River Mersey Estuary – A Bass Ambition Realised

Location: River Mersey Estuary, UK

Tide: 22ft

Conditions: Strong flow, coloured water, low water clarity.

Liverpool Docks In The Distance

The Mission:

For us anglers, a personal ambition can become a driving force. Mine was to land a quality English bass from my local patch, the mighty River Mersey. While I’ve enjoyed some success with their Welsh cousins, catching one on my doorstep held a special significance. Local news suggested that the Mersey was holding bass, predominantly caught on lugworm and fish baits, but I was determined to see if they would bite on artificial lures.

Tackle & Tactics:

Facing the Mersey’s notorious lack of visibility and powerful 22ft tidal surge, lure selection was limited to paddle tails with a rattle. The game plan was to maximise vibration and sound. I armed myself with a wide variety of tried and trusted weighted SPs.

Primary Lure: 12g Fiiish Minnows (Paddletails with an internal rattle).

Backup/Alternative: 5g Weighted White Thumpers (for a heavy, low-frequency “thump”).

The chosen mark was a significant structure protruding approximately 800 metres into the estuary. This was an arduous and dangerous clamber through the hexagonal channels filled with seawater with an ebbing tide. 

Falling on this bouldery ground wasn’t an option. It would be quite easy to break a leg falling through these barnacled boulders or the hexagonal structures. I took great care but felt constantly nervous. I kept checking my phone to make sure the tide was ebbing and not filling. I would not tell anyone exactly where this mark is it is a dangerous place, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, especially at night, and certainly not to an angler without suitable and sufficient experience of the River Mersey.

The Session:

The initial hour was a lesson in perseverance and expense. The rough ground, littered with snags and muscle beds, proved ruthless, claiming ten soft plastics/leaders in quick succession. It was a process of trial and error, adjusting retrieve and hold until the 12g Fiiish Minnow found the sweet spot in the raging current.

Then, it happened. A tap tap, solid, jolting take that bent the rod. After a spirited fight in the challenging flow, I slid the fish through a maze of rocks onto flat ground. This was a lovely, pristine, bar-of-silver bass. The tape measure revealed a stunning 62cm fish—a personal milestone achieved! Ha ha ye ha “ I shouted” 

I was delighted with my first Mersey Bass

Landing and photographing this angry fella was a battle in itself. Perched on the steep structure with water swirling all around it was tricky. The photos are not brilliant. I managed a quick video of the lovely girl going back. I’m pretty sure it said “ alright laaaa.”

Heartened with the monkey off my back, I continued, but the snags were relentless. Switching to the more economical belly weighted White Thumper proved to be a winner. Aptly named, it was promptly “thumped” by several more quality bass: a 60cm followed by a 55cm, and finally a 50cm fish. 

The Thumper came good with this 60cm belter

As low water approached, revealing the snags that had claimed my lures, I made the final cast, losing my last SP to the Mersey’s grip. It was an expensive night in terms of terminal tackle, but the result dismissed any thought of cost.

A variety of soft plastics to be cleaned and weighted for my next session:

An unforgettable session that fulfilled a long-held ambition. I was chuffed

Footnote: A small note on the venue: This is a relatively new mark for me, and it’s clear it’s a cherished spot for a few local anglers. While I felt a sense of being an intruder that evening, I firmly believe that our coastline is a resource for everyone to enjoy respectfully. I hope that with time, the regulars will see my presence not as an intrusion but as a shared passion for the sport and the pursuit of these incredible fish.

Tight lines, and if you happen to meet another angler at one of your marks, please be kind.

Tight Lines all –Dorset next.