SAS Guided Sea Fishing for Tope
We fish for tope in the inshore waters of the North Norfolk coast from the Wash to Wells, using the harbours of Brancaster, Burnham Overy, Morston and Wells. If the conditions are good and the fish are feeding a good day can include a haul of 20 plus tope, with the average size approx 30lbs plus, but the weather plays a big part and it is a big pond plus the fish have tails so we can‘t guarantee a good day every day. (it pays to be philosophical when sea fishing !) 2010 Trip BookingsWe are currently taking advance bookings for the 2010 Tope season, actual dates and times to be confirmed when tide tables are published. Please phone or email for prices and availability of future trips that we are planning. Tel: 01553 773409 Make an Enquiry or Booking online about Tope Fishing 
The boatWe use a trailered Warrior 165, with a 75hp Mariner main engine and Johnson 4hp back up engine. The boat has a twin electrical systems, 1 VHF & 1 DSC radio, sat nav chart plotter and fish finder / depth sounder. We also carry full safety gear including a compass, life jackets, flares, spare anchors & warp. This is towed to the relevant harbour and launched / recovered with our 4wd truck, fitted with an electric winch.
Take a look at the Tope Fishing Gallery to see our boat and the instruments we use.
We are not trying to run a full charter operation, taking 10 or 12 anglers, we are operating a small boat for a maximum of 2 anglers. This way we can tailor the fishing to suit your preferences and give a full personal service with tuition if required. Tackle We supply all tackle, (although you are more than welcome to bring your own if you prefer) all bait, hot drinks and soups, food, (if required) fuel for boat and transport to and from harbour.
The rods we use for both tope and cod are Shimano 8ft 6inch Speedmaster 20/30’s and the reels are TLD 15 lever drags loaded with 30lb braid. Tope end tackle consists of 80lb fluorocarbon rubbing leaders, onto which a boom and 4oz to 6oz wired lead are threaded. Traces are approx 12inch long 100lb wire crimped onto ball bearing swivels & 6/0 owner full circle hooks.
Cod end tackle consists of 50lb mono leaders onto which 2 12 inch long wire spreader booms are tied, with 4 inch hooklinks to various sized medium to heavy gauge wire hooks. Leads used are from 4 to 12oz dependent upon tide conditions.
Bass tackle consists of 6ft to 8ft medium spinning rods and 8lb to 12lb line. End tackle is dependent upon bait or lure fishing.
Mackerel tackle is a 6ft to 7ft boat rod in the 20lb to 30lb class, 50lb braid onto which a set of 6 hook feathers are tied, with a 6oz to 8oz weight tied to the end. (simple and easy !)
Additional information about this fishing trip
Itinerary - Tope Fishing 2009 - Norfolk
- Leave SAS Tackle - Kings Lynn - time to meet tide timetable (confirmed at time of booking)
- Arrive Wells Quay 2 hrs before high tide.
 We spend the first hour or so using feathers to catch fresh mackerel or worm baits to catch dabs and other flatfish baits before running to the tope marks, where we drop anchor, with attached chum bag, get the fresh baits out and await the first take. If after an hour or so we get no action, we then move to different marks until we find the fish. The very best time of the tide for tope feeding is 2 hours to and 2 hours past full tide. This is when the tide is strongest and they are actively hunting for food. At the end of the day, if you have had enough tope, or the fishing is slow, you have the option of spending the last hour or so fishing for a few mackerel or bass to take home for the pot. If the bass are about you catch them on feathers and by either trolling or casting lures as well as bait fishing for them and I do have a couple of marks quite close to the harbour, where it is worth trying for a nice fish, which can average 3lb to 5lb with the odd bigger fish in among them.
About your tripOn getting a take you have the choice of setting the hook yourself (if you have tope fished before or are an experienced angler) or letting me set it for you then handing you the rod (first time for tope or inexperienced angler) I don’t mind either way as I am there to give you the best days fishing and experience I can. Should you wish to set the hook yourself you only need to follow some basic advise and remember that we are using circle hooks, therefore you do not strike ! you merely have to wait until the fish is taking line steadily, then push the drag lever onto the strike position and start winding. The hook will then do the work for you and set itself neatly in the scissor or bottom lip. This is when the fun starts as they can and do often take some 100 metres of line off you on the first run, and they fight exceptionally well, so be prepared for a fight you will seldom get in freshwater !
As soon as you get the fish to the boat I will then take the leader and handle the fish. If you don’t want weights and pictures it is unhooked in the water and released immediately.
Please note: all tope are returned alive, with no exceptions! If you do want pictures however, as soon as I have hold of the fish I will ask you to slacken off the reel drag, put the rod in a holder and sit on the stern coolbox. I will then unhook the fish, hand it to you (showing you how to hold it for the best pictures) and take your pictures for you and weigh it if it is a big fish. I will then release the fish and ensure it goes back in a good state and swims healthily away.
Special Notes related to Tope Fishing
Please note: The harbours we use for tope fishing are completely dry at low tide so we are totally tide dependent, therefore we have to be at the harbour ready to launch 2 hours before high tide and be back there no more than 2 hours after high water of the next tide to get in and recover the boat. This usually means some very early morning starts.Once we are out of the harbour you then have a maximum of 3 hours to decide if you are going to be sea sick or not and if the wind and weather is to your liking, because once the water has gone it’s not coming back and you aren’t getting off the boat for another 10 hours !! If you do or think you may suffer from sea sickness I would advise you take some form of motion sickness tablets, ie Stugeron or Boots own make or similar, however I am not a doctor so seek professional advise !
As we can’t get back in if the wind turns bad, I take great stock of weather forecasts, coastguard bulletins and very often call them up for advise and if I think the conditions are not good or are forecast to deteriorate my decision is final as to whether we go out or not. Both yours and my safety is at stake and I will take no risks that may endanger myself, my clients or the rescue services.
|
