Scratch fishing is essential for targeting certain freshwater and saltwater species (pike-perch, meagre, oldsquaw...), but it can also be used in special situations to catch sea bass that might not have been caught any other way. To get the most out of your outings, you need to master the basics.
Why fish for scratch bass?
Some species feed in the open water - they're called pelagic. Others feed only on the seabed: these are known as benthic species. These species should be fished close to the substrate. Indeed, the probability of catching a conger eel with surface lures is pretty close to zero...
Sea bass, like other species, can behave in both ways. So, while it's possible to catch them on the surface and in open water most of the time, there are conditions where they feed on the bottom.
When to use the scratch fishing technique?
These moments can correspond to states of activity:
- The fish are lethargic, i.e. they're not in the middle of their feeding season, and stay put behind a pebble, a pile of algae or in a crevice.
- They are looking for a specific diet like crabs and shrimps, and feed exclusively on the bottom. This pattern is typical of what happens at night, as the crustaceans become active and emerge from their hiding places. The bass know this and start picking them... So for me, night fishing rhymes with slow fishing close to the bottom.
Where to fish for scratch?
Certain areas are particularly well suited to scratch fishing. In places where the current is very strong (3, 4, 5, 6 knots...), sea bass will have to stay close to the bottom for a good part of the time, sheltered by a rock or similar, to protect themselves from the current and avoid tiring themselves unnecessarily. What's more, this allows them to stay on the lookout for any potential food brought by the current. So, in these particular configurations, scraper fishing is just the thing to dislodge predators wherever they are.
In these same areas, they can be found in open water during peak activity, but the rest of the time you'll need to present your lure close to the substrate.
Of course, this technique can also be used in areas with little current, but it is most useful in this context.
Now that you know the rationale behind this technique, as well as the conditions of application, let's take a look at how to put it into practice.
