Fishing Hastings.

[Max]

Well I'm off to Hastings, to visit friends for a week.
They work in the day, so i thought i would a bit of sea fishing is in order.
But tackle wise i only have a old beach caster and sea reel. I need a bit of guidance. Can anyone help.
Really looking forward to it. Will be something complete new to me. Fished on river, lakes. Freshwater fishing for 20 years. But Sea fishing not a clue.
Will be a challenge.

[boilie]

I have friends close to Hastings. They live in Bexhill.
I have always wonted to give it a try. But no ever fished in the sea, its all to much, to learn in a weekend. I am a total beginner, when it comes to sea fishing.
Same as you Max i have the gear, rod & reel but that is it. Help needed i think.

[Andrew Burgess]

Budgie is the main man for Sea Fishing. I will pass a message to him to get posting for the area you need Max

[Max]

Thanks anyway Andrew, nobody replyed.
I'm off in the morning. will have to get some help from the locals.

[Max]

Had a great weeks angling. Only just got back so will update you tomorrow. Bed calling.
Will be going back.

[BUDGIE]

Sorry I couldnt get back to you Max.I penned the following reply but couldnt post it till now! As much use as an ashtray on a motorcycle now I suppose but may help for further trips! Once again sorry.

Sorry for the delay in replying had problems with my connection. Although I used to live only half hours drive or so from Hastings I never did a great deal of sea fishing there. The closest I fished was at Pett Levels over the petrified forest. This flat beach requires a good casting technique to enable you to fish at over 130m to consistently catch. Although at some times of year bass and eels are caught closer in it isn’t my first choice of venue. If you really want to improve your chances of catching from the beach try driving a bit further East to the deep water marks around Dungeness. Even an average cast will put you into deep water and greatly improve your catches. This time of year starts to see the transition between summer and winter species so not the best of times to be on the beach. Dungeness, Dengemarsh and Galloways will produce plenty of pout, flatfish (with some large sole) bass and the tail end of the mackerel.

You mention that you normally freshwater fish. I don’t know the exact details regarding fishing their now but the pier at Hastings used to offer good sport at this time of year with bass and mullet. If you have a carp rod you will be able to use this with float gear for these species. There used to be a tackle shop (Steve’s Tackle) more or less opposite the pier. If still there I’m sure they could give you more up to date information and maybe a pointer to a local beach mark that I don’t know about. If you need any help on tackle, baits methods once you have found out where you are going to fish please just ask. There is also a lot of good coarse fishing in the Hastings area.

[Max]

Thanks for your reply mate.
I fished off Dungeness beach. not used to casting massive leads out. I

[Max]

Thanks for your reply mate.
I fished off Dungeness beach. not used to casting massive leads out. I caught a few flat fish and a small sole. Spent four nights fishing from the beach, with a few cans Loved every minute of it.

[BUDGIE]

Glad it all worked out ok Max if ever your down this way again let me know and I will sort some fishing out for you.

[Max]

Things always work out alright mate.
Do what think is right, even if its totally wrong. i had a great 4 days Sea fishing.
But i am off down to Hastings again in 2 weeks. And Dungeness beach will be calling me again.
so any help for me catching more fish will be helpful.
Will be a regular angling area. so a beachcaster rod needed, any suggestions.

[BUDGIE]

Like most forms of fishing there is a massive range of beach casting rods available. First choice you need to make is whether you want to use a fixed spool outfit like you do when coarse fishing or a multiplier set up.

Fixed spool reels in the sizes required for beach fishing are a bit cumbersome and bulky. They are however very easy to use and have a fast retrieve.

Multipliers are much smaller and IMO far "nicer" to fish with. They have a slower retrieve and need to be mastered.

Both are capable of casting the distances required.

Once you have decided on reel choice this will dictate the way the rod you choose is rung. Fixed spool rods normally only have 4 rings of a very large diameter. If building your own from a blank be also aware that they should be rung on the stiff side of the blanks spline. Multipliers have a lot more smaller rings and are best rung on the soft side of the spline.

12' is the common length for a beach caster although some specialist ones will go up to 13'+.They need to be able to cast 5-6ozs leads and have a sensitive tip to aid bite detection. As a lot of my beach fishing is done at night I like to have the last 2' or so of the tip white.

Some come as two piece rods but a lot of the better ones come as a 8'+ tip with a separate butt. This can make transporting them a bit difficult but does help give a better casting action. On the subject of casting, there are a couple of different styles which require different rods to perform properly. Some of the better makes such as Zziplex, Centurey, and Conoflex make rods/blanks specifically for Pendulum casting, Backcasting and Off the Ground styles. I would suggest you start of with an Off the ground style cast and suitable rod. These tend to be a bit longer at around 13'

Unlike coarse rods all carbon fibre beach rods are crap! all the top ones are made using a glass/carbon mix which enables the manufacturer to make a blank which flexes or is stiff in the correct places.

When deciding which rod to buy the best bet is to try as many as possible to see which suits you best as good rods aint cheap!

One trap to avoid is thinking that the most expensive, top of the range, Tournament rod will be the one for you. Most people will find that their casting distances with specialist tools like these will be worse!

Beach rods are a massive subject, hope this gives you a starting point but feel free to ask if you have any other questions.

With the colder weather here at last those night tides down at Dungeness will see lots of whiting and hopefully some cod. Unlike most beaches that fish best three hours up the tide and one hour after, Dungeness fish’s really well at night just as the tide starts to turn to come in. Local fresh black lugg being the best bait fished on 3/0 hooks. Dont be surprised to se the occasional big bass either

[Max]

That is a fantastic reply Budgie
I have the rod for the job, i just need to get use's to the Multiplier reel
Off in 3 days time, and want wait, Budgie
Give you a update when i get back.

[BUDGIE]

Good thing about deep water marks like Dungie is that you dont have to cast massive distances,especially if you fish at night.Tune your mutipler so that it cant over run.It will obviously loose you maximum distance but will make it easier for you,especially in the dark or strong head winds.If you arnt sure on how to do this let me know what reel you have and I can talk you through it.

[Max]

Well I'm back, and new rod in arm. I got a new beach caster, not the best but better than i had.
I could cast the big weights much better. Caught a few fish the weather, was dreadful .
Used lugg worm as bait, some local anglers helped me out.
Caught a few whiting and bass about pound and a half. well pleased.

[BUDGIE]

Glad to hear you are catching a few Max.The Admiralty Pier at Dover is fishing well at the moment. A few cod around the 5lb mark are being caught and last weekend produced a 23lb fish.Its a difficult venue to fish but can do the buisness.

If ever you are down at Dungie and its a bit crowded,nearby Dengemarsh can also be just as productive although a longer cast is often needed.