The whitebait glistened with the setting sun

The trips continue along with the blanks. Arrived with a nice offshore wind about an hour after high at a that mark that will often have bass running the shoreline after whitebait as the tide drops - so things were looking good.

Cast and walk, but no signs or action. I noticed in the distance a jogger who had stopped and was on her phone, as I reached her she put her hand up and said, 'stop', and continued with her call.

'Sorry I was just telling a fisherman to stop,' she then looked up at me and said, 'I think there is a hand grenade washed up, and I'm just talking to the police'. Later, I directed the police to the spot, and as they walked back they showed it to me as it was just a child's toy, but it did look bloody realistic.

Later I moved to the other end of the bay and sat looking out with the odd cast or two thrown in for good measure. Nothing was showing, so after a couple of last casts I decided to make my way home. As I was walking to the car I noticed a flat spot in the sea about 100 yards out indicating a deep spot in the sea bed, but as I turned to walk back to the car I happened to see whitebait jumping 200 yards further along the shore line.

With a gentle jog I made my way to find the culprits. Sure enough bass were cajoling the white bait up and then smashing into them. I couldn't get my topwater out fast enough. About an hour later, and after a series of lure changes, I resigned myself to sitting there and watching the spectacle as they were fixated with their prize. It felt like there were three to four bass working together, and at times it was like watching fireworks as the whitebait flanks glistened with the setting sun - all right by my feet.

Going to try again, but with some feathers I've just picked up about the same size and colour as the whitebait, and I hope they will slip up with this new approach. That's if I can find them again.