smooth- hounds

[big phil 123]

A few years ago, back when I lived on the south coast, I was fishing a summers evening on my local beach at Eastney. This is not a renouned Smoothhound mark, in fact they are very rarely taken from there. I was targetting Bass, Black Bream and Red Mullet, fishing two rods with two hook flapper rigs, size 1 hooks and ragworm tipped off with a sliver of squid for bait.

It was a canny session; I had a couple of Schoolies and a fair few baby Bream. About 11pm (well after dark) I was reeling in my closer in rod when out of the corner of my eye I saw my distance rod (CME, 6500 mag) suddenly fly out of the tripod and go horizontal to the beach. I was very lucky, I was stood right next to the tripod when this happened and was able to grab the rod with my right hand and quickly put the other one down. This all happened incredibly quickly and I have no doubt that if I had been more than 5 yards away from the rod it would have been in the sea and half way to France before I could react.

This was the culprit, only a baby really weighing in at a smidgeon under 11lb:


As I wasn't expecting Smuts I didn't have the drag loosened off on my reel but even so a double figure hound is a very powerful fish and will empty whats left on your reel pretty quickly unless you are nearby and ready to grab your rod as soon as you get a run. Every year lads on the south coast lose their rods and reels to smuts taking them out to sea when they weren't paying attention. Fish two rods if you wish, it is not a risk I would take and also bear in mind that Smuts will take fish baits, they move in big shoals so if you get one one one rod you may well get a take on the other at the same time...

Cracking fish mate

[Stewart 1971]

Cracking fish mate

Cheers Phil, the picture really doesn't do it justice but it's difficult to do better when you fish alone.

They really are magnificent fish and if things continue as they are I can see them starting to appear on our beaches in reasonable numbers in the next few years. If and when they do I can see a lot of lads losing the "cod goggles" and summer nights on packed beaches...

[big phil 123]

Cheers Phil, the picture really doesn't do it justice but it's difficult to do better when you fish alone.

They really are magnificent fish and if things continue as they are I can see them starting to appear on our beaches in reasonable numbers in the next few years. If and when they do I can see a lot of lads losing the "cod goggles" and summer nights on packed beaches...

If i could get them closer i would be there every night mate

[lambengland]

They really are magnificent fish and if things continue as they are I can see them starting to appear on our beaches in reasonable numbers in the next few years. If and when they do I can see a lot of lads losing the "cod goggles" and summer nights on packed beaches...

Have to agree with this! The appearance of doggies, rays and smut pups in the area is a really good sign of things to come!

[kevin collins]

isle of whithorn,scotland

try there mate,any time of the tide,mackrel for bate.35 to 40lb main line straight through,size 3 hook.fished for 20 mins just to try venue behind the lighthouse and onto rocks,4 dog fish.spoke to a local there and he had mackrel in his bag !!!!! that was 2 wks ago.good spot for pollock and wrasse.150 mile trip though,hope this helps

[Joe-m]

Had the same experience Stewart with a couple of 10 lbs at Sandhead that's why I aways advise back off the drag and ratchet on or you might be losing your gear make no mistake these are no dog fish caught loads in the boat and they go like rockets always caught them on single 2/0 and crab used a bze 12-6 in 6500 reel on the beach

[snatcher]

PM location please John? Definitely up there 19th, might head up on the 18th after graft though!

Location sent Ant,looking forward to seeing you over in Drummore.


Stewart - also a good tip about backing off your reel. A thing I do not do here in the UK as tend to use a spinning rod outfit for all of my bass,pollack,wrasse,mackerel fishing and never put the rod down. Had it drummed into me though when fishing in Australian waters - especially Sydney Harbour. Been spooled there by big fish.

The only smoothound I caught fought like a fish twice its size !!!!

John

[peter.m]

A few years ago, back when I lived on the south coast, I was fishing a summers evening on my local beach at Eastney. This is not a renouned Smoothhound mark, in fact they are very rarely taken from there. I was targetting Bass, Black Bream and Red Mullet, fishing two rods with two hook flapper rigs, size 1 hooks and ragworm tipped off with a sliver of squid for bait.



Fished Eastney a few years ago in a mild November. Bit practice before a match next night and one of the lads got a starry smoothhound pup probably less than 12 inches long. Only one I've seen in the flesh.

PS great night on the drink after up student area haha