Duration: 3 pleasure sessions, 2 comps (only 1 for the crow)& 1 boat trip
Tide: all stages
Weather: twas like summer
Bait: every conceivable worm bait, peeler crab, hermit crab, squid, mackerel, whiting
Rigs: various
Results: Starry Smooth Hound, Cod(ling just to keep everyone happy)Long Spined Sea Scorpion, Flounder, Dabs, Whiting, Dogs, Bass, Turbot.
Report: I was heading over to fish the SAI comp in Tinnebearna i'd mentioned to Steve that i was gonna try for an early smut to add to the species list. This was met with a i've no gig this weekend right come on so i said
Friday session: Arrived over and after the usual mix of necessity and impulse buying in Courtown Angling Centre and a big juicy steak and creamy pint in the Orphan we went on the hunt for a smut.... Pulled in at a mark that was good to me last year to see a few beach buddies set up.... as only one spot on this beach fishes we moved on. I brought Steve down a little boreen to another mark which doesn't get as much attention and also produced some nice smuts previously. We set up one rod each and launched out some small juicy peeler baits to try and tempt a pup or two. Steve got the target species for the weekend with a small starry pup while I had to content myself with small cod(ling
)with final preparations to be made for the following day we cut short the session and headed back to base around 1.30amSaturday sessions: Fished the SAI comp in Tinnebearna which was good craic nice to meet up with the lads and well done again beelo on the win.... i finished up with Turbot & Bass Steve who declined to fish the comp and was fishing adjacent to the end peg had flounder.... quick pit stop in Courtown to collect some peeler and grab a bite to eat then it was off to try for more Smuts we arrived at the mark and the smell of rain was in the air so beach buddy in hand we walked down the beach and got setup two rods this time one in close with lug for any Bass that might be patrolling and one at distance with crab... we'd more small cod and a pup starry for myself target species acquired... we fished on but it was slow we had a heavy downpour for an hour or so and took refuge in the beach buddy (very handy this side where the tide doesn't move)we called it a day around 2am as we'd agreed to fish a fund raiser that Courtown SAA were holding the following day.
Sunday Session:After tucking into a fry and collecting some bait we headed for Ballyconnigar for the check in... bumped into a few familiar faces myself and Steve both drew pegs in the 50's so back into the car for a short spin down to Ballynaclash beach. Lines in the water at 2pm Steve who was 5 pegs down from me had a flounder early on and it was evident from the adjoining pegs that this was gonna be a tough one. A few singles came in around me of turbot flounder dab with one fine Bass of 50cm which took the biggest round pool Kris Burness won the biggest flat pool with a Flounder in the mid 30's... Steve managed another Flounder with myself registering with 1 flounder the lad on the peg beside Steve had 3 Flounder giving him 3rd place in the comp overall which was won by Adam O'Neill (adam2040 of the site) congrats again Adam on Peg 2. with 8 fish all schoolies i think. Back to Blackwater for the result and a couple of pints and pool... then it was decision time food and more pints, Wexford for pints, or head to fish a beach which had some nice Bass running on it... taking our bait situation into account and the fact that we'd possibly only have enough for an hours fishing we declined the Bass fest and headed back towards base for pints.. phone calls were made to free up Monday so pints could be enjoyed without the hassle of a dawn start to get back West and also allow one last afternoon session.
Mondays session:Stopped in Courtown for some more impulse purchases and bait and headed off to kill a couple of hours before we hit the road... We weren't expecting much a few flats maybe... Steve got a few Long Spinded Sea Scorpions including the biggest and the smallest i've seen & flounder i was fishing fresh hermit crab at distance in a vain attempt to land a more substantial smut but it wasn't to be... Joe Byrne of Courtown Angling Centre had told me to give him a bell before we left as if the wind settled down he kindly offered to give us a run out on his boat for a couple of hours.... the wind duly obliged and we left port around 17:30 we dropped down some mackerel baits for Ray and Tope and also long flowing traces which produced small cod, whiting, dogs Steve had spotted a nice flattie rig and dropped that down and pulled up a couple of nice Dabs I was back to a big owner hook and large mackerel baits with all my focus an a nice Ray or a Tope. It was a beautiful evening to be out on the water and has me firmly wanting to join the Boat Club with a purchase soon. We headed back to port and said our goodbyes... it was a busy few days fishing with mixed results but the first taste of summer smuts was had and the appetite well and truly wetted. Thanks again to Joe for taking us out much obliged
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