Lure Fishing After Dark – Solo Bass Session on the Rocks

There’s something special about solo lure fishing at night — just you, the tide, and the hope of that thump through the rod. This recent session was one of those clean, satisfying ones where everything lined up just right.

Conditions

I hit a stone beach on a dark, moonless night with clear water and a dropping tide — ideal for a confident feeding window. With cloud cover overhead, the conditions were perfect for bass to push in tight under the cover of darkness.

The Setup

I was fishing with the YKR Hypnotize 83M (10–30g) paired with a Daiwa Crest 3000 reel. The line setup was Rapala Sufix 20lb braid and a Sakuma fluorocarbon leader, which I’ve found holds up really well over rough ground.

For the lure, I went with the YKR Happ Eel 15g in Purple Magic — a favourite of mine for low-light conditions thanks to its dark silhouette and lifelike movement. I worked it with a slow, steady retrieve, letting the tail do the work.

The Hit

After a few casts tight to the rocks, I felt that unmistakable knock. The fish put up a solid fight, diving hard and holding deep — classic bass behaviour. It went around 4–5lb, clean and strong, and safely returned after a quick photo.