Waterford - 30th July 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 10.00 pm to 2.00 am

Tide: HW at 1.10 am

Weather: Partly cloudy, dry, light southwesterly breeze, strenghtening later

Bait: lug, rag

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley, two hook flapper (4/0 hooks)

Results: 2 bass, 3 flounder




Report: I decided to try a beach I havn't fished for a while, last time would have been in May before the bass ban. It only fishes well in darkness with a reasonable surf and seems best on a rising tide. When I got there there was a weak to moderate surf - I would have preferred a better surf but I gave it a go regardless. But on the plus side it was almost totally weed free.

I had some rag worms left over from the weekend - they had seems OK up to that morning but when I took them out I discovered the were all dead or dying. Rather than throw them away I put a couple on the upper hook of the two hook flapper, with lug on the lower hook. I used the 4/0 pennel pulley on the second rod baited with lug. On the second cast I had a strong bite, struck and hooked a strong fighting fish. It was a 49 cm bass Interestingly it had taken the dead rag and not the fresh juicy lug

However, after that I had a problem with small fish stealing the bait. I could feel little tugs but couldn't hook any of them, but they managed to strip my worms off the hooks. Eventually I managed to catch one of them - a 32 cm flounder. I did briefly consider switching to smaller hooks but since I was targetting bass I stuck to the 4/0 hooks.

At one stage as I was moving the gear back up the beach I got back to the rod stand and found a slack line on one of the rods - I reeled in a lot of slack but there was nothing on the end I presume it must have been a bass that dropped the bait. The surf was not strong enough to pull up the gripper weights and there were no clumps of weed to catch and drag up the gripper.

Maybe an hour before high tide I had another strong bite - this was putting up a good fight and turned out to be a 52 cm bass

A little later as I was wading out to cast one of the rods I noticed that the line from the other rod was running diagonally in front of me. I quickly cast out parallel to it and raced back to the rod stand. The other rod had been pulled off the stand and was lying on the ground, the reel was caught in one of the legs of the stand. I reeled in but there was no resistance. The shock leaded was gone At first I thought the leader knot had come undone but later I snagged the leader and terminal tackle and discovered that the leader knot was still intact, the 15 lb line had broken a long way up from the knot. So I presume a big bass must have taken the bait, yanked the rod off the stand, fortunately the handle of the reel and caught in the leg of the stand otherwise my rod may have gone for a swim. The main line probably snapped from abrasion against the beach gravel

Before packing up I caught a couple more small flounder, 24 and 25 cm.

So with two bass I was happy enough but annoyed I had lost what I presume must have been a good size bass. July was a good month for me with a total of 20 bass from 8 sessions plus a few blanks. The best session being on the 6th July with 7 bass

[dfella25]

Well done Frank that was a rewarding session.

[Danny M.]

Good stuff Frank, well done.

I would always set my drag just incase!
I had a large Bass take my rod reel and tripod into water before..cheeky bugger
You never know what will take your bait next

[bhoy32]

nice fish well done

[saltydog]

Unlucky with the lost fish Frank... 20 Bass from 8 sessions thats some mighty fine fishing well done

[seanie35]

well done frank pity bout the biggie gettin away, i always have the baitrunner set just in case a good fish comes along and the line whizzing off the spool will get your attention

[Al and Jordan]

nice one frank a good return for 4 hours fishing man you'll get the big fella next time

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

i always have the baitrunner set just in case a good fish comes along and the line whizzing off the spool will get your attention

I should have done that - I keep forgetting
By the way it was the same beach where I lost the monster bass a few months ago because the hook broke - maybe it was the same fish ???

I tried that beach again last night - weather was dire, although there was a nice surf - but on the first cast I snagged a clump of weed the size of a truck. It took me half an hour to haul it in and another half an hour to clean the weed off. I moved 300 m up the beach, the same thing. Then moved to the western end of the beach and two hours after arriving I had my third cast. Weed wasn't too bad but still a few clumps around especially as the tide started to push forward. I think eastern end of the beach fishes much better. No bass bites, just small flounder nibbling on the bait. Before packing up I put on a flattie rig and caught one of about 25 cm on the last cast to avoid a blank.

[eyesreilly]

Nice fishing Frank, you were lucky not to lose your rod and reel, that big 'un is out there waiting for you

[seanie35]

Thanks guys,

i always have the baitrunner set just in case a good fish comes along and the line whizzing off the spool will get your attention

I should have done that - I keep forgetting
By the way it was the same beach where I lost the monster Bass a few months ago because the hook broke - maybe it was the same fish ???

I tried that beach again last night - weather was dire, although there was a nice surf - but on the first cast I snagged a clump of weed the size of a truck. It took me half an hour to haul it in and another half an hour to clean the weed off. I moved 300 m up the beach, the same thing. Then moved to the western end of the beach and two hours after arriving I had my third cast. Weed wasn't too bad but still a few clumps around especially as the tide started to push forward. I think eastern end of the beach fishes much better. No Bass bites, just small flounder nibbling on the bait. Before packing up I put on a flattie rig and caught one of about 25 cm on the last cast to avoid a blank.

i reckon 3rd time lucky frank next time youll get one in, might try clonea tonite seen as its drying up outside

[RockHunter]

might try clonea tonite seen as its drying up outside

Any luck?

[seanie35]

went ok got 1 fish about 2-3lb and missed 3 including one very long run before i struck into nothing , gonna try the cunnigar tommorow lunch frank if your about give me a shout