Day in the Life of a Llyn Peninsula Bass Angler –
Age: 63
Fitness: Boxercise, weights, cardio, CrossFit, and running (with a dodgy knee managed by once-weekly runs). I train to fish tough marks and prolong my time pursuing this hobby.
Job: Shift Worker in the Chemical Industry: (counting down to retirement next March!) Currently work two 12-hour days followed by two 12-hour nights, then six days off
Thinking /day dreaming: Hunting bass along the stunning—and sometimes treacherous—coastline of the Llyn Peninsula.
The Pre-Fish Dreaming (Even When I Should Be Working)
My first shift starts, but my mind is already elsewhere—checking tide times, studying wind direction, and texting fishing buddies about the next adventure. There’s something magical about planning a session, the anticipation of what might be out there in those wild Welsh waters. I feel privileged to have found bass fishing. It’s more than just a hobby—it’s therapy. The salt air, the rhythm of the waves, the heart-stopping moment a bass smashes your surface lure… It’s good for the soul. That said, my doctor might disagree. Staying up all night chasing fish isn’t exactly ideal for blood pressure and cholesterol (or for a 63-year-old body in general). But life’s too short to play it safe all the time.
The Ritual: Gear, Coffee, and Last-Minute Doubts: If it’s a night session, the routine kicks in early: Double-checking gear. Did I pack the Patchinko 100? Spare hooks? Headtorch batteries? My old fishing foods biscuits, croissants, and pot noodles are a distant memory, swapped for wholefoods, but I’m keeping the coffee, probably my single favorite pleasure.
Kelly’s Kettle: Making a brew on the beach is simply lovely, using dried driftwood
Coffee. Lots of coffee, because sleep is overrated when bass are on the feed.
The eternal debate, “Should I be doing this?” (Spoiler: I always go anyway.) If it’s a dawn chase, it’s all about beating the sunrise, watching the sky shift from inky black to pastel pink while the first casts hit the water.
The Session: Highs, Lows, and Near-Disasters:
Fishing the Llyn Peninsula isn’t just about catching fish, it’s about surviving the experience. Slippery rocks (I’ve snapped my right knee ACL), rogue waves, and the occasional midnight stumble keep things interesting. Flailing like a tipped-over turtle has been known to happen on several occasions. I’ve taken a few risks over the years (probably too many), but as I always say, if I die, I die, but I can’t think of a better way to go. (Ideally, that won’t be for a long time.)
When you stay on a rock too long on an incoming tide, you get a soaking:
Some sessions are epic, twice the Patchinko 100 landed me 30+ bass in a single outing. Others are humbling, where I blank for hours, questioning my life choices. But even then, just being out there, away from shift work, away from stress, is worth it.
The Holy Grail: A Double-Figure Bass: I’ve caught some good fish over the years, a 70 and a 74cm bass, but the dream remains. A bass over 10lb. That’s the ultimate prize. Every cast could be the one, and that’s what keeps me coming back.
The Aftermath: Aching Bones and Pure Satisfaction: Post-session, reality sets in: My knee complains. My back reminds me I’m not 25 anymore. I’m exhausted but buzzing. Then comes the best part, reliving the session, swapping stories with mates, and quickly plotting the next trip.
Why I’ll Never Stop Bass Fishing isn’t just about the fish. It’s about:
✅ Freedom: No shift patterns, no deadlines, just the sea.
✅ Learning: Every session teaches something new.
✅ Mental health: The ocean is the best therapist. And with retirement looming next March, there’ll be even more time to chase those silver predators.
Final Thoughts: If you see a slightly mad, sleep-deprived 63-year-old stumbling across the Llyn Peninsula rocks at 3 am, casting lures into the darkness… that’s probably me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s to many more tides, many more casts, and (hopefully) that 10lb bass.
Tight lines, stay safe, and enjoy the chase.
Question for you: What’s your fishing obsession? And do you also take stupid risks for the thrill of it? Let me know in the comments!
Cheers all.
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