3 bearded rockling.

Message

#1 Post by **petekd** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 11:24 am

Caught one of these on a full mackerel fillet and a 7/0 hook whilst fishing the deepwater quay at Cobh on friday night with phanover. I popped it back without taking a picture as I didnt think it was too out of the ordinary, fish in question would easily have gone over the 2lb mark. I see from reading other posts that this would indeed have been a good fish. Is this close to specimen size? Only asking for my own information, its not that I intend slaughtering potential specimens. Just if I had known at the time I would have made damn sure to get a picture!

#2 Post by **pete** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:32 pm

Pete,
1.75lbs is the specimen weight so it sounds like you had yourself more than a specimen! Rockling though is one of the fish that the Specimen Committee ask for the actual body when the claim is submitted, it would have been a shame to have to kill it.

Pete

ronald · #3 Post by **ronald** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:33 pm

nice fish ! specimen weight is 1lb 12 oz ,seems to be alot more big ones around this year .

#4 Post by **pete** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:39 pm

Tried fishing them last night but had no joy. Conger are frequenting the same ground so I'm having a bit of a dilema in choosing a hook choice & bait size. Anybody have any opinions on what is best set up for gettin them?

Pete

#5 Post by **Donagh** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:46 pm

Specimen size in 1KG. No need to downsize hooks for rockliing and it needs to be presented for identification. A 1lb fish will easily swallow a 6/0 hook with fish bait meant for a conger.

Donagh

#6 Post by **petekd** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:06 pm

If I'm not eating it, I'm not killing it regardless of size weight etc. I have no bother taking fish for the pot from time to time but not for recognition. A picture would have been a good idea but I'm sure phanover will hear me out on the story! :D

Have only caught 2 of this particular fish and both times they have made short work of 7/0 hooks on wire traces baited with full fillets of mackerel intended for conger. Greedy little sods!

#7 Post by **pete** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:44 pm

Cheers lads, going to use 4/0 or 5/0 I think and put on decent strip of mackerel then.

Pete

#8 Post by **phanover** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 8:59 pm

I think that Pete was a little cheesed off at drawing a blank at Inch Beach earlier and didn't realise what a decent fish he had. T'was indeed a decent size. I have to say had I caught it I'd be more than happy!

As the song said "We don't know what we had till its gone!"

Paul

#9 Post by **petekd** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:44 am

You could be right on that Paul, have to say was mildly disappointed after watching the rod tip bouncing and expecting to be lifting into a nice conger considering the size of the bait that went out! Ill know for again, still, was nice to get a fish anyway. Hopefully, the next trip out will be more productive. If only this damn weather would lighten up a bit. :(