I've fished quite aggressively the last 2 or 3 days. Actually, it's all just blended together...
Very tired now...

The other evening me and Kev fished the same general area (plus) as Paul and Callum and a few extra (secret heads) too. In fact, I left the camera at home this time not only to charge it's battery,  but to allow me to fish, undisturbed by the need to keep stopping and take photo's for promotional and educational purposes. It really does stop you getting into....'The Zone'.

As it panned out, Kev had some great Rockfish but I played with a few idea's as I had a client from the midlands the following day who wanted to do one of our Hard Bait modules. I wanted to sharpen up. He'd travelled purely to come and fish and learn. It wasn't an, I'll do that whilst I'm there stop over.

As the tide waned I had 5 Bass to 2.5lb, about 40 Pollack to 3lb and 6 really big mackerel to a 7cm Jackson Athlete sinking lure and another suspending plug at 9cm. I tried OTD with the plug on 6lb braided line, stop go, Danish, and, a new one for me... Actually shaking the lure. I was really pleased to see that it was effective and I've not heard of anyone doing that. In fact, if we hadn't have been shaking soft lures I would have never thought to try it with hard baits. So....fully re-charged now we headed home for a few hours sleep.

The following morning I met up with Tony.
It was overcast and raining. Great !
6am in the morning saw him waiting roadside with great anticipation by his SE coast hotel. I picked him up looking a bit miserable due to the rain and overcast skies.

I quickly reassured him that actually, this was great !
I'd told him prevoiusly about bright light and clear sea's not being the best of Bass weather.
We ran through safety around swell and got him started with the Danish retrieve and the principle of current, the way Bass approach plugs and showed him why we were selecting the plug we did. He fished for 30 minutes in an OK zone to get his casting right and the retrieves, stops and line weighting right...

He was quite simply, the perfect pupil. He listened.
We moved to a spot close by in swell, whitewater and current.

Tony, cast over there and wait. Let some controlled slack off the rod top. There is a submerged head there with the potential to hold a really nice Bass. Guide talk maybe....

We waited....

10 seconds...

The plug slowly got pulled into the crease line....

Maintain the tension Tony...

The line shot straight...

Suddenly, there was a silver torpedo screaming away downcurrent at incredible speed. I saw the look of disbelief on Tony's face...

70 meters now dowcurrent, we had to risk adjusting the drag mid fight.
JEEZ, it's turned back....

What happened next was quite simply....

Unbelievable...

The fish kited across the current and gained, well, rocketed up to a speed that was insane. It was heading directly for a group of exposed boulders mid gully. seriously, the reel couldn't keep up and the only thing keeping the Bass connected was the tension in the now huge bow of line the Bass had drawn across the current. It ran, and turned on it's flank just before smashing itself (plug first) into the reef. This was a completely independant action on the part of the Bass. I'd felt big Bass smashing plugs into rocks subsurface before but, never seen it at surface level. It turned again....

Seriously, this animal was like, on steriods. It then ran at the adjacent dry reef at a speed and it crashed the plug into the rock so hard that the Bass beached itself mid gully, 25 yards out with roaring current between us, a dry Bass and the plug. ????

Urmm...what do we do...

There was a little swell thankfully so we gained a tight line and moved a bit up the reef we were standing on to get the right angle so any swell would lift the fish and we would then, hopefully have a chance.

3 swells later and the fish was clear.

It still didn't give up. I couldn't believe it. What is this fish on ? Surely it wasn't foul hooked ?

Well, it wasn't. It was hooked as clean as any Bass as we finally got the boga in the bottom lip. What an incredible fight and belive this, NO BASS has ever fought that hard for me.

Tony was left elated. I was more relieved that I had escaped the swim across the raging torrent to rescue the fish... We had won the day.

A cracking Bass taken on a Maria Chase SW that we selected for bib size and colour. Note: No Lure Clip. There are reasons for this that I'll explain in another article or if you fish with us. Tony holds the prize for a few shots for posteriety. The fish was swam on the boga between each second image. Some of which are personal to Tony of course.

Throwing away the traditional rule book reaps rewards. A beautiful fish and so strong. I examined the fish very carefully for damage after it's rocky encounter. I could see none. The fish swam back to it's beautiful aquatic home strongly after careful release. I think Tony did a fantastic job of staying in control and calm during this epic battle between man, and fish.

We went off to fish some HRF taking rockfish to 3lb -4oz. Tony lost 2 belters, one of which must have been superglued to his rig for ages before it spit the dummy. Again, he was blown away by the Wrasse fishing on HRF gear. However: Nothing could have prepared him for later events on the LRF rod.

We met up with Kev, Callum, Carl and his m8 later in the day for a pre-trip LRF session. Here Kevin is running Tony through LRF OTD with his Major Craft Zaltz 0.5 - 5g rod, 2" soft lure and 3.5g head.

When....

Wow, this is .....going pretty well... Kev had just, moments before helping out Tony, nailed about 6 decent Pollack. I'd had one or 2 and Callum had a Pollack deadstick. Tony knew the fish were there and expected a Pollack in the current. It was by now, getting dark. This thing didn't feel like a Pollack. Of course, we all laughed because Tony hadn't fought Pollack on LRF before and everyone is surprised at first by the incredible fun and fight that ensues.

That's no Pollack Tony. Wrasse LRF in current. What a blast and a big well done. Kev gets in the photo for the assist.

LRF Rockfish. Just a bit bigger than usual.. LOL

It dropped dark and we all went to fish pitches in the bright moon night. Kev was quickly into Pollack and had a few exceeding 3lb's. Tony was really trying hard to get into zone and was loving it. I didn't fish, choosing instead to guide as I firmly believe I should. we went through lots of stuff regards use of light etiquette, safety, how to land a fish in dark, awareness of surroundings and depth perception whilst walking around under coloured headlamp light.

After and hour of tuning in.....

Fish on Keith...Fish on...

Nice one.

No lights now Tony..

He was but a shape against the full moon as the Bass bent his rod over in the night sky. I heard a splash or 2 and he handled the fight brilliantly. We brought the fish to our feet and saw it was about 4lb. Very lightly hooked, we quickly released it to carry on. No photo was taken but the memories live on. A short while later the session ended. Tony was the only guy on the field with yet another Bass. His first, night plugged Bass.

A brilliant day, and night...

I totally enjoyed it.

Until next time..