Duration: 10.00 - 11.55 pm
Tide: LW at 12.05 am
Weather: Terrible, westerly gales, heavy horizontal rain
Bait: Lug
Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulley
Results: 1 turbot
Report: Having been abroad with work for the last couple of weeks I was very keen to get out fishing again. It was three weeks since I was last out. I had intended to head out on Monday night but couldn't face the cold after a couple of weeks in West Africa. But on Tuesday night I made a more determined effort to get out. I reckoned that the East Cork beaches were going to be choked with weed so I decided to try a West Waterford beach that I thought might not be too bad.
I arrived and set up one rod in a gale that was blowing parallel to the beach. It was difficult to stay standing never mind stop the rod stand blowing over. I decided that one rod would be enough in those conditions. I baited a 4/0 pennel pulley with a bunch of big juicy lug and cast out into a good surf. I was using 6 oz grippers but they were pulled up in minutes and dragged parallel along the beach
It was impossible to detect bites. Although on the positive side it was totally weed free 
However, after about the third cast I thought I spotted some tugs on the rod tip but it was far from clear. I struck and retrieved. At first I thought there was nothing there, until I had the rig in sight and realized something was trailing behind the gripper. It was a turbot - the first I have ever caught I continued fishing for another hour or so but the conditions were abysmal - heavy horizontal rain whipping across the beach
- so close to midnight I decided I had enough.On the way home I went through Yougal and had a look at Green Park - I thought I might fish the rising tide there to target Cod as it would be a bit more sheltered, but the weed was stacked high on the beach and extended to the water line - that would have been a waste of time so I continued on my way home.
At least I had caught my first ever turbot so the night was not a total diaster. Although not quite the first night back fishing that I had been dreaming about while roaming around the Sahara in mid-30 C temperatures
well done frank nice fish would love to get 1 of those for the pan 
,,,,,,,,the Sahara,all that sand and no fishing 
, in the last 3 years i had a good few and know other lads that have had em, 4+ years back they were as scarce as hens teeth in west waterford, theres been a good few got off that beach were i met you a while back.
