Duration: noon to 8.30pm
Tide: dropping then back in again
Weather: calm and dry
Bait: mack and rag
Rigs: 2 hook flappers over the edge. single hook rig at distance and 8/0 meat hook conger rig
Results: 2 conger, 6 corkwing wrasse, 8 ballan wrasse, 18 pollack and 6 coalfish
Report: i decided to give this mark a go as i have'nt been able to get to it all summer and i was well chuffed with how well it fished
i set the conger rod up first, followed with the single hook rig for dogs and big pollack at distance. then the 2 hook flapper rig just inches off the bottom over the edge of the rocks for wrasse and whatever else was about 
. i had just put the last rod out when the conger rod gave that old tell tale click, click, click, click, click, click 
i lifted the slack and struck, conger on what a way to start the session. so a few quick pics and he went back to fatten up a bit and be caught again. then the flapper rod was knocking away with a double shot of coalie and corkwing wrasse i was well made up and this set the pace for the rest of the session. no more runs came on the conger gear and everything else was caught on the 2 hook flapper rig at my feet. i did get 1 dog near the end on the 1 hook distance dog rig 
he was a very light coloured dog compared to all the rest of the ones we get on the Co. Down and Co. Antrim coasts and was duely photographed and released. the day flew by so fast i did'nt even get to eat my sarnies or drink my flask of coffee. the bites were coming thick and fast with fish landed after fish. by 8pm the light began to fade and i packed away the conger gear and 2 hook rod and put my last chunk of mack onto the dog rig. i'd no sooner cast it out and it took a hell of a thump 
thankfully it was in my hand at the time and i struck into something that felt a heck of a bit heavier than a dog. i could'nt get him moving at all and a game of tug of war began between me and the fish . i was confident that i could free him as the reel was loaded with 30lb braid. even if he got into the kelp the braid should cut through it easy enough 
but it did'nt seem to be working 
for every 2 turns of the reel i got on him he seemed to tug back undaunted. i soon realised that it had to be a conger who was either wedged between some rocks or who had his tail wrapped round some kelp for leverage 
i could'nt get him free and i did'nt want to tug too hard as it was only a 30g cast weight spinning rod he was attached to . but 10 mins later he finally gave in and let go i was carefull to get him in close to the rocks and then timed hand lining him up with the next swell that swept in. mission complete!!!! he was on the rocks and unhooked in seconds. it was only then i noticed he had a brave few scrapes and scratches on him that showed how hard he must have wedged himself between the rocks determined not to be caught . but it was'nt to be his day and i won the battle one of the best scraps i've ever had it has to be said too . all i can say is, thank god for bronze o'shaunassy hooks. a 5lb conger on a 1/0 hook on light spinning gear was magic. i was even more made up so see him swim off none the worse for his fight all in all a great day's fishing. but i can't wait until saturday for our causeway boat trip then a overnighter at fahan and pollan bay for thornies and turbot. well you gotta make the best of the weather while it's there 
