Rock Fishing - Northern Ireland

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andyjaffs · #1 Post by **andyjaffs** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:44 pm

Hi Folks,
As happens most summers I have been tasked with taking nephews and other assorted relatives out for a bit of fishing. I'm a fly fisherman and rather than try to sort out tangles, licences and all manner of headaches I like to take the kids sea fishing.
I don't have a lot of sea specific gear, but do have a few suitable light spinning rods. I always enjoyed float fishing when I was a kid so have ordered some lugworm and have got a day off on Thursday to try some locations as possible places to bring everyone later this month.
I have been reading the boards and Grey's Point and Orlock seem to be mentioned. I will travel anywhere for a bit of scenery and sport. Antrim Coast/Strangford/Islandmagee.
Could anyone recommend any accessible spots I may have overlooked that we might have the chance of hitting a few fish float fishing from the rocks. A report and photos of any success will follow later in the week.

Thanks for your help,

Andy

#2 Post by **Ronald** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:17 pm

hi Andy ,welcome to the site .with the weather forecast towards the end of the week ,blackhead is worth a try ,you should get plenty of wrasse,pollack,coalies on the float gear and worm ,though you'd be better getting ragworm if you could get some . the wind should be right over your head ,you get there by parking at whitehead and walking along the coast path till your under the lighthouse ,theres a gully running along side the path with a couple of ledges/platforms to fish from ,just drop your baits down here and you should hit a few fish .

andyjaffs · #3 Post by **andyjaffs** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:03 am

Thanks Ronald, I think it was Rag I ordered although I wrote Lug, so now I have confused myself. I'll know when I turn up at Belfast Angling Supplies on Thursday morning.

Thanks for the tip based on the weather forecast, last year I ventured out to Orlock on a trip I had planned well in advance. I didn't realise how bad the wind was until I got there. I gave up on the float and struggled with a 40g spinner for 10 mins before bailing out. Got some interesting beach combing finds on the way back though.

#4 Post by **round_ourway** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:01 pm

Hey there andy, there is plenty for of wee spots out there. as ronald mentioned blackhead can throw up some cracking fish. The place is usually packed at the weekend and is sometimes hard to find a spot. good luck and tight lines

andyjaffs · #5 Post by **andyjaffs** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:31 am

I just thought I'd thank you both for the tip of Blackhead lighthouse. Picked up the rag at 9am and was fishing at the lighthouse by 10.30. My old boy came along for the trip and while he was setting up his float rig I tried a few quick casts with a spinner, a pollock on the 2nd cast.
For the next couple of hours we hit Pollock regularly. Fishing at a relatively shallow 6 feet we hit loads of Pollock in the 3/4lb (three quarters) range. Dad lifted a nice one about 2 lbs.
While I was baiting up I heard the cry of fish on to turn round and see a big yellow flank turning in the water, followed by a few choice expletives as he left with the 12lb hook length.
Sport tapered off in the last 1.5 hours of the rising tide, we tried much deeper and at different depths but nothing hit.
An interesting note was that mackerel strip out fished rag. When you think about it though a bobbing mid water silver flash must be more appealing on a float. Perhaps the Rag is more of a useful bait for bottom fishing.
The lighthouse is a really interesting spot to fish, the bird life, and the cliff scenery are more appealing than the other side of the Lough, so I shall return, on week days though. I can imagine it is a zoo at the weekend, we lifted 3 bags of rubbish from the mark before leaving. There was yards of heavy line, hook packets, cigarette packets and other assorted rubbish.
A great place to bring the nephews , you need to catch fish quickly with kids.

Thanks Again,

Andy

#6 Post by **round_ourway** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:20 am

glad to hear you got some fish andy

. its a place i would visit on a regular basis to get some spinning down. I have lifted a couple of specimen wrasse outa there.
it seems that there is quite a bit of rubbish about the place.

#7 Post by **Ronald** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:57 am

Glad to hear it all worked out for you Andy ,hopefully thats a few more young anglers getting the fishing bug ,though you'll be tortured to take them out more often .
Its just a pity about the mess ,as you say though the place is a tip with the amount of rubbish ,thats the only problem with somewere thats easy to get to and regularly produces fish