West Clare specimen Pollock - photos

[marno]

Started the year (late kick off I know) with a specimen hunt targeting Pollock, Wrasse and Mullet.

Went to two Wrasse marks that are normally a cert for a good few fish (Near Ballyreen and Kilkee) with two tubs of Rag. First time out I was beaten by My 8 yo son four fish to my one Cuckoo Wrasse so I headed out to a spot near Ballyreen on my own blaming my lack of success on the time I spent helping Aidan...and tis time I came home with Zilch

Following night Spun for pollock in a special gully near Kilkee. My favourite time is before the sun sets with the tide flooding, picked up a nice size pollock early on and about 4 casts later landed a monster the weighing scales was kaput but it measured just less than 30 inches/75cm. I nearly lost the thing, no doubt the strongest fighting pollock I have ever landed with runs and dives, when I finally got it to the surface it had a mouth like a cod!! got a photo on my phone I will get it up later (but I would love to meet the guy that got a shot of me lifting the fish above my head so I could get a copy of his shot)...Anyway what a result! And BTW the same state of tide, light level and lure that got me a specimen last year. was it the the same fish??

Went looking for Mullet from a west Clare Peir last night the place was full of them but the peir was full of boats and I wouldn't have been able to land one even if I was lucky enough to hook into one so I just enjoyed the view.


Anyway not a lot of fish (even had a shot a mackie bashing with no joy) but that pollock made up everything (even for being beaten by an 8 year old the day before

Great to be out fishing again now that the rugby season is over and I won't forget that bucket mouth pollock for a long time.

[d.kane62]

great report there ,the young catch on quick and let ye know! well done on the pollock 30inchs ye be lucky to get that on the boat, good fishing

[mann]

Thats a fair size pollock to get on the spinning gear Marno and sounded like a fair fight as well... well done and welcome back to the madness

[gfkelly1969]

well done,must have felt like you were fighting a shark even the small pollack put up a hell of a fight,i can imagine the fight he gave

[marno]

Thats a fair size pollock to get on the spinning gear Marno and sounded like a fair fight as well... well done and welcome back to the madness

Thanks lads. Shame about the Mullet though, but there was no where to land them with all the ropes and boats maybe I should have fished from one of the boats. They were at the surface too they may have been catchable on the fly rod.

But they (Mullet) were around in good numbers, shoals (8-12) of them crusing off the Burren too.

Jr. had a ball alright and loved reminding me that he caught a fish that I never have (Tompot Blenny). He is a bit squeamish with the Rag though - the pincers - and I had to hook him up otherwise I may have made a competition of it

[Al and Jordan]

congrats on the pollack,,, she was a monster must have went like stink on the spinning gear. if only we got them like that up here

[Ross]

Well done on the Cuckoo Wrasse and the BIG Pollock!
I have been watching the Mullet too! One of these days it will be more than just watching! Only one Specimen Mullet ever and that was from The Liffey near Heuston Station!

[marno]

A couple of shots



Smaller fish too lazy to rotate




Look at his lips....and that was before they got a smaker from me!

[John71]

Nice Pollack, Marno!!

[nthclare]

Well done thats a good pollock if you have a fly rod pm me the next time before you head down and ill put you in the right direction for huge pollock its in North Clare a mark which anglers drive by with out even considering trying it out...

[vamper]

cracking fish

well done

[Dave]

Nice one Marno, thats certainly is a beauty of a fish alright and I say it put up some fight on the spinning gear.

[marno]

Well done thats a good pollock if you have a fly rod pm me the next time before you head down and ill put you in the right direction for huge pollock its in North Clare a mark which anglers drive by with out even considering trying it out...

I'm intrigued and will be in touch.

D

[marno]

Nice one Marno, thats certainly is a beauty of a fish alright and I say it put up some fight on the spinning gear.

Amazing first day of the year. Deffo one of those thought I might lose it moments. Started friendly enough then Puuuuuulll I thought it had snagged weeds but weeds don't run...

[Fentster]

Nice Pollock, well done. For the less experienced, could you tell us what weight of line you were using and type of spinner? What additional weight do you use with the spinner if any? What depth of water were you casting to and how close to the shore was the take?
It would be very helpful for the less experienced like myself if shore reports contained some technical info
Thanks.

[tight lines]

well done mate some nice looking pollock

[marno]

Nice Pollock, well done. For the less experienced, could you tell us what weight of line you were using and type of spinner? What additional weight do you use with the spinner if any? What depth of water were you casting to and how close to the shore was the take?
It would be very helpful for the less experienced like myself if shore reports contained some technical info
Thanks.

Sorry, bout that didn't post much more than tide and light condidions I suppose.

My best pollock sessions have been caught before the sun sets on a flooding tide. Even some evenings mack hunting as you get close to sunset polock may show up. The line is heavyish becuse of the rocks (15lbs) and I use a an 11' spining rod (abu accuflex - love it a present from the mother in law, though she may be trying to break us up with a present like that ) that casts 18-40g.

Jelly lures (black with red tail, sand eel look alike or one that is indiscribable - got it in henrys he had a box of crazy stuff sent from the states with a leadhead hook or sometimes with a kind of a ledgered rig with no weight on the lure to give a different movment. Jellies are great for rockhopping (Also you loose loads of gear and jellies don't cost much)
a pocket full of lures and a few lead heads a rod and you are away, no big boxes no bait (a life jacket aint a bad idea either).

I like gullies where you can cast out and retrieve along the walls but generaly they hang out around reefs and rocks. I can't cast a leadhead/lure beyond 35- 40m I think but if there is room I will cast af far as I can to cover as much ground a possible. When retrieving I let it sink and reel steadily reel rather than the sink and draw - though if there is nothing biting I will change.

If you go out with this in mind you may well discover it most of it doesent work for your area but in finding that out you will discover your own tips and tricks and it is always good to have a bit of an idea. The Lads in the shop will have loads of info too and may well put you onto good marks.

Good luck

[Fentster]

Thanks for that Marno, very informative I hope more shore reports from experienced guys will include some technical info.

[steveoel]

Nice report,

Well done on some great catches!!!!

Steve