Mr Fish
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2020
- Messages
- 18,866
- Reaction score
- 65,246
- Points
- 116
- Location
- North Devon
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
How many more nice and relatively warm days are we going to get to allow me to indulge in local wrassing?
Probably not many so after I’d done what I wanted to do today, I figured I’d nip out for a short wrasse session at a remote rocky beach.
I was well aware it was quite a walk and climb (albeit not dangerous as long as you’re happy on rocks) and the session would only be about 2.5 hours.
Meh feck it, at least it’s exercise.
After the usual hike down and climb over a LOT of big boulders, I was up and fishing by 5.30. Low was at 6pm and I guessed I’d have to pack up at 7.30 because that was sunset and I needed to see what I was doing to get back!
First impression was yes the sea looked nice, but there was actually quite a swell.
You’ll note the end of the rock on the right by my gear is wet, that’s because a wave came over before low tide, and despite being 20 foot up.
I wouldn’t usually fish this mark in a swell, but this one developed quickly in a couple of days.
I was getting bites from the off but it was small pecks and rattles, most likely very small wrasse or indeed my old friend Mr Strap.
I carried on, keeping a wary eye on the swell and moving back whenever a bigger one came in. A few more came over, so that was wise!
As the flood started, I was casting out when the other rod screamed off.
Never good to let a wrasse go to ground so I grabbed it quickly with one hand and struck, before putting the other down and dealing with the fish.
Snagged at first, then moving, then snagged again but finally moving freely.
It wasn’t a monster but it was the target. I really should have weighed it but the scales were out of the way of the spray and recent wrasse have been a bit delicate.
Initial guess was maybe 2lb 8, but then on carrying it back it didn’t feel massively heavy.
Hard to tell, but definitely over 2lb and lovely colours.
There wasn’t much time left and the sun was sinking…
The swell had actually stopped coming over as the flood rose, but the enemy now was dwindling daylight.
I had a few more small bites and another that was a bit better but it stopped quickly, by then the sun was indeed low on the yard arm…
And gone… time to go!
I hear a hasty retreat before the light died completely and made the gruelling hike back up the path to the car.
Target achieved, good exercise and I very much doubt there’ll be many more days like that this year.
Probably not many so after I’d done what I wanted to do today, I figured I’d nip out for a short wrasse session at a remote rocky beach.
I was well aware it was quite a walk and climb (albeit not dangerous as long as you’re happy on rocks) and the session would only be about 2.5 hours.
Meh feck it, at least it’s exercise.
After the usual hike down and climb over a LOT of big boulders, I was up and fishing by 5.30. Low was at 6pm and I guessed I’d have to pack up at 7.30 because that was sunset and I needed to see what I was doing to get back!
First impression was yes the sea looked nice, but there was actually quite a swell.
You’ll note the end of the rock on the right by my gear is wet, that’s because a wave came over before low tide, and despite being 20 foot up.
I wouldn’t usually fish this mark in a swell, but this one developed quickly in a couple of days.
I was getting bites from the off but it was small pecks and rattles, most likely very small wrasse or indeed my old friend Mr Strap.
I carried on, keeping a wary eye on the swell and moving back whenever a bigger one came in. A few more came over, so that was wise!
As the flood started, I was casting out when the other rod screamed off.
Never good to let a wrasse go to ground so I grabbed it quickly with one hand and struck, before putting the other down and dealing with the fish.
Snagged at first, then moving, then snagged again but finally moving freely.
It wasn’t a monster but it was the target. I really should have weighed it but the scales were out of the way of the spray and recent wrasse have been a bit delicate.
Initial guess was maybe 2lb 8, but then on carrying it back it didn’t feel massively heavy.
Hard to tell, but definitely over 2lb and lovely colours.
There wasn’t much time left and the sun was sinking…
The swell had actually stopped coming over as the flood rose, but the enemy now was dwindling daylight.
I had a few more small bites and another that was a bit better but it stopped quickly, by then the sun was indeed low on the yard arm…
And gone… time to go!
I hear a hasty retreat before the light died completely and made the gruelling hike back up the path to the car.
Target achieved, good exercise and I very much doubt there’ll be many more days like that this year.
