How To Catch Sea Bass From the Shore

lure fishing uk
Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples

What a couple of weeks it’s been. The ups and downs of fishing eh? The highlight has to be catching my biggest fish of the year of 65cm. But the low has to be snapping my Shimano Luminis rod, no, not on that 65cm but a 2-pounder.

Good Days Fishing

As for that good day’s fishing, we had tried a new tactic at one of our venues and that was fishing the ebb much earlier than we normally would. To get to this mark you have to wait for a certain set of rocks before you can venture out to deeper water. We were fishing first light so up at the crack of dawn.

First Light Dawn Raid

So we were fishing first light so up at the crack of dawn. We waded out earlier than usual fishing over a vast reef that we could cast to via another bank. That bank was still two feet under the water. But deeper over the reef if you get my drift.

Lure Fishing
65cm Bass Topwater Fishing

Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples

We had tried several lures and all to no avail. Then I changed the lure to the Xorus Asturie 500g and bang! Fish on. Not a bad fish about 50cm. Then on the next cast, I was in again, only this time this was a bigger fish which was giving a good account of itself. After flaffing around with the fish trying to get the hooks out I’d let it go. Every fish we had caught seemed to be taking the lure right down as if they hadn’t eaten for a week. So I didn’t bother measuring that one but it was definitely in the upper 50s.

Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples
Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples

Taken on the Asturie

You know I have to say that Asturie had been a favourite of mine before fishing off the top. But for some reason you start catching then you forget about them. I’m glad I put it in my lure box because it was the only lure that seemed to be working.

My fishing buddy had had a couple of nice fish to before things had slowed down as the tide dropped. So now we decided to move out further to the rocks we’d been waiting to fish over. Then sure enough, first cast at the new spot, and bang! I was in again. The fish came in easy again and I’d commented that “it’s not that big”.

We Thought It Was A 70

 Then, to my amazement saw this lump emerge on the surface and my mate Steve Wood said “That’s a 70”. We made our way to the uncovered rocks to measure this submarine-looking thing and unhook it. Again, the hooks were right in its gill so I was a little concerned.

Then, the fish gave an almighty head shake and one of the trebles stuck in my thumb and tore out. (My misses found this hilarious). There was blood everywhere and all over the fish. Because luckily the 65cm bass swam off as good as new. I never take any fish home so would have been gutted if it didn’t survive the ordeal.

The Asturie Does It Again

By the way, if you haven’t got an Asturie in you’re lure arsenal I strongly recommend at least having one. There are other great patterns, just click the link below to check out the options.

<<CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE XORUS ATSTURIE>>

Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples
Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples

After that excitement the fishing was non-existent so we headed off back to our car to go off to work.

So how did you end up snapping your rod? Great question. We had decided to do a late low tide session fishing the ebb exactly the same as I mentioned earlier. Only this time it was in total darkness. It was crap all the way fishing the ebb until we finally made it out to where we wanted to be. We had tried all sorts of lures on our way out there but nothing.

Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples
Lure Fishings Ups and Downs 2 Great Examples

Anyway, first cast at the spot we’d made our way out to, then as my lure hit the water I felt the fish had taken the lure on the drop. I immediately said, “I’m in”. Then a split second later it was off. My usual terminology for this behaviour would be “F..K it, it’s off” but then all of a sudden I was back in again. WTF! Now this fish seemed to be giving a good account of itself, much better than the ones we’d caught off the surface. Then to my utter horror “SNAP”. I still managed to get the fish in on my ‘half a rod’ but what a rigmarole, It was going nuts. 

The fish was probably just over two pounds but my night was very premature. So we went home after my disaster. 

Bass Fight Better With A Single Hook

Before I get into the broken rod scenario, and how I repaired it, I have a theory. I reckon that bass fights miles better on a single hook, as we use with soft plastics or a savage gear sand eel. I caught that bass on a Mishna eel, and it fought hard I was surprised it was only a two-pounder. But on the flip side, the bigger fish came in easy on the Xorus Asturie.

Taken The Lure Right Down Their Mouths

Remember, they had all taken the lure right down their gobs. Tell me what your views are on this, please. What do you think? I suppose it depends on how they are hooked. It must immobilize them when they take the hook right down. Just saying.

So as for my precious Shimano Luminis. The rod had snapped fairly cleanly right below the first-rod eye on the top section (see pic). So what I did was get another rod (another previously broken rod) and cut a section out. 

Two Sections Together

Then, pushed that section into the broken section till it fitted snugly in the hole. So it looked like the bottom section where you join the rod together if that makes sense. Luckily this worked so glued it into place. Then all I needed to do was put the other section over the sleeve. “Bobs ya uncle”. But nothing is ever that straight it was as bent as you like. So I didn’t initially stick it.

Another Broken Bit

The problem was another broken bit didn’t fit as snugly as the other section so I got some Super Glue (so it stuck quickly) and held it in the right place and it worked. Then squeezed the Super Glue down a hole to try and make the repair more solid. Luckily it seems to work.

broken rod

The Repair: Not The Prettiest But Holding For Now

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