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 Autumn Bass Bonanza in the Bay of Douarnenez

by Sam Davis


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Rumour has it...

It's the evening of 18 September 2009. Vincent, one of my French fishing mates who is crazy about lure fishing for sea bass, contacted me via MSN to go fishing with him on Quicksilver commander the next day. He had heard via the French bass mafia and his contacts on the web that many bass were chasing sardines around Pentrez beach. This is a common autumn ritual for sea bass as they want to fatten up before the winter spawn.

Mackerel Appetisers

Afternoon of the 19th. We put Vincent's boat in at Morgat harbour. We were both brimming with a mixture of curiosity and confidence that something special would take place. While idling out of the harbour we find an absolutely huge shoal of mackerel around 10 metres below the boat. We tested our bass tackle on them until we were happy that everything was functioning and bass ready.

Searching, hoping, imagining...

We headed for Pentrez beach, the supposed site of yesterday's bass mayhem. Along the way we stop and fish a few coves without a touch--not uncommon when bass are concentrating on sardine shoals. We then headed further south and cruised the length of Pentrez's sandy shore looking for any signs of birds going crazy, surface attacks by bass, or simply water with a hint of nervousness.

Patience my son...

We cut the engine and waited for any signs of activity. The tide was huge at 109% of mean high tide, so a lot of clear water was being pushed around. Good news when fishing for bass as current is king. After half an hour the hunt was on. From the south end of the beach near the rocks many birds started congregating and screeching while chasing a small but hectic V-wake. I fired just ahead of the crest of the wake and simply let the lure drop vertically. A few seconds later I was on a tug-o-war with a large shadow as it stayed deep. It was the pull of a stubborn bull of a bass used to having its own way in the water. Despite the pathetic net (more at home in a small roach pond than in a bass boat) of Vincent, I got my 4 kg prize in the boat. Pic below.

Sam Davis holds a gorgeou 4 kg of autumn bass. It was full of sardines, and hardshell green crabs.

Then More Waiting...

After a couple more yet lesser surface attacks by our quarry, and picking up 5 more smaller bass, things went pretty dead. We then decided to head back to the harbour to see if there was any bass activity in the north of the bay. This decision to head back would be fortuitous.

As we entered the harbour we realised that only mackerel were still lurking about, so we went searching for bass to the east of Morgat where only boat access is possible and recommended as the cliffs are steep and dangerous and boat-shredding rocks are strewn everywhere. I had fun firing my casts into all manner of caves which bored through the cliff faces.

Payday!

Working our way back to the harbour we found a large cove with some sea birds acting very nervously on the shore. A few minutes later we witnessed sporadic bass attacks as they slashed into unwary or confused shoals of sardines that were being tossed and slammed into the rocks where the birds would simply pick them off as if peeling off stamp.

Vincent quietly slipped the boat into position while I stealthily (and anxiously) grabbed my rod waiting for the time where I could fired my caper shad (see range below)-


capershadworm 08
is the best if you
can find them

into the cacophony of bass, sardines and birds. Once in position, Vincent cut the engine, and paradise indeed rained on us that evening. Fish after fish were hammering our offerings, so much so, that two of my soft lures were mauled beyond function. Double hook ups were common as we sang the praises of our Breton sea bass. The action lasted about an hour after which, I must admit, that the tendons in my wrists were knackered. Over 30 fish landed on the evening. Truly magical autumn fishing.

Sam Davis holding his second specimen of the evening caught on River2Sea Caper shads.

Vincent Lamache holding his prize.

 

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