Talk to me about fishing

Glaucus

Glaucus

Glaucus

Man of Honour
Joined
11 Mar 2004
Posts
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I know there's a fair few fishmen on here.
I've never fished in my life, but I want to take fishing up purely for food rather than fun.
And was wondering if anyone could spec me some cheapest kit to start of with.
I only have motorbike, so kit would need to fit in a large hiking rucksack.

Can fish along the cost from Severn bridge down to Western supermare.

Does anyone know if you can pretty much fish anywhere or is their private lots? Or how would you find out.
Would the general fishing license. Cover me, or is their lots of different licenses?

Also interested in shellfish if there's anything about.

Does anyone know any good spots along this bit of coast?
 
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Telescopic rod and feathers / float or spinning gear, as you won't carrying a rod stand unless you want to hold the rod all day then rigs and weights are not for you.
 
 
maccapacca said:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FTD-Beachcaster-Telescopic-Fishing-pre-spooled/dp/B003IWF340/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt

http://www.amazon.co.uk/FTD-Selection-Feathers-Plankton-Mackerel/dp/B0039YXTN4/ref=pd_sim_sg_3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Fishing-Properly-Explained-Ball/dp/071602201X/ref=pd_sim_sg_5

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shakespeare...sr_1_4?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1346499296&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TACKLE-Brea...sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1346499350&sr=1-2

you won't need the break free weights

http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-46935-Waitrose+Whole+Mackerel

when you don't catch
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I beg to differ along the severn estuary, never used to use them myself, and lost so many that i tried the break free weights suddenly i wasn't losing them. It's literally all mud along there. Especially around Weston-super-Mare/Burnham-on-Sea
 
Prepare to be REALLY bored, REALLY REALLY REALLY bored, my Dad loves fishing and I've tried so hard to get on with it but christ, take a comfy fold up chair (wait you're on a bike :()
 
Seems a waste using mackerel, mackerel is so nice.

Thanks for the help. That book is probably essential.


ins0mn1ac said:
Prepare to be REALLY bored, REALLY REALLY REALLY bored, my Dad loves fishing and I've tried so hard to get on with it but christ, take a comfy fold up chair (wait you're on a bike :()
Click to expand...

That doesn't stop much, you just have to know how to pack/tie and buy collapsible stuff.
Music/Internet/book, but who knows.
 
maccapacca said:
Telescopic rod and feathers / float or spinning gear, as you won't carrying a rod stand unless you want to hold the rod all day then rigs and weights are not for you.
Click to expand...

Telescopic road is indeed a must for a bike. Depends on what you want to fish from. Beach, rocks, pier or a combination?
 
SilverTongue said:
I beg to differ along the severn estuary, never used to use them myself, and lost so many that i tried the break free weights suddenly i wasn't losing them. It's literally all mud along there. Especially around Weston-super-Mare/Burnham-on-Sea
Click to expand...

But he won't be rig fishing just spinning as he can't take a rod stand therefore the weighs will never touch the bottom to get caught, no need for break free weights just enough to get the lure / feathers out.
 
Glaucus said:
Combination ideally and for widest range of fish if possible.
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Just get the largest you are happy to carry, there's no real specific telescopic rods as they are a compromise, if you bought the one I linked pre loaded with line all you would need to do is maybe add a shock leader and a clip on swivel then you're ready to go in 2 minutes.
 
maccapacca said:
But he won't be rig fishing just spinning as he can't take a rod stand therefore the weighs will never touch the bottom to get caught, no need for break free weights just enough to get the lure / feathers out.
Click to expand...

Do you just mean a tripod stand? In which case, that would be easy to carry.
 
It sounds like you will be doing sea fishing, this means that you won't need a license and can pretty much fish anywhere (unless its private land like a pier or jetty etc).

Because you are on a bike I would recommend getting a telescopic rod as they will expand to about 12ft but are nice and compact. If you have a Promenade near you can can rest the rod against the railings meaning you don't need a rod rest.

As with most hobbies it can just about cost as much as you want, I would start cheapish until you know you like it, because it's is a hobby that you can upgrade your equipment at your own pace, new reel, then rod etc. You might want to take a look at a combo set, these save you money and have most of the basic stuff to get you going, look here

http://www.abfishingtackle.com/acatalog/sea-fishing-combos.html

A list of things you will need of the top of my head this is for beach fishing/Rock fishing not float fishing.

Line (10lb - 15lb will do) you are not in it for sport
hooks (Not too big don't want to alienate the small stuff when you are starting out) size 2/0 should do.
weights about 3 or 4oz will do, if you are fishing on a beach you will want "breakaways" which have metal spikes that hold onto the sand to keep the bait in one place, but breakaway to let you bring the line in.

You can but traces ready made, these are the technical part of the line at the end (Sorry if you know this but you said you were a beginner) even if you just buy 2 or 3 to give you an idea of what they look like and how to make them. Then you can buy the components yourself and make them in bulk for cheaper.

http://www.mainwaringsfishing.co.uk/MUSTAD-SEA-RIGS-442.asp

It sounds obvious but if you talk to your local shop about what bait is best for the area as it changes from place to place, near me I use Lug Worm, but rock fishing in Pembrokshire I would use Rag. They will also be able to tell you the best places locally to fish.

After reading other replies I will agree to try spinning too, It's dead simple just get some mackerel feathers or Hock eyes (seem to catch me more Pollock and coalies) But the rest still stands as I find that if one method is not working then you will have an option to change even if its just to give your arm a rest.

Edit/ Took far too long typing that out loads of good replies further up :(
 
maccapacca said:
But he won't be rig fishing just spinning as he can't take a rod stand therefore the weighs will never touch the bottom to get caught, no need for break free weights just enough to get the lure / feathers out.
Click to expand...

fair enough missed the part about the spinning.

Another piece of advice I will give you is that unless you know that strip of coast extremely well don't for god sake follow the tide too far out, the last thing we need is another person getting stuck out there, even if you see other local fishermen doing it don't follow. Me and my Dad go used to go fishing a lot at Burnham-on-Sea and even we started getting stuck and we both know how bad it can get.

Also with with regards to bait, we used to use lug worm mainly, though sometimes found that rag worm could be good as well.
 
If fishing for food I find best method is long lines. Very cheap to setup. All you need is 2 large stakes some line and hooks. Wait for tide to be out dig yer bait or find depending on bait used. Place about 50m line stakes both ends every 2m add 1m line with hook and bait at the end.

This method is cheaper than rod fishing and very fast easy to setup and best used on sandy flats. When I was younger I could have 3-5 long lines setup in less than 1 hour. Normaly 2 fish per line.

Edit: Warning if you do this make sure you know the tides.
 
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