Donegal Bay, 12th and 13th Jan, 2012

[johnwest]

People:Myself

Duration:4 marks over two days, about 3hrs each

Tide:Low to high

Weather:Beautiful esp. for January.

Bait:Lug and mackerel.

Rigs:2 and 3 hook flappers.

Results: Flounder, sea trout, whiting, coalies and 5b rockling.




Report:
12th January, started off on a beach at low water. First fish was a plump 33cm flounder (1lb 1oz) followed by a long period of inactivity broken by a small coalfish as dusk settled. Conditions seemed fine, I have fished in far worse and caught far more but bites were scarce so after a beautiful sunset, I headed for the chipper and then a second mark. This produced about 8 whiting, best at 33cm (10oz), probably my best whiting, certainly from the shore. Also, a small 5b rockling showed up to add to the variety. As high water approached, the bites became an endangered species so I packed up for the night.
13th January. Started at a different beach, again at low water. First cast produced a slackliner while I was setting up the second rod. In came a sea trout at around the pound mark. After de-lousing, it swam off happily into a gentle surf. Second rod was duly cast out and while re-baiting the first rod, another slackliner on rod no.2. This turned out to be a flounder, 34cm (1lb), not just as plump as yesterday's but still a nice fish. I cast out rod no.1 and while re-baiting the second rod, I got a really good rattle on the first; another slightly bigger sea trout. Friday the 13th, 3 fish in 3 casts, no I'm not supertstitious. Everything then came to a blinding halt, not a bait molested for a couple of hours until dusk when a few doubles and a single of small coalies turned up. I think I'll try the last of the ebb at that spot next time. Anyway the lure of the chipper and the prospect of a new mark was too much to resist. The fourth mark produced just a handful of whiting around 26-30cm and another small 5b rockling along with a number of barely perceptible rattles which came to nothing.

[cathalger]

Nice work on all fronts John, another stunning sunset.

Good flounders, nice whiting and the sea trout too, very nice. When I first read it, I thought youd got '5lb' rockling!

Very nice set of photos again.

[roger de dodger]

sounded ok,man thats one fine sunset makes me want to head into the west

[FisherKing]

Nice fishing & pics John I'll make it up that way for cast or three yet!!

[leadhead]

good report & great photos.......what a sunset

[johnwest]

sounded ok,man thats one fine sunset makes me want to head into the west

You just don't get sunsets like that in the East!

[roger de dodger]

sounded ok,man thats one fine sunset makes me want to head into the west

You just don't get sunsets like that in the East!

nope you dont we do however get astonishing sunrises instead, just most people are still tucked up in bed

[chuckaroo]

nice pics of decent flounder and whiting there. good stuff