Torr Head Antrim 19th August 2007

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#1 Post by **kieran** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:45 pm

People: Ronald and myself

Duration: about 1 hour

Tide: incoming! about low water up

Weather: Windy, overcast but no rain

Bait: Ragworm

Rigs: Small rotten bottom leger for ronald, and then we all went lure fishing

Results: 1 wrasse, 1 mackerel, a few small pollack, and a sunfish... well almost

Catch and Release:: Yes, Kept the mack

Report: Ronald very generously agreed to tour me around the marks in north Antrim and all I can say is lucky bugger - fantastic fishing. I plan to use the details, photos and such like for a few articles in the coming months and I can guarantee those of you not from the area you will be planning trips in 2008. We drove up from Belfast past all those marks you see reports on - I have fished a few many years ago, I have dulled memories of Glenarm and Torr Head itself, alcohol induced sadly!

Eventually found our way out to Torr Head and realised that I did not have the rock boots with me. Pulled on the backpack and clambered up to find a gale blowing at the top. To cut a long story short we looked at some of the marks, including some a madman would not venture down to, and decided to fish the salmon harbour side out of the wind. Small trek through the bracken and we were there - lovely spot but a few pots out.

Ronald set about looking for a few wrasse and I pulled out this lovely but light spinning rod. Ronald was first in with a small but very deeply coloured wrasse. Slapped a German sprat on and had a mack inside the first few casts. Thought lovely six for the tea when I get home... Gannets overhead the whole time and then we saw a sunfish dipping its way north against the current. Hooked the lobster pot rope, lose lure and some yards of braid. Silent cursing etc. Picked another set of lures, tried them out and picked up a few small pollack on silver lures, then got one stonking take (well I would guess around 4 lbs of pollac) and the fish dragged me in towards the ropes again. Wrapped me in there condemning us both. Could not muscle it away from the rope owing to the lightness of the rod, bad selection in retrospect.

Overall, lovely spot... shame about the weather as it made the island on the front of the headland virtually unfishable. Reckon the marks out nearer the rip currents will definitely produce the better fish...

Cool to see a sunfish, and Ronald is an expert guide. Fair dues... and you should see some of the marks on the Rathlin island coast, fantastic.

Tight lines

#2 Post by **Ronald** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:55 pm

Good report for a very short session Kieran , pity you didn't have more time ,but you'd a hell of a journey ahead of you to get home , it's just a pity i couldn't get a photo of the sunfish as it buggered of as i was climbing up above it to get a better shot .
As for marks for madmen , so long as your well prepared they're fine (ropes,boots etc.)

#3 Post by **kieran** » Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:46 pm

Hi Ronald

In terms of madness, I will confess! Over in Kilkee a while back and looking at some of the trails from years ago, I can not believe I used them.

Fair dues to the builder, we need more people like that with a pioneering spirit and a sense of adventure. If we all fished off a beach it would be a bit sad... I would not mind a chat with him.

Ronald, if he is on the forum you might ask him to drop me a PM - there are a few similar spots in Belmullet and elsewhere in north Mayo that might offer amazing fishing...

thanks

#4 Post by MC » Fri Aug 24, 2007 11:20 pm

nice report, was that the new spinning rod you where using Kirean, glad the trip up was worth it,

#5 Post by **kieran** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 1:06 am

Yep

new spinning rod, report in the tackle section. Lovely rod but too light for rock fishing, you might get away with it on a beach but I suspect a decent bass would play hell with you on it. Could involve a lot of running! :D

FWIW...