Epic Day Lure Fishing for Bass in Cornwall: A 69cm PB and a Double Bass Showdown!

Yesterday was a dream day for lure fishing in a Cornwall estuary, starting with a personal best (PB) 69cm bass and ending with another beauty. Was it the building tides, an incoming weather front stirring things up, or just perfect timing? Here’s how this unforgettable day unfolded, why the bass were so fired up, and tips to help you score your own trophy fish.

Why the Bass Were on Fire

The stars aligned for this session. Building tides in estuaries create strong currents that herd baitfish, making them easy pickings for hungry bass. With a storm brewing off Cornwall’s coast, the shifting barometric pressure likely triggered a feeding frenzy. Sometimes, though, it’s just about being in the right spot at the right moment—and we were.

The Battle of Two Bass: A Lure Fishing Thriller

The action kicked off on an ebbing tide at a local mark I’d scouted earlier this month. I’d seen big bass cruising through, moving in packs like predators on a mission. Their fast, coordinated movements along the coastline screamed “opportunistic hunters.” On this day, I spotted commotion upstream and downstream—classic signs of feeding fish.

I reached for a deep red creature bait, coated with a sulfur-based fish attractant we’re trialling (a potent ingredient used in fish and shrimp feeds). My first underarm cast upstream came up empty, but the second, aimed downstream, landed perfectly in a back eddy where murky water swirled against crystal-clear currents. I let the bait sink, then started a skip-drag-pause retrieve to mimic struggling prey.

A faint pluck on the line made me pause—then chaos erupted. Two dark shadows charged through the murky water, battling for the bait. These bass were aggressive, practically burying their heads in the mud to claim it. At one point, I’m sure both had the lure in their mouths! As they got closer, I realised their size—both were absolute units. The bigger one won, hooking itself solidly. My close-quarter rod combo bent hard as the fish kited along the coast, with the second bass trailing, eyeing a chance to steal the lure from its rival’s mouth.

The fight was intense. I keep my drag cranked tight, so when a fish takes line, it’s a monster. This one did, peeling off a bit before I beached it after a heart-pounding 15 seconds. I was shaking as I carefully lifted the fish by its mouth, measured it at a whopping 69cm—a long on the bass tape, lean, predatory estuarine bass in peak form. After a quick release, it swam off strong. The second bass? Easily in the 65cm+ range, but it lost the battle.

Tips for Landing Big Bass on Lures

Want to bag a beast like this? Here’s what worked:

• Fish Estuaries on Ebbing Tides: Strong tidal flows concentrate baitfish in eddies, where bass love to ambush.
• Use Scented Lures: Our sulfur-based attractant supercharged the creature bait, triggering savage strikes. Not on sale yet as we are still doing tests but the results are good so far.
• Perfect Your Retrieve: A skip-drag-pause rhythm mimics wounded prey, driving bass wild.
• Watch for Weather Shifts: Storms and pressure drops can spark aggressive feeding.
• Scout Your Marks: Look for signs of bass activity, like surface splashes or baitfish fleeing.