Saltlure fishing's next generation.
Getting Started
Welcome to the BRFA website. The BRFA or British Rock Fishing Association is a newly formed organisation dedicated to promoting, record keeping and teaching, guiding people in the way of the lure. Lure fishing isn't new to British shores but LRF and HRF are. Night lure fishing, skishing, kayak fishing and expedition kayaking (to fish) are relatively new as is the appearance of the aforementioned in UK magazines. Articles have appeared in both of the major UK sea angling magazines, blogs have sprouted up like mushrooms and, people are catching fish. However, this seems to be, up till now, a fairly select band of dedicated enthusiasts. People often think of LRF and HRF as too technical and if you listen to those who are knocking it without trying it first, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Don't make the mistake of thinking this about selling new tackle. This is a whole new branch of the sport that has showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, it's started to bowl along at high speed so, whilst the older jerseybassguides and sister LRF/HRF sites had all the information you would have ever need to get yourself started, you might get blinded by tackle bling, technique and loads of new phrases that at first, just won't seem to make sense.
I've lost count of the number of times I go on forums, see emails and read on blogs that people, despite the amount of info out there now, just don't know what to do to start rockfishing. Many don't even know what rockfishing is and maybe just heard people talking about it. Continue on this walk-through by following the links and we'll try to get you up and running quickly, cheaply and properly. Rockfishing is a Japanese idea that was borne of US and Japanese freshwater bass fishing. It isn't fishing for a fish, it's a series of methods, or styles that can be used to catch all species, anywhere, all year round where that species is available.
If you haven't yet done so, read the page here http://www.british-rockfishing-association.net/rockfishonline/Media
Now, the online magazines shown at the top of the page are in a time-locked state and since they were written and edited, many things have moved along. However: All of the themes, methods, techniques and motives are all relevant to this day. Originally a Japanese idea developed by Norio Tanabe but, adapted and brought into English language and British fishing by jerseybassguides and many other forerunning pioneers. Additional British techniques had to be developed from scratch to help make it work over here.
It works all around the British Islands and Northern Europe so be in no doubt, though the fish may change, the methods described will catch fish where you live or choose to fish. Basically, rockfish styles are split into 2 separate entities. LRF or Light Game and HRF or Hard Rock Game. It's as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. It is a typical British pattern that people start with HRF in the late spring and make the switch to LRF sometimes late in the autumn or early winter. It doesn't have to be this way of course but, choose one, learn it and the techniques generally cross overlater.
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LRF usually encompasses a rod or 7 - 8ft in the 0.5g -- 7g range though again, this is a guideline, not a RULE. There are NO RULES. There are, 2 distinct styles of LRF rod which we will discuss later. For now, don't worry about it. We use lines in braid and or those made from fluorocarbon. Line breaking strains in braid, or PE ? Don't buy by breaking strain, buy by size.
It is acceptable and correct to use PE lines within the 0.2 --> 0.8 range though most guys are now using 0.2 -- 0.4 PE. Fluorocarbon mainlines are also VERY useful and I personally have a range from 1.5lb (yes seriously) to 5lb. A line of 3lb is a great starting point. Choose a lightweight reel with a good drag. The drag is best if it is smooth rather than powerful. A 2004 sized reel is great for this as they are designed for taking the correct lines without the burden of 300 yards of useless backing. I prefer a shallow 2004 or shallow spooled 3000 reel over a smaller 1000 or 1500 sized reel for LRF simply because it's easier to maintain good line flow and they coil fluorocarbon lines to a far less degree. We are choosing lures for LRF ranging from just a few mm to maybe 4" long. Jig-heads may range in weight from 1/64th oz to 5g or (3/16th oz). You need to change your mindset and realise that you just don't need 6oz weights, whole squid and 30lb mainline fired out on a beachcaster to catch fish.
ALL fish will take a small lure if it is presented to them in a natural manner and it looks like food. Food does not dance around underwater so, before you buying wildly in the tackle shop or pandering to the tackle show hype, remember that most all lure displays are designed to catch YOU and, they will. . In my view, lures should be designed to catch fish and shown to fish in a manner that will catch fish. Sadly, people buy into the dancing lures syndrome and whilst this can and does work, it's nowhere near as effective as being deliberate and fishing with purpose and function. Take into account that it's the 'TOTAL' weight that a rod will be rated for. Lures weigh something too. In fact, be careful if you load a 5g jig onto a 5g rated rod and then add a 4" senko. Why ? You've almost doubled the weight.
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HRF has been seemingly associated with the great ballan wrasse and for many reasons. However, please understand right now, HRF is not wrasse fishing with lures. Wrasse fishing with lures is a bread and butter part of HRF. However, consider that during 2010, the author of this article caught 875 bass over 4lb and peaking at 9lb + and all whilst using techniques that could technically be termed HRF. Lets not get bogged down with that right now but, needless to suggest, this stuff just works but, whilst it's not quite the magic wand, it's a much need shot in the arm for British salt lure angling.
HRF was, and is, a Japanese trademark that was adopted by Daiwa Japan not so many years ago to describe a newly emerging market. However, it has been adopted by the Japanese as a clear way to describe the style in which they fishing if fishing within a given set of guidelines. For British waters, those guidelines are, from our perspective, a rod of 7 - 8ft long rated about 3.5 -28g with a sensitive tip and balanced. I helped design the Century HPR range from the ground up to deal with big wrasse in what can be seriously rough ground. And make no mistake, wrasse, bass and even good sized black bream pull like a train on this relatively lighter than traditional gear.