[natnat]

I originally posted this on another part and it was suggested that I post on the SE part.

Hi guys, just thought I would introduce myself. I have done a bit of fresh water fishing and only caught a few perch and something that dragged me down the river bank and almost into the water, no idea what it was as it got away. ( scared me a tad )

I much prefere the idea of sea fishing and being able to eat what you catch.

I am going to take my 14 year old son sea fishing tomorrow for the first time so I have been trying to pick up some tips on here. We are going to try the barge peir at Shoebury.

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

1) I bought a pretty descent shimano carp rod last year, would it be ok to use this if I get a sea fishing reel ? I have bought a starter sea rod too but it seems a shame not to get use out of this one as it cost a bit.

2) Also I like using lures, do you think we will have much luck with them?
I will take some worms too, which are the ones that don't bite, lug or rag ?
ok 3 questions

3) Lastly is it right that you can eat any fish you catch from the sea in the UK ?

Thanks for your time, is there anyone from around here that has fished there resently, is it likely to be busy on a week day ?

Thanks guys

 

[singingstomach]

Hi Natnat and welcome to the asylum that is the South East forum

I've only just come back to fishing recently after a 30yr break, and have found the guys and gals on here to be really helpful. Beware Mr Oldman from Kent tho, he always includes cross dressing advice free with every fishing tip

As for Barge Pier, she is very temperemental. Some days you can catch each cast, others you can spend the whole tide contemplating your navel. A word of warning tho, the barriers are missing in parts and there is a bl**dy great hole at the end where the stairs go down to the lower level (covered at HT). It has also become a bit of a meeting place for ne'er do wells of late during the day

If you want Mackeral, use feathers, I suggest no more than three per trace, using cast and retrieve method, but not too far out, say 10meters max. Along the whole stem of the pier on both sides

There is an excellent recipe for home made feathers on here somewhere, search the whole forum for "washing line feathers" they really do work

For Bass, mainly schoolies i'm afraid, size 2 to 4 hooks with lug or rag elasticed up the shank and fished around the piles of the pier, again no need for competition casting.

You can eat most of what comes out subject to minimum size limits, Be aware tho that the larder is less than full at Southend in general at the moment

I have also found Ray at Bait and Tackle in Southchurch Road to be very patient and helpful

Good luck, look forward to your first report, and remember, If at first you dont succeed............have another beer and try again

 

[Issy]

As SingingStomach says, most sea fish are edible, but some are more edible than others! for instance mullet from muddy areas taste just that muddy, and you have to know the size limits, you can get these on the Angling Trust website, as a guide if you can't get a couple of decent meals off it put it back and with most sea fish, as little handling as possible, soft skinned species such as cod, whiting and maccys will not survive handling very well so, I find it is best to "T"bar them off at the the waters edge straight back into the sea without even touching them, unless of course that is if you are keeping them, in that case a sharp clout on the head will dispatch them quickly. Gut Cod and whiting as soon as possible. The keeper size for bass is 42cm though Defra say 35, I try not to take any less than 45cm, I know that is a lot bigger than the ones on Tesco's fish counter that is another bone of contention, they are supposedly farmed, though I can't see what difference that makes:uhuh:

Here is a link to the size limits on the Angling Trust site
http://anglingtrust.net/page.asp?se...+(RRSLs)+&+DEFRA+Minimum+Landing+Sizes+(MLSs)

 

[natnat]

Thanks guys, some great advice. Bit worried about the negative comments on here about the dodgie caracters at the barge pier now :schmoll:
I might try the crouch I here that can be good too.

 

[beno]

Welcome to the site Natnat carp rods are fine for sea fishing unless you want to launch big weights out. Often use my Baitrunner reels for sea fishing too, don't know about about barge pier but good luck.

 

[jassyfa]

Firstly dont fish barge pier, it can be a tackle graveyard for very small return especially for a newbie.
Fish as already mentioned, if they are sizeable then yes you can keep, although a lot of the Thames fish caught from the shore will taste muddy (bar the mackeral).
rag are the worm that dont bite (pinch actually) but you can get around this by nipping their heads off before you put them on the hook.

 

[crissy]

hi natnat,if you do decide to go to barge pier dont bother going to the end .the mackrel come right into the beach .fish where the sand meets the mud on the western side..if you like lure fishing the get some little red gills and work them by walking up and down a section of the pier pulling them slowly past the legs,and if you look over the side you will notice some bays have no braces.you can let the gill go under these a little.

 

[Guest]

sorry mate,don't know your area at all.

as the lad said earlier i do know a bit about cross dressing and dogging though.this is all down to a former member on here from essex.

he can be found in a tackle shop in southend.

wearing a pink dress no doubt.:thumbs:

 

[thornbackflounder]

Welcome Natnat to the mad world of WSF

 

[LOOSE GOOSE]

welcome :clap2:

 

[Goo5e]

Hi natnat

also a newbie from southend

tried the barge pier twice in the last week, the best I got was stung by a wasp!

had a few bites but nothing came of em


thinking of trying the main pier but am put off by the charges, especially with 2 nephews in tow it gets a tad expensive

 

[baccaruda]

big welcome to the forum
as for the crouch bass are in good numbers at the mo lure,rag,lugg,fozen baits work well too
as for your card reel use whatever you are most confi with :clap2:
good luck
if you whant to go for bigger try some of the charters they are worth trying and you'll be hooked for shure:icecream:

 

[hjlt]

Hi Welcome to WSF - you'll learn from a few on here.

Firstly a Carp rod is perfect for the Thames and Crouch, apart from when you want to fish Scars and the OJ etc off Canvey.

90% of the time i use a purpose built Bass rod (basicaly a 2lb test curve carbon / boron Carp rod) and have had double figure fish without issue.

Now as for Barge pier, i live 2 minutes from there and rest assured you can catch a good head of Bass from there in the 1-4 lb range. Always fish down the rocks or a plain small lead into the rocks off the head.

Rag and crab is the bait - red gills are hard work for little reward apart from the big 6m + tides when the ebb runs.

Like Beno said, a bait runner used with a carp rod is a top outfit for the Thames.

Good luck

 

[singingstomach]

Now as for Barge pier, i live 2 minutes from there and rest assured you can catch a good head of Bass from there in the 1-4 lb range. Always fish down the rocks or a plain small lead into the rocks off the head.

Ahh hjlt

just realised, I think you must be the chap I was talking to two or three saturdays ago on BP. I was there with my son, we are both rather large and were fishing the end with the tilly lamp. HT was about 4.30am and the sunrise was purple and orange. You left when the beach started showing

 

[Mulleteer]

Hi Natnat,

Fish bargew pier a fair bit - I've just relied on the barge pier thread, but echo most of the comments above (except that I've never had a problem with "ne'er do wells" there - perhaps because I usually fish daytime.