Extreme fishing.

[Wild-Woman]

This morning, I decided to have a look at the sea wall along the Thames to see how the surge of water had affected any of it. The tide was indeed very high and the Thames very choppy with lots of cross currents and rips in the water.
I was very surprised, however, to see a line of anglers casting out, obviously enjoying their fishing. My question is (because I don't know anything about fishing) is whether a high rough tide like this brings in more fish or is it just the challenge to see if you can catch anything in such extreme conditions?
I wonder what any of them caught. I didn't hang around as it was somewhat blowy!

[mh68]

The simple answer would be that rough seas stir up more food,so better feeding opportunities for the fish. Extremely high tides can bring fish in closer too

Mark H

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Mark is spot on....same happens in ponds and rivers after flood conditions

[C C]

Agree. A good tide can get fish on the go. Cod love a big tide, and Bass like it big and rough. But it can be more to it than that. Every mark has its own conditions for fish. Some fish better high tide, some medium and so on.

I find when fishing the sea in full swing, you catch nothing but sea weed

[Wild-Woman]

Thanks for that fishing folk. I suppose, if the fish are about for food, then it's likely sea mammals eg seals etc could be after the fish.

[mh68]

Yes indeed, it sets off a chain reaction.The smaller fish begin feeding due to the increase in available food washed around by the currents,the predatory fish move in taking advantage of the preys preoccupation with feeding,and the larger predators like seals etc do the same.

Mark H

[coasty]

[

QUOTE=C C;195339]Agree. A good tide can get fish on the go. Cod love a big tide, and Bass like it big and rough. But it can be more to it than that. Every mark has its own conditions for fish. Some fish better high tide, some medium and so on.

You have it dead right there.. The anglers would be positioned there because experience has taught them that under those conditions thats where the food and therefore the fish will be,,,,

[fisherontheriver]

I recently watched a show (accidental angler) where the fisher man was trying to catch a wild brown trout within the M25 ring. It was quiet detailed in the history of the changes to the river patterns of London.
Also the conservation work that is going into the river systems and how the river systems are improving all the time. Salmon and Sea Trout are returning to the Tames.
He did achieve his aim but it took him a full week to do it travelling all around London he caught one wild brown trout under one of the M25 fly over’s. They are there just need help to return. London still holds the south East record for the larges wild brown trout weighing over 4Lbs. with work it could do it again the potential is there.

[ceterach]

The Thames and its tributaries around London have been transformed over the past thirty years.Salmon and Sea Trout have been running the Thames for quite a few years now. Furthermore in South London you can catch Brown Trout within a few miles of the City.

Got to be one of the success stories for conservation. Just hope Thames Water can stop their own pollution folowing heavy rain.

[coasty]

[quote]

Originally Posted by fisherontheriver

I recently watched a show (accidental angler) where the fisher man was trying to catch a wild brown trout within the M25 ring. It was quiet detailed in the history of the changes to the river patterns of London.

I watched that too,,, Interesting program, A few large northern towns have town centre riversThat are moving in that directon, The Don in sheffield was the most polluted river in Europe now it has good fish populations