Which line to use, autumn big bass tactics

ALL LINED UP
If you're new to sea angling knowing which line to load your reels with in terms of breaking strain for different ground types is not always easy. This was highlighted recently in a conversation I had with two lads from the Wirral while fishing up in Anglesey. They were fishing 15lb line over heavy rough ground as they thought it would be strong enough. The amount of gear they lost must have made for a very happy tackle dealer somewhere when it came to replacing it all.

Over clean sand treat 15lb line or 0.35mm as your standard line. This casts a long way, has a reasonable diameter to counteract any lateral tide run without undue drag, plus is strong enough to withstand normal occasional abrasion against sand. Some anglers, myself included, use 12lb line for extra distance and less drag. If you fish ground with the occasional snag or where it's prone to weed, switch to 18lb line for added security.

What are the best lines?

For rough ground fishing my standard line is 30lb. This will handle pretty much everything, including big conger. I'd also use this on very heavy rough ground for cod in a winter surf.

For any powerful casting with all these lines I still use a 60lb casting leader to take the strain of casting and to help protect the main line. When casting flat out in to strong winds with a big 6oz lead, then I upgrade the leader strength to 80lbs.

TIPS AND TRICKS
Rock anglers should always have lanyards tied to their rods in case big fish like conger and huss pull them clean out the rod rest and in to the sea. You need about 3-feet of 3 to 5mm diameter nylon cord available from hardware stores and a couple of rock nuts from a climbing shop. Rock nuts are stainless wire with a metal wedge formed at one end. The rock nuts wedge can be jammed in a rock crack and with the lanyards free end tied to a small clip link and clipped to the reel or rod, it's going nowhere. I also tie my rod rest down on rock marks for extra security.

AUTUMN BIG BASS TACTICS

Catching autumn bass

Harbours and marinas where fishing boats clean catches and tip waste overboard are always excellent. Fishing a big mackerel flapper bait or whole squid hard on the bottom close to where the boats are tied puts you in with a real chance. Likewise marina's where yachters and boaters tip food waste over the side. I once had a 9lb 8oz bass from close to Alderney Harbour in the Channel Islands that threw up a half eaten chicken leg it had obviously found in the harbour.

The bottlenecks in estuary channels are another good place to ledger a big fish, squid or crab bait just as the new tide is starting to flood through. Better still if the bottleneck has bridge supports or other man made structure that the bass can use as hiding places to ambush small fry as they are swept past.

Breakwaters, piers and jetties often produce big bass. The reason is that anglers may catch small fish and put them back in the water. A few don't survive and this creates an easy food source for specimen bass. These are the areas to fish a whole small pout or poor cod.

If you fish the beaches, then wait until the weather is rough with gale force winds and big seas. Fish close in to the surf with whole squid, mackerel or massive lug and crab cocktails. There will be weed in the surf, but this indicates that food is also being washed free and will bring in the big bass. Fish the ends of the beaches where there are rocks, or pick out the deeper holes for the best chance.

One other thing seems to give you an edge. Fish through the dawn hours on a flooding tide. There are more 10lb plus bass caught around dawn just as a new flood tide is making than at any other time.