I am a bit of a birder and angler too. I'll be on holiday in shanklin next week hoping for my second ever bass. My first came off the rocks at the bottom end of Shanklin beach, is that the ledge you're on in this photo? Any tips would be appreciated.
hi Martin, if you look on an os map it's called horse ledge, to the south of shanklin, i reckon this fishes best when the tide is just over the rocks shallow enough that you can wade out. if you go there at full low tide there is very little water. you can also fish off the groynes, there is one on shanklin esplanade at the rowing club and another to the north at the north end of hope beach, this one looks good when the tide is running, it rips by off the end of the groyne. day break is best time if that coincides with a decent tidal state. all my bass caught on surface lures. cheers, kris
Thanks for that Kris, that is the place I had one last year on an IMA Komomo. Didn't have any joy on cheaper minnows or surface lures or my dexter. Was only a schooly but nice to catch all the same. Did manage one Ballan off the ledge too during the one stormy day we had.
Thought your lure looked like a soft plastic rather than a popper and was wondering if these might be worth a try for both species.
Tried all times of day depending on when I could get down there but funnily enough the one I had came on the calmest sunniest day I tried mid afternoon!
BTW does anyone do inshore boat fishing for them? Looked into it last year but could only find bigger boats for charter off shore.
yeah the expensive lures do seem to work... i was fishing with a guy last time and he didn't have a take until he put on a feed shallow! i had 3 fish in 3 casts on a ima salt skimmer, the best one pictured (about 4lb going by the bass tape but didn't seem that heavy to me). i then stuck on a sluggo and had a fish first cast, followed by another. the previous time i'd fished off shanklin, off the hope beach groyne, i had 4 bass on a chug bug, upto about 2.5lb. all those fish caught on calm sunny days too! i'm just learning the area but i think tide state might be the more important factor, at least off the ledge. i dont know of any inshore boat fishing i'm afraid
Cheers for all the info Kris, very helpful to have local knowledge, especially as I normally only coarse fish!
Not sure how often I'll be able to fish without pissing the missus off, I'll also be doing a bit of birdwatching on the Downs so can't push it too far! Hopefully I'll manage to double my tally tho. Good luck in the meantime.
i went back today at midday, same state of tide, and for a short time it was like shooting fish in a barrel. all caught off the top again. seems to be state of tide which is the main factor, about half tide up just as the water is covering the ledge, and then when the ledge is completely covered there is a raised rock on the north side that you can fish from. almost all the passerine action at ventnor downs is at dawn but if you can only visit later in the day you stand a chance of a raptor.
Good to hear you are still catching. I've been rather busy this week so completely forgot to purchase a couple of bits I need and I seem to remember the tackle shop in Shanklin has closed down. Is there somewhere close to Shanklin that I could pick up some strong fluorocarbon and maybe a lucky craft Sammy? I know the last ones a bit of a long shot but hey ho. I have one surface lure which had a nice action but no joy last time out on it so was thinking of picking up another. Heard good things about the Sammy and not as expensive as some.
Lastly, when you're at the end of the ledge do you focus your casts anywhere? If the ledge points to 12 o'clock I didn't have any joy from 10-12 o'clock. The only fish I had was from 9 o'clock but I imagine when the tide's on the move they come in along the ledge over the seaweed beds? Would make sense if you're catching them from that rock.
I've always worried about getting cut off by the tide so have tended to head back up the beach as the tide starts to move up that.
there is Scotties which is in Sandown on Fitzroy Street, but his lure selection is small (I bought a chug bug from there but I doubt he'll have a sammy). There is also UK Hooks on Whitecross Lane, Shanklin, but I've never been in there, and the website doesn't list any lures.
I've been fishing off the very base of the ledge when the rest of it is completely underwater, and also off the raised rock, you are casting into the same area of water from both spots. When I've had fish at low tide (only at the crack of dawn) it's been casting at 12 oclock off the end of the ledge. I haven't tried the ebbing tide yet to compare. Will probably give it ago in the evenings early next week if it's not too windy. Dont worry about getting cut off, I stayed late into the tide last time and it was fine, wear shorts in case you need a little paddle tho
Was going to pop down for high water this morning but yeterday's early birding on the downs took its toll and had to sleep in. Will try for some wrasse with the boys later and try for the bass tomorrow morning as the weather is due to be grotty. Out of interest when fishing the rising tide as you describe, how late into the tide do you stay? Will help me gauge how much earlier to get there.
Hi Kris
ReplyDeleteI am a bit of a birder and angler too. I'll be on holiday in shanklin next week hoping for my second ever bass. My first came off the rocks at the bottom end of Shanklin beach, is that the ledge you're on in this photo? Any tips would be appreciated.
Martin
hi Martin, if you look on an os map it's called horse ledge, to the south of shanklin, i reckon this fishes best when the tide is just over the rocks shallow enough that you can wade out. if you go there at full low tide there is very little water. you can also fish off the groynes, there is one on shanklin esplanade at the rowing club and another to the north at the north end of hope beach, this one looks good when the tide is running, it rips by off the end of the groyne. day break is best time if that coincides with a decent tidal state. all my bass caught on surface lures. cheers, kris
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Kris, that is the place I had one last year on an IMA Komomo. Didn't have any joy on cheaper minnows or surface lures or my dexter. Was only a schooly but nice to catch all the same. Did manage one Ballan off the ledge too during the one stormy day we had.
ReplyDeleteThought your lure looked like a soft plastic rather than a popper and was wondering if these might be worth a try for both species.
Tried all times of day depending on when I could get down there but funnily enough the one I had came on the calmest sunniest day I tried mid afternoon!
BTW does anyone do inshore boat fishing for them? Looked into it last year but could only find bigger boats for charter off shore.
yeah the expensive lures do seem to work... i was fishing with a guy last time and he didn't have a take until he put on a feed shallow! i had 3 fish in 3 casts on a ima salt skimmer, the best one pictured (about 4lb going by the bass tape but didn't seem that heavy to me). i then stuck on a sluggo and had a fish first cast, followed by another. the previous time i'd fished off shanklin, off the hope beach groyne, i had 4 bass on a chug bug, upto about 2.5lb. all those fish caught on calm sunny days too! i'm just learning the area but i think tide state might be the more important factor, at least off the ledge. i dont know of any inshore boat fishing i'm afraid
ReplyDeleteCheers for all the info Kris, very helpful to have local knowledge, especially as I normally only coarse fish!
ReplyDeleteNot sure how often I'll be able to fish without pissing the missus off, I'll also be doing a bit of birdwatching on the Downs so can't push it too far! Hopefully I'll manage to double my tally tho. Good luck in the meantime.
i went back today at midday, same state of tide, and for a short time it was like shooting fish in a barrel. all caught off the top again. seems to be state of tide which is the main factor, about half tide up just as the water is covering the ledge, and then when the ledge is completely covered there is a raised rock on the north side that you can fish from. almost all the passerine action at ventnor downs is at dawn but if you can only visit later in the day you stand a chance of a raptor.
ReplyDeleteHi Kris
DeleteGood to hear you are still catching. I've been rather busy this week so completely forgot to purchase a couple of bits I need and I seem to remember the tackle shop in Shanklin has closed down. Is there somewhere close to Shanklin that I could pick up some strong fluorocarbon and maybe a lucky craft Sammy? I know the last ones a bit of a long shot but hey ho. I have one surface lure which had a nice action but no joy last time out on it so was thinking of picking up another. Heard good things about the Sammy and not as expensive as some.
Lastly, when you're at the end of the ledge do you focus your casts anywhere? If the ledge points to 12 o'clock I didn't have any joy from 10-12 o'clock. The only fish I had was from 9 o'clock but I imagine when the tide's on the move they come in along the ledge over the seaweed beds? Would make sense if you're catching them from that rock.
I've always worried about getting cut off by the tide so have tended to head back up the beach as the tide starts to move up that.
there is Scotties which is in Sandown on Fitzroy Street, but his lure selection is small (I bought a chug bug from there but I doubt he'll have a sammy). There is also UK Hooks on Whitecross Lane, Shanklin, but I've never been in there, and the website doesn't list any lures.
ReplyDeleteI've been fishing off the very base of the ledge when the rest of it is completely underwater, and also off the raised rock, you are casting into the same area of water from both spots. When I've had fish at low tide (only at the crack of dawn) it's been casting at 12 oclock off the end of the ledge. I haven't tried the ebbing tide yet to compare. Will probably give it ago in the evenings early next week if it's not too windy. Dont worry about getting cut off, I stayed late into the tide last time and it was fine, wear shorts in case you need a little paddle tho
Thanks again Kris. Didn't know about UK hooks but will check it out. Do you know the difference in high tide times between the ledge and Sandown?
ReplyDeleteCheers for all the advice both fish and fowl. The family and I will be down tomorrow so hopefully we manage a few bass and a few birds.
difference in tide is negligible, about 15 mins so I just go by Sandown times. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWas going to pop down for high water this morning but yeterday's early birding on the downs took its toll and had to sleep in. Will try for some wrasse with the boys later and try for the bass tomorrow morning as the weather is due to be grotty. Out of interest when fishing the rising tide as you describe, how late into the tide do you stay? Will help me gauge how much earlier to get there.
ReplyDeleteCheers
M