20th July 2023, South Side of Donegal Bay

[johnwest]

I haven’t been sea fishing since January,( too busy at the trout), I was sure I would forget something critical so after a double check I took to the road. I had been considering taking the boat but the weather forecast was a bit on the breezy side and it’s a long way to go for a blow-out! On the way to my spot I passed a small spate river where several cars were parked, one guy was walking back to his car with a nice silver grilse in hand. Appetite whetted, I arrived at my mark in beautiful weather but looking across to the north side of the bay I could see a series of 4-5 heavy showers marching east along the coast; I was on the sunny side of the street! That said, one heavy shower hit just as I was about to lock the car so I sat that one out and had a quick coffee and sandwich. On the bright side the downpour very efficiently cleared the beach of “civilians”. I was soon settled at the water’s edge, no swell, surf or waves to push me back. Concerned that it was a bit too calm, I fished one 2 hook flapper in close and the other a bit further out, 20yds and 80yds approx. Mackerel strip was the Dish of the Day. A rattle on the near rod produced a 24cm flounder, an encouraging start. Once c.p.r’d, I re-baited and dropped it in close again. Checking the far rod saw a weever come spinning through the water. The near rod then added to the species list with a small turbot and the far rod replied with another weever. Four casts = four fish. I have fished this mark for years but only in the last few have I seen weevers on it. A couple more flounder in the 25-26 cm range came from close in. The near (shallow) rod gave flatties, the far (deeper) rod gave weevers, I cast to an intermediate distance and landed a double shot; one of each! This was the best flounder of the day at 30cm. This activity attracted a “civilian” with his two young daughters, I warned them about the weever fish but they knew all about them as the younger girl had stood on one last year. The older girl (~ 8?) was happy to put the flounder back and she held it exactly as I told her, walked to the water’s edge, knelt down and placed the fish carefully in the water, a perfect release. By now the other rod was rattling and a smaller flounder was soon ashore. The younger girl (~4?) wanted to put it back so she too held the fish as instructed, carried it carefully to the water’s edge…..and launched it into the air for a splashdown! Ah, it was all going so well. The flapper rig had beads on the lower snood, a blade on the upper, and the bladed hook was more effective, 4:1. Things went quiet around low water but picked up again on the flood. Just as the tide turned, a few sandeels started popping up out of the sand, a little hasty as there were a couple of gulls flying around. I saved a few from the birds; they would be safe in my tackle box! It was only a short session, 3.5hrs, as I had other business to attend to and I finished with another flounder on my last cast, nice to start and finish with a fish. I ended up with 5 flounder, 1 turbot and 4 weevers; nothing huge or unusual but a very enjoyable session nonetheless. It was good to be back! By now the breeze had freshened quite a bit, not a boat day after all then?

[MC]

not bad going sir, ps weevers are a sign of clean water