If the weather looks dodgy and an event looks in danger of being cancelled then you can phone me on my mobile number 07704 602180 beforehand to confirm.
Saturday, 7th January, 2012 Time: 1.30 pm 6.30 pm Venue: Goodrington Promenade Event: Social Fish and Teach-in High Tide: 4.58 pm Height: 4.3 m
Over the last few weeks, right up until Christmas, people have been catching mackerel from the promenade, along with whiting, dogfish and a few other species thrown in for good measure. It is worth having a go at since you can try float fishing though at this time of the year you should be aware that a cold snap can remove mackerel from the list of target species but a better option might be a suspended paternoster or a bottom rig with a flyer over the top of it. For bait I would stick to fish baits, like mackerel strips, although a running leger with lugworms or peeler crabs on the bottom might also throw up a few surprises. Ragworms are also worth a go but, if you are hoping for a bass, then peeler is the better option.
Sunday, 15th January, 2012 Time: 1.30 pm 5.30 pm Venue: Beesands Event: Social Fish and Teach-in Low Tide: 3.45 pm Height: 1.1 m Meeting up at: Left hand side of beach, approximately 150 yards past where the upper rocks of the main sea defences end.
This one is a bit of a gamble but sometimes, at this time of the year, you can pick up a few flatfish over the low tide, which is what I am hoping for. For tackle you will need beachcasters capable of handling 5 ozs of lead rather than lighter rods while, in regard to terminal rigs, I would stick to simple tackles rather than more sophisticated rigs. Personally I will stick out a two hook paternoster on one rod and a running leger on another. Bait offers several choices but my ideal bait would be for lugworms topped with razorfish or a very thin sliver of squid. Apart from that, I would also expect peeler crabs and ragworms to catch. If the flatfish dont show, there should also be some dogfish or whiting around and, as always with Beesands, there may be a few surprises along the way.
In the event of bad conditions, please telephone me to see if the event is still on. As for sea conditions, have a look at the webcam from the Redcliffe Hotel in Paignton. This beach faces the same way so, if conditions are settled there, they will be at Beesands too.
Saturday, 21st January, 2012 Time: 3.00 pm 6.30 pm Venue: Teignmouth Car Park (opposite Back Beach) Event: Social Fish and Teach-in High Tide: 4.42 pm Height: 4.3 m
At this time of the year, it will be interesting to see what is about. There is always a chance of flounders, together with whiting and the odd bass, although I would tend to stick to peeler crabs or ragworms for bait. For rods I would recommend beachcasters capable of casting a two hook rig and 5 ounce weight a fair old distance.
Friday, 27th January, 2012 Time: 6.00 pm 9.30 pm Venue: Babbacombe Pier Event: Social Fish and Teach-in High Tide: 8.47 pm Height: 4.5 m
At this time of the year, the pier offers plenty of opportunities for dogfish and whiting to make an appearance with perhaps a few other species thrown in for good measure. Mackerel or squid strip both good baits but it might not be a bad idea popping out a couple of peeler crabs or ragworms to see what comes up. You might well be surprised. (When we did this event two years ago, we had some small thornback rays on ragworm.) As for tackle, I would probably stick to a couple of bottom rods with running leger with a biggish bait on one and a double paternoster with smaller baits on the other.
Saturday, 4th February, 2012 Time: 2.00 pm 5.30 pm Venue: Princess Pier Event: Social Fish and Teach-in High Tide: 3.38 pm Height: 3.9 m
There should be plenty of whiting around, with perhaps the occasional dogfish and other species thrown in for good measure. If you fancy something different, bring along a fly rod with a floating line and a pimp or a flounder float. (Basically you put a sight indicator some ten to fourteen feet away from a fly set two feet above a hook baited with mackerel strip.) It may not work but, at times, you can have quite a bit of fun with this rig. For the usual species, you can bring along beachcasters if you like but carp and spinning rods should also be able to contend with the moderate conditions that you normally get around the pier. For bait, you will probably do fine with mackerel or squid strip, which will have more appeal to the bigger whiting, but if you fancy trying ragworms you may get a couple of surprises like flounders, eels, rockling or a stray bass. Its up to you!
Look after yourselves and hope to see you soon!
Martyn Green
