Shore-slow jigging for a (probable) PB!

We had a change in weather this week, with predominantly SW systems that raised the temperature and also the wind died down a bit. I decided on a midday session with the light shore jigging setup as I wanted to try out some slow jigs but also aim for better fish...
The water was slightly milky from all the swells and I went for a chartreuse/zebra glow 40g slow jig.  There was still some swell running and I expected the fish to be further out.
I made the first cast and after some bumps on its way down from coalies, it wasn't long before the first pollock was on..
Fought pretty well but was soon landed for a pic..

Wanted some metal today!

 
Another cast and this time I got hit soon after touchdown... The fish  managed to shed the hook soon after and as I was nearing the kelp edge I started a constant retrieve and then got hit again!
It didn't feel too heavy at first and I began pumping it in but then it started peeling drag in such a rate that I honestly thought it was a seal and started cursing my luck!
The fish did some more runs and I was waiting for the ''seal'' to let it go until I saw that I was actually hooked on a very good pollock!
Got the net out and with a bit of faff I got her in... A proper dark and battle-scarred warrior this one!
Around 81cm and with a big belly (near spawn time) thus I'm fairly sure it was bigger than my
pre-Xmas PB!

Bruiser mama!

Superb fight as well...

After a few pics I released her and kept at it. I caught some more fish and it was interesting to note how aggressive they were as they would fight hard, bite OTD and also come up on straight retrieve too...
I avoided striking into bumps and would instead tighten up only when I felt weight at the other end in order to avoid the coalies. I reckon with a larger single assist hook I could be even more selective...
This seemed to work pretty well as I didnt get through many coalies, though I have to say that the pollock were shoaled up and dominated the spot.

Notice how darker fish from rock/kelp are...

After a while the bites died down and it was time to change spot. I targeted the deepest areas and was rewarded with a few more pollock and loads of coalies!

...Comparing to ones from cleaner ground.

It was still early in the day but thinking that I couldn't do any better that day I decided to head home a happy man.
What a place Skye is...!

Gear used.
Rod: MajorCraft Solpara SPS-1002LSJ, 3.05m. max 50g
Reel: Shimano SW Biomaster 4000XG
Mainline: Duel X wire X8 PE1.5
Leader: Daiwa Tournament FC fluorocarbon 20lbs and 25lbs
Lures: 40g slow jigs

Back on the rocks!

Been having some serious winds up here and also snow, but this hasn't stopped me from making a couple outings.. Especially considering that now might be the best time for prespawn fish that are heavy carrying eggs.
My first session last week was only a short one but very well timed. Got a break in the wind and coupled with the small tide and slowing swell, I hit fish straight away!
Noticed lots of bird activity and started with a pearl Super Xlayer but after that becoming a magnet for piles of plump coalfish I decided to switch to a chartreuse (milky water from swells) Delalande Fire Eel (13cm, 20g) that brought bites from better pollock.

They love white (and large!) lures...

Very well conditioned pollock.

Throughout the session I was pestered by a persistent seal that attacked my coalies and after hooking up to something heavy, felt it it running so hard that I was convinced it was the seal again... Instead, I saw a nice pollock coming up and quickly put her in the net.
A nice fish of near 70cm and the best prize for such late winter outings...

Bruiser!

A video of the day.

The next session took place yesterday, the tide state wasn't ideal and the wind was intensifying by the minute. Moreover the bird activity was reduced comparing to last week but nevertheless I put on a 40g slow jig and started casting out. I noticed that I was getting hits near bottom but at different areas and from smaller fish. something that shows the fish weren't concentrated in one area.
Started landing a steady stream of coalies and small pollock with the metal but it was harder to find the larger fish with it.

Beautiful and aggressive..

It appeared that the pollock were hard on the bottom and required slower tactics. Thus I used Xlayers and Sluggos on 20-30g wobbling and darting jigheads. The better fish started to show (again from a large area) but that damn seal didn't leave me one single fish to land! Utterly frustrating..
Another presentation that seemed to get better fish was  a long heavy dropshot with a 28g sinker and #4 Offset. I would rig curly tail lures and my intent wasn't in working them static as a normal DS but actually dragging them slowly over the bottom. As I was very high over the water, it would mean that the lure was maintaining a more or less even swimming path near the bottom. Slight accelerations and pauses would usually get the bites.

Long DS on heavy lead with a Gulp Nereis.

Again though the seal thwarted all my efforts to land a fish and I decided to give up instead of keep feeding her!
Hoping to get some settled conditions again soon and that seal to bugger off... lol

 Gear used.
Rod: MajorCraft Solpara SPS-1002LSJ, 3.05m. max 50g
Reel: Shimano SW Biomaster 4000XG
Mainline: Duel X wire X8 PE1.5
Leader: Daiwa Tournament FC fluorocarbon 20lbs and 25lbs
Lures: Delalande Fire Eel (13cm, 20g)