ASK THE EXPERTS
When sending your question, please remember to include your name and address
IAN BOWELL
Ian is the vice chairman of the Sea Anglers Match Federation and our shore fishing expert.
DAVE LEWIS
Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions.
JOHN HOLDEN
A Sea Angler contrbutor for over four decades specialising in casting and rod building.
HENRY GILBEY
Angler, blogger and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, is our lure expert.
BEN BASSETT
The Plymouth angler and blogger will provide answers on the sport of light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic.
HOW TO ASK US A QUESTION
Email: sa.ed@kelsey.co.uk
or online: facebook.com/seaanglermag
By asking a question you are giving us permission to use your name and where you live in all versions and platforms of this magazine.
Q&ASHORE ANGLING
Q This is the second winter my friend and I are trying to catch a River Mersey codling. Is it necessary to cast as far as possible or are many fish caught close in?
CRAIG ELLIS WREXHAM
IB says: Casting or not? Well, that’s a massive and, at times, controversial subject, to which my somewhat simplistic answer is that casting is a tool and that’s it! Some anglers can become obsessed with casting as far as they can and miss the fish. The Mersey is a big, powerful, river with strong tides so you have to fish close in, the strength of tide making it almost impossible to fish too far out. There’s an argument to fish at the edge of the tide; this means changing your distance as the tide picks up or eases. As I’m not local to the Mersey, I’ve sought the help of a few local anglers who have kindly offered up a few marks where you can catch cod without the need to cast a long way.
On the Wirral side try Seacombe ferry terminal. Woodside ferry, by the arches, provides cod from 40-100yds. Cod corner, which is further along past the Stena ferry, is the same. On the city side try Otterspool and
