Bass

Morone Labrax   

This king of summer fishing is one of the finest fighting fish we find on the east coast we do not get many shoals of schoolies like the south coast but we do get large bass caught from the beaches and piers as well as from boats. Bass breed and have nurseries in our estuaries, Bass can be found in brackish water Its not unheard off catching bass and mullet in the same waters as perch and pike. Bass can be caught most of the year but they do get scarce in the winter months.

Tactics

When fishing piers, harbour walls, rivers, rocks and around piles the best method is ether,  Spinning using a variety of  spinners, spoons and plugs or a harness rig baited with a sand eel or mackerel strip. Or a float rig baited with a live sand eel, small fish, prawn, ragworm or mackerel strip.

The east coast doesn't have the classic storm beaches of the west coast or the dreaded surfers but we do get the sun bather problem but they do go home. You can catch with bottom rigs but for a better chance its worth trying a pennel rig on a running rig baited with peeler crab or sand eel fish out near the first brakers. On a still warm summers evening  its time to try float fishing with  live sand eel, small fish, prawn, ragworm or mackerel strip. Bass will feed close in so there is no real need for massive casts.

Baits 

live or frozen sand eel, small fish, prawn, ragworm, mackerel strip, cocktails and peeler crab

Eating

Bass are a fine eating fish, they are expensive to buy  and therefore sort after by commercial fishermen.

Warning 

Bass take a long time to mature and breed and stocks are running low because of over fishing by some  commercial fishermen. Although there seems to be a growing interest it helping Bass stocks and protecting nurseries you can help by not taking undersize fish and only taking what you need.

 

Please only take what you need