Spent two weeks down in the mobile home and fished the beach here probably 8 of these nights in total.
Species caught were smoothies both common and starry, dogs, dabs, flounder, plaice, whiting, and poor cod.
Nothing spectacular to report apart from Friday 20th.
There is a small bridge across the river in the middle of the beach and I was fishing directly opposite it into a relatively featureless area of the beach.
Having had nothing of a decent size for the previous several outings I had my mind set on a bass or a big smoothie so two rods were set up one about 20 feet from the beach and the other about 70 to 80 yds out.
After an hour and a half of catching the usual suspects the rod in close gave a good pull followed by a slack line and instantly as i watched it and grabbed it at the same time it took off for the isle of man. I had to give this fish line or I was going with it to prevent a line break. To cut a long story short after about 7 or 8 minutes having not once sighted the fish in relatively calm conditions at about 9.45 pm I lost it. I immediately assumed I had lost a double figure bass such was the velocity of the fish. When I examined the trace, hooks etc there was no damage so I baited up and sent it out to the same spot. I also took the opportunity to let off a flurry of expletives at this point.
I reeled in the second rod and again rebaited and hit it out to its original approximate position.
No sooner had this hit the water and I was trying to free the butt of the rod from the cup of the tripod whilst holding the tripod down with my left hand to prevent it from being pulled over. I was into a good fish and again the anti reverse on the reel was quickly switched off. The fish stayed deep and ran like a train for 10 to 12 minutes (what a bass, I was thinking) before a starry smoothie appeared in the surf. This guy was big, I had no scales but I reckon he was 9 or 10 lbs at least. This was my first smoothie over the 3lb mark and jesus what a scrap. I took out the phone for a photo but it was getting dark and I was worried about whether the picture would come out at all. On further inspection after returning home an hour later I realised that I pressed capture but in the heat of the moment failed to hit store on the god damn phone.
Anyway, as stated in many other smoothie posts about tri pods and rods heading for the sea when smoothies take I am firmly in belief now.
It gives me great encouragement to know that other than waiting on that elusive big bass there are other rod bending fish there that can be targeted on the east coast at this time of year at least.
Other than that the fishing was producing lots of fish but being mixed with an odd decent flounder amongst the many small ones.
There was one bass caught on the beach approximately 4lbs that I was aware of but strangely enough the beach was very quiet when it came to anglers and most evenings I was the only one there.
Tight Lines to all,
Donal.
Clones Strand July 9 to July 20
Moderators: donal domeney, saltydog
-
davybrown99
- SAI Hammerhead
- Posts: 286
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2006 8:59 pm
- Location: Wicklow
- Has thanked: 123 times
- Been thanked: 5 times
Anyway, as stated in many other smoothie posts about tri pods and rods heading for the sea when smoothies take I am firmly in belief now.
Yeah i didnt believe it till i saw it either. Second cast with my new tdss and there it was bouncing across rocks when i turned my back.
LONG LIVE SMOOTHIES!! Laughing Laughing Laughing and bass Cool
Yep.
Btw didn't have any smoothies near there sunday 29th but had plenty of action nearby the week before. Was pretty choppy sunday evening so may have put them off a bit. Did get a bass of a couple of pounds and a flounder though. Nice area.
Cheers
Dave