Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait on or near the seabed using a ledger or paternoster rig to target bottom-dwelling species.
Bottom fishing is the foundation of shore sea angling in Ireland. It is simple to learn, works from virtually any mark — pier, beach, estuary, or rocky shore — and accounts for a huge variety of species throughout the year.
The Ledger Rig
A basic ledger rig consists of a running boom or a swivel through which the mainline passes freely, with a lead weight on a short link below it and a hook trace above. When a fish picks up the bait, it can move off without immediately feeling the weight of the lead, giving it time to take the bait properly before you strike.
Ledger rigs work especially well for conger eel, dogfish, thornback ray, and flounder — fish that tend to mouth the bait before committing. Use a size 2/0–4/0 hook for larger species and a smaller 1–1/0 for flatfish and whiting.
The Paternoster Rig
A paternoster suspends the hook or hooks above the lead weight, keeping the bait slightly off the bottom. This is the classic multi-hook rig used by pier anglers targeting whiting, codling, and dabs. A simple two-hook paternoster can be made by attaching hook snoods (short hook traces) at intervals above a swivel at the bottom of the trace, where the lead weight clips on.
The paternoster is ideal from piers and harbours where the bottom is reasonably clear. It is less suited to rough, snaggy ground where the lead will constantly catch on rocks or kelp.
Weight and Lead Choice
On flat, sandy ground or in estuaries with modest tide, a plain bomb or pear lead from 50–80 g will hold bottom. On exposed coasts with strong tide or surf, a grip lead (with wires that grip the sand) is necessary to prevent the rig from rolling around the seabed.
Match the lead weight to the tide strength — use the lightest weight that will still hold bottom.
Bait for Bottom Fishing
- Lugworm — the most versatile bottom bait, effective for flounder, codling, whiting, and bass
- Ragworm — excellent for flatfish, wrasse, and bass, especially in estuaries
- Mackerel strip — a tough, oily bait for conger, dogfish, and rays
- Peeler crab — a top bait for bass and wrasse in season
- Sandeel — effective for bass, flatfish, and pollack on flowing traces
Patience and Reading the Bite
Cast out, place the rod on a rest or hold it lightly, and watch or feel the rod tip. Bottom fish often produce a series of taps and pulls before the tip pulls over positively. For larger species such as conger, the rod can bend sharply and dramatically. Do not rush the strike — wait for a firm pull before lifting the rod.
Target Species
Bottom fishing covers the widest range of species of any shore method: conger eel, flounder, dab, codling, whiting, dogfish, thornback ray, blenny, and — on cleaner ground with good bait — bass. It is the best all-round starting technique for anyone new to sea angling.