Fishing in Waterford

[NoBites]

Hello all,
I used to fish a lot but am starting all over again so excuse my lack of knowledge.
We holiday in Co.Waterford and have been fishing around Bunmahon area for the last few weeks. Mainly mackerel fishing from Dunbrattin Head and spinning at Boatstrand Harbour but generally I'm not having much luck. All I've caught is one pollock and numerous mackerel. I'd love to catch something different. I tried bait fishing for bass off Bunmahon beach the other night with no success and had no success off Balldwan or Ballyvooney beaches either. Are these locations any good? There's always a few lads fishing at Ballyvooney but I've haven't seen anyone land anything yet. Also, does anyone know if there's anything in the Mahon river 'estuary' where it enters the sea at Bunmahon.
In short, I'd like to know the best marks in the Stradbally to Tramore area and also what are the best lures to use.

[daven]

A guy i know in work said he caught a massive sea trout from the mahon estuary which he claims was only about 3 pounds off the irish record. That is NOT fact as he is prone to the odd white lie!!!

[tim jim]

i fished the flat rocks,sunday week last, and caught a mackerel,yes one whole mackerel,and what we believe was a launce,similiar to a large sandeel. We cut these up for bait,and caught two dogfish using a simple single hook trace,with just a weight,and swivel,nothing fancy at all. these may be of interest.just for something diferent to try,dogfish are everywhere i feel,not sure about out bunmahon way,but around the flat rocks we caught two dogfish about 40 cm long,probably 2 pound r more in weight,it was something different,but still wanted to maybe catch a wrasse,or nice pollack,although we did cauth a small one!

[drseafish]

Don't ignore Bunmahon, it fishes best for bass at the mouth of the river but you have to put some time in to find the best tides etc.. I fished a comp once when a guy had 2 Bass in the first hour of the flooding tide on sandeel. Although I would prefer to use lug or crab to avoid the doggies. I wouldn't bother fishing any of surf beaches in daylight as apart from the odd bass must fish stay well out in deeper water. The only problem with this area of Waterford as another poster mentioned that there are lots of doggies about. Mackerel and sandeel are like magnets for the doggies and if they arrive in force you will get a hit within minutes of casting out leaving little chance for any other fish to arrive. I will say one more thing, at present all the boats from Wexford to west Cork are having a fantastic year for cod offshore, and some not that far off shore. If it keeps going we could be in for a hell of winters coddling fishing and beaches like Tramore in October will produce from low water up at night on rising tides. I would pack your freezer with peeler and razor in anticipation. Kilfarrsay and some of the marks you mentioned are well worth spinning during daylight for bass, especially around rough ground. You are coming into the time of year when big bass move inshore to feast on the Sept crab moult to fatten up before moving south towards Biscay. Good luck

[peter waterford]

in general,what size bass would u catch now?just generally speaking,i didnt realise that mans nieces bass was that size,feck sake 10 lbs,i wudnt dream of catching one over 2 r 3 pounds weight!!lol.

[BrazelC]

Check the pic on the left, maybe that size (:-)

[Ganoz]

Lads, any idea how old a 10lbs bass would be? Same for a 5lbs fish if you know

[scara]

Lads, any idea how old a 10lbs bass would be? Same for a 5lbs fish if you know

A 10lbs bass will normally be in the region of 15 to20 years old, the five pound fish probably aroung the 5 to 9 years.