By Sushi Phil Richardson. Illo by linguistine.com

Last month, we turned you on to bass, Maigre and bream. In the second awesome installment, here are three more fish to try to catch!

FIRST AND FOREMOST I don’t consider myself a fishing expert. Knowledge is paramount and it takes years to accumulate. In days gone by I would go down to the harbour chuck out a hard plastic or metal lure and reel it in like there’s no tomorrow. No method in the madness, and very few fish.
Things started to change when I spent more time around the local waters, observing and understanding when and why fish move around different areas. Making note of feeding patterns and trying to present corresponding tackle
on balanced gear for the situation. This really improved my catch rate. I’m slowly starting to recon reliable marks that are producing fish at different times of the tidal cycle, both incoming and outgoing. Also reading up and watching guys that know what they’re doing, learning new techniques bUT adapting things to suit my backyard. Trying new stuff gets results.

Goby

The Goby is a nice little fish to target LRF in the Hossegor canal. LRF or (light game fishing) is the style of fishing I’m into at the moment. It’s a technique originally from Japan using micro lures and small jigs around rocks, harbours and estuaries. Special ultra light rods often with solid carbon tips for extra finesse and sensation are designed for targeting small species. Line strength is no heavier than 6lb (and usually much less). Tactics and tackle can draw inspiration from freshwater bass fishing. LRF style catches tons of fish! Remember that big fish will also take small lures so if you hook a horse go easy with the light gear and don’t forget to always bring a landing net.

Mackeral:

Start to cruise around here as the water warms up. I’ve been catching a couple off the rocks in Capbreton at high tide. Another popular LRF target, use a tubular tipped rod and some small 35g metal lures or soft plastic shads either with a jig head or carolina rigged.

Wrasse:

Hossegor is famous for kilometers of beach breaks and sandy dredging barrels. Wrasse like to hang out around rocks so the only place I’ve managed to catch a few small ones are by the boulders at the harbour entrance or in the canal. There’s probably plenty down in the basque Country. I use worm style lures on a drop shot rig and light gear. I don’t know loads about wrasse fishing, but Mike Sullivan from rockfishingrevolution.co.uk is the man to check out.

(Sushi Phil once surfed Hossegor 100 days in a row in mid-winter, during the epic season of 07/08. Check his blog www.frenchbass.wordpress.com. For fish and other delicious dishes, try his excellent restaurant: @45avenuedupenon, just behind the dunes between Les Estagnots and Les bourdaines, Seignosse).