Youghal and East Cork Beach, 30th March 2008

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#1 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:18 pm

People: Me

Duration: 2.45 - 6.00 pm and 9.30 pm - 12.45 am

Tide: HW at 12.30 am

Weather: First session, strong SW wind, a few heavy showers
Second session - wind change direction, strong Westerly or WNW but dry

Bait: Peeler crab, squid, ragworm, king ragworm, mackerel

Rigs: 2 hook 3/0 flapper, 2 hook, size 2 flapper, 4/0 pennel pulley

Results: 2 coalfish from first session, 1 cod from second session

Report: After blanking on the last few fishing sessions (damn east and north winds) I decided to give Youghal Pier a go as I have always caught something there. There was quite a strong cold wind blowing directly in from sea which knocked over the rod stand a couple of times. I had some fresh peeler crab, baited up the first rod and cast it out. As I was preparing the second rod there was a strong tug on the first, but the fish wasn't hooked and got away.
Shortly after a very heavy shower started so I sat into the car - that's an advantage of fishing from the pier, you could almost fish from the car window. The wind was whipping the rod tips around a bit but then one of the rods started vibrating vigorously - but by the time I got out of the car the fish had managed to free itself. But at least it indicated that there were fish about.
About 30 minutes later I hooked the first coalfish - on the 3/0 flapper baited with crab and tipped with ragworm. It put up a good fight and was a little bigger than the ones I usually catch in East Cork- about 38 cm and 1.25 lbs.
The second coalfish was hooked about 20 minutes later from the same spot on the same rig again with crab bait. It was a little smaller, about 36 cm and just over 1 lb.
No further bites after that. But with 2 coalfish I was happy enough - at least it broke the streak of blanks I have had over St. Patrick's Day and over the Easter weekend.

Since I had a few peelers left I went out for some beach fishing later. The wind had changed direction, there was a stong cold westerly or WNW wind blowing so I tried a small East Cork beach that would be a bit more sheltered. There was a good surf, clear skies but nothing biting for a long time. I tried various baits and rigs, crab/squid, king rag/mackerel, crab/rag and was beginning to think that a can of Guinness at home in front of the fire was a much more attactive proposition than freezing my ass off on a beach after Midnight.
I was beginning to pack up and had actually dismantled the first rod and taken it and the bait bucket back to the car. When I returned there was a pull on the second rod. I thought it was probably just a ball of seaweed but when I started to retrieve I realized there was definitely a fish on the line - and it was heavier than a typical coalfish. At first I though it might be a bass but when I got it ashore I discovered it was a cod. It was just under 3 lb, 47 cm long.
That was a surprise, I thought the cod were well gone by now - but I guess with the cold weather we have had for the last couple of weeks they have started to move closer to the shore again.
But I went home very happy - a good end to the month.

#2 Post by **Tom Maher** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:26 pm

The fishing has been poor the last couple of weeks so well done on the 3 fish. I fished pilmore last tuesday for nearly 3 hrs.....not a touch.

#3 Post by **eric** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:32 pm

lovely cod

#4 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:24 pm

Hi Tom,
Yes the fishing has been poor - a few weeks ago I was complaining that all I seemed to be catching lately were coalfish - but after a a few blanks while the east and north winds were prevailing I was delighted to get a couple of coalies - and the cod was the icing on the cake.

It is unusual to get a cod this late from a beach on the south coast?

Hi Eric,
Its a lovely cod alright and my dinner tonight :D
I have a good recipe for baked cod - I will post it later.

gneoh · #5 Post by **gneoh** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:46 pm

:) nice to see the cods are in again :twisted:
lol

#6 Post by **Pat** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:20 pm

Hi RockHunter,

Its not unusual to catch cod from the beaches this time of year. I had them as late as May last year. Remember the water is actually colder now than it was at the cod peak time of Oct/Nov (10C vs. 14C). However, conditions need to be right. Conditions last night were perfect. It had been blowing strong all day (force 7 to 9) from the SW & SE. The centre of the low pressure passed along the south coast yesterday around low water and the winds swung around to the N with air pressure rising. As a result you had a massive surf on an incoming tide with very coloured water. This brings cod on the feed close in. You reaped the benefits.

#7 Post by **Pat** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:34 pm

In many areas there is also a spring run of codling. Although, the codling are usually not as big there sometimes can be more of them. Having said that I had my biggest cod of the 07/08 winter season last night with a fish of 4.5lbs, (55cm). :D

#8 Post by **hughcronin** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:43 pm

Fair play on the cody rock hunter, your a hard man heading out last night. i'd a score of peeler in the booth of car and was too lazy to go out the door and get the weather was so crap. just shows, the only way to catch fish is to go fishin. well done

#9 Post by **RockHunter** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:05 pm

Thanks for that Pat,
I have much to learn about fishing. I only started fishing last June, but have certainly learnt a lot since I discovered this site. It has been a great source of useful information.

Hi Hugh,
Yes is was a rough night to be out - it was bad enough when I started with a strong westerly/WNW wind but then it swung around to NW or NNW and was bitterly cold - but getting a cod at the end certainly justified it.

#10 Post by **RockHunter** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:42 pm

Here is a good recipe for cod (or pollock):
Place a cod fillet on a sheet of aluminum foil (oil the base of the fillet to stop the skin sticking),
squeeze a little lemon juice over the top and season with salt and pepper,
slice a tomato very thinnly and place the slices over the fillet,
sprinkle on a finely chopped spring onion,
add a little grated cheese,
sprinkly on some finely chopped parsley,
slice a large red pepper and place the pepper slices across the width of the fillet,
close up the foil to stop the juices escaping,
bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.
open out the foil and add some more grated cheese and return to the oven for a few minutes until cheese has melted,
then serve.

That was how I had the cod last night - delicious :D

#11 Post by **Pat** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:24 pm

Great recipe RockHunter...cod au gratin. Unfortunately, it came too late for me. I gave my fish away to my fishing buddy. :oops:

BTW I'm still learning a lot about fishing, especially since I joined this site, and I'm at this lark a long time. :lol:

Sea Angling Ireland

Youghal and East Cork Beach, 30th March 2008

Youghal and East Cork Beach, 30th March 2008

Re: Youghal and East Cork Beach, 30th March 2008

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