Youghal and East Cork Beach - 11th May 2008

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#1 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon May 12, 2008 1:54 pm

People: Me

Duration: Youghal 1.45 - 4.15 pm, Beach 8.45 - 11.30 pm

Tide: HW at 11.20 pm

Weather: Warm, sunny in afternoon, misty in evening, calm almost no wind

Bait: Crab and lugworm

Rigs: 2/0 and 1/0 two hook flappers, 3/0 pennel pulley

Results: 6 flounder and 1 edible crab

Report: The last time I fished Youghal on a dropping tide I caught 6 flounder (4 of them of good size) so I was hopefully of getting some again as the tidal conditions were similar.

About 30 minutes after setting up I got the first flounder - 34 cm.

Shortly after there was a pull on the second rod - another flounder - 35 cm. As I was trying to free the hook there was a knock on the other rod - a smaller flounder at 28 cm.

About 20 minutes later I got the fourth flounder - slightly bigger at 30 cm.

It went quite after that - so at about 4.15 pm I packed up but as I was reeling in the last rod I realized that there was a small flounder on the line - 27 cm. I had not noticed even a slight vibration on the rod tip.

So five flounder in the end although all small.

After that I went lugworm collecting as I wanted to do some beach fishing in the evening.

Later I headed out to Inch Beach with a good supply of fresh lug as I thought that might be the one place with a bit of surf - however I was not the only one that thought that - when I got there there were about 8 anglers evenly spread along beach. As it was too crowded I decided to move on and try another beach.

When I got there there was just a weak surf rolling in - with an occasional larger wave. It did not look great for bass but just in case there was some around I set up both rods with the 3/0 pennels baited with lugworm and one tipped with crab claw.

It was quite until after dark - then I got the first bite. It felt to be a good size fish but was not putting up the fight would would expect from a bass - it turned out to be a 43 cm flounder.

I had a missed bite after that - might have been a bass - there was a strong pull on the line, but it broke free just a quarter of the way in.

Shortly after that there was some vibrations on the rod - as I was reeling in it felt fairly heavy, but was not putting up much of a fight - I though it might have been a ball of weed, but it was a large edible crab. He was clenching my gripper weight in one claw and was refusing to let go and tried to nip me with the other any time I got close. I eventually managed to free it so he could wave both claws angryly at me. I contemplated how good a couple of fresh crab claws would taste - but in the end let him go.

There was no further bites after that so I packed up about 11.30 pm

#2 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:01 pm

Some more flounder

#3 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon May 12, 2008 2:03 pm

One angry crab!!!

#4 Post by **eyesreilly** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:18 pm

Well done Rockhunter, great report and pictures as usual . :lol: :lol:

#5 Post by **wayne riley** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:22 pm

well done, dat crab looks angry 8) 8)

#6 Post by **Al and Jordan** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:12 pm

good session and good pics man, that crab just was'nt for letting go. stubborn little bait robbers :lol:

#7 Post by **RockHunter** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:07 am

Thanks guys,

That crab had a vice-like grip on my weight - it took a lot of effort to get it out of his claw - I am glad he didn't manage to get one of my fingers with the other claw - it would have been crushed. He came very close a couple of times.
Then he would definitely have been for the pot :evil: :evil: