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Newcomers and experts alike are best of heading to piers and breakwaters that offer good fishing due to a good depth of water, even right under your feet.\u00a0<\/p>
AUTUMN can be a great time for sea fishing and one of my favourite species - the underrated mackerel - are still about, especially in September and early October before they head off to the deep water for winter.
Newcomers and experts alike are best of heading to piers and breakwaters that offer good fishing due to a good depth of water, even right under your feet.\u00a0<\/p>
And there\u2019s plenty of other good species to catch like garfish, black bream, bass, conger eels, pollack, wrasse, flatfish and even exotics like triggerfish.\u00a0<\/p>
It might cost a couple of quid, but the small expense is well worth it and you can often bring home something to cook.\u00a0<\/p>
Mackerel are about right now so get out there as this will be your last chance before the shoals arrive again next spring.\u00a0<\/p>
Here\u2019s some top tips for fishing on piers and breakwaters\u2026<\/p>
Warm and waterproof clothing is a must. You can always take it off but you don\u2019t want to pack up and go home because you don\u2019t have the right clothing.\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
As with all sea fishing, wash your rod\/reel thoroughly afterwards in fresh water \u2013 best just to take it into the shower and give it a good hosing down. It will prolong the life of the kit 100 fold. Any terminal tackle like hooks that you want to use again should be washed as well.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
A lot of fish can be caught on the float, the basic slider float rig you buy in tackle shops are perfectly good with the Shakespeare ones very cheap and good. Remember to thread on bead, float, bead, weight, bead and then tie on swivel. Then tie on a hook length and hook and above the float add half an elastic band tied with two granny knots to set the depth. In rough conditions and bigger waves use bigger floats, when calmer use smaller float.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
When float fishing keep varying the depth of the stop knot until you are catching fish, but give each depth a good ten minute go around different parts of the swim. Mackerel I\u2019ve found like a bait a bit deeper of 8-12 ft and garfish of 4-8 ft but there\u2019s lots of overlapping. Set the float near the bottom to try and catch other species like black bream, bass, flatfish, pollack, wrasse etc etc.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
Legering is also very good and a simple running leger catches lots of fish but not normally mackerel or garfish which are midwater\/surface feeders. Thread on your weight, bead and then tie on a swivel, then add a hook length and hook and you are away.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
On both float and leger, the fish can often be right under the pier so long casting isn\u2019t always necessary. But always search out different areas.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
Keep an eye out on other anglers and see what they are catching, how and on what bait. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for a few tips.<\/p><\/blockquote>
A lot of sea fish aren\u2019t huge so use lightish tackle and always match your hook size to the bait you are using so small baits = small hooks, big baits = big hooks. Always have the hook point showing to aid hooking.<\/p><\/li>
On the float there are two basic baits. Half or whole sandeel (smallest frozen ones you can buy) on a size 6 Drennan Super Specialist hook or whole ragworm on a size 6 Kamasan Aberdeen hook will catch plenty of species. A third option is a small strip of squid on either of those hooks. Always try and use as light gear as you can but remember you need to wind fish up piers so 12 lb main line and 8-10 lb traces are fine.<\/p><\/li>
Legering baits are ragworm on the same size hook as mention 6 Aberdeen, mackerel strip (match hook to bait wanted), peeler crab (very good, but expensive, but will catch many species including smoothhounds and needs binding once hooked with bait elastic to stop this soft bait falling off, squid strip for small species, whole squid on a size 6\/0 (huge hook but needed) for rays, smoothhound, conger eel etc etc.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
Caught this 'Thornie' pier fishing Ireland<\/em><\/p>
Where allowed feathering and spinning is effective for mackerel but not as much fun as catching on the float. For spinners, choose small but heavy models and with feathers go for the very small hokkai-style lures.<\/p><\/li>
When buying tackle do ask the tackle shop for advice, good shops will be very helpful as they know catching customers are returning customers.<\/p><\/li>
Always check the point of your hook to make sure it\u2019s not damaged and still super sharp. If it blunted or damaged in any way replace it at once or you will miss bites and lose fish if you hook them.<\/p><\/li>
Always make sure your hookbait is presented neatly and the hook point showing so you hook more fish.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>
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