West Clare 06.09.12
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- SAI Hammerhead
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West Clare 06.09.12
People: Myself +1
Duration: 3/4hrs
Tide: Dropping
Weather: Sunny with light wind
Bait: Fresh Mack
Rigs: Pully Pennel & Flapper
Results: Ray
Report:
Having recently moved to Co Clare from Dublin I had been itching to try to catch my first ray or huss that freqent the Shannon estuary. I had recieved some very helpful PM's (thanks guys) over the past few weeks on possible marks and had picked a tide and mark that I fancied. I had fished this particular mark a couple of weeks previous with my efforts going unrewarded however the fella that was with me had a nice TB @ 4-5lbs.
I have been reliably informed that fresh Mack is the way to go and decided to stop off to stock up at a cliff top Mack mark that has consistently provided myself and my freezer with as many as I wanted. The only downside to it was the hight (100ft easy), the litter and dodging 6oz and hooks from the group of fellas with funny accents. Interestingly I managed to get 3 Scad which are in the freezer for a winter pike bait. I had never caught or seen these fish before so was delighted to tick another species off the list.
I got to the mark to find the conditions perfect with the tide dropping and not a soul around. Quick hop through the field dodging the bull (thanks Neil) and short hike and I was ready. Set up two rods and was in the process of putting on the mack when i realised that I had forgotten my bait elastic.... The last time I was here the crabs had an all you can eat buffet with my baits so i was not very confident of my chances.
First rod in the water about two mins and the rod tip was starting to show some interest then went very slack. Lifted into the fish and felt a nice weight at the end of the line and a kick. Having never caught a ray from the shore I was unsure what it was as it felt a bit like a large doggie. Anyway Nice wee ray arrived shortly on the shore- Happy Days!
The baits remained untouched for the next hour with us having to put new mack on every 10 mins due to the crabs. Eventually I got cheesed off with this and decided to put on a full Joey and launched it into the channel. Almost immediately another bite identical to the first resulted in my second ray which was slightly bigger than my first.
Decided to head off after this to stop off for some more Macs for the freezer. Great day and delighted to catch 2 new species.
Duration: 3/4hrs
Tide: Dropping
Weather: Sunny with light wind
Bait: Fresh Mack
Rigs: Pully Pennel & Flapper
Results: Ray
Report:
Having recently moved to Co Clare from Dublin I had been itching to try to catch my first ray or huss that freqent the Shannon estuary. I had recieved some very helpful PM's (thanks guys) over the past few weeks on possible marks and had picked a tide and mark that I fancied. I had fished this particular mark a couple of weeks previous with my efforts going unrewarded however the fella that was with me had a nice TB @ 4-5lbs.
I have been reliably informed that fresh Mack is the way to go and decided to stop off to stock up at a cliff top Mack mark that has consistently provided myself and my freezer with as many as I wanted. The only downside to it was the hight (100ft easy), the litter and dodging 6oz and hooks from the group of fellas with funny accents. Interestingly I managed to get 3 Scad which are in the freezer for a winter pike bait. I had never caught or seen these fish before so was delighted to tick another species off the list.
I got to the mark to find the conditions perfect with the tide dropping and not a soul around. Quick hop through the field dodging the bull (thanks Neil) and short hike and I was ready. Set up two rods and was in the process of putting on the mack when i realised that I had forgotten my bait elastic.... The last time I was here the crabs had an all you can eat buffet with my baits so i was not very confident of my chances.
First rod in the water about two mins and the rod tip was starting to show some interest then went very slack. Lifted into the fish and felt a nice weight at the end of the line and a kick. Having never caught a ray from the shore I was unsure what it was as it felt a bit like a large doggie. Anyway Nice wee ray arrived shortly on the shore- Happy Days!
The baits remained untouched for the next hour with us having to put new mack on every 10 mins due to the crabs. Eventually I got cheesed off with this and decided to put on a full Joey and launched it into the channel. Almost immediately another bite identical to the first resulted in my second ray which was slightly bigger than my first.
Decided to head off after this to stop off for some more Macs for the freezer. Great day and delighted to catch 2 new species.
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- SAI Hammerhead
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
Nothing better than hitting a mark and catching what you are after!!!
Congrats no the new species!

SPECIES 2011: (7) Dogfish, Mackerel, Cod, Pollock, European Eel, Common Blenny, Pin Whiting
SPECIES 2012: (7) Whiting, Coalie, Pollock, Mackerel, Ballan Wrasse (32cm x2, 34cm, PB 38cm) , Corkwing Wrasse, Three-Bearded Rockling
SPECIES 2013: (1) Ballan Wrasse (2)
SPECIES 2012: (7) Whiting, Coalie, Pollock, Mackerel, Ballan Wrasse (32cm x2, 34cm, PB 38cm) , Corkwing Wrasse, Three-Bearded Rockling
SPECIES 2013: (1) Ballan Wrasse (2)
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
very nice report joe. happy days, well done. a few good pics too. that fishing mark is mental!
and nice to see a couple of scad, they taste great btw..
and nice to see a couple of scad, they taste great btw..
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
well done joe,,,now you are in a great county for species,,,neil is the man to talk too....congrats on new species
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
Chuckaroo i had heard that they were only fit for the cat....?chuckaroo wrote:very nice report joe. happy days, well done. a few good pics too. that fishing mark is mental!
and nice to see a couple of scad, they taste great btw..
He sure is... Very helpful and a true gent.saving private brian wrote:well done joe,,,now you are in a great county for species,,,neil is the man to talk too....congrats on new species
Cheers lads, now for the Huss...
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
no way. i believe this to be an untrue and unfounded rumourjoebhoy wrote:Chuckaroo i had heard that they were only fit for the cat....?chuckaroo wrote:very nice report joe. happy days, well done. a few good pics too. that fishing mark is mental!
and nice to see a couple of scad, they taste great btw..
another name for the scad is the horse mackerel, it is an important commercial species and very popular
the name horse mackerel and scad i think make it sound unappetising but i can assure you that its not
i believe it is related to the tuna/mackerel fishes and it tastes not unlike mackerel. its a bit less oily than mackerel and in my opinion even nicer
only one way to find out.. give it a try next time you get one. and always try and eat fish as fresh as possible, obviously
Charlie
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
2025 targets:
40lb+ stinger, shore skate, shore tope, 10lb+ cod
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
I bet that mac mark holds fine Ballan wrasse
It looks quite similar to a mark we fished 2 yrs ago off Kerry head which produced the best wrasse fishing I've ever experienced from boat or shore !!! Great Craic
Dave

It looks quite similar to a mark we fished 2 yrs ago off Kerry head which produced the best wrasse fishing I've ever experienced from boat or shore !!! Great Craic

Dave
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
dac69696969 wrote:I bet that mac mark holds fine Ballan wrasse![]()
It looks quite similar to a mark we fished 2 yrs ago off Kerry head which produced the best wrasse fishing I've ever experienced from boat or shore !!! Great Craic![]()
Dave
Dave the mark in the photo was not the one that I caught the Mac and Scad from, the cliff mark was 2 or 3 times higher than that

God bless the west coast

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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
Well done on the ray Joe,great fishing and great report
I found when I fished down that way and the crabs were out in force that a sandeel wrapped in squid and bound with elastic seemed to survive the crabs for a bit longer
Looks like you moved to nice spot anyway,some cracking fishing to be had around there.Enjoy
Tim



Tim
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
just read your report and thats a fine ray,its always great to hear when a plan comes together.
well done
john a
well done
john a
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Re: West Clare 06.09.12
Cheers Tim. Let me know the next time you fancy heading west......... After all your probably sick of catching giant husstimod wrote:Well done on the ray Joe,great fishing and great reportI found when I fished down that way and the crabs were out in force that a sandeel wrapped in squid and bound with elastic seemed to survive the crabs for a bit longer
Looks like you moved to nice spot anyway,some cracking fishing to be had around there.Enjoy
![]()
Tim
