HARD FIGHTING FISH | TEXAS RIGGING FOR WRASSE | LESSONS LEARNED!

In this video i target the hard fighting fish, the wrasse. I'd be using the simple rig, known as the Texas Rig.
My journey would start on a crisp, sunny morning. I'd be searching out gullies, kelp beds and generally, any rough ground with lots of boulders, weed and ledges.
The main lesson learned from this video is that ideally, i should've been using smaller lures and smaller hooks, as 90% of the fish i came across were on the small side.
The frustrations of my first day fishing would boil over into the next. However, i'd have a little more success, finally hooking into a nice sized wrasse.
These fish don't mess about, as i would find out on the first day of fishing. After getting aggressively hit by what would've been a PB wrasse, i then continued my quest to finally connect with some of these powerful fish.
This video is longer then my usual uploads, but i hope it gives some perspective of how my quest for a big wrasse went.
Thanks for watching! 🎣
#wrassefishing #texasrigging #texasrig #lurefishing
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[@johnrickards1908]

Fishing in similar circumstances on the west coast of Ireland, I would say, yes, snip off an inch or so from the head end of your lure if you don't have any smaller one's in your tackle box but, more importantly, resist the urge to strike Instantly at the first tug. It might seem counter intuitive but, lower your rod tip a little and, often, a much more positive take will come seconds later. Wrass, pound for pound, have considerably smaller mouths than bass so, give them a couple of seconds to position your lure before swallowing it. Clearly, that is their intention. I've lived and fished from the rocks now for the past 20 odd years in Spain and this tactic still pays dividends. Stick to your 0/3 or 0/4 hooks and you'll avoid gut hooked fish. In the last 20yrs I've only had to keep two bass and just one wrass. Your channel has an outstanding 'I'm right there with you' factor. Be patient my friend, like when hitting bites, what you are doing, and how you present it will increase your subscriptions exponentially. Do you want to know why? It's because you clearly upload material which you believe in and will help other anglers reach their own potential and, not to 'Click bait' views or entice sponsorship deals. Keep doing what you are doing young man and your integrity will see you becoming a major success; not as a result of a business plan but, because you are one of us. A dedicated angler who promotes conservation and doesn't see others as the competion

[@karlstokes874]

I'll second your findings with reference as to when to strike. Often after the pause( having twitched the lure) you get a thump,i lower the rod tip and wait for second thump. Only then as the rod tip pulls over will i strike. Having said that sometimes the bigger fish just smash it and all the aforementioned happens in seconds. They're such good sport aren't they

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks a lot for your comment, I really appreciate it! What you’ve said makes perfect sense thanks. In fact, a couple of people have said the same thing regarding when to strike etc. When fishing for bass I’ve found most of the wrasse I’ve caught have been the bigger ones so they tend to smash the lure regardless. So when I came across all the smaller ones in this video it was proving tough hooking them. This is why I love fishing though, sessions like this one always teach you a thing or two so I’ll be keeping that in mind next time I’m out. Again, thanks for the comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers 👍🏼

[@kevinbuckler1085]

Just goes to show how patients and perseverance pays off. What an absolute stunner of a wrasse 🎣🐟

[@kevinbuckler1085]

And I must admit I don’t like the look of the hooks you were using 🤐😬

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Yeah got there in the end haha. I’ve been told since that it’s better to lift into them rather then strike hard. I’m pretty sure the hook size was just too big for the smaller wrasse. Next time I’ll get em 👍🏼

[@richardyorke9055]

I watch your videos and it makes me long to be there in Guernsey, and my mind conjures the smells. Cheers x

[@c.ifishingguernsey]

Lovely video mate lovely chunk of wrasse I’m hooked after going today Texas rigging they smash the lures 🎣👍

[@samueltoogood4704]

Hi Cal. You mentioned isome at the end of your video. I fish the south coast of Cornwall mostly and have had great fun on LRF gear using between size 2 and 8 hooks and isome worms (much smaller hooks).

[@londonviking3801]

Thought you caught a big un, but a frayed knot this time... Love where you fish! That wrasse was absolutely stunning - they are super prolific I believe and a great go-to if the bass aren't around.

[@karlstokes874]

I see what you did there 😂🤣😂

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Yeah they’re a lot of fun.. Although, not on this particular outing 😂

[@tomhatch8860]

Good video Cal lots of information thank you, stay safe and healthy.

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks 🤙🏼

[@johnnybreedt3780]

Great spot. That first area you lost the big one also looked bassie

[@BeneathTheWavesFishingJersey]

Lovely video buddy. From experience use a smaller lure. I prefer personally a small paddle tail - maybe a bass assassin or so something similar like a FBM. That ground going to kill once the suns been on it all day PIGCITY! 😍😍 - also I would suggest fishing Tip high for them. Bites can be small taps (but big fish) I’ve found that have the tip high on the retrieve gives you a better feel. 🙏 Green, brown, prawn colours are my favorite

[@davewilkins9981]

Hi Just found your channel , thank you really interesting stuff ! Can you recommend boots/wellies to wear on rocks please ? Cheers !

[@joewalton399]

Stunning fish great perseverance! Winter wrassing can be hard work but much better chance at the bigger ones imo Rattles and “watermelon” colour lures make a difference 👌

[@joewalton399]

I’d also probably step the braid up aswell as they go so well and casting distance doesn’t matter for wrassing at all

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks for the comment 👍🏼 I did think about upping the braid yeah. The reel I used had 15lb on and I hadn’t used it that much so wanted to get some use out of it so that was the reason for it. Through my experience bright lures have always done well yeah. I’ll definitely be targeting them again sometime soon. Cheers

[@stevehodges4092]

Great video Cal. Can I ask what make and size those twist tyoe lure clips are that you use with your Bass lures.

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks. They’re from the lure factory website. I use the 14kg version. I’ve been using them for a couple of years now and they’re great 👍🏼

[@karlstokes874]

Nice video Cal. And that was a nice fat rock pig too! They really can seem impossible to hook sometimes,especially the smaller wrasse as they tend to hit the tail of the lure. Some tips i can offer are: Definitely use smaller double strength hooks(sze 1-1/0) Optimum size of lure is 3.5" -5" but nothing too big in girth. ( the thickness of your index finger is ideal) My absolute favourite lure is a keitech 5" sexy impact pintail worm in dark green. With reference to using isome worms they are very soft and just like the berkley gulp sandworms,the wrasse love them but they get destroyed very quickly and often tear off on the strike. Natural colours like green,brown and black seem to work best for me. Hope these tips help for your next session. Good luck 👊🏻

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks for the tips 👍🏼 I have loads of soft plastic bodies I can use for the wrasse. The Keitech’s do look good. Most of the time when I’m after a wrasse I’ll just fish a lure straight through. Anything white, I’ve found they smash. Texas rigging is a lot better way to go about it though, can get right in amongst the weed and boulders. I’ll try the worms sometime 👍🏼 I’ll be getting a few different hooks too and see how I get on. Hopefully the next session is more successful. Cheers 👍🏼

[@davidschofield9620]

What a beautiful looking wrasse cal

[@grahamharper5393]

Nice vid buddy gutted u lost that fish 🐟

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks 👍🏼

[@TruBlue111]

I've not gone through all the replies so apologies if this has been touched upon already.. I'm of the opinion that wrasse strikes whilst luring are a territorial act of aggression, certainly on a reef, wrasse attacking would be trespassers rather than actively predating on small fish... with wrasse diet mostly made up of shellfish. Small strong hooks, short bellied lures are the way to go I reckon. 👍

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Yeah i agree that not all wrasse strikes are predatory. I think wrasse will definitely chase lures, although like you've said, i think sometimes a strike can be territorial too. Using smaller hooks and shorter lures would make sense when thats the case. Thanks for the comment 👍🏼

[@TruBlue111]

@@FISHINGWITHCAL Be interesting to see if the lost one is resident to that part of the reef, perhaps a target for later on!? Thanks for the vids too, you're doing a cracking job with it, easily the best based within the British Isles, IMHO.

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

@@TruBlue111 It could well be yeah. There are some big ones all around that area. Thanks very much for the comment, i really appreciate it! Im glad you're enjoying the videos 👍🏼

[@Sharpshooter724]

Pity about the fish that snapped you off, but credit to you and your perseverance to carry on 👍

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks 👍🏼

[@ohitsustu1835]

There's an uncanny resemblance Kal 😱

[@karlstokes874]

😁

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

😆

[@philipcurran3467]

Perseverance pays Cal. Frustrating at time but honestly lures were way too big. Small neon pink, green and yellow shads no more than 3 inches. Even with a 2/0 should get the little piggies and 1/0's will get big ones too. Had great success drop shotting or Carolina rigged on 1/0 or 2/0 circle hooks, deep not rough, but deffo downsize and neon colours pal👍

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll play around with things in the future and see what’s best. Cheers 👍🏼

[@James96.]

Where abouts are you fishing there mate?

[@FISHINGWITHCAL]

Guernsey Channel Islands 👍🏼