Popular Post Plaicehunter Posted March 4, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted March 4, 2021 Although it was probably six weeks too soon, I had a go for an early gilt in the Tamar today. Every spot I tried I was plagued with schoolies, and must have had a couple of dozen to 1.5lb, with one nearer 2lb. I fished three rods, one with rag, one with lug, one with crab, but the only three good bites were on peeler. The first looked very much like a gilt bite - several sharp knocks and a pull-round, but unaccountably I missed it. The second was the biggest bass of the day. The third was a heavy fish which banged about down deep but came off the 3/0 crab hook just as I thought I had it beaten. It was probably either a decent gilt or a big wrasse. A rather disappointing day, but the gilts don't usually turn up here in force till May or even June, depending on water temperature. Pray for a warm spring! Dicky, Maverick, suzook12 and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Top report PH! Gutted for you for those missed fish but well done for getting out there. 👍 Hopefully it won't be long before the rest of us can wet a line too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 Thanks for the report and well done on giving it a go and catching a few fish. Gilt head is a species I would love to catch, any tips appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Plaicehunter Posted March 5, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 5, 2021 Tips for catching gilts. Gilts are not hard to catch so much as hard to locate. They move around in shoals and it's a question of intercepting them as they pass through. Yesterday I moved six times to where I expected them to be at that stage of tide. This is partly a matter of putting in the hours and partly a question of figuring out where the current will be running at a suitable speed. I like some current but not one running really fast. Gilts eat a lot of crab, and when I keep one it invariably contains crab remains. They investigate any structure: reefs, rocks, mooring blocks and chains, so fish near those. Successful baits include razorfish, lugworm, ragworm and soft or peeler crab. Razor is good because schoolies don't like it but gilts and Couch's bream do. Use as little elastic as possible to secure it. I have caught most of my gilts on lug, but last year switched to rag because I could dig my own. However, I would use crab all the time if I could source and afford it, as I think it is the supreme bait for gilts. People always go on about the need for small, strong hooks for gilts, but any gilt worth catching has quite a big mouth. For worm baits I use a pennell with a #1 circle on top and a strong #1 Aberdeen on the end. For crab baits I use a 3/0 crab hook or 3/0 Chinu. The rig is a running leger with as light a weight as you can get away with. I use a short length of 30lb Korda Arma Kord braid next to the hook/s as I was once bitten off on 12lb fluoro by a huge gilt! Tackle is 8ft spinning rods and baitrunner reels. These are essential, as bites can be very violent and you don't want to lose a rod overboard! I don't use braid for gilts anymore. It's not necessary to see the bites, and stretchy mono is no handicap when playing hard-fighting bream. Bites are usually a series of sharp knocks followed by the rod pulling round as the bream makes off downtide. Finally, a plea. Bream are very good too eat but are quite localised. In some areas they have been wiped out by netting and overfishing. If you locate some, keep it to yourself! Last year I had 54 and put back all but 10 in the interests of conservation. Fish of 2-3lb make the best eating, so any smaller or larger go back. My best last year at 6lb was returned and my pal Barry (pictured) had a 7-pounder from my boat and put it back. PH suzook12, Maverick, Geoff and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy135 Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Quality post PH! Thanks for sharing! Very insightful 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 Thanks PH that is a very helpful post. We apparently have a head of Gilts in Poole harbour so now armed with your info I will be off hunting for them. Andy135 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaicehunter Posted March 5, 2021 Author Share Posted March 5, 2021 Good luck, Maverick! They are fascinating fish. One thing to add: don't strike at the knocks - wait for the rod to pull round, click reel into gear and resist the pull. No need for violent striking as this is close-range work. They fight incredibly hard, especially on light gear when they turn side-on to the tide. Don't put your fingers in their mouth. They have small, sharp teeth at the front, crushing pads behind and very powerful jaws. They can smash a crab or full-size mussel with ease. PH Maverick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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