You've seen the big ones

Look the fact is, no matter how much I spin it, not every bass I catch is a big fish. Oh I wish, no I really do wish they are but they are not. And I don't believe that its any longer the point. Bass are now too scarce to be fussy about any catch. I'm fairly firm with anyone who steps aboard 3 Fishes only to exclaim when they get a hook up 'oh that's a small one'. To me a bass is a bass. Too many chef's have made too many TV programmes cooking sea bass fillet and they are over persecuted often illegally simply for the quick buck that a carcass brings. The ultimate insult to such a proud and noble fish is to drown it in a gill net, sell it for cash in the black market and give the cash to the local landlord. As meaningless and pointless as over exploitation gets. So getting a hook up and a fish aboard is an achievement to be celebrated and enjoyed, no matter its size. And whilst I'm on the bass fillet thing let me tell you this. Eat Mullet; there is more of them and they taste nicer (yes really).

That said its also true that we all like looking at big fish so I'm keen to post pics of the big ones and the other superb achievements go unheralded. Until today when I celebrate the small ones! Although the one above actually isn't that small but its somewhat helped by the fact that Noah is a small person.

Fishing is a strange sport. get one and you want another, get another and you want a bigger one, get a bigger one and you want a bigger one still! Its part of its mystery and the drug that is fishing - what will take next!

What am I catching on?

The stonking amazing beautiful and still swimming bass that a client had yesterday was a fish of a lifetime. And I am choosing my words carefully as 8lb is the new 10lb when fish of this class are involved. The thing is that this fish measured out on Bass Anglers Sport fish Societies weight length tape at over 10lb but boga'ed at 8.5lb. It looked bigger but bass and indeed fish often do. For years I carried only the BASS tape as a succession of scales proved unable to with stand the wear and tear (and salt). In fact the tape did all I needed of it firstly because anything over 55cm always go back (take two bass limit per person on 3 Fishes) and secondly because its quick and easy to use. However with the boga revolution seems to have come a handy durable and reliable tool and thus far I'm happy with it. It weighs light but I'm happy! 

As I handed Paul his catch like a proud and relieved mid wife handing over a baby I was chuffed to bits for him, for those on the boat that got to see this ultimate predator and myself for delivering the product (again!).

I had said to the guys aboard and got disbelieving snigger's in return as I said it....'bass are in fact bloody easy to catch, just bloody difficult to find'. The point was proved yet again as we had only a cod (2.5lb'er) and some baby pollack off the first four locations we fished and there on the fifth was this baby and four others. 

Ok I here you saying get to the point - what did it take? It took a Rapture Momoko 120mm shallow runner but the colour I'm keeping to myself and the lads at Rapture (ask them). I will however tell you this about the colour.... I've made a loud and clear point blogging about it in the past, so if you follow what I do online and in Sea Angler mag you'll be there.

I'm liking these lures more and more now.They mimic some IMA stuff that Henry Gilbey is very fond of but come in at around 25% of the price. They are catching, that's reason enough. They cast well enough and their action is tight and sweet. Clearly a fish puller. I've just ordered more.

Here's the cod and proud captor Lee.

Rapture capture

If you follow my Facebook ramblings you'll have spotted that the lads from Trabucco UK flew in (yes posh I know but they really did fly in to Aberporth just down the road) last week. They came to give their bassing gear a work out and were particularly keen to give the new Rapture series lures a swim.

The bottom line is that the lures catch. Indeed they catch well. Now let be be clear and up front with you about this. I am not in Trabucco's pay (other than they paid for the day aboard 3 Fishes as anyone else would) and I have no 'deal' with them its simply a good working relationship. The came, they used, I put them on the fish and I watched. Seems fair enough.

I like the look of what I saw and can find no better thing to say about the lures than since that day I have been giving them to clients to use! In the pics associated to this blog are a couple of strong lures that clearly catch fish. The big selling point for these fellows is the price range (as well as the fact that they catch).
The Chartreuse Monomo 120 below retails at £7.99. Yes that's right there is no numeral 1 missing from in front of the 7. Nice kit, good price and it works.