fish of 1.7kg. I was fishing with a mate from work who was curious about my catches and the gear used and wanted to tag along. I got the fish on a very slow retrieve, using a carolina rig with a 3" Keitech live Impact. The fish took the bait shortly after the drop and put up a very good fight, albeit after halfway in the retrieve!  My mate got one wrasse follow his Berkley Gulp Sandeel all the way to his feet! The fish bit the lure but somehow didn't get hooked... I couldn't believe my eyes both because of the wrasse's aggression and that it didn't got caught.

Today we visited a new mark on the north side of the island where my mate told me there are strong currents and a deep rocky bottom. He had got good results fishing with bait but never got a wrasse there.. We arrived at the mark and it was truly as described... A wild place, with waves and foaming water, strong winds and rocks everywhere.. I decided to use a heavier sinker on my line but stick with the Carolina rig as its a fine searcher method... The lure used was a 3" Keitech Swing Impact that is becoming my go-to lure on new areas. I started fishing the more sheltered side of the mark but got no bites there, while I could see a reef  about 20m away on the rough side. The wind was making the cast very difficult (a downside of using braid) but I managed one right on the edge of the reef and after a couple turns of the handle felt a good fish on. After a hard fight where the fish got me snagged twice, I managed to land her. She was smaller than I thought about 3lbs but a really beautiful fish.

The fish have been really up for it lately and I have been trying other methods as well, but to be honest the carolina and texas rigs rule! I will hopefully have some nice weather on my day off so that I can do some proper sessions...

Thanks for reading and tight lines!


Gear used.
Rod: Shimano Exage BX STC Mini Tele Spin, 3-14g 2.40m
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: Spiderwire ultracast invisibraid, 0.10mm,
Leader: 2m Trilene fluorocarbon, 15lb connected by Peixet knot.
Rig: various
lure: various

Todays fish..

Just a couple photos from today's short session on the rocks. The weather was relatively warmer than the previous days and the wind had died down, it was also more overcast but quite pleasant. The fish was weighed at 1.8kg and it put up an impressive fight. It grabbed a Big Bite 4.5" Shaking Squirrel on a 7g Jobee weedless jighead near the base of the boulders I was standing on. I wanted to experiment with straight lures and obviously they work... Although I'm pretty sure that at this time of the year they will attack anything!

A perfect hookhold.

The wrasse season has trully started so I'm hoping we will see some nice fish this year. All the best to fellow rock anglers and tight lines!

Gear used.
Rod: Shimano Exage BX STC Mini Tele Spin, 3-14g 2.40m
Reel: Mitchell Mag Pro 1000
Mainline: Spiderwire ultracast invisibraid, 0.10mm,
Leader: 2m Trilene fluorocarbon, 15lb connected by Peixet knot.
Rig: 7g Jobee weedless Jighead
lure: 4.5" Big Bite Shaking Squirrel in Ayu colour.