Expedition Mytilene: light rock fishing action.

As I haven't got an Internet connection here I will do a proper write up when I go home. The fishing has been quite spectacular at times, although at the ultralight scale! I can't believe the variety of species that show their predatory side when fishing like this..

Plenty of combers.

 

Ornate wrasse on metal!

Various types of Scorpionfish. I think this one is a Scorpaena maderensis. 

 

Octopus!

Goby.

I had a cracking night session in Mytilini harbour and even though I managed to lose a bass, a nice white sea bream and a small pelagic predator that shed the hook in the air! I still caught many fish and had a very good time.

Many painted combers. 

Annular sea bream. 

And a short session yesterday, produced the following:

Rainbow wrasse.

Smaller than the ones I'm used to...

Methods:
I am using mainly dropshot and jigheads for fishing down the harbour walls and into rock holes. And mini carolina rig (with one ssg shot 35cm from the hook) for shallower areas and distance work.
Most of the rockfish prefer a steady, slow-moderate (even fast at times!) retrieve near the bottom with some pauses. Breams prefer a lot of twitches and also a dragging- bottom retrieve.
A good tip is to use long shank hooks and jigheads as the bream will destroy many soft plastics but will keep biting down the hook if there's enough plastic left on.

Tight lines! 

Expedition Mytilene: Day 1

I am currently on the Greek island of Mytilene for my holidays. Of course I have packed the rods with me and yesterday I managed to do some light rock fishing only on brief reconnaissance sessions though.  Some good results came quick and already managed a few interesting species..

Expected. .

Gilthead bream.

Very aggressive! 

Similar to red mullet!

Scorpionfish.

 More to follow as I'm sure the island is very rich in fish!

Isle of Sark, a rock fishing paradise.

This will be the last post from Sark as I'm leaving tomorrow for Greece. Ive managed a night session in Thursday as the tide was favourable and was thinking of catching some squid to eat before I go as I love them. Also I wanted to catch some of the night predators and generally have an enjoyable last night session. The weather was perfect for fishing with a slight wind and fog but not cold at all.
I started with the squid jig after adding a sinker to it as its a slow sinker and I wanted to work near the bottom. I let the squid jig sink and after pausing a few seconds for it to settle, I gave some twitches and jerks on a sink-and-draw retrieve. The squid started coming fast even though the water was still low and I lost a couple good ones trying to pull them up the wall. I wasn't too bothered though as they seemed very positive on attacking and was getting more every cast. On one occasion I felt the usual 'touch' of the squid but not much of pulling back, just weight on the line. After bringing it to the surface I was greeted by a cuttlefish! I knew they are found in the Channel islands at around this time of year, but I didn't think I would get any as I'm leaving.

Unexpected guest!

After getting the cuttlefish I managed another much larger specimen, but lost it on the way up the wall. A few casts later I lost my only squid jig to a snag.. Not disappointed as I had all I needed, I switched to soft lures for scad and pollock fishing. I put a 4.5" Big Bite Shaking Squirrel on a 5g Sakura fishead jighead (a combo that has given me very good results) and started casting around. The fish didn't take long to respond and I was getting a steady stream of scad with the occasional pollock. The latter have started to come in numbers again and the size is getting bigger as well, as I hooked a nice one but again lost it on the way up.
I was starting to get many squid attacks and they destroyed my lures, so after a few more fish I called it a night.

Carnage!

 Today was my last day at work and I finished around 14:30. After saying goodbye to my colleagues, I headed down the harbour to say goodbye to the fish as well!
The weather has turned bad  with gale force winds, but in the harbour I would have the wind on my back so I didn't mind. I was mainly expecting garfish but secretly hoping for a black bream.
I started with 2.5 and 3g jigheads with 2" Berkley Fish fry and 3" Mebaru Bushi. I was letting the lure reach bottom and working it slowly hoping it or dragging along the bottom. A couple casts in and got a garfish on the drop that put up the usual entertaining fight. Another one followed a bit later and then the Guernsey ferry arrived and moored in the harbour. The engine was on and creating a lot of current and commotion in the water. I switched to a 7g Yoshikawa metal jig, armed with two extra assist hooks and casted near the current. I got some bites and then managed to hook another nice garfish. I was getting more bites but even with two assist hooks, its tricky to hook these fish and I got some unhooked close in.

Rigged for Garfish.

After the ferry went I started casting on the inner side of the harbour. I was working the jig on the bottom opening the bail and letting line out every few turns of the handle. And soon I got a sharp tap and an erratic aggressive fight. I thought it might be a scad but the fish was fighting near the bottom. a few moments later I saw silver but not in the shape I was expecting.. It was a small black bream and it made me really happy as I managed to get all the species I wanted from the Island!

Feisty even small

The squid started coming thick and fast and were getting hooked on the jig even better than the squid jig! And so after a few I decided to head home as I was soaked wet by that point..

No need for squid jigs!

I don't think I have ever fished in a place so prolific with fish and of different species.. Although the island is not a place for a potential record fish (except maybe wrasse), the fishing is varied and with a bit of effort, very rewarding. I hope to come back one day again as I cant get enough of the fishing here.
All in all I have enjoyed the fishing for all species , but there is one that has a special place in my heart and is the reason I came here in the first place.. It is not the bass but the beautiful and obliging Ballan wrasse! A fish that I will really miss in the Mediterranean but I'm gonna target Its cousins down there!

An awsome species.

Angler's paradise?

Thanks for reading and more to follow soon!

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

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