Silver dozen - 29th March 2012

[RockHunter]

People:Me

Duration: 8.30 - 11.30 pm

Tide: HW at 10.30 pm

Weather: Calm, warm, clear

Bait: Crab and razor

Rigs: Two hook flapper (4/0 hooks), 4/0 pennel pulley

Results: 12 Bass




Report: I had close to a dozen crabs to use up so headed out for a bait session although the wind had calmed down considerably compared to earlier in the week. However, when I got to the beach and stepped out of the car and saw the surf my heart fell. There was just a very weak surf rolling in with little or no wind. I was sorry I hadn't gone lure fishing. But at least it was a nice sunny warm evening so it was good to be out in the fresh sea air.

I made my way down to the shore - there were already three optimistic anglers in place casting into the very gentle waves.

I set up two rods, one with a 4/0 pennel pulley and the other with a two hook flapper with 4/0 hooks. I baited the pulley rig with crab and put crab on the lower hook of the flapper and half a razor on the other. I knew there was some rocky exposures, now submeged, in front of me so I didn't want to cast too far. However, with the lack of wind, my cast of the rod with the pennel pulley went a bit further than I intended. A little later when I tried to retrieve it was solidly snagged requiring a break.

As I was attaching a new shockleader there was a strong tug on the other rod, I grabbed it and felt a fighting fish on the end. It was a 41 cm bass, caught at dusk just as the light was beginning to fade. It took razor on the upper hook.

After a few quick photos, I released the fish, rebaited with the remaining half razor and then got back to work on attaching the shockleader. But before I had a chance to trim the knot ends there was another strong knock on the other rod. A second bass, just above 40 cm in length, again on the razor. That got me worried, I had only taken one pack of five razorfish out of the freezer, if they were going for that in preference to crab I was going to have to be more economical with the remaining four.

I rebaited, this time using about a third of the clam. Again before I had chance to put a bait on the new rig for the other rod I had another bite. This was a slightly bigger bass of 43 cm, again on the razor.

I recast and the bait was barely in the water before I had a fourth bass, smaller this time at 37 cm. I was still baiting the rig for the other rod when I had a fifth bass, just 36 cm this time, and yet again on razor.

I eventually got the other rod set up and cast a crab baited pennel pulley back out. Shortly afterwards I had a subtle knock on the rod with the two hook flapper, picked it up, felt another pull and struck, but the fish was not hooked. I left it for a few minutes then noticed a stronger tug. This time it was well hooked and felt to be a bigger fish. However, as I hauled it on to the shore I saw two glints of silver - I had a bass double, a 41 cm fish on the upper hook and the smallest bass of the night on crab on the lower hook. This was followed a little later by the first bass on the other rod, another undersize fish.

The bites were slowing down now - I had a chance for a brief rest but not for long before I had another 40 cm bass on the razor. About 10 or 15 minutes later I had a 42 cm fish on the pennel pulley. That brought the night's tally to 10.

There was a bit of a break then, I had a few missed bites, the bass seemed to have become more cautious and were dropping the bait a second after picking it up. But then I had another strong bite, struck and this time the fish was well hooked. It was the biggest bass of the night at 45 cm, again on razor.

I was almost out of razor at this stage, just enough for one last decent size bait. The tide was now beginning to drop so I reckoned it would not be long before the fish moved off. After about 15 minutes I had another bite on the razor, it was only a 33 cm bass but that brought the total to 12. So with that I decided to pack up at a reasonable hour (11.30 pm). It turned out to be a much better night's fishing than I expected with the neap tide and lack of surf and I went home with half a dozen crabs still in the bucket.

Hopefully the bigger bass will begin to move in during April.

[RockHunter]

Bass double

[roryodonnell]

That's envious stuff right there!

[declan65]

Nice going Frank , the big ones are about alright

[mitch]

Frank you have all us e/coast anglers drooling up here great weather and great fishing what
more could anybody ask for

[saving private brian]

well done frank.thats some fishing.i more than likely will be cork for a day after easter sometime.after i have me business done i might go for a cast while im there.i still have your number from the last time so il give you a tingle if im coming down

[JimC]

Good going Frank!

[fishy1987]

oh my mercy!that packet of razor sure got its moneys worth it reminds me of a similar session i had the only thing was it was 14dogfish i had in the session excellent frank!

[chuckaroo]

happy aul days. nice fishing, fine looking fish.

[lucky]

a frank.. you have just put me off fishing for good after my last session,,,,only joken.... great stuff and fantasic results.... good on ye....

[pete]

12 bass....your some boy Frank, great bit of fishing there and to think its still only March

[bhoy32]

nice going frank

[Tommy B]

Well done Frank and great report as usual. I'm sure when you start the lure fishing the size of them will double.
Tommy

[eoghanb]

East cork / Waterford u lads have it all great cod in the winter and loads a bass in summer,great fishing I'm very gealous

[roger de dodger]

nice work frank what hooks are you putting on them pennels they look extremely sharp??

[simplywabs]

Another amazing session from you Frank! Bass no 8 looks to be really hurt from that shot.

[tight lines]

well done once again top class fishing as always

[sparkey+1]

What a nights fishing and some going Farnk well done

[smurfy]

Good job frank . 12 bass is some going , I'm still chasing my first ? How long are you making your flapper rig and snoods ?

[Sweetwrasse]

Great fishing.................again Nice detailed report too.