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Back to basics
Shore fishing takes you back to basics. Simple to practice and requiring little equipment, it's as simple as scrambling from rock to rock, equipped with your rod and a handful of lures.
This technique is very different from that used on a boat. Here, there are no electronics, no powerful motors to move from one station to another, just a few birds and your sense of the water to guide you to interesting areas to prospect. In my opinion, learning to fish at sea and perfecting your skills undeniably requires a little practice on board.
Choosing the right spot to target big fish
Practicing from the shore doesn't give you the right to go into the wrong zone. Access to certain spots is relatively complicated and sometimes requires a good deal of walking on steep paths. There's nothing more demotivating than realizing once you've reached the spot that you've made a mistake and having to turn back. So you need to choose the right spot.
To do this, take into account seasonality, fish habits and the presence of food. Early scouting is often a good idea. I often do this, perhaps equipped with binoculars, scanning the shoreline for areas where birds are hunting. If you want to target mainly big bass, you'll need to prospect areas where fishing pressure is low, offering shelter to large specimens which, let's not forget, have for the most part already seen a good number of lures pass over their heads.
Set your alarm clock!
You'll also need to be an early riser or a late sleeper to optimize your chances of nabbing a fine specimen. Over the years, I've noticed that my best catches are often made at sunrise or at the first light of day. This period, especially during the summer season, is when activity on the water is at its lowest.
The wind is your ally
To optimize your chances of getting out on the water, take a close look at the weather forecast. A strong wind, between 15 and 20 knots, will stir up the sea. Admittedly, these conditions make practice more difficult, as you risk having a constant banner in your line and having to cast into the wind, thus losing casting distance. But that's not the point! These conditions, though difficult, have the effect of reducing the vigilance of predators and slightly clouding the water.
It's all in the foam!
Windy weather conditions create waves. As they hit the pebbles, they stir up the rocks, ripping away the biodiversity that lives there. What could be better than to feed on crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans without too much effort!
As fishermen, target these areas first! They are easily recognized by the presence of foam or eddies. Cast as close as you can, and control the descent, as the strike can be very fast.
Choosing lures
When fishing in low light or rough conditions, I almost exclusively use shads. This choice is due to the fact that a discrete lure will be more difficult for bass to detect. The agitated environment therefore requires a lure that emits strong vibrations. In these conditions, shads, thanks to their paddle, are perfect and a linear animation of them, well adapted.
To target the big sea bass
- Favour periods of sunrise or sunset
- Windy weather and rough seas are preferable
- Areas with little boating activity are preferable
- Get off the beaten track
