What, Where, What for ??

[ijakk]

Hi all, I'm just starting out in sea fishing and I'm hungry for knowledge, I've spent 25 years fishing fresh water until I got to a stage where I almost knew what I was doing, but the sea is a whole different affair and I find my lack of knowledge quite frustrating at times. I've read quite a few books, articles etc and from what I gather weather conditions tide seem (to my untrained eye) be one of the biggest factor in successful shore fishing. Now I know from my fresh water fishing that rules of thumb are dangerous things because fish have a habit of throwing the rule book out of the window at times, but its a handy starting point for me to build on.

So what I'd like to ask is, what prevailing condition, weather, tide etc really get you going, make you think that I just cant afford not to be fishing on such and such day. I'm thinking mostly about cod and bass fishing, also how do the conditions determine what sort of mark you would choose rock,mixed,sand etc. I know its a bit of an open ended question as no doubt some places fish differently to other but I'm just looking for some general guidedance.

Many Thanks

Rich

[phill_itofish]

Its all dependant on the mark you want to fish mate, for cod i like a good low tide with a nice sea running and a north easterly wind, for rockier marks i fish its got to be 2 hours either side of high tide (same goes for the river) with a bit of a roll on but not too much, is the sea is too rough and i think i wont be able to hold bottom, i'll head for the river or the first gate.

If your looking for Cod at the moment there's been quite a few taken out the river lately.

[phill_itofish]

sorry by the river i mean the Tyne.

[steak and kidney pie]

Still learning meself, however for me if a high or low tide( but not a neap one!stay indoors cuddle the misses and save ya bait) coincide with dusk or dawn, I feel the need to go a nice beach. Also after the sea has calmed a bit after a big hooly or during if I can be bothered to trek to sugar sands( secluded cove which is fishable when everywhere else is throwing your breakaway straight back at you).

Also find alot of freshwater rain runoff puts the fish off.......and me.

Try not to go on rock marks by yerself especially at night! lest you learn the hard way why.

Find a local spot you like and try fishing it as often as poss noting tides, sea cond, ebbing, flowing, weather etc as this will probably be where you spend most of your time! Then you will be able to be one of those gadgees who walks the beach shaking his head and tutting in a knowing fashion at frozen anglers knowing there not going to catch that night.

I hope to be THAT GADGEE ONE DAY!

disclaimer.... I know nowt! maybe there is a GADGEE on here who will part with his knowledge of your area.

[ijakk]

thanks for that guys

[shaun]

( but not a neap one!stay indoors cuddle the misses and save ya bait)

some marks fish better on neap tides. as somone has already said it realy just depends on the mark.

[kensr27sz]

best thing to do is get out with other anglers and see what tips you can pick up of them , but in this game you are allways learning. the fish dont go by the book. ie it has been rough for a week , just starting to die of a bit and it is screaming cod then they dont show. 3 days later flat as a fart and the cod are jumping out of the water .

[seanyrooroo]

As Kenny says, get out with other anglers. Joining a club is also a great way of picking up the basics.