Seaweed Flies

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Liamo

Seaweed Flies

#1 Post by Liamo »

Lads,

Has anyone got any information on those flies that lay their eggs in the seaweed? I've found a mark down here which is stuffed full of mullet on occasion feeding on the maggots. The problem is we can't seem to predict when the weed is going to be full of maggots. Went down last night as big spring tides had pushed right up into the weed but the flies haven't been laying. A month ago the place was crawling with them and consequently crawling with fish too.

Looking for any info on laying patterns, breeding times etc. etc.

It's bad enough having to think like a fish now having to think likes flies as well could be the final straw!

Liam
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Cooke
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#2 Post by Cooke »

I would try mike ladle's site below as a starting point

http://www.mikeladle.com/osa.html
Liamo

#3 Post by Liamo »

Hi,

Had a look through Mike Ladle's website and found the following:

"The seaweed fly (Coelopa frigida) is one of five species of black, bristly flies which buzz about in clouds on the seashore to the consternation of holidaymakers. Their larvae, about the size of housefly maggots, live in the piles of rotting seaweed cast up near the high water mark of spring tides. These flies came into the news in 1953-4, when a veritable plague occurred on the coasts of southern England. The adult flies are irresistibly attracted to cleaning fluids. Factories where carbon tetrachloride or chloroform were used as solvents were inundated with the insects.

The flies normally breed throughout the year and occur on beaches from the English Channel to the Shetlands."

Liam
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bigkev
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Maggots

#4 Post by bigkev »

I've had great success on mullet in dingle, just up from trabeg with maggots bought from coarse fishing shops.
Reasonably cheap, you can ground bait em up , baiting a little and often

However, this does rely on mullet being in the area, preferably with weed on the shore on an incoming tide

Great crack with a fly rod and 3 maggots on a 10 hook
Or a light float outfit

When its great, its really really great fishing
But you do look a mug with a fly rod and maggots if theres no mullet about :oops:

Kev
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#5 Post by fenitbob »

saw something similar to that out in kilshannig on the maherees last year loads of mullet about 2 fet from the water line it looks mad!
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#6 Post by fenitbob »

saw something similar to that out in kilshannig on the maherees last year loads of mullet about 2 fet from the water line it looks mad!
Liamo

#7 Post by Liamo »

Hi,

If you come across mullet feeding like this again have a go off 'em. They go crazy, you can almost stand on them and they don't seem to care... mopping up everything they come across

Liam

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