Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 606 i Sea Angler

It’s funny how life turns out sometimes, isn’t it? If someone had told me, as a sea fishing-mad young teenager in the mid 1990s, pouring over the latest issue of Sea Angler each month, that 25 years later I would be editing the same magazine, I would have told them they were crazy. Yet, here I am, just as passionate about fishing as I was then, albeit with a few more grey hairs. Not a day goes by without being reminded how privileged I am to work in the sport I love and now be in charge of Sea Angler in its 50th anniversary year. This month’s issue is packed full of great features, expert advice, news on recent stories in the UK sea angling world, and a great range…

Stout Point is a stubby, black, headland located approximately midway between Llantwit Major and Summerhouse Point at the western end of Aberthaw Bay. It’s certainly not the easiest shore venue to reach, requiring a long walk over large, round, boulders, and then fishing while standing on these, which near the low water mark are covered in slime and weed. If you are looking for a couple of hours of easy fishing, my advice is to avoid Stout Point. SEASONAL SPECIES However, a wide range of species can be caught at Stout Point, often to specimen size. During the spring, summer, and well into the autumn and early winter expect spotted, small-eyed and thornback ray along with ever increasing numbers of blonde ray to over 20lb. Stout Point also produces smoothhounds,…

For years, the north bank of the River Humber has provided shore anglers with comfortable fishing. When the tide eventually creeps over the sloppy mud, a selection of species like flounders, soles, whiting and codling follow looking for their next meal. The main marks are Hessle/Humber Bridge, St Andrew’s Quay, Victoria Dock and Paull. SEASONAL SPECIES Flounders, dabs, soles, eels, whiting, codling, and the occasional bass, are all targets over the course of the year TACTICS Hessle is near the country park and stretches under the Humber Bridge and is popular with match anglers. At low tide the river retreats, exposing a large area of soft mud. But, as it floods, it doesn’t take long for the mud to be covered when the water eventually reaches the band of shingle.…

BASS ■ Shore: 19lb 13oz 8dr John Locker ■ Boat: 19lb 4oz Wayne Milton BLACK BREAM ■ Shore: 5lb 5oz 1dr C Le Monnier ■ Boat: 6lb 6oz Tony Heart COUCH’S BREAM ■ Shore: 2lb 15oz 1dr Lynton Carre ■ Boat: 7lb Becky Lee Hodges GILTHEAD BREAM ■ Shore: 9lb 8oz Scott Smy ■ Boat: 10lb 2oz Roger Simcox PANDORA’S BREAM ■ Shore: 1lb 2oz Baz Wheater RAY’S BREAM ■ Shore: 6lb 1oz Jordan Colwell RED BREAM ■ Boat: 6lb 4oz Patrick Meegan BRILL ■ Shore: 6lb 12oz Mark Griggs ■ Boat: 13lb 10oz Tony Hayward BULL HUSS ■ Shore: 21lb 9oz M Urquhart ■ Boat: 23lb D Nicholson BALLAN WRASSE ■ Shore: 9lb 4oz Darren Swift ■ Boat: 9lb Glen Carter CUCKOO WRASSE ■ Shore: 1lb 13oz Joe Edward…

For most of the year they hardly get any attention at all, then autumn arrives and many boat anglers suddenly go whiting mad. It’s understandable with fish weighing over 7lb caught in recent years. Whiting, along with cod, poor cod, pouting, haddock, coalfish, and ling are members of the cod family; and, as such, they taste great. As far as the reason why anglers target them during the autumn and winter months, that probably has more to do with the whiting’s distinct migratory pattern, rather than the fact that they’re related to cod and taste good. You see, much of the UK coastline becomes ‘invaded’ by whiting come October and they hang around right through until the end of March in many places, offering a welcome rattle on the rod…

DIRECTIONS Admiralty charts number 3274 and 3275 cover the area we have been looking at. Enter SA72 6TR into you sat nav to get to Hobbs Point. BERTHING Visiting anglers can make use of Neyland Marina, conveniently located directly opposite the Hobb’s Point launch site. Here you will find visitor berths, a well-stocked chandlery, fuel and a cafe. For more details visit: www.yachthavens.com/ neyland-yacht-haven A second marina is located at the town of Milford Haven. During the summer months a temporary berthing pontoon is installed just outside the marina lock gates. For more information about onsite facilities here visit: www.milfordmarina.com FACILITIES The village of Dale is situated on the northern shoreline near the mouth of The Haven and has a temporary pontoon installed throughout the summer months, providing access to…

There are some great bargains to be had in the second-hand boat market. But there are also plenty that will end up costing you considerably more than you had intended, or can even afford to pay. I recommend that before you part with any cash you enlist the help of someone who has a sound knowledge of boats and knows exactly what to look for. INSPECTION When viewing a secondhand boat the first thing to do is give it a thorough looking over. Check that everything fitted works, especially any onboard electrics or electronics that are included in the package. Look inside all lockers and if possible try to look below the main deck, checking for signs of water ingress. If you do find any water try to determine exactly…

JAMES MADSEN Bristol Channel angler James Madsen is here to solve all your shore angling problems. MARK CRAME Suffolk-based Mark gets a thrill from fishing afloat on a kayak. Send him your kayaking queries. BEN BASSETT The Plymouth angler and blogger will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. HENRY GILBEY Angler, blogger and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, is our lure expert. HOW TO ASK A US QUESTION ■ Email: sa.ed@kelsey. co.uk or online: www. facebook.com/ seaanglermag By asking a question you are giving us permission to use your name and where you live in all versions and platforms of this magazine.…

Q With the fish being less active in the colder or coloured water, do you ever apply any of the scented gels to your soft plastics for added attraction, or do you rely entirely on just the movement of the lure? STEPHEN ROWLAND, BERKSHIRE BB says: This question ties in nicely with David’s and it’s worth expanding on the choice of scented lures out there. I do not use gels, although I know a few anglers who swear by them. I get a lot of use out of a mixed pot of Berkley Gulp and Marukyu Isome, which are artificial baits and loaded with scent. This means I can fish the lures almost static, letting the subtle movement of the current and tempting scent spur the inactive fish into biting.…

Contains clear, concise, easy to follow step-by-step knot-tying illustrations by Andy Steer of recommended sea fishing/big game fishing knots and set-ups. This publication should help you to gain a solid base of reliable, tried and tested knots, enabling you to land more fish. It will also help you protect the environment and save money by losing less tackle. Disclaimer: No responsibility in any way is accepted for incidents arising from the use of this material.Paperback: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9071747271/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9M.MFbWMHPV9SeBook:www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S72QYX0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_FK.MFbZ4TKN89…

Last issue we looked at a surprisingly effective little cast that uses a high set-up followed by a left-hand pull. The reward is effortless distance and easy control. For many anglers there is no need to dig more deeply into the intricacies of casting. Probably the best gear for this simple technique is a long European-style rod and a fixed spool reel loaded with reasonably light line. Shorter UK rods deliver perfectly acceptable results, but a few small changes raise the game and open the path to the more advanced casting styles, including pendulum if that’s what appeals. Where do you begin? The rod’s power arc needs to be longer, and it will help enormously to add power by using your body rather than just your arms. Increase the rod…

PENN TIDAL 423 RANGE RRP: £179.99 - £199.99 Back in issue 602 I reviewed, what was then, the new Penn Tidal 423 Surfcasting range. My conclusion at the time was that you were getting a good continental surfcasting rod for the price and the range came highly recommended from me. After already introducing four rods in the Penn Tidal 423 range, it’s great to see the family grow with the addition of a further six rods. When compared to the entry level rods in the range, the new Tidal XR rods are a step up in quality and price bracket. Penn has improved the build quality and performance by upgrading the components and adding more of their technology to the rods. There are five main upgrades when comparing the original…

Sea Angler has teamed up with tackle company Sonik to offer you the chance to win these fantastic items of sea fishing luggage worth £107 We’ve got four pieces of this smart kit to give away to one lucky reader. The prize is part of Sonik’s range of waterproof luggage, which features six items, ranging from a rucksack to a rod holdall. In this online entry competition you can win a Sea Rucksack, worth £49.99, a Fish Bag (£21.99), Trace Wallet (£12.99) and Cool Bait Bag (£21.99), all featuring the smart blue and grey livery complete with the Sonik branding. The rucksack has a rigid base and hardwearing PVC fabric, anti-corrosion zips, padded harness, grab handle, sternum strap, and two quick clips. The capacity is 35 litres. The cool bait…

■ With £10,000 in tackle prizes spread over the two divisions, points, based on entries, are awarded to the top three, section winners and captors of the largest fish caught in each designated Penn match. Penn also awards a prize of a Spinfisher fixed-spool reel to the angler scoring the most points in matches shown in each issue. If there is a tie, the winner will be the angler whose total is from the greatest number of results and is then chosen on merit by the editor. An angler can win only one reel during the year. To win a prize you must be registered with the Penn Sea League – supply your name, address, phone and email. Send fixtures, results and league registration by email to Ian Bowell: ian.bowell@icloud.com…

FEBRUARY • 12: Llandudno North Shore Open, 16:00-2100, 1 rod 2 hooks, Measure & release, all fish except, Mackerel, Herring, Scad and Launce. All Dogfish 50cm, £20 entry. Continental pay-out based on all 51 pegs being booked. Dave Cave; 07939462350. Payment via PayPal to…danimmiones10@amail.com • 12: Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers, round 1 Newhaven, book-in 11-12, fishing 1-6pm, Max 50 Pegs, £15 Adults £5 Juniors. Contact Mike on 07933 003985 or Chris on 07872944807 • 13: Leinster league, Ireland, Paul Whelan, 0851 425 728 or email paulwhelan1988@gmail.com • 13: Hornsea SAC Pairs open, Sewerby Steps to Paull lighthouse, 10am-4pm, weigh in closes 5pm, £20 per pair, tickets from 7.30am on day at Marine Hotel, Hornsea, Mark Colman 07768 342169 or John Aylward 07968 215565. Results on club Facebook page, Dee…

FAR AND WIDE This annual competition, held at Hythe on the south Kent coast, is one of the largest and most prestigious matches in the sea angling calendar. Anglers from all over the UK and beyond travel for this event. Many of the anglers have had the privilege of fishing for their country but some of the local lads give them a good run for their money. The two-day event is organized by Richard Yates, son of Alan Yates, one of the best sea match anglers around and a former international angler contributor to Sea Angler. Richard has fished for his country on many occasions too. This competition brings welcome revenue to the town of Hythe during the bleak month of January. However, this prestigious angling venue is under threat…

After the atmospheric autumn storms and weeks of high winds and wet weather, these crisp, cool, January days, with their intoxicating fresh air and azure skies, could not come soon enoug. Indulging in all the wrong foods and beverages over Christmas, I feel so alive being out again and doing what I love. The exercise, of course, is very welcome, as is the hit of vitamin D from the sun. I’ve lived in hot climates for significant periods in my life and it’s made me appreciate the seasons in the UK all the more. These sunny days not only pave the way to spring and summer, but they also inspire you, making you so very glad for everything you have and the possibility that lays before you. In stark contrast,…

GETTING THERE To get to Stout Point take the A4265 from Barry towards Llantwit Major and follow the brown tourist board signs for the beach car park. Stout Point is a twenty-minute or so walk to the east from this car park. Due to the nature of the ground travel as light as you can and avoid walking directly beneath the cliffs due to the instability of the rock face resulting in frequent rock falls. It is possible to take a short cut via a farm track located a mile or so before Llantwit Major beach, but this will entail climbing down a section of cliff and should only ever be attempted by the fit and able bodied, and never by anglers fishing on their own. Care should always be…

Tywyn faces due west into Cardigan Bay and its very name translates from Welsh to English as “beach” or “sand dune”. Facing west, it can take the brunt of the weather and usually carries a surf or swell producing a variety of fish throughout the year. During the summer it gets very busy with beachgoers and anglers are advised to fish night tides. SEASONAL SPECIES Long casts can find a few thornbacks at times in summer, with close range fishing producing bass, flounders, garfish, dogfish and turbot. Towards autumn the bigger tides can produce some small eyed rays, the occasional bull huss and conger can be caught, though the latter are rare. It’s a very good whiting mark from September through to Christmas, with dabs at long range over the…

Tope, Galeorhinus galeus, are a species of hound shark typically found in coastal waters, and further offshore in depths up to 550m. Tope are a highly migratory species, fish that have been tagged in the UK having been recaptured in The Azores, the Canary Islands and off the coast of Iceland. The species is found all around the world with key areas in the Southern Atlantic including Namibia, South Africa and Brazil. Further afield tope are found in the North Pacific between British Columbia in Canada and the Baja peninsula in Mexico, and in the southern Pacific off Chile, Peru, New Zealand, and Australia. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) classes the tope as vulnerable with a declining population trend both globally and in European waters, meaning…

Sea Angler is the UK’s biggest and best saltwater fishing magazine. We have been inspiring people to fish the seas for 50 years. Through compelling writing, beautifully illustrated stories and eye-catching content, we seek to make you a better angler and convey the joy of adventure and the wonder of the saltwater world. Our core aim should remain the same, but longer-term readers may have noticed some changes to the type of content we carry, the range of contributors, the way we work with advertisers and the magazine’s overall look and feel – necessary changes evolve with the times. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our readership is growing and we are going from strength to strength. But as we look ahead, we’re running a survey to gather your thoughts…

The new UK Fisheries Act allows the UK to manage its fisheries now the UK is no longer part of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. Recreational fishing is recognised as a stakeholder in the new Act and, for the first time, recreational anglers will have a say over how UK fish stocks are managed. Recreational fishing will also qualify for funding to help promote and develop it. Data from the diary project will help anglers, fisheries managers, and the government, understand what it is anglers catch, what angling needs, and what impact it is having.…

Dogfish for three, pout and a poor cod for seven. Doggie for five! Yes, it’s a Friday, and once again I am out for a day’s fishing with the lads fishing the Species League. Having previously joined this group of ultra-competitive species hunters on one of their monthly matches at Lyme Regis, and Swansea, today it was Minehead’s opportunity to show what was on offer on the species front. But it’s mid-November, the water is coloured, and it is unlikely that there will be any big surprises. So, what can we expect to catch? Talk among the two crews fishing aboard Osprey and Teddy Boy seems to focus upon, perhaps, a dozen species per boat, possibly as many as 15. That being so, this is the last but one match…

Luce Bay is a large bay in south-western Scotland and is an angler’s paradise, with some of the finest angling available in the warmer months. The bay is 20 miles wide at its mouth and is bounded by the Rhins of Galloway to the west, and the Machars to the east. The Scares are rocky islets at the mouth of the bay. From the 1930s to the 1990s, Luce Bay was a very active bombing range used for training purposes by military aircraft based at West Freugh, but is mainly dormant now. The northern shores are predominately covered by a vast six-mile-long beach, with fairly shallow waters that become warm in the summer months. Situated on this long beach is the Sands of Luce Holiday Park. The park itself can…

Amberjack are a powerful group of species of gamefish, mostly found in the tropical or near tropical regions of the world’s oceans. They are a member of the genus Seriola of the family Carangidae, of which there are many variations of amberjack which include: greater amberjack, lesser amberjack, almaco jack, Pacific yellowtail, and the banded rudderfish. Greater amberjacks are the largest and usually have dark stripes extending from the nose to just in front of the dorsal fin. In most areas where they are found, which typically include rocky reefs, debris, and wrecks in 20m-75m of water, they average around 20lb-40lb, but in some areas much larger fish are frequently hooked. Almaco jacks have proportionately larger eyes and deeper bodies than greater amberjacks. They are olive green or brownish black…

Q Is coloured/murky water bad for lure fishing and if so, what type of lure is best fished in these conditions? SABINE PEARSON, LONDON HG says: If it’s any help, the whole coloured or dirty water thing is one of the issues in lure fishing that occupies my brain, arguably, far too much! First off though, we need to bear in mind that where anglers fish in the UK will influence how they see water which might, or might not, be verging on too coloured for successful lure fishing. I live in Cornwall where we tend to get a lot of what I refer to as “green” or “clear” water, and because a lot of my bass fishing success comes when the water is nice and clear and fizzed up,…

Q How can you remain comfortable sitting in a restricted area, like a kayak, for a few hours? Should you do any exercises, like on an aeroplane? BARRY DAVIES, MONMOUTH, MONMOUTHSHIRE MC says: Therein lies the question, and a difficult one at that. To go right back to the beginning, it is important to ‘try before you buy’. Visiting a kayak dealer and actually sitting in a few kayaks will give you an opportunity to check for comfort in terms of the seat and its positioning. Some are low, some high, and some have raised seats. Everything will take a seat (of which there are many options available alongside any that are supplied with the kayak) and there is also the option of a backband if you don’t wish to…

BOAT THORNBACK RAY Thornback rays are one of the first fish to return around UK and Irish shores after winter spawning, usually in late January to February. Their numbers then grow quickly throughout the spring and they often appear when there are early season herring shoals close to shore. With the spring thornback season upon us then, what tackle do you need to target them? MAINLINE 18/20lb mono is a perfect choice with the 12/20lb class boat rod, and 25/30lb mono with the 20/30lb class boat rod. If you fish braid, even with the lighter rod, most experienced anglers fish 30lb braid as it’s much smaller in diameter and catches the tide less that mono line of comparable strength. Remember to adjust your reel drag proportionately lighter to avoid overloading…

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CASH BACK WITH LOWRANCE HDS Kick off the year with incredible cash-back savings during the Lowrance HDS Ultimate Fishing System Upgrade promotion. Beginning January 1st through to March 31st 2022, anglers can save £100 on HDS LIVE 7 fishfinder displays, £200 on HDS LIVE 9, £300 on HDS LIVE 12, £400 on HDS LIVE 16, plus an additional £200 cash back when purchased with ActiveTarget Live Sonar, Ghost Trolling Motor, HALO Radar (24, 20+ or 20) or the Lowrance Outboard Pilot. ■ For more information on the HDS Ultimate Fishing System, visit www.lowrance.com/ultimate-fishing-system ■ For more information on the HDS Ultimate Fishing System Upgrade, visit www.lowrance.com/offers. GARMIN GMR FANTOM 18X/24X Garmin has just launched the GMR Fantom 18x/24x series, the most powerful solid state dome radars in their class. Equipped…

“This year I fished a lot of matches that I haven’t fished before. Because of the Covid situation a lot of matches I normally fish haven’t been held so Nathan Elliot and I ended up travelling together to Wales, up to Liverpool, and doing a lot more travelling than in previous years. It’s been nice fishing matches that I’ve never been to before. My plan was to travel with Nathan and to try and help him win the league this year. He’s a very good angler and good company to travel with. We were jostling with each other over points for most of the year, but I had some bonus results this year where I wouldn’t necessarily have expected them – such at Otterspool in Liverpool, which we had never…

This month, we ask Ian Bowell, Vice Chairman of the Sea Anglers Match Federation. ■ Preparation – Talk to local anglers before the event. Ask them questions. They might not tell you everything, but, invariably, they will be helpful. Know what target species you’ll be expecting to catch before the match. Prepare by sourcing the best possible bait, for each species, you can for the match. ■ Practice – Put the time in. Make sure your rigs are working properly and work well for your style of fishing. If I can use a flapping rig rather than a clipped rig, I will; it’s quicker and gives better presentation. In my opinion, a flapper rig is just a better match rig. ■ Weather – Hot, cold, rain: whatever the conditions, be…

While out lure fishing a few months back I spotted another angler on a rock in the distance who I acknowledged with a wave. Half an hour later I caught a bass of about 4lb. By the time I was ready to release it the other angler had arrived, full of praise and questions. The young lad was friendly and enthusiastic so I paused for a brew and a chat. I learnt that although Jack had fished since he was a boy, he was relatively new to sea fishing. But catching a bass on a plug on holiday had led to him lose interest in coarse fish, as the bass had given him a severe case of ‘bass fever’. Jack had a mission to catch a big bass on a…

WIN A PACK OF DRAGON BAITS RAGWORMS The best two pictures, selected by the Sea Angler team, will earn the sender 1lb of rag, worth £15 plus p&p, from farmed bait specialist, Dragon Baits. Please include your name and address when submitting your photograph to sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk. The company supplies the trade, organisations, fishing clubs and individual anglers direct from its farm in South Wales. Contact Dragon Baits, tel: 01639 894111. Email: info@dragonbaits.co.uk Web: dragonbaits.co.uk SEND US YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS Email your images, details, name and address to: sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk or by Facebook message: seaanglermag…

This venue is located in the centre of Minehead in west Somerset and is known to most as the town’s beach. It is a lovely spot, surrounded by hills and lush woodland, with views across to Minehead Harbour and out over the Bristol Channel to Wales. It’s a clean sandy beach, broken up with a series of groins which have been built here to protect and help maintain the shape of the beach. When it comes to the fishing, this can be a little gem of a venue which can throw up a good range of different species throughout the year. It really does offer something for anglers of all ages and abilities. ACCESSIBILITY Access to the beach is simple; you can literally park your car on the seafront, walk…

A few of you will know one of my lifetime’s passions is fishing, sea fishing in particular. In years post-retirement I have been fortunate to indulge this pastime in one of the finest sea fishing grounds in the world, the ›ords and coastal waters of northern Norway. This story is not about the practicalities of catching fish, way up in there in the Arctic Circle, but an account of one particular journey to these, our beloved, fishing grounds. On this occasion, four of us embarked on a trip. Our destination was a fishing camp located in a coastal hamlet in the far north of Norway, called Sandland. To get there one flies from London to Oslo – approximately two hours flying time – then from Oslo to, on this occasion,…

Sea Angler had been available for just half a decade when the Record Fish Committee, then part of the National Anglers Council, bowed to pressure from fishing publications – including Sea Angler, angling administrators and grass roots anglers – to do away with the single record list that had been inherited in 1957 in favour of individual registers for boat and shore captures. The committee’s first task was a review of old and so called unofficial ‘records’ published between 1893 and 1967. Among those deleted on the grounds of insufficient provenance included Mitchell Hedges’ 12lb 12oz wrasse taken off Looe Island, in Cornwall in 1912, a thornback ray of 38lb from Sussex in 1935 and a black bream of 6lb 5oz from the Menai Straits in the same year –…

Porbeagles are one of the most iconic shark species found in UK waters. Closely related to, and resembling, the great white shark, they can migrate vast distances each year to feed and breed. They have been caught by anglers for as long as anglers have set out in boats. Reaching lengths of over 11ft, the official British record of 507lb was caught from Scrabster in Scotland in1992, although bigger fish have almost certainly been caught and released since. However, it may not be long before anglers in England and Wales mare prohibited from targeting these magnificent fish. UK shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, appears to be the driver behind a move that could result in a ban on the targeting of porbeagles by recreational anglers year-round around the coast…

The Milford Haven Waterway is not a large estuary, as many believe, rather it is a ria, or submerged valley, which was flooded at the end of the last ice age. As a result, even when you are fishing many miles inland from the open sea you will be fishing in salt, rather than brackish, water and catching species more typically associated with the open sea rather than a sheltered inland waterway. LAUNCHING Small boats can be launched at several locations throughout the area, but the most popular is the excellent public slipway located at Hobbs Point, adjacent to the town of Pembroke Dock. The slipway is large enough to launch several boat simultaneously, and is perfect for those who are still working on their trailer reversing skills. It is…

The Kingmere is a perfect destination for the small boat owner, with moorings available in the River Arun and River Adur, as well as Littlehampton Marina and inside Shoreham Port. Boats on a trailer can use the River Arun public slipway adjacent to the Lifeboat Station but you must first notify the Harbour office, or you can use Littlehampton Marina where you have to pay a fee. For more information try boatlaunch.co.uk. Special attention should be made to the strong 6kt tidal flow, be prepared before you cast off. ACCESS Shaped like a map of Italy on the admiralty chart, the Kingmere is an iconic sea angling location off the Littlehampton coast. Concerned anglers, clubs, charter skippers and the Angling Trust, worked alongside each other to save the recreational fishery…

Q Do you have any advice on how to identify unusual species of fish? COLIN ROBERTS, KENT DL says: A clear photograph showing the entire fish along with any distinct markings, features, or other key identification points, is essential, such as this one showing a goldsinny wrasse. Several good guidebooks are available and the internet, along with various social media sites such as Facebook, contain numerous sources devoted entirely to species identification. Q Is it possible to refreeze sandeels after a day fishing, for reuse? DAVE RUDDLE, LONDON DL says: You can refreeze defrosted sandeels, but when you come to use them again the quality will not be very good. Refrozen eels work well for species such as dogfish, huss, ray and conger. I always prefer to use the best…

If ultimate range with triple baited hooks is essential to you then this clipped two-up, one-down rig, often called the loop rig, is what you need. For freelance fishing it can be adapted to a one-up, one-down rig, that is suitable as a long distance winter choice for all species that forage for food well out from the breakers, including codling and cod. The design of this three-hook terminal rig ensures that the lower two baits are clipped directly in line astern of the lead weight. This reduces drag and enables the rig to be cast as if it were a two-hook clipped rig rather than a more unwieldy three hooker. There are a host of bait clip systems available, although by far the most efficient and fail-safe release, especially…

VASS HYBRID 700 CHEST WADERS RRP: £119.99 CONSIDERING NEW CHEST WADERS? My sea fishing is varied and I enjoy a good mixture of locations, from sandy beaches to rock marks. First and foremost, I need a robust set of waders which can cope with varied terrain and a fair bit of walking. When choosing waders, I’m usually looking more at the practical, hard-wearing, side of things. I normally prefer a thick rubber body and a good sturdy boot, with a thick sole. Obviously, lightweight materials are more comfortable to wear, and breathe better, but they just aren’t practical for me and my range of sea fishing disciplines. A GREAT COMBINATION You really get the best of both worlds with the Hybrid 700s. The lower part of these chest waders is…

HOLT SAC OPEN Kelling, Norfolk, 18 anglers ■ Result: 1 Charlie Needham, Heacham, 58 fish, 15lb 12oz; 2 Jack Topping, Beccles, 51 fish, 10lb 7oz; 3 Charlie Friary, Dickleburgh, 58 fish, 9lb 11oz. HORNSEA SAC ASHBRIDGE MEMORIAL East Riding, Yorkshire, 120 anglers ■ Result: 1 Neville Charlesworth, Hornsea, 1.375Kg (12); 2 Simon Drayton, Gainsborough, 1.325Kg (11); 3 Callum Richardson, Preston, 1.175Kg (10). EAST FIFE SAC OPEN Fife, 39 anglers ■ Result: 1 Stuart Cresswell, Ayr, 4 fish, 9lb 4oz (3); 2 Colin Holmes, Arbroath, 2 fish, 8lb 8oz; 3 Sandy Wason, Ayr, 2 fish 7lb 7oz. WYVERN SPECIMEN OPEN Slapton, Devon, 111 anglers The South West’s first major event in 2022 attracted 111 anglers to fish the annual Angling Trust Wyvern Open Festival, weather conditions on the day saw a…