Escandinhas ??

[EMM]

Apologies if spelling is wrong.

On our sunset walk last night towardd Algar Seco we followed the little " fishing " sign down the cliffs.
We disovered a maze of paths, steps , tunnels and holding areas carved out of the rocks.

This was obviously more than just a recreational fishing area , the work involved having taken the efforts of many over a long time.

Do any local historians have information on the type of commercial fishing that went on on this area.

We have seen similar constructions between Burgau and Salema.

Incidentally our walk coincided with on of the big cruise ships leaving Portimao, last week we saw the New Amsterdam and the Windstar the larget passenger sailing ship in the world partially under sail as it left on its way west.

[jeremy]

For anyone who is interested, you can see which Cruise Ships are calling at Portimao & dates here:

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises ... tugal.html

[maccasa]

Escandinhas sounds like a cross between a sardine and escargot - in a can!

Thanks for the info re the cruise ship schedule

[ditzy]

It's called Escadinhas (meaning little steps), and I'm ashamed to admit I've never ventured down there

[EMM]

If you are reasonably agile and wear sensible shoes its worth the effort.

The colours of the setting sun on the rocks are almos grand canyon like, very impressive.

[jamielyon4]

Its tough underfoot but the fishing is superb in Summer

get there before dawn, make sure you have the bait and you will see shoals of makerel in huge numbers - do it right and its a fish a cast, they go and the mullett come, then the garfish .... there are all sorts including big bass

We have watched massive squid fighting, caught loads of different species

and had fantatsic fresh fish on the BBQ in the afternoon, we followed the locals advice and bingo

it gets very hot so if you are trying it oil up well and take plenty water

[Ellie]

When we lived there the first time there was still a fishing industry and the fishermen sold their catch on the beach(Carvoeiro)..fascinating

[tjthedj]

Jamie,

What is the best bait? I bought a rod etc lats year and haven't even used it yet. I'm interested in Bass if they are still caught there!

[sunman]

hi tj,

the Portuguese seem to bottom fish mostly, they use a ledger with a short trace & bait up mainly with cockles, sometimes cut up small pieces of mackerel, squid etc., you see them with their rods dug into the sand

the fun way to go for the bass is to use a light rod & reel, maybe a 9 or 10 foot rod and use spinning lures for bait, they sell them in all sorts of colours with a either a couple of hooks or a couple of triple hooks hanging down; cast into (best) an incoming tide and 'jiggy jig' the line back in to make the lure dance a bit, just reeling it in doesn't get many results. it's hard work to keep casting & reeling in but that means you can get up at dawn (best time), do your fishing & still get home for breakfast feeling like you've had a good workout.

if you use some braid or clear line to bait up your lures at home you can take 5 or 6 with you and chamge the tackle onto your rod line with a swivel if you're not having much success; buy some light & heavy, this'll vary the depth the lures go down to to find the bass, & different colours.

some guys put a medium size ledger on to stir up the sand in front of the lure on the way in which seems effective but invites snags on rocks etc so you'll lose some lures.

last tip, only load your reel 3/4 with line, you seem to get less trouble with wind knots than when fully loaded; then on your last cast of the day send out a big ledger and reel in with your finger on the line, it'll set your line nice & tight on the reel for your next time out

[EMM]

Last week we saw bass just behind the surf ( not telling where ).

My lesson from the locals in the fishing shop was to use a bullet wt ( rolls along the sea bed gets caught up in the rocks less ) us a thin sewing thread to help tie on you bait , cocktail of worm , strips of fish, squid , shellfish as this stops the small fish stripping your hook before the better fish can get to it.

They use a long trace as the bait moves around more in the waves.

You may come across me down by the rocks , tomorrow or sat.

[jamielyon4]

hi tj,

the Portuguese seem to bottom fish mostly, they use a ledger with a short trace & bait up mainly with cockles, sometimes cut up small pieces of mackerel, squid etc., you see them with their rods dug into the sand

the fun way to go for the bass is to use a light rod & reel, maybe a 9 or 10 foot rod and use spinning lures for bait, they sell them in all sorts of colours with a either a couple of hooks or a couple of triple hooks hanging down; cast into (best) an incoming tide and 'jiggy jig' the line back in to make the lure dance a bit, just reeling it in doesn't get many results. it's hard work to keep casting & reeling in but that means you can get up at dawn (best time), do your fishing & still get home for breakfast feeling like you've had a good workout.

if you use some braid or clear line to bait up your lures at home you can take 5 or 6 with you and chamge the tackle onto your rod line with a swivel if you're not having much success; buy some light & heavy, this'll vary the depth the lures go down to to find the bass, & different colours.

some guys put a medium size ledger on to stir up the sand in front of the lure on the way in which seems effective but invites snags on rocks etc so you'll lose some lures.

last tip, only load your reel 3/4 with line, you seem to get less trouble with wind knots than when fully loaded; then on your last cast of the day send out a big ledger and reel in with your finger on the line, it'll set your line nice & tight on the reel for your next time out

tj

its not scientific like over here...at first we thought they were having a laugh

start with a piece of sardine, buy a bucket of sardine paste from the fishing shop at fatacil, throw this stuff out and its like jaws the fish come racing in for it...catch a makeral and then use strips of this as its firmer and holds on the hook better.

As you are high up a heavy float similar to a pike bung weighted and bait set to few feet and let is drift out you can see the fish come in for it..we used size 8 or10 hook but lost a monster bass through it not being big enough, the chaps at the shop will give you all the help you need

We have tried lures and feathers and even the makeral ignore them unlike over here but put a piece of their brother on and they are like savages, we have had over 40 fish in a short session

We will be doing it again in summer a few times for a great morning followed by copious amounts of the amber nectar, Im also gong to check on what easter is like for fishing maybe a bit early

[sunman]

tj

its not scientific like over here...at first we thought they were having a laugh

apologies for stepping in on jamie's question TJ, was only trying to be helpful; hadn't realised that lure fishing had reached the heady heights of science

[blue]

Even less scientific in my case, lure the waiter over, place my order, the robalo arrives. Best way to fish in my opinion.

Sunman just remember there is always, always someone who knows better on this forum, it's very helpful really.

[sunman]

thank you blue, that's beginning to dawn on me

happy fishing

[tjthedj]

Thanks for all your advice everyone, We'll try different ways (hopefully then end of the month when we are back or failing that over Chrsitmas) and most certainly will follow with copious amounts of the old amber nectar. Thanks again. TJ