Pwllheli Bass fishing

Sunday/Monday 3rd -4th May 2009

I was on holiday in Pwllheli, Wales for the weekend with the wife and kids and so not one to miss an opportunity, I packed a rod and a few lures in the hope of sneaking in a Bass session.

I managed a quick 10 min session on the Sunday afternoon as we went to see the beach and even saw a couple of fish topping within casting range, but there was no interest in my lures.









These were Poppers such as Storm Chug Bug and Yo-zuri or Rapala's (shown in photo) and also the classic Bass lure the Dexter wedge, (not shown) on which I caught my first (and only) Bass last year in Cornwall.

On the Monday morning I was up at 4:30am to fish not long after the top of the tide, it was only just starting to get light as I started fishing. I like this time though, as it's a great time to be on the beach, you have the whole area to yourself. There's just you, the sea plus the various bird life moving about at that time, it really feels like you having an "at one with nature" kind of experience and is defiantly worth losing the sleep for.
I saw a fish top not long after arriving and near to where I was casting to but despite covering the area well, there was no take !! I saw another fish a short while later but again no interest in the either the Dexter wedge or the popper lures. My only regret from this session is that I didn't try the jointed rapala plug earlier, as it might have been the right pattern for the day ? who knows? The fish had probably moved on by the time I tried it anway, which would have been move than an hour after high tide by this time.

One thing I do know is I'd love to catch another Bass on this method it would be a great buzz to get another one now I've tried for them a few times. I will be defiantly trying again next time I'm at the sea.

Bass Fishing in South Wales

31st August 2008

I fished for Bass in Wales at Porthcawl - I didn't catch any this time, but tested out my new popper lures for the first time. Thought they were quite impressive.

Bass Fishing in Devon

I visited Challaborough Bay in Devon on holiday for a week with my family which was great, with plenty of sun, sea, sand and ice creams etc... a nice bucket and spade holiday was enjoyed by all. What topped it off for me though was the capture of my first Bass, and by design ! The bay I fished was only about 300m wide with rocky cliffs at each end, a sandy bottom and a nice gradual depth from the shore. The morning tide was at its height around 4:30am at the start of the week moving to about 7:00 am toward the end. After arriving on the Saturday, the first day I fished was the Monday getting up just after 4:30am, I walked the 200 yards down to the sea. To my surprise there was someone else fishing for bass too!. I quickly made my way up to the area I had my eye on - next to the rocks on the left hand side of the bay. I began fishing with a Dexter Wedge lure that I had just bought a set of, starting with the gold one then sytematacally trying all of them. The other chap packed up and a while after so I moved down the beach to try where he had been after losing my gold lure on thick seaweed in the rocks. I had noted that there was not so much on the other side and none in the middle of the bay so I tried down there as I didn't want to lose any more lures just yet. Never managed to get a take that first day though ! Second attemp was made on the Wed and this time I made sure I was up earlier at 4:00am I was down and fishing by 20 past and about third cast in I was in ! I wasn't sure what it was at first but then I knew it was definatly a fish, It didnt fight that well as it was only small and I was using 10lb line so it never stood a chance really. However I was overjoyed when I saw a bass breaking through the surf. I beached it quickly and lifted it away from the waves in case it fell off the hook ! I was chuffed I had set out to catch one and achieved it, in fact this was the first time I had even seen a bass close up ( except maybe for the one's at the sea life centre in B'ham !) The hook was quite deep down and whilst trying to sort it out to return the fish, I realised that I had forgotten to bring my forceps ! I tried my best not to cause too much damage but it had swallowed the treble somewhat, so unfourtunatly as the fish was bleeding quite badly from the gill I decided the kindest thing would be to kill it and eat it !! (it was very tasty).


I realise this fish is a bit small at about 1.5lb but I would rather eat it and justify it's death than have it die slowly if returned to the sea. I didn't manage to catch anymore fish after that, I even tried a feather rig that I made up from one of my daughters toy pompoms with glittery strands of pink and silver 3 - 4 inches long tied to 5 x size 4 hooks. These were attached to the rig with a dexter wedge on the end in the hope of any mackeral or small pollack that might also be in the area. A last session on the Thursday morning failed to produce any fish, mind you the sea was decidedly rough on that day with fierce waves to contend with, my chest waders taking a boot full on several occasions. I really enjoyed the fishing this week working out the tide times, to enable me to fish the rising tide at the optimum times etc.. It was challenging and quite hard work for one small fish really ! but to catch your targeted species is always a thrill when it pays off. We are planning another break in Devon later in the year and I can't wait to try for more Bass, I noted a few other areas to try too !! so watch this space.