STREET FISHING WITH FRIENDS...
Bringing a welcome sense of fun back to fishing, Dom Garnett finds the light lure scene a breath of fresh sea air where size really doesn’t matter
FOR anyone feeling a little jaded with the ‘size-is-king’ state of fishing, a refreshingly different attitude is to be found within the lure angling community.
Armed with the lightest tackle and a sociable approach, this small army is less concerned with bragging rights than getting together to target a whole galaxy of smaller species – having a blast in the process.
For one thing, the scenery is novel and different. Urban waters and seaside towns are wholly more public places, and not only is the fishing right out in the open, it’s friendly too. You can easily nip to the local pub between casts while tips, locations and lures are readily swapped.
My most recent trip was a weekend-long affair with as much variety as you might normally enjoy in a whole summer. Sharing a car with lure addict Andy Mytton, we must have fished half-a-dozen locations on the first day alone. And the more you explore, the more you realise there
is a whole network of anglers who share a similar mindset.
Our journey started in the heart of Plymouth, where we caught blennies and wrasse around the busiest parts of the lively Barbican area. Joining us was Maurice Minchinton, who at 72 years young thinks nothing of hopping over rocks and railings across the city. From the youngest newcomer to the most experienced of anglers, the appeal is universal.
Nor is it hard to see what the draw is, once you start exploring. For starters, there is an insane number of species to target. Just about all of them bite boldly and fight well on silly-light gear and a genuine surprise is always on the cards.
Meeting more lure enthusiasts over a pint in a Cornish seaside town, a staggering diversity of sport is discussed, with talk of everything from strange rock dwellers to flatties and even gurnards, all caught on lures.
As for the all-too-common one-upmanship of fishing, it is nowhere to be seen as we return to the quayside for last light. There is banter aplenty, but no secrecy, no hint of selfishness. In fact, the anglers here will often invite you to have the first cast when a fish is spotted! From school bass to flounders, there is certainly no shortage of fish to go round. None of them are big, but all of them are immense fun.
Three, four then five anglers cast shoulder to shoulder. They chat away like old mates, almost as varied in age and appearance as the fish. And suddenly it dawns on you that this is fishing exactly as it should be. There are no petty politics or clashing egos, just friends doing what they love.