Edging, a good fallback in the face of poorer weather
The end of the season often means the first gales. The seas are less clement and outings in the open sea are more difficult to organize. Retreating to less exposed shores is not just a default choice.
This will give you shelter, but also a good chance of finding large concentrations of sea bass feeding to build up the reserves needed to get through the winter. Shore fishing is most prolific at the end of the season. As the summer boating season subsides, the fish are calmer.
Finally, the areas close to the shore concentrate a large quantity of food. Small fish, shrimps, crabs... are present in large numbers. The fish make no mistake, the larder is there!
Why surface fish?
Edging means fishing in shallow waters, no deeper than 5 to 7 metres and often less. Such depths lend themselves perfectly to the use of surface lures. Fishing with this type of lure will enable you to comb a very wide area.
These noisemakers have the ability to attract fish from very far away. So, over very large areas, you'll increase your chances of triggering attacks. This isn't always true, however: some days, the fish will refuse to come up. A fresh wind may be at the origin of this refusal. In this case, use a soft lure to make up your mind.
Beyond that, surface fishing is highly visual, and the adrenalin rush generated by seeing the attack is unrivalled.
Which lures to use?
There are as many opinions as there are anglers. Everyone has their own personal preference, and that's perfectly normal. As far as I'm concerned, my 3 favorite lures for this type of fishing are :
- The Asturies 110 and 130 in Ghost Lançon. This lure is extremely effective. Its erratic swimming action triggers numerous attacks.
- The Feed Popper 120. This is my favourite when the sea is a bit rough. I don't use it in calm seas. The yellow color gives good results when the water is slightly tinted, as is often the case when the wind picks up.
- Finally, the yellow-backed Super Spook. It's been around for years and is as effective as ever. Its ease of use makes it easy to handle for novices.
When it all comes together...
When fishing on the banks, pay close attention to your surroundings. A stinging tern or a surface eddy can give you valuable information. If you can locate the area where the fish are active, you'll have the chance to enjoy yourself.
On these areas, the use of a livewell is recommended to avoid "breaking the shot". If you immediately release your hold on the area, it may have the effect of scaring off the shoal or stopping the activity.
Put your fish in a livewell or large cooler with plenty of water and release them a few hundred metres from the fishing area.
