The hunt for my first ray...

[spindlefist]

Hey All,
I've been fishing since I was a child, so bout 20 years now, but 2 species which evade my capture are bass and ray... something I want to remedy this year...
I'm heading west for the weekend of march 21st, thinkin either kerry or north clare..
Is there anywhere bout these parts that I could stalk such prey? As all I tend to get when I do go there is Doggies, pollack , flounder and conger, not that I'm complaining, Just wish to bag my first ray...

cheers....

Daire

[gfkelly1969]

hi Daire i know a good spot in clifden bay for ray ,i get ray during the day and dogs after dark at this mark,first ray showed last week for me,i wont be around on the 21 st but i can pm you the details of the mark if you are interested in heading out this way

[spindlefist]

Yeah, that'd be a great help, thank you

[Conger]

Hi Daire

If you are in Clare you could try Carrigaholt beach, find it a good marker for Thornbacks

Regards

C

[spindlefist]

I've fished there before, is it the one past the pier, down by the college or the one by the road with the seawall of rocks and wire?

[ShaneH]

if you want to catch ray you should try wexford all i fish for in the summer is ray and any time i go ill always catch if you have no look in the west you could come along with me when the ray move in and you will catch a ray or 2

[kstaff]

Might take you up on that too Shane!

[spindlefist]

Hey Shane, yeah, I'll take you up on that offer, cheers..

[kieran]

eh North Clare? Carrigaholt? blame the Satnav!

Poulnasherry and Carrigholt is probably your best bet - check with Bill Ryan on http://www.chillwithbill.com as he would doubtless have tried some of them by now...

In North Clare, you're best option would be the channel around Newquay but its subject to a vicious tidal run. There are three bays accessible from Parkmore, Aughinish and Tarrea, the last east of Kinvara and they can produce thornbacks. In and around the shallow grounds here and in east Galway up to Clarinbridge is good ks albeit it might be a bit early in some places... there are some reported occassionally from around Fanore but not many and usually far later into the season. There was a period when it was stringray heaven, dunno why...

I am sure some of the lads will tell you about the better rays marks in Kerry, but Castlegregory and some of the marks around and north of Fenit have to be on your radar...

FWIW

[gearoid mc s.]

humbug to kerry

much better ray fishing in limerick!

note: this could be a slightly biased opinion!

[spindlefist]

Been thinking about it and reckon will try back around carrigaholt then head up towards galway on teh sat, try a few diff places, for a few diff species, as think the ray targetting may be put ont he back burner til it is further in the season.
cheers for all the pointers lads, yis are all damn fine gents!

[Conger]

Hi Daire,

Well theres my sense of direction out the window !!!!!!!!!!!! Badly need to get a satnav !!!!!

When you come into Carraigaholt from Kilkee try the strand just below the railings always had a good run there...

Regards

C

[corbyeire]

spindlefist - i would highly recommend if your search is for rays, to stay from mid clare south or on the shannon estuary

In North Clare, i have only ever seen 1 ray caught at the channel around Newquay over the years and ive fished there plenty of times

never heard of a ray from any of these from Parkmore, Aughinish (maybe off it on a boat) and Tarrea (tackle graveyard), the last east of Kinvara

im not trying to have go kieran - but these places used to have them back in the day (80s)- but they are now few and far between - and ive fished enough around these parts to know and have spoken to many people over the years with regular experience in and around there

in east Galway also up to Clarinbridge is good for huss maybe not thornies - a few ray may have been gotten round there at oranmore or rinvyle years ago - but none seen in a long long time

fanore is patchy as you say - ive only heard of a handful of ray off it

[spindlefist]

cheers, i'll bear that in mind.. south clare it is..

[ShaneH]

no prob lads p.m me when it starts to warm up

[stevecrow74]

ah lads.. have ye forgot Co,Galway is the thornback ray capital

marks like Carraroe, Gurteen, Clifden bay, Glassilaun, Little killary and even Salthill just out side Galway city has produced them (even stingray), not for a while now though (there are a few other marks that produce them very early in the year of Galway shores

[gfkelly1969]

ah lads.. have ye forgot Co,Galway is the thornback ray capital

marks like Carraroe, Gurteen, Clifden bay, Glassilaun, Little killary and even Salthill just out side Galway city has produced them (even stingray), not for a while now though (there are a few other marks that produce them very early in the year of Galway shores

i agree Co,Galway is the thornback ray capital,i am sick of catching ray every time i go out ,most sessions i had last summer i got 2 or 3 ray each sessions best fish was 8lbs most in one session was 18 ray,i am wondering if any other fish in galway or only ray