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I lent myself to the game of an interview, a new podcast. As I answer personal questions, we slip into the subject of my French and world records. And then comes the technical question: do you have any tips for targeting big fish?
This is a complex question, given the diversity of sea fisheries: different areas, species and seasons all call for different answers.
So I focused on the bar. Here are a few keys to targeting big bars.
Big bass: strategy, not chance fishing
Here's a fact that's often misunderstood: big sea bass often stay away from schools. These fish are targeted for quality, not quantity. It's very rare to come across a trophy fish on a hunt for small bass.
First of all, big sea bass don't feed much, but just when they need to. At slack water, they often remain inactive. As soon as the current starts or stops, the food chain starts moving again. Crabs and shrimps leave their shelters. This is when the big bass come into action. It's this short window of opportunity that the record fisherman is looking for, even if it means having only one hit in a day.
Tides, currents and spot reading: the winning approach
It's also important to choose certain coefficients and think about the positioning of the boat. For big bass, tides above 65 often offer the best opportunities. The beginning and end of currents are key times. From a boat, big bass often hang out downstream of wrecks or structures.
They let smaller fish hunt in the current and position themselves where food arrives effortlessly. Drifting further out often allows you to hit the most experienced fish, close to the bottom. It doesn't always happen, and I'd say not often, but the fish are always big ones away from the mix.
From the edge, the counterpunch that makes all the difference
In our discussions, I also talk about shore fishing. I'd like to dispel a common misconception: casting far out isn't always necessary. Very large bass can be found just a few meters away, sometimes less than 5 meters from the shore, especially at night.
Large natural baits, neatly presented with sturdy rigs, target these unusual fish. Few bites, but exceptional fights. It's an atypical approach. Large baits need to be positioned at the foot of the dykes, at the harbour entrance, to target bass weighing over 5 kg, whereas a distant cast would miss these specimens completely. Of course, there are a few misses, but the bites always bring exceptional fish, especially when fishing from shore!
I'll come back to these last two technical aspects in detail, both on the boat and on board, later in the season. In the meantime, here's the full interview I mentioned in the introduction:
The podcast to find out more
Here's the podcast to find out more. It recounts my passion for sea fishing, my records and tips for targeting big fish.
