GOING LARGE
If you want to catch big fish like these, it involves using the most selective technique…
Increase your odds of a big bass.
Plenty of bass are caught using modern lure fishing techniques, but a big bait is the way to go if you want to target larger specimens from the shore. By using big baits at the right time, you are more likely to catch the larger specimens. While you will catch fewer bass, they will be of a greater average size and, as a result, I feel more confident of catching larger bass when I have a big bait in the water than when I am throwing lures around. My fishing diaries give me the evidence, which highlights the importance of keeping notes.
The reality of specimen bass angling is that you must be prepared to put in the time and endure some blanks. Big fish do not come easily, but it is incredibly rewarding when you get your hands on that prize. Anyone can do it, and the chances are you may already have the right equipment to give specimen bass fishing a try.
WHEN TO FISH
If you really want to catch a big bass from the shore, then it is best to fish at dawn, dusk or, better still, at night. All my best catches and larger specimens have happened in darkness, and that would be the case for many other successful bass anglers too. Heavily overcast, dark and stormy days would be the exception to the rule and might be worth a try.
Around 90 minutes either side of high
water is a well-documented time for bass to feed close to the shore. Bites can be expected when they run the shoreline over the top of the tide. Many reef marks are fished over low water and on the flood when access to specific marks and gullies is possible. Bass move in with the making tide, as long as there’s enough water to cover their backs.
From June through to the middle of November provides the most consistent bass fishing. Earlier and later than that can be a little patchy and, as an all-rounder, I concentrate my fishing efforts on other species at these times. I know some dedicated bass guys will fish for them from March until Christmas. Spring tides produce my best results, with the building tides just before the new and full moon phases giving the most prolific fishing.
A good onshore blow coinciding with the correct tides after dark around late August to October can bring the bigger fish in tight to the shore. This is when heavy wave action scours out lots of food from the seabed for the hungry bass that are fattening up for the lean winter months. They are quite happy to feed very close to shore in relatively rough conditions with a good surf running.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
The first good blow after a prolonged period of calm and sultry weather can provide some of the best opportunities. It is when a big, smelly bait could bring success. Low-tide surf fishing during wild autumnal weather has produced many good fish over the years.
Weed in the water can be a problem in wild seas and may cut short a session, but if you find a relatively clean surf running, then you could be in business. Conditions like this get me very excited.
When the prevailing wind is offshore or we are experiencing calm conditions and high pressure, it will flatten off our inshore waters.
This allows the sediment to drop out and for the water to clear, which is the time to fish with a livebait or perhaps your lures. In clear water, the bass are tuned into hunting by sight, and anglers need to adapt accordingly. Again, periods of low light and after dark are best, even more so with clear water.
We all remember those wonderful, settled days in summer when shoals of mackerel and scad are working the beaches, herding fry up against the shore with the smell of fish oil in the air. This is not only a great opportunity to gather bait for the freezer, but also a superb time to try freelining a live mackerel. Bass often follow the mackerel shoals, and this technique can produce some special fish due to the selective nature of the large bait. Hook a fish on this method and it is likely to be a good one.
Bass do not always follow these rules, which is why advice is merely a starting point. Only by fishing your marks at different times and states of the tide can you build up a picture of what the bass are doing and where they are located. Time and experience really count when seeking specimen fish, and they provide a big part of the satisfaction.
Understanding your own marks is very rewarding and highly recommended. It’s not just about catching the fish.