Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Sea Angler

2026 BASS BAG LIMIT My contacts tell me the government plans to increase the bass bag limit to three fish per day for anglers in 2026. While this might seem like good news and a sign the stock is recovering, it should come with a strong health warning for anglers. The bag limit increase is designed purely to achieve Maximum Sustainable Yield, maximising the tonnage landed over time without depleting the stock. While this suits commercial vessels targeting smaller bass, it does not meet the needs of anglers seeking a thriving population of larger fish. Both small-scale commercial fishermen and anglers want to grow the stock, but the government remains unwilling to reconsider its objective. Angling now accounts for most landings and should be the fishery’s priority, not an afterthought.…

Trisopterus luscus, or the pouting, to give it its common name, is without a doubt amongst the lowest value target fish for any sea angler. No one has ever said, “We’re hoping for a great day on the pout!”. Match anglers and species hunters may value them for the points they score but for the average angler the pathetic pout neither fights hard nor has a reputation for eating particularly well as a table fish (although this might well be changing). Add to this its habit of taking baits and lures aimed at more valuable species, and its tendency to be fatally damaged by the change in pressure when brought up from depth, and the pouting is considered by most as a nuisance fish. But not so fast – while…

As sea anglers, we may not be able to travel as much as we’d like due to financial and family commitments, but it doesn’t stop many of us from planning and dreaming of our next adventure. I live for the times I can pack a rod tube, a bag full of reels and tackle, and hop on a flight or ferry to somewhere new and exciting to chase uncaught fish. It’s what gets my adrenaline going. Something in our nature makes us crave new challenges and environments. One such experience was so unique, so different and so enchanting that you’ll want to go next year, just to have a taste of the incredible fishing found in the US state of North Carolina. The Outer Banks Islands, recently famed by a…

£25 TACKLE VOUCHER WINNERS Fishingmegastore.com awards a £25 voucher prize to each of two winners - the youngster with the best shore fish and another with the top boat catch. The winners can use the voucher to select tackle from Fishingmegastore.com which is based in Glasgow and Edinburgh. ■ Send your Young Rods entries by email to sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

Whiting, Merlangius merlangius, are a member of the Gadidae family that includes cod. They inhabit the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with their range extending from the southeastern Barents Sea and Iceland to Scandinavia, including the Baltic and North Sea, then south to include Portugal, the Black, Aegean and the Adriatic Seas. They are generally found over a seabed consisting of sand, mud and gravel, often in very shallow water right up to the shoreline, and at depths down to about 100m. They feed on small fish, various species of worms and small crustaceans. Whiting could never be described as a fighting or even sporting species of fish. But, once located, they are usually easy enough to catch, and provide a lot fun on light tackle. Best of…

A bone chilling north-easterly wind had whipped the surface of all but the most sheltered areas of Cork Harbour into a latte like froth. A leaden sky and occasional heavy bursts of cold, stinging rain added to the overall picture of autumnal gloom. Ordinarily I don’t suppose we would have gone fishing that day, most likely settling for a leisurely breakfast at our comfortable digs at the hotel Bella Vista, perhaps followed by a walk down the hill into Cobh town to visit the Titanic exhibition and an early pint or two before heading back to the hotel bar to watch Wales versus Australia in the rugby World Cup quarter finals. It was certainly that sort of a day, and time spent doing so had infinitely more appeal than getting…

When strong winds are in the forecast and most anglers stay home, the new Vass Team Vass 350 Winter Edition 2 stands out. It’s built for anglers who spend long hours on open boats or exposed shores, and this updated jacket has earned plenty of praise as a modern sports oilskin for sea fishing. BUILT FOR BRUTAL CONDITIONS Vass made real improvements with Edition 2, not just small changes. Adjustable neoprene cuffs stop rain from running down your sleeves, and a wider neck opening makes it easier to wear thick hoodies on cold nights. The storm hood and higher chin guard give better protection when the wind hits your face, and the raglan sleeves let you move freely when casting in strong winds. The jacket’s main strength is the Vass-Tex…

WHY IT MATTERS Out on the water, the unexpected happens fast — a rogue swell, a slip, a moment’s distraction. A properly fitted lifejacket won’t make you invincible, but it massively ups your odds of survival. Yet too many anglers still mix up buoyancy aids and lifejackets — and that’s where the danger starts. BUOYANCY AIDS & PFDS: GOOD FOR KAYAKS, NOT BOATS Foam-filled buoyancy aids and PFDs (personal flotation devices) are comfy, flexible and perfect for kayak fishing or lure work from rocky shorelines. But they won’t turn you face-up if you hit the water unconscious — something every solo angler should think hard about. Still, if that’s all you have, wear it. Something is always better than nothing. Quick Facts: Buoyancy: 50–65 Newtons User weight: 70–90kg Features: No…

If England’s Masters Shore team had a motto, it would certainly be ‘Never Give Up’. After what was one of the most emotional, hotly contested and patchy, four-day FIPS-Mer Masters Shore World Championships, it was a fish caught on the last cast of the very last match which sealed victory for Team England. Hosted by France on the wide sandy beach at Equihen-Plage, just a few kilometres south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, England’s plan was simply to deliver consistency across all four of the four-hour matches. From practice sessions a couple of weeks prior to the big event it was clear this was going to be a tough contest with three or four fish per angler a good result each day. Tactics for Barbara Metcalfe’s squad of George Smith, David Howell, Malcolm…

It was early October and well past the peak of the tourist season but Dick Mack’s was heaving. There were a few locals about, I’m sure, but most of the pub’s patrons were Americans, tourists on a trip to Ireland to visit the land of their ancestors and being warmly welcomed to spend their dollars on a wet and windy Sunday night in Dingle. Storm Amy had battered the coast here over recent days as she rolled in off the open Atlantic and most people had taken refuge in Dick Mack’s or one of Dingle’s other 50 odd pubs, which, for a town with a population of just 1600 people, gives it an astonishing pub to person ratio and somewhere where you could, in theory at least, drink at a…

Scientists have recommended doubling the fishing pressure on bass in 2026 to shrink the bass stock by nearly nine per cent. But the stock has only just come out of the danger zone, so isn’t this a crazy idea? Why are they suggesting this? The answer is that the UK and the EU have told the scientists the goal is to harvest the largest catch that can be consistently harvested from the stock indefinitely without depleting it. This is called Maximum Sustainable Yield and is the UK and EU’s standard goal for commercial fishing. WHY IT DOESN’T ADD UP But chasing MSY makes no sense for a number of reasons: firstly, it’s mostly a recreational fishery – sea anglers land more bass than commercial fishers – and anglers want an…

MONO OR FLUOROCARBON? Mono line, even in shorter sections, still has more stretch than fluorocarbon does. This can disguise shy bites in the finer diameter lines below 0.35mm. Its other disadvantage is that it is softer in character than fluorocarbon and this can lead to increased tangles, especially when fishing the surf tables, and far more so when fishing in rougher and shallower seas. The other important thing to consider is that mono is more prone to seabed abrasion and will show scarring when in contact with rougher mouthed species like huss and dogfish. Memory free mono is the best choice as it gives better presentation. Fluorocarbon has moved on in recent years, and you now have the choice between softer and harder fluorocarbons. If you’re fishing over sand at…

ASK THE EXPERTS When sending your question, please remember to include your name and address CHRIS KENNEDYBARNARD Chris is a specimen hunting specialist based on Sark and answers shore fishing questions. DAVID MITCHELL David is Sea Angler’s editor and is an expert on sea angling policy and conservation. 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. ANDY SMITH Andy has represented Wales and specialises in lure and fly fishing for bass. BRIAN PASK Brian is a qualified sea angling coach and casting tutor who works with young people and experienced anglers to improve their fishing skills. SHORE ANGLING Q How far up…

Keep your essentials bone-dry while you’re out fishing. This month’s Sea Angler competition is one you won’t want to miss. We’ve teamed up with YETI to give away a 1l Sidekick Gear Case – the bombproof, waterproof stash bag every wading or rock-hopping angler needs. Built to take a soaking so your valuables don’t have to, the Sidekick is the perfect home for your keys, wallet, licence and mobile while you battle the elements. Inside, handy mesh pockets keep your kit tidy, while the 100 per cent waterproof seal – a combo of powerful magnets and a tough hook-and-loop closure – locks out spray, swells and sudden dunkings. RF-welded seams add yet another layer of defence against rogue wetness. Use it as a standalone pouch clipped to your belt, or…

ROD: MAJOR CRAFT CEANA SEABASS CNSS-862E In Japan squidding is called ‘egi’ or ‘eging’, and you will find many rods with these names. Confusingly, this entry level rod, even though it is from the Ceana Seabass range, is actually designed to catch squid. Egi rods are designed with a softer, more parabolic action and this prevents pulling the jig out from a fighting squid’s tentacles. It is also sensible to have a loose drag to absorb those jet propelled pulls they are famous for. Be patient, keep the tension and steadily bring the squid in. A net is also helpful too, although many anglers simply lift them from the sea. Paul says ‘Don’t break the bank, the Major Craft Ceana Egi rods are a fantastic entry level dedicated squid rod’…

The east winds dropped off after a run of 10 consecutive days giving me a chance to have a try for a garfish from the shore, one of the species I had not found so far this year. A gentle north-west breeze was just what I needed for a bit of float fishing. With my e-bike loaded, I set off to fish near the east arm of Eastbourne Marina. All looked good as I got set up and put out a thin cut of mackerel on a 5ft trace. A foot below the float was a half-ounce weight, just enough weight to keep the bait low enough not to attract the attention of hungry seagulls. SCUPPERED BY THE DREDGER As I gazed hopefully at the float, I noticed the local…

DECEMBER ● 7: Jamie Richardson Memorial Match, £1000 first prize for the heaviest single cod, fishing 9am - 3 pm, weigh-in for 4pm Class1 £20 juvenile class. For tickets and info please contact Scott Blowman 07934 049126 ● 7: Bognor Regis amateur SAC Christmas open Pagham, fishing from 0930 - 1430 catch and release, book in Pagham Yacht Club PO21 4SY, entry £8 plus pools, contact John Small 07799 762377 after 5pm ● 6: NWASAC Vale bank LW, 4pm - 8pm book on from 2pm, Contact Danny Parker, danielparker096@gmail.com ● 12: Edinburgh Winter Shore League, Newhaven (west), Reg 6 - 6.15 at Western Harbour Breakwater, EH6 6PA, fishing 7pm-10pm, pre-book only, contact Ian Campbell 07907 805822 ● 13: West Bay SAC Jurassic League round 12 of 12, Abbotsbury, 4pm -…

As members of Anstey Sea Anglers in Leicester we are about as far from the coast as you can get. Five of us had booked over a year in advance to fish for three days on John Keggie’s charter boat, Rodman, fishing out of Yell in the Shetland Islands in August. To say we were looking forward to it would be an understatement! Worryingly, the weather took a nasty turn the week before our trip and scuppered the fishing that week. Mercifully, it backed off and settled down in time for our arrival. John, the skipper, was confident in finding fish despite the May rot of algae in the water.The first two days saw two of our party catch cod up to 21lb. Everyone had broken their personal bests except…

We are now entering a season affected by the changing weather conditions. Heavy rain, blowing gales and snowstorms put an effective stop to your well-deserved session out on the rocks. As an angler, you must ask yourself if it is worth enduring the forces of Mother Earth to be out there. Luckily, there are plenty of chores to be done back home. And I’m not talking about doing the dishes or scrubbing toilets! TIDY UP THE PALACE My man cave is my stronghold and should be treated as such. If I neglect cleaning it, the fishing tackle section soon becomes a chaotic mess – rods everywhere, reels on every surface, fishing line scraps from rig making, empty bait elastic spools and, of course, grip leads I’ve stubbed my toe on…

James 'Leakyboots' Batty’s Criminal Bycatch is a rare catch. The novel thrills, enlightens and still smells of fresh bass and Cornish pasties. Rooted in West Cornwall’s harbours and headlands, the story follows Mungo – half-Ghanaian, wholly Cornish and shaped by a life at sea. Once a high-flying City trader, he swapped spreadsheets for surf and now works as a professional bass fisherman out of Newlyn. His quiet routine doesn’t last. A chance encounter puts him in the path of a human-trafficking operation, and Mungo is pulled into waters far stronger than any spring tide. Batty handles the serious subject matter with impressive balance. His real-world experience supporting refugees and displaced communities is clear: he and his wife run a Cornwall-based charity that funds education projects for Yezidi children in northern…

OCEAN SAFETY JON BUOY EVAC For 30 years, Ocean Safety has been a leading expert in the worldwide manufacture, distribution, servicing and hire of marine and waterside safety equipment offering a comprehensive range of products, including liferafts, lifejackets, pyrotechnics, EPIRBs, electronics and man overboard systems. Designed for leisure boaters under sail or power, the EVAC has been developed to bridge the gap between a liferaft and traditional man overboard devices. Lightweight, portable and simple to deploy, it provides vital peace of mind without the bulk of a conventional raft. Key features include automatic inflation, an inflatable arch and canopy, a boarding ladder and grab handles for accessibility, and a weighted keel for stability. Supplied in a semi-rigid valise with a three-year service interval, the EVAC combines ease of stowage with…