Dear friends, the topic of today’s article is sea bass fishing. This arch-dangerous predator is capable of dealing even with a large shark, so jokes with him can end in the worst possible way. Perch is an old friend of almost any angler. But not many people know about its naval elder brother, and fewer have encountered it in real conditions. Catching sea bass is not an easy task. This giant would rather try to hunt the hunter himself than become an easy prey even for the most seasoned fishing master.
Description of the species
Sea bass is a member of the family of so-called “scorpion fish”, the appearance of which resembles everyone’s familiar ordinary freshwater smaller brother. But, however, this similarity is only nominal: in its internal structure, this titan of the seas has little in common with a river predator. This can easily be explained by the fact that the perch that loves salt water belongs to a different and distant order and subfamily of fish. An even greater difference between the two false brothers is the presence of poisonous spines in sea bass, which are very dangerous to come into contact with.
Sea bass is an extremely common species, and it is not surprising: in total, in the waters of the world's oceans there are about 110 different subspecies of this predatory fish, which is extremely tireless in its hunting instincts. Most of the representatives of the sea bass species spread their hunting grounds on the very Arctic edge of the Pacific Ocean. These fish prefer shallow water: from 10 to 30 meters is the optimal diving depth for them. But some individuals can swim to depths of up to 3000 meters!
Sea bass can vary in size: from 30 centimeters and 200 grams and up to two meters, with a weight of 40 kilograms. And this is not the limit. Some rare specimens reached 2.5 meters and weighed up to 350-400 kilograms!
The smaller the species of perch, the more it gravitates towards the school. And from the opposite - the larger the individual - the more he strives for loneliness, sensing the strength to cope with almost any opponent, which, of course, is a delusion that can cost him his life. In a fight with a particularly large shark, a perch, even despite its size, can easily turn out to be the weak link and give in to a predator more agile than itself.
Of course, when meeting a pod of predatory killer whales, the perch also looks rather indistinct and pale: the difference in size is too great, which makes it easy prey for these sea wolves. But the main opponent of this fish is none other than a man with a powerful spinning rod at the ready, who, hiding on board a small vessel, watches the water, biding his time in order to forever deprive the unlucky swimmer of all chances of salvation.
The gastronomic preferences of this specimen include various mollusks, crustaceans, smaller fish, including juveniles of various shark breeds; sometimes the perch even dares to attack squids and octopuses. In any case, this fish is an omnivore and will not be lucky for anyone who, by chance, ends up in the water next to this monster.
Perch lives quite a long time for a fish - from ten to fifteen years, but only if some fisherman does not catch it in the fifth or sixth year of life, or the sea bully does not cross the path of a tiger or white shark. However, these are all trifles: this type of fish in general is extremely unique in itself in that females, having crossed the three-year mark, are able to change sex at will and become... males.
We fish with a spinning rod at sea. Sea fishing from the shore
Summer has begun - the holiday season. A traditional family vacation for many is still a trip to the Black Sea coast. This is a good thing, but for many spinning anglers, a multi-day outing to a fishing base on the shore of the “fishing Eldorado” is preferable. Unfortunately, not all wives accept this option, and neither do children. And there’s only one vacation... If you have this situation, don’t be upset! And on the Black Sea you can fish with a spinning rod! This fishing is very interesting, exciting and rewarding, and after your vacation you will have a lot of impressions!
The sea coast, especially with a rocky bottom, is densely populated by various representatives of ichthyofauna, including predators. In general, all sea fish can be called predatory! Of greatest interest to the spinning angler are scorpion fish, sea crucian carp (weasel), sea bass, bluefish, horse mackerel, greenfish, galley (conger eel), croaker and goby. The size of sea predators is not very large. The catches are dominated by individuals weighing up to 400 grams. But this does not mean that fishing is not interesting! So, for example, 200 grams of lassir will give you a light so that after catching your hands will shake for a long time. A spinning rod with dough up to 10 grams bends into an arc when fished!
The peculiarity of sea fishing is that you need to go to the coast at dusk and leave before sunrise! Most predators are active at night. In principle, the fish feeds all night, but there are so-called peaks of activity. The best bite is observed with the onset of complete darkness, and continues for about two more hours. Then the fish's activity weakens and resumes two to three hours before sunrise. In two hours of activity, you can earn a lot of bites, and a wide variety of fish. You never know exactly what fish you'll catch on your next cast, and that's one of the things that makes saltwater spin fishing fun.
As I already said, the most promising places for fishing are rocky shores. There are a lot of them on the Black Sea coast! It is not necessary to look for some wild places for fishing. You can fish excellently on the beaches, directly from the shore, or by choosing a pier. By the way, in resort areas, beach fishing has its advantages. The light of restaurants, clubs and hotels can completely replace natural light, and it will be more convenient for the spinner to perform various manipulations with bait and caught fish. However, even if the beach is well lit, the spinner should still have a headlamp on his head. Without him on the night coast it’s like without a leg.
What gear should you take with you on vacation? Taking into account the specifics of fishing, the best choice is light or street rods of the “rockfish” concept. They were created specifically for sea fishing with a spinning rod from the shore. This type of fishing is very popular in Japan, and the engineers of Japanese fishing companies know exactly what qualities a spinning rod should have for such fishing. Rock fishing sticks are lightweight, sensitive and have good range. The thin tips, which perform the function of a nod, are painted white. Due to the natural ability of white to reflect light well, the tip is perfectly visible on a poorly lit beach or at dusk.
The reel should have a smooth ride, and the tackle should also be well balanced. An important point: all elements of the reel that have contact with the cord must be coated with a coating that is resistant to salt water. As for the cord, ideally it should be from a marine series specifically designed for rock fishing. The qualitative difference between such cords is that when in contact with stones and shells, it does not fray, which means it lasts longer. In the absence of the possibility of using such a cord, a fluorocarbon leash, 3-4 meters long, is mandatory. It will reliably protect your wallet from constant loss of baits due to cuts on stones covered with shells.
The gear described above is an ideal option that will allow you to get maximum pleasure from the fishing process. But don't fret if you don't have a lightweight rockfishing kit. Using all kinds of lead equipment, you can successfully fish with any, even the cheapest spinning rod. The fishing technique is not much different from catching the same perch in freshwater bodies.
I’ll tell you briefly about the baits. At sea you can use absolutely any type of bait up to 5 cm in size! The most effective are wobblers and jigs. Wobblers must be deep, with a long blade, which will serve as good protection for the bait from being lost in the stones. However, fishing with wobblers is successful only during periods of high fish activity. When the bite is bad, I recommend using jig baits! You can fish with regular vibrating hooks and twisters of the “old generation”, but it is better to use an edible bait.
It significantly increases the number of bites, and edible baits, due to their strong smell, attract fish better. In conditions of poor bite, the most effective are retrieves with long pauses, when the bait simply lies on the bottom. This is where the properties of edible rubber come to the fore! I do not recommend equipping silicone baits with classic or articulated round jig heads, as there will be a large number of losses in the stones. It is best to use jig-rig type rigs with drop-shaped or cylindrical weights, or use lead rigs with a bullet-shaped weight.
Vacation is just around the corner, friends! I am sure that fishing with a spinning rod at sea will give you no less pleasure than the usual lake and river fishing for traditional predators of the middle zone.
Read other articles, reviews and testimonials:
- What is a bombard? Types of sbirulino. How to fish correctly with a bombard?
- Sea fishing in Sochi from the shore. What to use to catch horse mackerel and mullet from the shore?
- Rock fishing in the Black Sea. Which spinning rod should I take with me? Best lures for rock fishing
- Lures for fishing on the Black Sea. Which baits are more relevant at sea?
- Fishing for garfish on the Black Sea. Methods and techniques for catching Black Sea garfish
Habitats and species
This species is distinguished by its love of salt water and the same intolerance to fresh water. Various representatives of the sea bass family can be found both in the endless waters of the Pacific Ocean, especially in the Sea of Japan, and significantly in more southern latitudes, where some representatives swim to spawn. But still, the key criterion for this type of fish is ocean cold water. So, in addition to the Pacific Ocean, sea bass occasionally manifests itself in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes it swims to the South, approaching the eternal block of snow and ice called Antarctica.
The distribution of sea bass species also depends on their variety, the main of which are:
- red snapper
- White bass
- Blue Perch (Smarida)
- Golden perch
- Beaked Perch
- Rock Perch
Some species also tend to swim into freshwater bodies, such as blue sea bass.
Cooking sea bass
It is no secret to many that it is best to cook perch in the oven - baked fish is perhaps the best to taste. However, perch can be stewed, boiled, fried, steamed - its meat does not lose its taste in any type of cooking.
Fish selection
You should choose fresh fish that was caught no more than 48 hours ago. It is also worth paying attention to the fattest individuals - they will remain juicy during cooking.
To determine if a fish is fresh, pay attention to the gills - if they are dark red in color, then it is fresh. If it is light, then it has been playing for several days and it is best to stop using it.
Fish cutting
You need to cut up the perch very carefully, because its poisoned fins can create a whole bunch of inconveniences - cause inflammation, severe pain, and also an increase in temperature.
This is not fatal, but extremely unpleasant:
- The first thing we do is get rid of the fins - cut them off with a sharp knife, being careful not to prick yourself.
- Then, holding it by the tail, use the same knife to comb off the scales using movements from the tail to the head.
- Then, using a knife, we make a neat incision from the anus to the head.
- We take out the insides, being careful not to damage the gallbladder (crushing it will make the meat bitter).
- We wash the carcass in cold running water.
- Cut off the head and tail if necessary.
Tips for adding spices and seasonings
Sea fish has a richer taste, and therefore seasonings for it are created only in order to slightly enhance the already luxurious taste.
When preparing perch dishes, use the following seasonings:
- ground pepper;
- oregano;
- Bay leaf;
- mustard;
- garlic;
- ginger;
- onion;
- parsley;
- basil;
- rosemary.
Note! It is also recommended to add freshly squeezed lemon juice or small slices with zest to any dish. If possible, you can always replace lemon with lime - it gives an even richer taste.
Win-win fishing strategy
Well, now you, dear reader, will learn about how sea bass is caught. There are several subtleties to this simple activity. So, you need to get gear from a strong fishing rod, approximately three to four meters long and have a test weight of 60 grams or larger. It must be equipped with a heavy-duty reel equipped with fishing line with a diameter of 0.22 millimeters. The main line will have to be equipped with three or more leashes, and the end of the line should be crowned with a 60-gram weight.
Okay, now we have to ask the question: what do you use to catch sea bass? The answer here is simple: perch loves meat. The more meat, the better for him. However, as for the fisherman himself. After all, as you know, the ends justify the means. Also, he will not be against the Nereis sea worm and shrimp.
Catching this sea giant becomes especially interesting when using float equipment. In this case, the float itself must be particularly massive in size, to match the object of fishing and so that the float is clearly visible at a considerable distance under conditions of high waves. During the hunt, he behaves very impudently, greedily biting into the bait, from which the fisherman immediately feels a powerful, biting jerk.
The most favorable time to start fishing is from the beginning of summer to the beginning of autumn. It is during this period that the perch begins to spawn. In any case, fishing can be done either while sitting on a boat or from a small vessel, or while standing on the shore, provided the rod is of sufficient length. When fishing from a boat or vessel, you need to take into account the optimal depth, which is on average 4-5 meters.
Black Sea perch
Smarida is a Black Sea fish, from the order Perciformes, small in size, reaching 17 - 20 cm. Black Sea perch, as it is called because of its similarity with its river counterpart, changes the color of the body during procreation. Unlike the common perch (it has a light green color), the smarida is colored blue. Its mouth is retractable, in which a large number of small teeth fit.
The dorsal and anal fins have small bluish spots. There is one small dark spot on both sides of the body. In schools, the perch get assimilated according to the ranking.
White Black Sea perch “chaplyk” has vertical brown stripes on its body. This perch grows up to 10 - 12 cm. The blue Black Sea perch “bruise” is painted with the same transverse stripes as the “chaplyk”, but only blue. It sometimes reaches up to 17 cm in length. It is curious that the stripes of caught perches immediately disappear.
In addition to the Black Sea, perch also lives in the Sea of Azov, and it does not ignore the Kerch Strait.
You can catch it at different depths: from 5 to 15 meters. It feeds on fresh shrimp, estuary worms, fresh meat, as well as pieces of fish and a variety of algae. If you are baiting a shrimp, you must first peel it and use only half of the body. Fishing for Black Sea perch continues throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
Smarida meat is moderately fatty and pleasant to the taste; The soup is very rich. This fish is used for frying, as well as smoked and dried.
His bites are careful; the fish often eats the bait. If it is not possible to fish from a pier or breakwater, using match rods as gear is the best option. Sometimes telescopic 5-meter fishing rods are used, which must be perfectly balanced and have light, inertia-free reels with a supply of 0.23 mm fishing line of at least 70 meters and with guide rings. The thickness of the leader line should not exceed 0.165.
Also interesting: Internal structure of perch
Since fishing takes place at a depth of more than 5 meters, you need to mount the float using the sliding method.
A small, lightweight “olive” will act as a support at the lowest point when the float slides down.
It is installed immediately behind the leash, the length of which can be 20–30 cm. “Olive” is needed in order to deliver the bait into a deep layer of water when pulling the fishing line. The float is additionally loaded.
Due to the fact that the Black Sea perch is a small fish, and the hook selected for it is no more than No. 4 - 6, it must have a long shank. You can use any colors of hooks, it’s not important, but you need to install a limiter in the form of a bright cambric. This is necessary to prevent the fish from knocking the bait off the hook, and the bright color of the cambric will be an additional irritant.
You can use the light line fishing method (reminiscent of a tyrant) with hooks on which shrimp and pieces of fish act as bait. In this case, you can pull out 5-6 fish at once. The largest specimens of Black Sea perch en masse approach the shores in early autumn, and they make a second approach in mid-spring. During these periods, perches become insatiable, and can even rush to a bare hook.
Perches bite excellently in the pre-dawn hours at depths of 7 - 20 meters, as well as at a distance of about 1000 m from the shore. And if a happy angler finds a hole over which there is a small flock of perches that have chosen this place, then the catch will be fantastic. Often, perches “populate” such holes for a long time, and experienced fishermen set landmarks.
The bottom fishing method is also used. If there is no storm, then light tackle invented by the British, the so-called PickerQuivertip, . This is a hybrid of a float and bottom fishing rod, combining their best quality indicators. The rod has guides and a lightweight spinning reel, as well as interchangeable tips of different elasticity. They must be set according to fishing conditions, which take into account depth as well as wind or water fluctuations.
Also interesting: Black-Bass or black perch
In calm conditions they fish using pickerel (a type of “donki”, but lighter), which has an elegant and thin tackle. Fishing with pickerel does not require long casting, so it is fished from a boat anchored above the maximum depth, but not far from the shore. When the sea is rough, it is better to fish from a breakwater or a pier.
If the bottom is overloaded with stones or underwater plants, and a snag is inevitable, you need to use a thicker line and leader. Strong tackle is also needed for fishing with casts of more than seventy meters. In this case, a pickerel with a strong five-meter leader tied on top of the leash is suitable. For smooth alignment of gear, connecting knots are made like fly fishing knots. Then the connected parts will pass freely.
Author: N.K
