Greystones species hunt, Co. Wicklow, 02/11/12

[Sweetwrasse]

People: Just myself

Duration: 16.45-20.30

Tide: LW at 19.00

Weather: Cold and dry, stiff northerly breeze.

Bait:lug and pink marukyu power isome worms.

Rigs: 2 hook flapper, size 4 hooks

Results:Codling, pollock, coleys, poor cod, octopus, scorpion fish, shore rockling (I think) and of course.......whiting!

Report: Having noticed that my species list had been stuck on 17 for a good while, I decided it was time to give it a boost. I knew the cold weather would have cleared the piers of a few common summer species so decided to hit Greystones after work armed only with my trusty 20 year-old Milbro spinning rod and some size 4 hooks. First drop down the wall produced a small codling, with nearly every cast producing something. The pollock and coleys were hammering the lug baits so I put on a power isome soft-plastic on the top snood to preserve the fresh bait. This worked out well with coleys, pollock and rockling taking the artificial worm. I was quite surprised by how effective it was as I didn't really think it would work fished on the bottom. I'll definitely be trying them in a few different marks to see what happens. The fishing was fairly consistent, all small fish but it was good to be catching. Got a nice surprise with my first octopus ever, interesting to see and definitely counting it on the species list! The rockling came on the feed then and pulled in 4 or 5 over the next half hour or so with a single poor cod making an appearance along with a few sea-scorpions. Not sure if they're short or long-spined so IDs much appreciated. Also, not sure if the rockling are shoreys or three-beards? The bites dropped off once the tide turned and with the lug all gone and the cold starting to bite it was time to hit the road. Very enjoyable session I must say and mission accomplished on the species front Few pics below.

[SirSquiglum]

Nice lil session that
U buy the isome local or order off the net Wrasse?

[Sweetwrasse]

Nice lil session that
U buy the isome local or order off the net Wrasse?

Cheers SirSquiglum, I got them in Rory's tackle in temple bar. €6.60 for 15 medium sized worms. Hope to experiment with a few different colours and mark locations over the next while. Would like a few flatties on lures.

[eyesreilly]

Well done Sweetwrasse ,,,,,,,,,,,an octopus is always an interesting catch also that's a pouting not a poor cod, and it looks like a shore rockling to me,both species fairly common from the pier. Must try that artificial worm idea myself . Had a couple of nice codling from there last week, 45 cms , just off the wall so you never know

[Sweetwrasse]

Well done Sweetwrasse ,,,,,,,,,,,an octopus is always an interesting catch also that's a pouting not a poor cod, and it looks like a shore rockling to me,both species fairly common from the pier. Must try that artificial worm idea myself . Had a couple of nice codling from there last week, 45 cms , just off the wall so you never know

Thanks eyes, it took me a while to figure out how to prize him off the ground, he was stuck solid! You're right about the pouting, I was a bit over enthusiastic with the ID They're fine codling, there seems to be a nice mix of ground around that pier which could throw up a few surprises.

[ark rose glenn]

fare play pal good little session nice to get an octapus in the mix too well done....

[fishy1987]

Brilliant fishing hopefully that haul of species will have upped your count.Excellent variety of fish,are those power isome's easily available as in local tackle shops?shorey! and i think a shortspined sea scorpion?always had plenty of trouble on identifying short from long spined
tightlines
fergal

[Sweetwrasse]

Brilliant fishing hopefully that haul of species will have upped your count.Excellent variety of fish,are those power isome's easily available as in local tackle shops?shorey! and i think a shortspined sea scorpion?always had plenty of trouble on identifying short from long spined
tightlines
fergal

Cheers man. Leaning towards shorey myself and the scorpions were pretty small so I think they may be long-spined. I always have the same trouble with the IDs I've seen the worms in a few tackle shops about dublin. They're one of the lures the LRF men seem to swear by. I was just surprised that they caught fish while static. With the explosion of interest in LRF I'd imagine it shouldn't be to hard to find them locally, otherwise a quick order on the web will see you right.

[fishy1987]

Soundman i should have read that you got them in temple bar best of luck hope they get a you a flattie/a few more species before the year end
ferg

[mickser]

unfortunet to run out of bait but that octopus you caught would make a great bait just cut of the tentacles peel of the skin and you have a perfect white wriggling worm bait deadly for all species
mickser

[ste c]

lads i dont know how people are able to fish the harbour theres a serious drag whats the trick? iv tryed close in and distance my leads end up in wexford

[JOHN1]

lads i dont know how people are able to fish the harbour theres a serious drag whats the trick? iv tryed close in and distance my leads end up in wexford

try in even closer the fish a just under your nose

nice mix of fish sweetwrasse and yes the rockling are the shore variety

[JPA]

lads i dont know how people are able to fish the harbour theres a serious drag whats the trick? iv tryed close in and distance my leads end up in wexford

You can also fish directly in the mouth of the harbor. It's forbidden when there are boats, but it's not a problem at night.

[JPA]

Nice fishing, Sweetwrasse. I was there 2 hours after you left. Still plenty of fish. The mark seems to fish well whatever the tide is apparently.

[eyesreilly]

lads i dont know how people are able to fish the harbour theres a serious drag whats the trick? iv tryed close in and distance my leads end up in wexford

Hi Ste,,,,John 1 is dead right ,,,,just flick your bait out a couple of yards,,,just enough to keep clear of the weed growing on the wall itself. I usually let it drop to the bottom,,,,then lift it slightly. Let's face it,,,,,,,,,,you're going to get snagged and lose rigs no matter what ,,,as the ground underneath is quite snaggy with weed, boulders and by this stage plenty of lost rigs but this rough stuff is whats bringing the fish in. I make all my own rigs cheaply enough and to be honest I would expect to lose a few on a session there. I've lost a lot by this stage but i've also got some decent fish too You'll get to know the feel of the ground in close there after a while,,,,,,,hope this makes some sense

[JOHN1]

You can also fish directly in the mouth of the harbor. It's forbidden when there are boats, but it's not a problem at night.

you still get some boats using here at night including me

[JPA]

You can also fish directly in the mouth of the harbor. It's forbidden when there are boats, but it's not a problem at night.

you still get some boats using here at night including me

oops... ignore my advice and follow what is written on the sign : do not fish across the mouth of the harbor !

[ste c]

lads i dont know how people are able to fish the harbour theres a serious drag whats the trick? iv tryed close in and distance my leads end up in wexford

Hi Ste,,,,John 1 is dead right ,,,,just flick your bait out a couple of yards,,,just enough to keep clear of the weed growing on the wall itself. I usually let it drop to the bottom,,,,then lift it slightly. Let's face it,,,,,,,,,,you're going to get snagged and lose rigs no matter what ,,,as the ground underneath is quite snaggy with weed, boulders and by this stage plenty of lost rigs but this rough stuff is whats bringing the fish in. I make all my own rigs cheaply enough and to be honest I would expect to lose a few on a session there. I've lost a lot by this stage but i've also got some decent fish too You'll get to know the feel of the ground in close there after a while,,,,,,,hope this makes some sense

thanks mate il have to give it another bash so as all the reports from the pier seem to always throw up a few fish

[johnwest]

Nice session there Sweetwrasse, in my book a good variety of species can often compensate for a lack of size. I love the picture of the first rockling in particular ( though I'm still trying to work out from which hotel you "acquired" the tea towel!).

[JOHN1]

though I'm still trying to work out from which hotel you "acquired" the tea towel!).

This might help you