Bass fishing is a relatively new avenue of the hobby for me and not something I’ve spent an awful lot of time doing over the 20 odd years I’ve been fishing. I’ve caught quite a few, but mostly as a welcome bycatch when targeting other species. Only the last few years have I deliberately gone out to target them in the surf and found myself wondering why I never gave it more time in the past as it certainly can be really enjoyable.
In the North East at least, a fish over 3lb is a good fish – frankly I don’t know what my PB is but I doubt its above that. The average tends to be schoolies going between 35-45cm (in my experience at least) with the odd one going a little bigger, but still good sport on light gear all the same. We certainly don’t see many of the monsters that seem to frequent other parts of the country anyway.
The original plan for this weekend was a road trip over to Dumfries and Galloway – but the weather forecast turned unfavourable and so that plan had to be reserved for later. I was still determined to get out though and with a moderate north easterly surf forecast locally I decided to head out in search of some Druridge Bay Bass.
A quick stop off further north of the intended mark as I wanted to tick off a micro species for the year for the species hunt. There’s a small inlet running from a freshwater burn that fills up with saltwater at high tide. 3 spined stickleback are the quarry, one of the few species able to tolerate fluctuating levels of salinity in their environment and can be caught in both fresh and saltwater.
I baited a tiny size 22 hook with the tiniest bit of rag worm tail that I could and freelined it into position. Small fish were darting out from cover almost instantly and it wasn’t long before the target was landed – amusingly the size 22 hook was almost too big!
Now a short tab over the dunes back to the car, heading 15 mins down the bay to the spot I intend to fish the rest of the tide for bass. I arrive to find the car park quite full – rarely a good sign, but on this occasion it seems to be more birdwatchers spying on the local Sandpipers rather than hordes of beachgoers.
Down on the beach and the surfs not quite as big as I expected but still looking a bit bassy so I’m not deterred. I set up the rods with 1 up 1 down rigs – a bit miffed when I realise I’ve left my baiting needle at home! Ragworm is the main bait for the bass today and for presentation sake I much prefer using a baiting needle but we will have to do without today!
I bait one rod and send it 30 yds or so into the surf for Bass, for the second rod though I start off baiting with slithers of mackerel rather than worm to target Turbot, casting a little further beyond the breakers. The bay acts as a nursery for many species, including Turbot, but there are occasionally fish over 1lb and even more rarely the odd special fish over 2lb and I can’t resist targeting them whenever I come here during the day.
Not much time passes and I’m getting interest on the fish baits and a hand sized flounder turns out to be the culprit so the blank is off. This is shortly followed by multiple others on both rods. Druridge bay can usually be relied on for this type of sport and it’s very rare I blank here, the only time I probably wouldn’t bother fishing is when the water is completely still like glass – it needs a little bit of movement even if only a small amount to get the fish feeding, unless you’re after bass in which case a moderate surf is definitely the way forward!
About an hour and a half into the session the first Turbot makes an appearance – again hand sized but nice and plump, one of this years juveniles/last years offspring and clearly thriving well. The bay is chocker with food items and seems to be enjoying a heightened abundance of small sandeel this year and it’s great to see the fish in such good condition. They don’t all have to be monsters!
Next up is another annual target for the species hunt which is a welcome bonus – a lesser weaver. These need to be handled with caution due to the venomous spines on the back and gills which pack a nasty sting.
The surf is starting to build now with a lovely bubbling cauldron of water visible just behind the last breakers which is absolutely screaming Bass. Sure enough at around half tide up the rod is bouncing in an unmistakable way and the first silver is beached – a schoolie of 38cm. Even at this size they’re an impressive looking fish and after a quick snap he’s unhooked and slipped back.
Confidence renewed both rods are rebaited in the hopes that there’s a shoal passing through. Unfortunately though I can’t get past the Flounders – but there are some nice sized fish in amongst them along with another plump little Turbot so I’m not grumbling much.
An hour before high tide I manage another bass about the same size as the last, which slips out of my hand after being unhooked and is away. Obviously camera shy!
It’s quiet for the last hour until pretty much the last cast when I get another decent bump and Bass number 3 is beached, unhooked and released in the surf without incident before packing up and making the trudge back to the car. It’s been an enjoyable afternoon and just about makes up for the disappointment of having to change the original Scotland plan. Hopefully I will get out on a road trip soon!
