Tralee Bay beach - 24th April

[pete]

People:Me and mate Declan

Duration:9.30on to 12.15am

Tide:Flooding

Weather:Wet! Plenty of lightning also

Bait:Mackerel, razor and sandeel

Rigs:1 (3/0) hook running ledger

Results:Dogfish

Catch and Release:: Yes



Report:After doing ok on Inch the last day we headed back down to fish the rising tide into darkness. The surf though was alot bigger and first cast and my trace was pulled away to the right. Lots of really fine weed had built up along the lenght of the line so we decided to cut our losses and head to the other side of the penninsula.

First few casts at the new venue produced nothing and it wasn't until around 11pm before the mate wound in a dogfish on mac/razor cocktail. I at this stage was fishing a half fillet of mackerel at range and decided to change my bait and started winding only to find a good deal of resistence. At first instance I thought I'd hooked a big heap of weed and for the first two or three minutes I was pumping dead weight but then...and it nearly scared the crap out of me...the 'weed' made two or three heavy lunges taking line in the process. The century was heeled over like never before and it was only very gradually that I was able to coax whatever the hell was on the other end into the surf. As the mate walked down into the surf with his light the fish headed back out again and again.

Coaxed him back again and there in the surf was a bloody great sting ray, Dec got his hand on the trace but just he did she broke at the hook.....devestated Biggest thing I'd ever hooked from the shore and was distraught at loosing him. At least I managed to see it. Would have put it at 40 to 50lb

[SeanP]

Good decision at moving from Inch, that fine weed is a right pain.
Shame the Stinger got off at the last minute, sounds like a damn good scrap Well done!
Sean,

[Ronald]

Unlucky Pete ,I'll be down that neck of the woods in july with the other half ,and hope to squeeze in a bit of ray/wrasse fishing ,I'll be giving you a ring for some pointers as all you've been doing for the last few weeks is fishing ,I take it works quite

[MAC]

Unlucky Pete..... I think the Irish record comes from that area at 76lb. That was a ctacking fish though. Must have scared the shite out of you at night time....... You'l get him next time.

Kev

[Adam S]

unlucky pete,

right place and right time for stingers though, they can be in very close there too, saw a guy get a 30lbs one just over the breakers.

keep an eye out, you will get him next time, if theres one there there will be more

[pete]

Thanks lads, will try and get back one of the nights this week, don't want to be haunted by it for the rest of the summer Was talking to Liamo of the site and he was saying that they have been around much earlier than usual this summer.

Ron I'll sort you out with directions when your coming down.