Tope bait

Read an article on the web,it says mackerel are not really targeted by tope because the mackerel are faster than tope.Apparently,Dabs and whiting are their target food.
Mackerel obviously works,but maybe trying dabs etc might be worth a try.
I've just acquired some 10-0 koike full circle hooks for tope fishing.

A large hook through the head slows them down a tad
The scent of Mackerel gives them a big advantage over other fish as bait but I can see how a Dab used as live bait could work

Logger wrote:

A large hook through the head slows them down a tad
The scent of Mackerel gives them a big advantage over other fish as bait but I can see how a Dab used as live bait could work

The guy on the vid said they cut the dab off at the bottom half and through to the gut cavity.

My bottom freezer drawer is full of mackerel,herrings,black lug,roach,perch,sprats etc.
When the weather gets a bit better I'll get the mincer out and turn it into chum blocks.
Some of it has been in there 3 years.
If I still had a lady in my life I wouldn't have got away with it.

Not coming round to yours for tea

Logger wrote:

Not coming round to yours for tea

He'll have a chum round instead

Notbad wrote:

Logger wrote:

Not coming round to yours for tea

He'll have a chum round instead

Keep shaking that bag

Notbad wrote:

Logger wrote:

Not coming round to yours for tea

He'll have a chum round instead

Where does he get them from.

Kirky's Dad wrote:

Notbad wrote:

Logger wrote:

Not coming round to yours for tea

He'll have a chum round instead

Where does he get them from.

Don't know but hope they give refunds

I read somewhere that rolled Dabs are the Bee's Knee's for Tope

Presumably white side out so the tope can see the dab and the dab cannot see the tope!

I found that live mackerel works best with the hook in the middle of the body as the tope hit side on a better chance of getting the hook in, the frozen work, not as well, the bull husses like frozen a good second best when the tope are not about. I read about the dabs being a good bait for tope, tried it but I did not catch anything.




Evidence that the mackerel really do work.

Many years ago we were shore fishing at Llanddulas for the Bass. An old boy came over for a chat. He said way back (probably the 1950’s) he used to catch Tope from there. His technique was to walk down to low water, he would use a Dab as bait and tie his rig to a rock with some red Wool. Then he would walk back up the beach and wait for the tide to come in. His best fish was over 40lb. I thought “Mmmm, maybe” Then a few years later I told this story to one of the anglers from Rhyl Labour Club and he knew the bloke and confirmed what he’d told me. He also said he only used Dabs for bait when fishing for Tope and caught many a fish on them.

Tony Lever wrote:

Many years ago we were shore fishing at Llanddulas for the Bass. An old boy came over for a chat. He said way back (probably the 1950’s) he used to catch Tope from there. His technique was to walk down to low water, he would use a Dab as bait and tie his rig to a rock with some red Wool. Then he would walk back up the beach and wait for the tide to come in. His best fish was over 40lb. I thought “Mmmm, maybe” Then a few years later I told this story to one of the anglers from Rhyl Labour Club and he knew the bloke and confirmed what he’d told me. He also said he only used Dabs for bait when fishing for Tope and caught many a fish on them.

I try that when the Tope season comes in sounds as if it should work, off shore at Llanddulas is a good place to catch Tope.

Perfect opportunity for me to blather on like a proper old bloke and recall the 1970s Marshall Cavenish series of fishing publications which I clearly recall highlighted Llandulas as a catch from shore mark for Tope

Copies still available on fleabay! ( where I got this pic from)

Never fished offshore at Llandulas,but I always imagined it had potential.
I'll be giving it a try this year.
Tried it off the little slipway,but lost a lot of tackle in the boulders.
I've seen the water 'boiling'there at times.Maybe a float rig might work for different species.

The boulders there are growing,

(Tubeworm)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/reef-worm-builds-again--2190172.amp

My brother and myself walked out at low tide at the Llandulas beach nearest to Rhyl about 4yrs ago,
there were loads of Tubeworm corals being formed.
I fished over the rocks at the carpark under the arches where the little disused slipway is.
Loads of sandeels close in.
I bet floatfishing with a live sandeel would be productive.
I've seen fish jumping in the little stream where it goes into the sea.(couldn't make out what species)

Blade7 wrote:

I found that live mackerel works best with the hook in the middle of the body as the tope hit side on a better chance of getting the hook in, the frozen work, not as well,  the bull husses like frozen a good second best when the tope are not about. I read about the dabs being a good bait for tope, tried it but I did not catch anything.




Evidence that the mackerel really do work.

Nice pics Kieth