Duration: Too many hourz
Tide: All states
Weather: Good, windy on ocassions
Bait:Rag, lug, peeler, mack, sand eel, razor
Rigs:Pulley, Flappers
Results:Smoothies, tope pup, plaice, dab, flounder, weever, tub gurnard, dogs, wrasse, pollock, coali, 3 b. rockling
Report:
Monday 22nd August - Wicklow Beach
Well with a few days off from work this week I was determined to put the miles in and bag myself a smoothie for the year. Made a few quick phone calls to Neil and the crew, and then the usual running around but we were soon on the 2 hour 45min drive down to County Wicklow.
We arrived at the mark at 2.30 were met with blue sky, sun, calm sea conditions and virtually no wind, I could feel that this was going to be a good trip from the beginning.
I baited up two rods, one close in for flats and the likes and a pulley nailed out with crab for the hounds. My distance rod was only in the water a matter of minutes when there was a few nudges and a nice wee smoothie was brought onto shore. Over high water my flapper baited with rag, lug and sandeel was getting hammered by nice flats, gurnards and dogs. The mate was scratching away and managing a few flats at this time but no sign of that smoothie for him.
Neil arrived around 6 o’clock and I was glad he could make it down for a yarn and for his jokes that get better every time I come down. Cannot thank this man enough for all he has done for us over the years, the knowledge he passes on second to none thanks mate. And of course he played the perfect host and within a matter of minutes of his arrival my ratchet on the abu 6500 went screaming off on a nice run, trusting Neil I let him run a few more times before setting the hook and bending into a nice smooth hound. Few pics courtesy of Neil and away he went, awesome scrap my trip was complete at this stage, but I was desperate for the mate who came all this way to get one.
As night really started to draw in Neil said his good-byes for his early start in the morning and left us lads to fish on through the night. With darkness the fishing did get better bites were more constant resulting in hound pups tope pups, flats, dogs, weevers. And on the final hour before bed the mate got a great run on his crab rod and thankfully managed to land his 1st ever smoothie, I was over the moon for him. A great end to an awesome days fishing.
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th August – Wicklow beach
Well with all the fun from the start of the week a few work mates were looking a bit of camping and a spot of fishing I was left to decide the venue. After the success at the start of the week I wanted to head down to Wicklow again. The guys were happy enough but with only 2 anglers amongst 5 there was going to be a conflict of interests here. We arrived just before dark on the Friday night, Me and Stuarty fished the wee beach hard until 5AM!!!! Only picking up dogs and small flats, no sign of any hounds. We got a few hours sleep and back out again early Saturday morning, we picked up some more flats and got chatting to creep from the site, was nice to meet you man.
My plan was to head and fish with Al and Jordan, Mark, Neil and Dave on the Saturday, because the East coast Raiders had a comp on the Saturday evening, I did not want to get in the way. But here came problem 1, the rest of them pretty much slept all day on Saturday and did not want to leave, felt that I could not leave the guys so fished alongside the comp, thanks Alby and the crew. Threw the day and evening I managed more dogs, nice plaice, Dabs and flounders. Was an enjoyable evening, and thanks to a few of the Raiders for leaving some quality bait for the rest of the evening, much appreciated guys.
Monday 29th August – Donaghdee
With a full bag of Rag left over from the weekend I few hours down at the dee were in order. Conditions were very poor with wind making difficult fishing, I only fished with one rod so when the gusts picked up I was able to hold the rod and feel the almost instantaneous bites. It was awesome I picked up fish after fish, all be it there was no monsters the wrasse gave a real good account of themselves on the light bass rod. In a space of about 3 hours I had 6 different species including Goldsinny, Ballen, Corkwing Wrasse, 3 bearded rockling, Pollock, Coalfish. I must have had 30+ fish including a few double shots which was nice, so the rag was well used in the end.
lovley fish delighted for your mate and his first hound!nice one
. Nice hound 
