Fishing gear

[wp1234]

On my retirement trip to France / Spain next year I would like to do the odd ‘rod fishing off the rocks ‘ day but am undecided on the gear to take with me.
Any thought on the essentials I need to take ?

 

[Khizzie]

On my retirement trip to France / Spain next year I would like to do the odd ‘rod fishing off the rocks ‘ day but am undecided on the gear to take with me.
Any thought on the essentials I need to take ?

Judging by what the fishermen here take, I should firstly invest in a big wheelbarrow thing. LOL you don't know just how much equipment you might need to catch that wily 4oz weaver fish.. Lol.. Seriously Rod, two réels bait and weights. Oh and a few hooks and a landing net. Don't cart too much about, you might have a load of fish to carry back..

 

[Ridgeway]

My all purpose rod is a Shimano telescopic spinning rod. Handles most things from a but of float fishing, to spinning in the river and "light" sea fishing ie off the jetty, pier, rocks etc but certainly can't take much more than that. Fits easily enough in the garage with a small bag.

 

[Nicepix]

It all depends on what you want to do and how much room you have to spare. As Ridgeway says; a telescopic rod is ideal for a bit of casual rock hopping and pier fishing.

I have a four-piece 6' travel spinning rod, reel and a couple of boxes of floats, weights, hooks, spinners, etc that are in a case measuring no more than 20" x 3" x 4" and a small collapsible landing net from Decathlon. A telescopic 8' rod would probably be more versatile and you can get them cheaply along with a reel from Decathlon too.

If you have the room then a two-piece Ugly Stick bass fishing rod and bait caster reel will be better, and sturdy enough for most things.......

You can get most of your bits and pieces from here: https://www.onepoundfishingtackle.co.uk/

 

[MattR]

@wp1234 You may be best checking where the best locations for fishing are so you can choose your tackle accordingly. I haven't fished on the Atlantic coast nor have I snorkelled there but on the Med coasts, I've not seen much worth catching when snorkelling and fisherfolk who I have seen catching fish off the beach have taken anything they catch, irrespective of size. I've not caught anything when I've tried in south Spain.

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[Khizzie]

@wp1234 You may be best checking where the best locations for fishing are so you can choose your tackle accordingly. I haven't fished on the Atlantic coast nor have I snorkelled there but on the Med coasts, I've not seen much worth catching when snorkelling and fisherfolk who I have seen catching fish off the beach have taken anything they catch, irrespective of size. I've not caught anything when I've tried in south Spain.

Thats because the French and Spanish beam trawlers have destroyed the breeding grounds by taking everything in the food chain off the bottom..

 

[Nicepix]

Judging by what the fishermen here take, I should firstly invest in a big wheelbarrow thing. LOL you don't know just how much equipment you might need to catch that wily 4oz weaver fish.. Lol.. Seriously Rod, two réels bait and weights. Oh and a few hooks and a landing net. Don't cart too much about, you might have a load of fish to carry back..

After fifty years of carrying everything on my back while walking up to 6 miles I've now started using a trolley, and what a revelation

I've had it ages, but it was too unwieldy and unstable to use. A bit like taking someone else's unruly dog for a walk. So I had a brainwave, chopped the axle in two and fitted a spacing tube to increase the wheelbase by 4cm each side. It was like trading in a Reliant Robin for a Range Rover

I now have an ATT (All Terrain Trolley) and can easily carry all the stuff I used to wish I'd taken before. And, everything except the rod holdall is in the trolley so its a doddle to load into the van, unload at the other end and it faithfully follows me everywhere!

 

[Badknee]

@tonyandcarol used to catch the odd tiddler I believe, split cane, string and a bent pin

 

[Khizzie]

After fifty years of carrying everything on my back while walking up to 6 miles I've now started using a trolley, and what a revelation

I've had it ages, but it was too unwieldy and unstable to use. A bit like taking someone else's unruly dog for a walk. So I had a brainwave, chopped the axle in two and fitted a spacing tube to increase the wheelbase by 4cm each side. It was like trading in a Reliant Robin for a Range Rover

I now have an ATT (All Terrain Trolley) and can easily carry all the stuff I used to wish I'd taken before. And, everything except the rod holdall is in the trolley so its a doddle to load into the van, unload at the other end and it faithfully follows me everywhere!

The only time I would walk any distance to fish would be with a fly rod and a small game bag and a few flies..

 

[Madcaravanner]

You talk about Rock fishing and shore waters are rather different even a km apart

I'd pack a few rods in the motorhome (which I do) so I can choose which I need depending where I am

Atlantic I used to use a 15 foot Surfcaster which I need to replace
So now I use a 12 foot beachcaster (telescopic or 2 piece) which is not as effective at chucking large weights long distances

Mediterranean I use either the 12 foot Beachcaster or a12 foot match rod or a 17 foot Match rod as I no longer use a pole due to my back problems

As for reels I use either old Shakspeare Carp Reels or normal fixed spool pit reels but I do also have a centre pit for using in deep pools

I have a variety of floats all very large but UK style rather than the euro bobbers seem to respond better
Soft bodies lures and jointed lures as well as a few multiblade spinners
I use hooks with microbarbs and I have a selection from 12 to 3-0


Hope you have luck and enjoy your fishing

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[mike mcglynn]

I know nothing whatsoever re. fishing off the rocks but after having tried it once off the rocks on Anglesey with a bunch of old T.A.pals I would recommend a lifejacket and a tide table.

 

[2657]

If fishing off rocks i would take lots and lots of hooks, weights, lures etc as in my experience what you will mostly catch is the seabed

 

[Jands]

A chair, bottle of wine and a glass.

 

[Spriddler]

A chair, bottle of wine and a glass.

Exactly. Fishing is merely a man's way of avoiding jobs by appearing to be doing something.

 

[Dognewf]

i carry three rods, all multi piece travel rods. a spinning rod, bass type rod 11'6 for pier rock beach, and a boat rod.fixed spool and multiplier reel and selection of premade rigs, some line and hooks, swivels etc. and weights. usually if there is fishing, there is a tackle shop, good for bits and pieces and advice.

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[BobtheBass]

Look into getting some drop shot gear, short light rods and tiny fixed spool reels. You can lure fish from the rocks or harbour walls or even adapt some coarse end tackle for bait fishing using prawns from the supermarche or worms you dig yourself at the low tide line. It's good fun catching small colourful fish!

 

[Duck Truck]

FISH

 

[DBK]

You just need a carrier bag for your fish on the Mediterranean. This is in Sicily.

I can't remember seeing anyone fishing from the shore all the while we were there.

 

[Deleted member 57092]

Lots of fishing from the shore in Greece
I use a light spinning reel with no ground tackle other than a small hook and a single lead shot with a pea sized ball of bread for bream etc.
A bigger hook with no weight at all and a bigger bit of bread for Litsa (like a small tuna about ten inches to a foot long ,tastes like bass)
Pink fake squid on 40lb line on a boat rod with a multiplier when trolling behind the boat for mahi mahi and small tuna.
Wherever you go just go and sit and watch the locals for a bit first to see what they use.

 

[maxi77]

Worth checking local rules on licences, fines for non compliance can be nasty.

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[treetops1]

Yearly cartedepche (licence) in France cost me 96 euro,s this year jan to dec . Not sure you need it for sea fishing ,you would need to check .Make sure you do lol.I fish the rivers and if caught without a licence you get a fine and confiscate all your gear .It is the police in France that does the checking ,flying about in vans ,They are great for letting you know which area,s to fish when they get to know you.I wish you luck and have a great time .

 

[Deleted member 57092]

generally there are no licences required for fishing in the sea.
Sometimes due to conservation issues there might be restrictions on catching certain species (usually drawn up by desk jockeys that think fish is made by birds eye, hence the throwing back of perfectly edible but dead fish etc)
But I stand to be corrected as per usual ..........

 

[gus-lopez]

On my retirement trip to France / Spain next year I would like to do the odd ‘rod fishing off the rocks ‘ day but am undecided on the gear to take with me.
Any thought on the essentials I need to take ?

The first thing in Spain you would need will be a licence. Type depends on where you are fishing. Fresh water, or sea. If sea beach or boat , different licence for each . Also requirements to get one varies dependent on region. I.e.Andalucia an exam is required in many places. Here in Murcia it used to be production of your UK licence would get you a spanish one . @jumar would be able to tell you how he got his.

generally there are no licences required for fishing in the sea.
Sometimes due to conservation issues there might be restrictions on catching certain species (usually drawn up by desk jockeys that think fish is made by birds eye, hence the throwing back of perfectly edible but dead fish etc)
But I stand to be corrected as per usual ..........

There are in spain.

 

[jumar]

Jumar says.......Licence is required to fish from the shore in Spain, in a boat or underwater.
Costs about 15€ for 2 years, obtainable from either the Fishing and Hunting office, usually in the main cities of the region you wish to fish or in some town halls...once obtained, it allows you to fish at any coastal waters of Spain....except for restricted areas.....mainly areas where fishing could be dangerous to bathers etc...
How I obtained mine.....produced my NIE number, my residence card and my third party insurance.....paid the fee, got a licence...
Footnote.....I would imagine that out of the 20 or so fishermen that fished alongside me in Cartagena a while ago....I would have been the only one with a licence, the only Brit, the only one who thew back undersize fish.

 

[maxi77]

generally there are no licences required for fishing in the sea.
Sometimes due to conservation issues there might be restrictions on catching certain species (usually drawn up by desk jockeys that think fish is made by birds eye, hence the throwing back of perfectly edible but dead fish etc)
But I stand to be corrected as per usual ..........

Generally you do need one in Portugal and the fines can be both on the spot and substantial.

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