Come September, with the children returning to school and autumn just around the corner, anglers across the nation get very excited about the onset of the big fish season. Yes, despite the downturn in the weather (and partly because of it), these coming weeks will see fishing at its very best, as most of the fish feed on anything and everything to pile on the fat and see them through the winter months. Make sure you take advantage of it.

The art of employing a net
For the really good fishing, you do not have to seek out your favourite wreck, as they will be everywhere. A lot of the fish you catch now will be super fit and likely to be full of fight when near the boat, so a net is definitely needed.
Using a net is straightforward but a few simple rules need to be observed. I have seen many a good fish lost at the net because the handler was not using it correctly. Do not push the net at the fish or hit the fish with the net. Instead, the one basic rule is to dip the net deep into the water down tide from the fish and let the angler guide the fish back in to the net. Then lift it slowly.

Do not rush
If the tide is not strong or you are on a drift, bring the net from behind and below the fish, scooping it up gently and bringing the ring clear of the water as soon as possible to prevent the fish swimming out. If it is a heavy fish, adjust your grip to lift it into the boat. That’s all there is to it, but in all cases, the one golden rule is don’t rush it.

Buying the perfect net
I have not yet mentioned the size of net, but it should be large and deep (at least 18 inches in diameter) to allow big bass and pollack to slip easily in and down. For big ray you might need a net even larger than this but make sure the handle is both strong and comfortable to hold. It should also be long enough to comfortably reach the fish but not so long it is awkward to use.

The big targets
Once you’re kitted out, you should be searching for bass (which can now be found well above ten pounds), plus cod, pollack, bream and ling on the wrecks. From the reefs, look for smaller bass and bream.

For bass, I prefer sandeel, the bigger launce, small mackerel or scad to using a lure. Even so, if you prefer lures, choose any of the shads or the Sidewinders, both of which have been working really well since they arrived on the UK scene.

Small-eyed ray and blondes are also worth targeting. Sandeel or crab will work best for the ray and calamari or fresh mackerel for the blondes. Just be aware that the best time for the small-eyed ray is definitely after dark.