East Cork Beach 11th April 2008

Message

#1 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:00 am

People: Me

Duration: 7.45 - 10.30 pm

Tide: HW at 10.30 pm

Weather: Mild, light westerly breeze, clear

Bait: Lugworm, king ragworm, squid

Rigs: Single hook flapper (4/0), pennel pulley (3/0), two hook flapper (3/0)

Results: 2 bass, 1 coalfish

Report: It was nice sunny evening so I had a quick dinner and headed out for some beach fishing and the first try on my new Penn Affinity rod that I had just purchased at a bargain price from a UK online store. There was a good surf and it looked like there could be a possibility of a bass so I set up both rods with size 3/0 or 4/0 hooks.

At dusk I looked for my lamp - disaster :x I had left it at home :oops: Fortunately I had a back up - I had a small torch in my coat pocket. It was a clear night with a half moon so there was enough moonlight to work with. I just needed light to bait up the hooks. I did that while holding the torch in my mouth :roll:

I had a couple of tugs on the line at dusk but nothing hooked - then there was a good pull on the rod tip - I started to retrieve and it felt heavier and was putting up more of a fight than the average 1 lb coalfish that are prevalent on the beaches at this time of year. As I hauled it through the foam I could see that distinctive raised dorsal fin in the moonlight - my first bass of 2008 :D :D :D

The bass was 43 cm and just under 2 lb. I caught it with the 3/0 pennel pully, baited with lug worm and with the new rod too.

About 10 minutes later there was another tug on the line - this time it was a coalfish - 32 cm, just under 1 lb, again caught on lug worm on the pennel pulley 3/0 rig.

20-25 minutes after that there was a strong pull on the second rod - this time the fish was putting up a strong fight - I reckoned it had to be another bass. Sure enough it was - bigger than the first, 47 cm and 2.75 lb.
:D :D :D

This was caught on the two hook 3/0 flapper with a lugworm-squid cocktail.

I fished for a little longer, until high tide, but there were no more bites.
So what had initially looked to be a diaster when I discovered I had not brought my lamp turned out to be a great night, and a good start with my new rod.

#2 Post by **thescotsman** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:15 am

Nice one rockhunter. Seems to be a good few bass showing around Cork now. Great isn't it? :)

#3 Post by **MAC** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:20 am

Nice fishing mate well done.

Kev

#4 Post by **RockHunter** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:31 pm

Thanks guys,
Yes it looks like the fishing is finally going to pick up :lol: . Fish have been scarce on the beaches for the last few months (for me anyway) - and it great to get something other than coalfish.