Bass are one of the most iconic, instantly recognisable fish caught by UK sea anglers. They are easily identified by their sleek body which generally has a bright silver sheen leading to a white belly. Some larger specimens sometimes have very dark backs. There is no mistaking the front dorsal fin with its row of sharp spines. Take great care when handling any bass you may catch. They also have sharp gill plates and spines near to the pectoral fins. The streamlined body and large tail are defining features of an active predatory fish which cruises the coastlines in search of its next meal.
Bass are generally considered to be a fish of the summer months although in the warm waters of South Devon it is possible to catch them all year round. They can be caught from almost every conceivable venue, including well up estuaries and will readily take all manner of baits. Day or night fishing see good catches being made with the venue, bait, state of the tide and sea conditions more important than whether its dark or not, very early morning can be the prime time however. Worms, peeler crab, squid, live prawn, live sandeel and razorfish are all top baits for bass with plugs and lures also accounting for a great many fish. Fly fishing for these creatures has become increasingly popular in the past few years. Rigs are best kept fairly simple, running legers, simple flappers, pennel rigs (match the hook size to the size of bait) and float outfits all work well. The majority of bass will be in the 1lb 3lb bracket but there are some big double figure fish caught every year with some anglers dedicating their entire fishing time to targeting one of these great beasts. Bass are regarded by many as being the tastiest of all sea fish. Please only keep those fish which meet the minimum size limit, put back any you dont intend on eating and return all fish caught in the estuaries as these are, in general, bass nursery areas which are patrolled and heavy fines given to anyone found taking bass home.
