Three brave souls having a very stressful time fishing on Lilstock Beach yesterday - one man is clearly so stressed he's having to have a little lie-down! The old harbour at Lilstock is a favourite haunt for local sea-fishing/sea-angling fans, & Mike Thrussel of http://www.worldofseafishing.com/ has the following advice if you fancy a visit:
"SPECIES
Thornback rays can show throughout the year along with conger eels. May to July produces smoothound with sole showing from June through to September. Cod show from October, though it's usually November before they appear in any numbers. Whiting, pout and dogfish make it a good mixed bag venue.
BAITS
Ragworm is a top all round bait for the whiting, pout, dogs and rays, but it's essential to tip with squid for consistent catches. The sole take rag and lug. Peeler crab or hermit crab are best for the smoothound. For the winter cod tip big lug baits with rag or squid.
TACKLE & TACTICS
This area is generally patches of clean ground giving on to reefs and rough ground patches. Reef ground is evident to the left hand side and is very snaggy but can produce the better fish. Fish here from low water through high water and for two hours back. To the right side the ground is slightly easier to fish and produces well in southwest winds and can produce fish any time of tide. There is also a sewer pipe between the reefs which fishes well over high water.
With snaggy ground evident you'll need a tough 5-6oz beachcaster, and for long range a Penn 525 Mag loaded with 20lb line or maybe a 7000 sized reel and 25lb line, plus a 60lb shock leader.
Pulley rigs made from 60lb line are best here with a short 15-inch 35lb hook trace. Most anglers prefer a two-hook pennel rig using Viking pattern hooks size 4/0 for the cod and rays, but up the hook length to 80lbs when after the conger.
A three-hook flapper rig and size 2 Aberdeen's is the best choice for the smaller general species. Drop to size 6 Aberdeen's when after the sole."
Thornback rays can show throughout the year along with conger eels. May to July produces smoothound with sole showing from June through to September. Cod show from October, though it's usually November before they appear in any numbers. Whiting, pout and dogfish make it a good mixed bag venue.
BAITS
Ragworm is a top all round bait for the whiting, pout, dogs and rays, but it's essential to tip with squid for consistent catches. The sole take rag and lug. Peeler crab or hermit crab are best for the smoothound. For the winter cod tip big lug baits with rag or squid.
TACKLE & TACTICS
This area is generally patches of clean ground giving on to reefs and rough ground patches. Reef ground is evident to the left hand side and is very snaggy but can produce the better fish. Fish here from low water through high water and for two hours back. To the right side the ground is slightly easier to fish and produces well in southwest winds and can produce fish any time of tide. There is also a sewer pipe between the reefs which fishes well over high water.
With snaggy ground evident you'll need a tough 5-6oz beachcaster, and for long range a Penn 525 Mag loaded with 20lb line or maybe a 7000 sized reel and 25lb line, plus a 60lb shock leader.
Pulley rigs made from 60lb line are best here with a short 15-inch 35lb hook trace. Most anglers prefer a two-hook pennel rig using Viking pattern hooks size 4/0 for the cod and rays, but up the hook length to 80lbs when after the conger.
A three-hook flapper rig and size 2 Aberdeen's is the best choice for the smaller general species. Drop to size 6 Aberdeen's when after the sole."
