How's the new job at DEFRA going Bob ?? :bleh:

As they say 90% of the Cod are court by 10% of the anglers, infact it's probably much less than that. :g:

 

I was going to say that Goose.

Its a venue living on former glories that still produces a good few fish for a few lucky anglers who put in the time and effort.

Those who read the tides and fish at the oppertune moments will be rewarded.

Mind you, what venues still fish as well as they did in their hay day?

 

I too have had this conversation many times, and wrote it on a thread sometime last year. If you had 2/300 people fishing any other beaches, deal, folkestone, dover, hythe, sandwich... Im sure you would have the same returns as dungeness. It really doesnt make a difference to me where i fish, i cant catch a codling any size anywhere lol

 

Personally, I have only ever fished dungie once from the beach ( had nothing that night either ) but I don't think it's about the numbers of cod caught. With dungerness I think it's the possibility of the real lunker!!!! The main reason I fish from a boat 99% of the time is there is a much bigger possibility that I will catch a decent fish! And if I fished dungie I would feel that there was a better chance of a decent fish!!! As opposed to sandwich bay for example. Like this thread says, probably very little return for numbers of rods fishing, but with the chance of a decent cod, there will always be an optimistic anglers there!!!!

That's my view anyway

 

I have caught numerous double figure Cod from the beach at Dungeness, I used to fish it almost every day in the winter. My biggest specimen was 38lbs when landed (official weight many hours after capture was 33lbs 2oz- see my avatar) I have caught two twenties there in a single afternoon and on several occasions I have had over 100lbs of Cod from the beach at Dungeness in a single session (and my sessions are 3 - 6 hours not days and days like some of you lot!). Most of this was in the late 1970s. These days if I get ANY Cod at Dungeness I am happy. If I get one 8-9lbs I am ecstatic. I haven't had a double Cod from the beach for several years now. Yes Dungeness lives on it's past glories but it is still the best Cod beach in England and is one of the few locations where there is a real chance of you getting an absolute lunker. Last year there were two Cod (to my knowledge) landed on small boats that exceeded 30lbs just round the corner in the bay. If there is one beach that these fish could have been caught from it is Dungeness. I caught a small Codling this afternoon off Hythe, guess where I will be fishing on the shore this weekend!

Tim R

 

I think it's one of those places where you really do need to get everything stacked in your favour to stand a chance i.e. good bait, spring tide, tail end of windy / stormy weather & generally being able to cast good distance, oh, plus quite a bit of luck! The other challenge is when you do get a good fish on is to somehow manage to steer it through the tackle graveyard that accumulates a month or so into the Cod season. Often difficult enough without a good fish on that's hugging the bottom. I focus more on boats nowadays but still have 2 or 3trips each winter and recently have not managed to get past the whiting and not seen any cod caught by others either.

It is though a great place to fish and of the Kent beaches is probably one of the best options for a double figure fish. Did hit it off about 5 - 6 years back with a good catch of 17 codling just after a storm. Didn't seem as if there were so many whiting then, maybe now less predators = more whiting. Live bait probably the way to go to sort out a quality fish if you have the patience or can fish two rods if not too busy there.

Down there tomorrow but hoping for a Bass although any Cod wanting to be acquainted with my oven would be more the welcome lol!

 

I used to fish Dungie back in the early 80's through to the 90's.

Maybe it was my inexperience to read the conditions at the time, maybe I couldn't cast as far as was needed or just unlucky that when I went there, the fishing wasn't that good on that given day. I did catch more weevers from Dungie than anywhere else though. :yucky:

Nowadays I probably can't cast as far as I used to be able to so I tend to fish Sandwich Bay, various locations at Ramsgate as well as anywhere from Minnis Bay to Margate, depending on tide and weather conditions.

I have caught bigger cod from Sandwich bay than Dungie and I had my pb beach fish last year from the shallow end of the bay of sarnies as well. With the price of fuel what it is, I will probably stay local to Thanet for my fishing. It costs less in fuel, I have more time fishing than driving, if I am cold and wet I am home in the warm sooner plus I probably know the area better. This doesn't mean that I will never fish Dungie again, just that I am more comfortable in the area that I know.

 

Same applies to Orfordness 35 - 40 years ago you could get into double figuers on codling caught in one night on the correct tides / wind direction. Fish per rod / angler would be higher than Dungeness due to access being limited by ferry boat unless you owned a small boat to get you over there.

I used to fish Dungeness & Hythe regular thru the winters back in the 60' & 70's & caught quite a few codling, nothing big, it also used to be less snaggy in those days ?????????

 

But why is dungeness the venue that is most likely to produce a lunker? Why there and not any other beach? Before i get pounced upon i am not anti-dunge, just sceptical! Im sure other beaches produce big doubles every year that dont get reported, its only a small minority of anglers that actually use the internet/forums, and an even smaller minority that use the forum and actually report what they catch, especially if its a good quantity or quality fish!

 

my suggestion is to set up a simple returns chart on here where anglers can enter rod hours spent, cod(ling) caught over 3lb and biggest fish of the session.

:g: about 24 hours 10 cod 3 doubles to 11lb 10oz :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
I'll shut up now :icecream:

 

Same applies to Orfordness 35 - 40 years ago you could get into double figuers on codling caught in one night on the correct tides / wind direction. Fish per rod / angler would be higher than Dungeness due to access being limited by ferry boat unless you owned a small boat to get you over there.

I used to fish Dungeness & Hythe regular thru the winters back in the 60' & 70's & caught quite a few codling, nothing big, it also used to be less snaggy in those days ?????????

I was once lucky enough to have a good conversation with a man who would now be in his 100's regarding Orford Ness, cane rods, and so much cod they couldn't carry it all back, fish to 30lb not uncommon

 

what a great thread :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:
i am fortunate to live right on dungies door step i have fished probably every foot of the shore line between folkestone and dungie , i never used to fish dungie much as i used to fish pirate springs which used to produce lots of average sized fish ( 3lb to 6lb ) , only started fishing dungie more seriously the last 6 or 7 years as i think i have a more realistic chance of that illusive 20lb + fish deeper water , more tide flow , a lot of the anglers that do catch there study the tides ,weather and other various bits and you will notice that its quite often them that are reporting the good catchs because they get to the beach at the right time !!!!
hope this makes sense lol. righting is not my strong point !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

But why is dungeness the venue that is most likely to produce a lunker? Why there and not any other beach? Before i get pounced upon i am not anti-dunge, just sceptical! Im sure other beaches produce big doubles every year that dont get reported, its only a small minority of anglers that actually use the internet/forums, and an even smaller minority that use the forum and actually report what they catch, especially if its a good quantity or quality fish!

100% correct, there are several marks in a short driving distance that would produce just as many cod and just as big if anglers would give it a go, but like most things, the more publicity something gets, the more the reputation grows.
I can think of half a dozen marks that a lot of anglers would drive past on the way to Dungeness that can fish really well if anglers were to put in anywhere near the effort that Dungeness gets. Several rough ground marks between Deal and Sandgate are top class cod venues, but the thought of a few rocks tends to put a lot of people off, which is a real shame, as you get a great chance of some cracking fish, with the added bonus of less whiting, so at least you can keep a decent bait in the water for more than a few minutes.
I will be the first to admit that Dungeness has that certain classic cod beach feel to it, and I have been guilty of following the crowds there for many years in the past, through its glory days and through some pretty dire years as well, but rod hours to fish/size caught has never stacked up against many of the less popular venues I have fished.

Raider.

 

:g: about 24 hours 10 cod 3 doubles to 11lb 10oz :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
I'll shut up now :icecream:

:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy SHOW OFF :bleh::bleh:

 

I was going to say that Goose.

Its a venue living on former glories that still produces a good few fish for a few lucky anglers who put in the time and effort.

Those who read the tides and fish at the oppertune moments will be rewarded.

Mind you, what venues still fish as well as they did in their hay day?

Shirl, what were your stats for last season?

 

my 2011/2012 stats were 8 sessions for 2 codling!!!

2010/2011 3 sessions(all in oct) no cod then missed all season through injury

2009/2010 9 sessions 35cod/ling 4 doubles biggest 12 1/2lb only 3 fish under 5 lb

2008/2009 11 sessions 55 cod/ling 1 double 11lb only 2 other fish over 5lb


my averge session is around 6 hrs

i also fish the addy and my stats are appalling biggest is 4lb more cod blanks than catches and once used 140 worm(bought) for one 4lb codling!!! but i love the challenge of th pace

i dont deny there are other marks that produce cod/ling and in good numbers but with the results i have from dungie why go elsewhere ??

im still waiting for my 1st shore 30lber and Dungie and the addy/breakwater offer the only realistic chance in kent

this year will be my 1st cod on the yak season and im looking forward to catching fish from different marks ...will keep you posted

 

...thats easy for guys to compute that have only fished dunge/denge for 3-6 years... for those reading this thread like me that have fished it for 4-5 decades !! its almost impossible to quote statistics... but while i have had a stack of cod/codling up to mid to high teens of pounds it hasnt produced my biggest but then any fish of 13-17lbs off a beach is noteworthy...personally i dont rate dungeness as highly as denge marsh (for me anyway)..the cod dont know where the hotspots are only anglers do ???!!!.....and yes i have said that before.. !! lol... but in general terms the place produces some very good codding but far to many anglers,tyros and newbies fish it (shoulder to shoulder) as to make it uncomfortable up to early mid dec..having said that its better than chesil,orford and the nn shingle banks up to january statistically for sure...so fish sussex beaches up to october (fish up to 6lb plus las night in worthing !!!!!!!....and east coast beaches in the new year/spring and u will catch more or at least statistics will tell u so .. ??!!..tite lines foxy52..

 

I did around 15-20 trips to dungey last year for no cod/ling.
1 trip to sheerness produced a 15lb 04oz PB!
Says it all for me really!
This year will be different though as i'll be fishing on my own and can go anytime tues-thurs at the drop of a hat!!
Get them weather reports going Si!!

 

:g: about 24 hours 10 cod 3 doubles to 11lb 10oz :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
I'll shut up now :icecream:

I was thinking a running total for this year, I am sure you will be able to improve on last year now you have had a little practice.:blink:

 

I have caught numerous double figure Cod from the beach at Dungeness, I used to fish it almost every day in the winter. My biggest specimen was 38lbs when landed (official weight many hours after capture was 33lbs 2oz- see my avatar) I have caught two twenties there in a single afternoon and on several occasions I have had over 100lbs of Cod from the beach at Dungeness in a single session (and my sessions are 3 - 6 hours not days and days like some of you lot!). Most of this was in the late 1970s. These days if I get ANY Cod at Dungeness I am happy. If I get one 8-9lbs I am ecstatic. I haven't had a double Cod from the beach for several years now. Yes Dungeness lives on it's past glories but it is still the best Cod beach in England and is one of the few locations where there is a real chance of you getting an absolute lunker. Last year there were two Cod (to my knowledge) landed on small boats that exceeded 30lbs just round the corner in the bay. If there is one beach that these fish could have been caught from it is Dungeness. I caught a small Codling this afternoon off Hythe, guess where I will be fishing on the shore this weekend!

Tim R

Oh to have fished the hallowed grounds in its hey day.

Is it best that I never experienced it? To now fish it in a shadow of what it once was

At least my glass is still half full, I will have a brace of 20's from the Ness, and I will beat the British shore caught cod record there as well.

Life is nice when you live it in a fantacy

 

But why is dungeness the venue that is most likely to produce a lunker? Why there and not any other beach? Before i get pounced upon i am not anti-dunge, just sceptical! Im sure other beaches produce big doubles every year that dont get reported, its only a small minority of anglers that actually use the internet/forums, and an even smaller minority that use the forum and actually report what they catch, especially if its a good quantity or quality fish!

Look how far the ness juts out into the channel, the immense depth of water, the tides that rip through and ths storms that hit it, thats why the cod (that are left) are there

 

Shirl, what were your stats for last season?

9 Cod to 9Lbs 3 below 4Lbs, the rest 5Lbs +. A trawl of my old posts will be more accurate though, the mind fades with time

Not that many propper sessions to be honest.

By propper I mean only going when winds and tide dictate that you will stand a chance.

I will fish throughout the winter on the off chance because I am in the fortunate postion to go whenever I want (more or less).

What I will try to do this winter is keep a journal of when I go and if its a hopefull or expant session.

What I will say, is that if time and money are tight, pick your sessions and be prepared to go at a moments notice and your hours to cod ratio will be better.

 

9 Cod to 9Lbs 3 below 4Lbs, the rest 5Lbs +. A trawl of my old posts will be more accurate though, the mind fades with time

Not that many propper sessions to be honest.

By propper I mean only going when winds and tide dictate that you will stand a chance.

I will fish throughout the winter on the off chance because I am in the fortunate postion to go whenever I want (more or less).

What I will try to do this winter is keep a journal of when I go and if its a hopefull or expant session.

What I will say, is that if time and money are tight, pick your sessions and be prepared to go at a moments notice and your hours to cod ratio will be better.

All very well Shirl but unless the cod are there when I can be ar5ed to drag my sorry drunk carcass to the beach (Hythe probly) they will be dissapointed :thumbs: I cant be doing with all the science, I depend on random luck :thumbs:

 

Oh to have fished the hallowed grounds in its hey day.

Is it best that I never experienced it? To now fish it in a shadow of what it once was

At least my glass is still half full, I will have a brace of 20's from the Ness, and I will beat the British shore caught cod record there as well.

Life is nice when you live it in a fantacy

If any one is going to do it, its the welsh visitors Glyn? Crusty Crab or Shirl. Sorry Si, you do ok but not "The Pig Cod" I'm afraid:thumbs:

 

Shirl, what were your stats for last season?

My stats for the last cod season were

5 trips for 22 Codling from 2lb to 3.75 lb:thumbs: