Duration:various dates
Tide:high and low
Weather:it was the best of times,it was the worst of times

Bait:peelers
Rigs:3/0 4/0 5/0 pulleys/pulley pennels 1/0 flappers and 1/0 pennels
Report:
december 16th
myself and sailnfish managed to get the opportuinity to fish the low and the high so we said we'd head for the seawall below in monkstown for the low and hit a favourite beach of ours for the high that evening.delighted

the 1st lad we passed said there was an 11lb monster cod taken earlier that morning,but to be honest i didnt know if i should've believed him or not


happy out to be heading to the beach,with not a sinner about.

1st cast out landed me a 39cm codling.nice.



with one baitsworth left each,the last cast




24 december
headed back to the same beach for what was to be the last session of 2o12,at around lunchtime for the flood,only for myself and sailnfish and his buddy to all draw a blank.

11 january
back again to the same beach for the 1st bass of the year,set up shop cast out.i had to go back to the van to get something vital to my fishing


upsizing hooks,downsizing hooks,penneling the pulleys,changing hook styles.nothing would do.must get eagle claws.anybody use them?
anyway another f#cking blank.

12th january
said to myself i'd give it another bash and so did the buddies when they heard the previous tales from the beach,hoping that the dream of a 10 lb'er,first fish of the year and all that would come true.so myself kev,teddy and his small fella paul headed struck off for the same beach,things were looking good,there was an onshore wind which is a plus for this mark a 4.2 tide and a new moon the night before grand and dark and the weather was grand and mild when we left my gaff

when we got to the mark there was a fairly serious onshore gale i wasn't expecting,savage swells and a battle to cast a 6oz gripper and another battle to hold ground.i was shouting at kev standing next to me and he couldnt hear me for the surf and the howling wind.we lasted an hour and a half.another blank for the four of us.ah christ.3 blanks in a row.whitewash man.

14 th january
with bass still on my mind and the grand calm day monday was,when wingnut mentioned he was heading out for a cast isaid i'd go with him.we set course for a different east cork beach this time not wanting to invite another blank.twas dead calm with a whisper of a surf and a small number chill.the lines were tight and still in the water,sweet

i decided to change bait and went about unsetting the gripper and with a few gentle tugs and i mean gentle,she came free highlighting some extra weight on my hook,although i knew twasn't a bass,twas too light in the fight and too placid,but what it was was a 2lbs coalie,chunky lil fella,first fishie of the year and the only catch of the night.balls i didnt have a camera,gave him to kev to eat,forgot all about the photo,but remebered to ask kev to take it,but he forgot till he had it filleted.era sure,next time.bad luck had'nt left me yet tho,i went to re-bait and found 6 inches had broke off the top off my rod,a cheapy so i was'nt too bothered

still got bass on my mind tho...
