Cork harbour 15th November (new pb conger)

[evan699]

People: Me and Cormac
Time: 17.00 - 22.30
Tide: LW at 18.25
Weather: Fine but cold and a bit foggy at times
Bait: Razor, Mack and Frozen peeler
Rigs: Pulleys with size 3/0 and 8/0 hooks
Report:

Landed at the mark and started fishing at distance with a mix of razor and peeler. The fishing was slow but i managed to pick up 4 whiting, 3 codling (biggest was 1lb 6oz) and a dab. Cormac got off to a very slow start with only one codling and one whiting coming in for the first 2 hours. I ground baited the area in front of us with mack and razor and kept feeding the area for about 3 hours before i cast out a beefed up pulley rig to try for a conger. I had bites within the first 10 minutes but struck too soon and felt the weight of the eel for a minute before he spat the bait. I rebaited and cast into the same area and the bites started again straight away. I struck in again and the fish came up off the bottom and started to fight then, slack line again. Reeled in to rebait to find the eel had bitten straight through the 80lb snood. Changed up to 100lb and put a few beads on the line and a stopknot to keep them just above the hook to hopefully keep them from biting through it again. The bait was back out about 10 mins when the rod was nearly pulled over. I lifted it high and kept it there and the fun began. The eel bolted for cover just beneath us but i managed to keep him up. He fought like mad and left my back in a bad way but we lowered the drop net and got him up for a weigh in and a few snaps. My previos best was 20lb and a few oz so i was delighted to see the scales settle on an even 22lb. Cormac had managed a few more fish in the mean time picking up 5 with a mix of codling and whiting. Got the eel back and set cormac up for a go at the congers as i couldn't handle dragging another one in. Within minutes cormac had another nice eel to the surface and we got him up in the net, weighed in at 12lb 12oz, a few snaps and back he went. Packed up the gear and headed home very happy with the night. Sorry about all the editing to the photos but i've had problems with people revealing marks on me before and this mark was given to me by another angler so i'd like to keep in quiet. The 22lb eel was landed with 12lb main line too so that made for a bit more fun and anxiety.

[RockHunter]

Well done - that's a fine conger

[KERRY1]

Congratulations Evan on your new PB That is a beast of a conger, no wonder your back was left in a bit of a bad way, mine would have been too trying to pull that big lump in. Great pictures, well done.

[saving private brian]

well done evan.fish lump of an eel.i thought i done well last nite witha 7lb eel lol

[polmac]

brilliant catch!

[FisherKing]

Fine Conger well done

[red]

fine sized congers there evan.
there was an article in one of the fishing mags last month where they had no wire trace and put a few crimps on the snood above the hook. could be handy if your gettin bit threw by the bigger fish.

[junior conger]

well done really nice conger

[evan699]

Cheers for the comments

fine sized congers there evan.
there was an article in one of the fishing mags last month where they had no wire trace and put a few crimps on the snood above the hook. could be handy if your gettin bit threw by the bigger fish.

I usually use 200lb mono if i think there might be big eels around but i had none with me that night. The beads worked well with a few rubber rig stops above them to hold them tight. Very little damage done to the mono.

[tight lines]

fine conger well done

[bhoy32]

well done evan cracker

[fishermannum1]

well done on the new pb, thats a fine conger

[bigbadtom]

Well done on the pb conger.

[evan699]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm dyin to get back down there again while the tides are still small. Was gonna try tonight but i'd say the harbour is washed out after all the rain last night. Might give it a shot anyway. If your not in it ya can't win it i suppose.

[kaylemf]

cracking conger well done !

[JOHN1]

very nice (PB) conger evan well done

[hugo]

A magnificent beast at the best of times - but on 12lb line? Thats serious fishin - respect BTW what rod/reel were u using?

[evan699]

A magnificent beast at the best of times - but on 12lb line? Thats serious fishin - respect BTW what rod/reel were u using?

I was using a 13' greys grx-s rod and a mitchell gita sw 800 reel.

[alannelson]

A magnificent beast at the best of times - but on 12lb line? Thats serious fishin - respect BTW what rod/reel were u using?

I was using a 13' greys grx-s rod and a mitchell gita sw 800 reel.

well done thats a nice shore conger get it sent into sea angler for a mission accomplished badge

[evan699]

A magnificent beast at the best of times - but on 12lb line? Thats serious fishin - respect BTW what rod/reel were u using?

I was using a 13' greys grx-s rod and a mitchell gita sw 800 reel.

well done thats a nice shore conger get it sent into sea angler for a mission accomplished badge

Wat weight is needed for a conger badge?