Duration: 4.30pm - 10pm
Tide: high around 7.30pm
Weather: fine, settled, cool
Bait: rag, mack, sandeel
Rigs: flappers, 1 and 2 hook paternosters
Results: 1x bass, 4x shore rockling, 1x flounder, 1x teabag turbot, 3x coley, 4x codling, 4x dogfish
Upon arrival at the mark we noticed a handful of guys further up the shore so, after having no immediate bites, I walked up to see what they were at. The lads informed me that they had been fishing most of the day with lures, that all they had caught was "that sea trout over there..", I looked over their shoulders to see a huge female salmon kelt laying on the sand.
The fish had taken a hard plastic plugging lure and they had weighted it at 14.5lb; it was a fine fish but in poor condition, it had obviously not long returned from spawning. The fish was lean and lanky (big head and shabby thin body), and could easily have been over 18lb prior to spawning. It was a pity to see such a fish laying there dead - and it would have tasted like crap btw! - but at least it had already spawned, I suppose..
So anyway, back to the fishing...
well, it wasn't long before there was a bass on the shore
not my own unfortunately but Cathal had caught a nice 2lb4oz fish on his first cast. He couldn't believe it and nor could I lol, it was the first bass that I had actually physically seen on the north coast. Is was a stunning fish, a fat bar of silver and a real prize after a lot of time and effort put in by us over the last while 
Spirits were high and we went on to catch an array of other species, though no more bass - it did't matter as we were pleased with the one caught, other species here and there kept us interested.
I managed a doggie that had taken both hooks down deep and, after having been inspired by a report on here by someone saying that they had eaten deep fried dogfish in Spain - saying that it was delicious, - I knocked it on the head and took it home.
There was a right bit of work getting the thing skinned but having watched a few videos on youtube I got there in the end. The dogfish was tasty but nothing to get too excited about tbh. It was strange, the flesh before cooking was very very firm, almost rubbery, but after cooking it had turned really soft, almost to mush. It was just OK.
I also killed and cooked a rockling that had swallowed a hook. Now I have eaten rockling before and it was delicious but this one wasn't quite as good. Again, just OK
Got red-up and made home just about in time for MotD
A good session. We'll be back again soon too, "I will get my first one yet"...........
a few pics..:
