WHILE THE CAT’S AWAY
Things tend to go awry when it’s specific species you’re after. We’ve all been out to target smoothound, tope, rays, bass, or whatever it might be, and found they just don’t want to play. So, what do you do? Do you sit there and hope they turn up, or switch tactics and try for something that is willing to feed? It’s the latter for me, every time! I aim to make the most of every day and there are things we can do as well as tackle we can carry that gives us that opportunity.
UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION
If the more desirable species are not feeding and the skipper has already tried two or three marks with no improvement in catches, then it’s obvious the big fish are just not there. To fish on regardless, most of the time invariably results in disappointment, though it’s your choice, of course.
My theory is that if the big fish are unwilling to feed and are most likely elsewhere, that presents a big opportunity for the smaller species to make the most of a clear field and capitalise while the big boys are away. Heard the saying, “While the cat’s away, the mice will play”? It’s the same scenario and I refer to this technique as cat and mouse fishing. Personally, I’d rather be consistently catching
