Entries from August 2007 ↓

Weather forecast sometimes may help
The online weather forecast show low-tide early in the morning, so knowing the spot made me to take on account my two rods. In low-tide in this point the important matter is to be able to reach the riff in the distance.
Angler’s night meeting
During the night beach driving, or early morning (04:00) to our hotspot I’ve pinpoint my driving partner on vague figure in the dark and it turned to be ‘Mr. M’- a friend and known angler.
Bombette
‘Mr. M’ was targeting sea bass using Bombette (casting egg) with a small Yo-Zuri minnow lure. We use the Bombette for two main reasons:
1- Weight -for casting distance
2- Attention - By short splashes, to gain the fish attention- especially in white water area to overcome the waves breaking point noise.
I’ll explain in details about how we use Bombette or casting egg in the near future.
Sea Bass at night
The seabass in this season can be found in very shallow water lurking for small fish, sometimes even on one feet water depth. They best sea condition for the seabass angling is small waves that enable using the noise fuzzy white water or the breaking point to short distance attacks.

Would you give a way your trousers for a treasure…?
Meanwhile we continued to our hotspot and start looking for Bluefish at dark without any success until the dawn. Then ‘Mr. M’ arrived with a smile, - two nice seabass he caught on the way to our spot. Then almost immediately he catch another one.

This one was in size of mammoth and didn’t give up. The fish entangled the line in nearby rock in shallow water 10 feet from the beach. Until ‘Mr. M’ decided that it’s worth to moisten his trousers for the treasure and approached him, the fish released.
Bluefish terror show
One hour later at 07:00, the bluefish terror show started with a band of Flathead mullet and sardines jumping a way like groupies band spread hysteria far in the water.
All the attacks series occurred above a deep reef in a great distance in about 15 minutes cycle period.
The Bounder
After almost I broke my shoulder while casting and bouncing 60 gram metal “River to Sea” Jig in very high speed, I decided to move to the “Bounder”.
I knew it will reduce 15 yards from the casting distance, but at least I’ll remain my hand in one peace.
The catch…
I worked from within the shallow water and thanks to my good I didn’t forgot to move my cigarettes to the upper pocket in my fishing vest but unfortunately the cell phone remain in the trousers:) - the insurance covered it later, now it’s fishing time…

In one of the long casting, very near to the far reef and after number of bouncing the Bounder in medium speed it came; big particular splash with attack from the side.
…and then it start’s again:
The blue fish jump show with fascinating somersaults. This one arrived pretty easy and in certain stages he even made Water skiing because I worked with tighter reel drag and solid rod.

…and the release
Steady foot on the bluefish head, and releasing the Bounder hook that overstepped the jaw. Then I watched the yellow devil eyes… it’s not a big one -approximately 3-4 pounds, and its still has a chance to be become Mister Bluefish with bluefish wife and children..

(in French accent) : I think… mmm- I need to keep more space in the freezer and… anyway, -I don’t have to take everything that the sea is generously give, so me think it best returning this poor fish to the water, so time to say Bye bye.

…and the report dry details:

Fish- 3 Pound bluefish - one item
Reel - Shimano stradic 4000FH
Line - Berkley Fireline 0.15 ~ 15 pound test
Lure - Red & white Bouder
Lure activation- 100 yards cast, medium retrieve speed with splashes
Rod - Trabuco T-max 3.00 meter 30-60 gr
Water visibility - High
Time of the catch - 07:30 in the morning
Light condition - Sunny day
Water depth estimation of the catch spot- about 4 meter
Hookset - rear big hook

Related links:

• Flat head mullet

http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/ThumbnailsSummary.php?ID=785

• Sea bass or European seabass - Labrak or Labrax:

http://www.fao.org/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=species&fid=2291

• Bounder

http://robertslures.com/product_details.asp?pf_id=110101

Too early
Very early in the morning 04:00 A.M my fishing partner parked at the hotspot at the beach. The first slight down light starts about 05:00 and we have to walk two miles to the rocky spot.
Flat day
I didn’t have many expectations on account of the weather, it was too hot and the sea was flat… but we decide to give it a fair chance just in case.

I’ve start with the strike pro cigar, some heavy nickels and small Jig’s -up to 60 gram. The focus was a remote spot near the bay entrance because I assumed that they won’t approach to the shallow water in this condition.

Signs in the heat
The hot moist air and the ongoing speedy work with the jigs and nickels cause me to perspire like in sauna, but when the light starts -there was a big splash behind the cigar about 20 meter from me.I continue with subtlety hits with rod tip causing little splashes but without any success.

Time to move on
Few more attempts to the same place and nothing.The early morning clouds hide the sunrise and I in a hurry to scan additional point that I never checked and my fishing partner decides to stay…

Rocks and braid line
This point is on small reef three foot above the water I wondered how one can pool the fish without any friend or net…

I’ve notice in 40 yards a head, a ’suspicious point’ of sandy bottom between two shallow reefs and intuitively draw the Artist - I just love this lure.

Seventy yards casting
Very quick retrieves with pitch tail movements that splashed loudly the entire quiet water. Second casting and there’s a missed attack attempt about 35 yards from me - immediately I restrain the rhythm and continue to bounce the Artist softly over the water and boo-boom- big bite!

Strong hookset and the fish in response pull to the right and start in a series of jumps and springs in the air that didn’t seems to finish.

Fighting the Bluefish
This time I am much more calm- the rod is massive and these 2 hooks I replaced from original one… well- I don’t think they can get released.
The fish tries everything that Nadia comaneci did - but safely I point him to my direction. 3 yard from the reef and the fish develops a speed for 20 yard to my right.

I skipped over the reef and find a better point while continue all that time a steady pressure with rod.
The fish stuck in shallow water on reef, between rocks and continues to run wild in spite the fact that he doesn’t have place or option while I kept the line in tense and upward to avoid any friction from the rocks.

Mr.Bluefish
Hand to the line and lifting of Mr. Bluefish to safe place. The artist is stuck deep, up to the gills. Fast release and scanning of the area, but Mr. Bluefish friends didn’t showed up. The conclusions and the reaction to the previous unfortunate releases were correct.
The two overturned hooks worked much better then the original VMC triangular.

and the dry report details…

Fish- 4-5 Pound bluefish - one item
Reel - Shimano stradic 4000FH
Line - Berkley Fireline 0.15 ~ 15 puond test
Lure - Jackson Artist Jig Minnow 130mm 28 grams ~ 1 Oz
Lure activation- Long cast, very fast retrieves,with splashes
Rod - Trabuco T-max 3.00 meter 30-60 gr
Water visibility - medium
Time - 05:30 early morning
Light condition - dawn light, cloudy
Water depth estimation of the catch spot- about 2 meter
Hookset - rear improved 2 hooks instead of original VMC triangular