Sea Fishing Tips

Sea Fishing Tips and Techniques: UK Guide

Whether you’re casting from the beach, piers, rocky cliffs, or a boat, sea fishing in the UK offers a variety of techniques and setups tailored to the local environment. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to make the most of each fishing style, including rig setups, bait choices, and key species you’re likely to encounter.

1. Beach Fishing

Key Species

Common species caught from UK beaches include bass, flounder, plaice, cod, whiting, and rays. Each species may prefer different depths and baits, so varying your setups can be advantageous.

Best Rigs for Beach Fishing

• Two-Hook Flapper Rig: Ideal for bass, flounder, and whiting, this rig allows you to cover different parts of the water column. It has two short snoods attached to the mainline, allowing for two different bait presentations at once.
• Pulley Rig: Suitable for larger fish like rays or cod, this rig minimizes the chances of losing the fish or tackle in snags. The weight shifts on the pulley mechanism to prevent the fish from feeling resistance when it bites.
• Pennel Rig: Used mainly for targeting larger fish like bass, cod, or rays, this rig employs two hooks set closely together to securely hold larger bait.

Bait Choices for Beach Fishing

• Ragworm and Lugworm: Go-to baits for bass, flounder, and cod. Both species are readily found in UK waters and attract fish across a wide range of tidal zones.
• Peeler Crab: Highly effective for bass and cod, especially during their moulting stage. Peelers emit strong scents that draw fish from distances.
• Squid and Mackerel: Great for targeting larger predatory fish. These baits are tough, staying on the hook longer, which is ideal for rougher waters or when casting into surf.

Techniques and Tips

• Casting Distance: Beach fishing requires a moderate to long casting range, as some fish tend to stay just beyond the surf. Practicing distance casting can significantly improve your chances of reaching species that stay further out.
• Tide Awareness: Incoming tides bring fish closer to shore. Fishing during rising or high tide can increase your chances of a successful catch.
• Use of a Shock Leader: Essential for long-distance casting, a shock leader is a thicker line tied before the mainline to absorb the shock of casting and reduce line breakages, particularly when casting heavy weights.

2. Pier Fishing

Key Species

Piers provide access to deeper waters without a boat, making it possible to catch species such as mackerel, pollock, whiting, flounder, and conger eels.

Best Rigs for Pier Fishing

• Float Rig: Allows you to target mid-water species like mackerel and pollock. The float rig keeps the bait off the seabed, which is effective for predatory fish swimming through the mid-water column.
• Running Ledger Rig: Ideal for bottom-feeding species such as flatfish and whiting. This rig allows the bait to rest on or near the seabed while giving fish little resistance when they bite.
• Boom Rig: A useful setup when fishing in crowded areas where tangling lines is a risk. A boom keeps the baited hooks away from the mainline, reducing the chance of fouling other anglers’ lines.

Bait Choices for Pier Fishing

• Mackerel Strips: Fantastic for pollock and mackerel, especially when using float rigs. Mackerel strips produce a high oil content that attracts fish.
• Sandeel: Effective for a range of species, particularly for bottom-feeding fish when fishing close to the seabed.
• Squid: Great all-purpose bait for pier fishing, squid stays on the hook well and attracts a variety of fish due to its strong scent.

Techniques and Tips

• Feathering for Mackerel: When mackerel are abundant, feathering (using multiple hooks with feathers) can lead to a catch on every cast. This technique works best in summer when mackerel shoals are close to shore.
• Depth Variation: Fish in deeper sections of the pier for larger species. If using a float rig, adjust the float depth regularly to find where fish are feeding.
• Handling Strong Currents: Piers experience strong tides, especially on spring tides. Using heavier weights helps keep the rig stable and prevents drift.

3. Rock Fishing

Key Species

Rocky shores are ideal for targeting wrasse, bass, pollock, and conger eels, which thrive in these complex, rocky ecosystems.

Best Rigs for Rock Fishing

• Float Rig with Live Bait: When targeting pollock and bass, a float rig with live bait, such as sandeel or small fish, can be very effective. This rig keeps the bait off the bottom, reducing the risk of snagging.
• Running Ledger Rig: Great for bottom-dwelling species like wrasse and conger eels. The weight rests on the seabed, and the hook length allows the bait to move naturally in the current.
• Heavy-Duty Paternoster Rig: Often used for conger eels, this rig is durable and helps prevent large fish from diving into rocks after a strike.

Bait Choices for Rock Fishing

• Peeler Crab and Limpet: Great for wrasse and bass, crabs are abundant in rocky areas, making them a natural and effective bait.
• Squid and Cut Mackerel: Squid or mackerel strips work well for pollock and bass, especially when fishing in deeper rock pools.
• Sandeel and Lugworm: Suitable for attracting various species, sandeel and lugworm work well in the crevices and overhangs around rocks.

Techniques and Tips

• Snag Avoidance: Cast carefully and retrieve slowly to reduce the risk of snags. Using stronger lines and shorter hook links helps keep tackle from tangling in rocks.
• Fish the Flooding Tide: Many fish species are more active when the tide is coming in. Fishing during this period will help you reach species that forage in the rocks.
• Proper Gear: Rock fishing can be tough on equipment. Use abrasion-resistant line and sturdy rod holders to withstand strong bites from species like conger eel.

4. Boat Fishing

Key Species

Boat fishing in UK waters can yield species like cod, pollock, ling, haddock, and tope. The open sea provides access to larger fish, making this an exciting fishing style.

Best Rigs for Boat Fishing

• Pirk and Shad Combo: Effective for cod, ling, and pollock, this setup involves heavy lures such as pirks that mimic small fish, attracting predatory fish in deeper waters.
• Running Ledger Rig with Long Snoods: Ideal for haddock and whiting, this rig allows bait to rest naturally on the seabed, enticing bottom-dwellers.
• Boom and Dropper Rig: A versatile choice for drifting over wrecks or reefs. The boom prevents tangling by keeping the baited hook away from the mainline, ideal for species like pollock and tope.

Bait Choices for Boat Fishing

• Whole Squid: Favored for larger species like tope and ling, whole squid is highly attractive to big fish and can withstand strong currents.
• Mackerel (whole or strips): Effective for cod, pollock, and tope. Mackerel’s high oil content attracts fish from a distance.
• Sandeel: Essential for fishing in wrecks or reefs. Sandeel works well for pollock, bass, and haddock.

Techniques and Tips

• Drift Fishing Over Wrecks: Drifting over wrecks is highly productive, especially for species like pollock and cod. When drifting, use heavy weights to maintain contact with the bottom.
• Use of Sonar and Fishfinders: Electronic devices help locate schools of fish and find productive spots, maximizing your time and catch rate.
• Anchor Positioning and Chumming: When fishing for tope or sharks, anchoring and chumming can increase chances of attracting these large species by creating a scent trail in the water.

Conclusion

Each location and fishing technique in the UK requires a unique approach, so having the right setup and bait, as well as an understanding of local conditions, is essential. By tailoring your rigs, choosing effective baits, and timing your sessions with the tide, you can significantly increase your chances of landing a variety of UK coastal and offshore species.