Species: Bass
About Bass
Bass are one of those species that some anglers find addicitive. I must confess that I do not fall into this category, and that there are many bass experts out there who know more than I ever will. I still like to catch the odd bass each year just for variety, so hopefully I have enough knowledge to be able to pass some information on.
Bass can be caught from the shore roughly from May until November. In recent winters they have been making appearances in good numbers in the Ramsey area, especially after a spell of onshore winds, with the odd fish still showing in February.
Bass are widely becoming recognised as a sport species, and due to lots of effort from a small group of dedicated anglers, they are beginning to become more and more protected from commercial exploitation. Only time will tell if these measures will work, but with the warming of our seas and increased emphasis on conservation and sustainable fishing, the future for bass fishing is looking better than ever. Their numbers have certainly increased around Manx shores over the last 10 years, and if that trend continues then even non-bass experts like me can look forward to catching more of them in the future.
Note: The minimum size limit for bass from Manx waters is 43cm.
Be careful when handling a bass as their dorsal fin contains sharp spines, which although not poisonous can be painful if you catch your hand on one. They also have a very sharp spine protruding from the gill raker, and this has a nasty habit of catching you between thumb and finger when you naturally go to pick the bass up. Handle with a damp cloth to protect yourself and the fish from damage.
Tackle
Bass fishing from Manx shores generally means fishing from beaches. The bass can be found very close to the shore, so there is no need for huge beachcasters and heavy weights. A lightweight beachcaster, about 11 or 12 ft in length, capable of casting 2-4 oz is fine for bait fishing, and a light spinning outfit will handle even large bass if you decide to target them using lures. However, during rough conditions you will need to use a standard 5/6oz beachcaster to cope with the surf and the vast amounts of floating weed.
Methods
There are two methods of fishing for bass. Either you fish baits, and wait for the fish to come to you, or you fish lures and go in search of the fish.
The choice of method is entirely up to you, and depends on whether you are going on an all out attempt at a bass, or whether you simply want to catch one when it comes along.
Most of the bass addicted anglers I know prefer to wander with a lure rod rather than fishing a static bait. Personally I tend to fish baits simply so I can pick up the odd flounder while I am at it, although if I were more serious about catching bass then I would spend more time lure fishing than I currently do.
Looking at lure fishing first, the popular choice is to use one of the many plugs. There are literally hundreds to choose from, with different patterns fishing at different depths in the water - some even fish on top of the water. Reports from local bass anglers have convinced me that the Yo-Zuri Mag Slider is the plug to have. This is a surface lure with fantastic action (just watch out for gulls attacking it from above !!!) Another old favourite is the Rapala J-11. Braid is favoured by many as it allows you to control the lure more precisely and feel exactly what is happening.
The key to lure fishing is to cover a lot of ground. This means walking, and lots of it. You could easily cover 2 miles in a bass spinning session. Keep casting and walking until you find the fish, then you can concentrate on that area for a while.
If you decide for the more sedate approach of bait fishing then you need to fish to a feature, such as a gulley, stream or patch of rough ground. The plan is to anchor your baits in an area that the bass will be patrolling. Obviously it is a waiting game, although over time you can build up knowledge of where and when bass are likely to turn up. The key to bait fishing is not to cast to far. You should be casting no more than 40-50 yards, often less. Bait fishing for bass isn't as effective as lure fishing, but it does have the added bonus of allowing you to catch other species at the same time - most usually flounders.
Bait fishing is really the only option for targeting the winter bass around the Ramsey area - at this time of year the bass will be switched onto feeding on food items dislodged by the storms, and not chasing sandeels like they do in the summer months.
Baits
Lugworm, ragworm, sandeel, mackerel and squid all catch bass, but peeler crab is probably the number one bait to use, especially early in the season and at marks where you have located some rough ground.
When to fish
Dawn and dusk are the best times for bassing, especially when spinning, but they can be caught at any time. I suspect that very large fish baits fished during the hours of darkness could be very effective for targetting larger specimens, but I have yet to devote the time and effort to put this theory to the test. No doubt other anglers have already tried and know if this is indeed the case.
Weather can play an important roll in deciding where and when to target bass. A calm day is better suited to plugging, while strong onshore winds creating a large surf offer the best fishing for bait (although weed can be a problem in such conditions).
Where to Fish
The recognised area for bass fishing on the Island are the northern beaches. Anywhere from Kirk Michael up to the Point of Ayre, and more recently back down to Ramsey - with hotspots being areas with features (get out walking at low water to find where they are...) However, as bass become more and more plentiful around the Island, and more and more anglers are targetting them, it is not surprising that they are now being caught in other places.
Bass anglers are very secretive about their hotspots, quite rightly not wanting illegal netters to wipe out pockets of fish.
Bass fishing can require putting in lots of time and effort before you get your rewards. If you do become addicted then there is a lifetime of exploration ahead of you around the many hidden coves of the Island.
