When: 08/08/2020 Where: Launching from Rush, Co. Dublin Who: Myself and my uncle Ken. Duration: 12:00-18:00 High Water: 15:11 Equipment: 7.5ft Shakespeare Ugly Stik 2 30/50lb Bait/Rig: 3 hook mackerel basher rig with size 1/0 hooks and 12oz lead for the mackerel and a 3 hook 4/0 orange animal rig with a 12oz lead at anchor. Conditions: flat calm and clear blue skies. My Result: 1 Pollock, 2 Dogfish, 5 Mackerel Kens Result: 1 Mackerel, 1 Thornback Ray, 1 Tub Gurnard and 3 Dogfish
My uncle and myself went out to try anchoring over a mark recommended by a friend for ray. After feathering for bait for an hour we headed to the spot and anchored up. While I was baiting up my 3 hook rig, Ken dropped out his 1 hook rig with a mackerel fillet and was also jigged feathers on his other rod, on the first drop he got a lovely tub gurnard and while unhooking it his other rod started screaming off, so after returning the gurnard he picked up the other rod. It was something big he said as he fought to bring it to the surface while telling me to get the net ready, I see a ray rising to the surface and it was a beaut. It was lovely thornback ray that was too big for the net and must of been over 10lbs, Ken was delighted! That was all the excitement we had for the rest of the day as all that followed was a few dogs.