Another East Cork beach - Wednesday 8th October 2008

[RockHunter]

People: Me, Shane (thighlinescork) and his buddy

Duration: 9.15 pm - 12.30 am

Tide: HW at 12.45 am

Weather: Clear, calm

Bait: Mackerel, razor, rag

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulley, single hook (size 6) on long flowing trace

Results: 1 bass, 1 flounder




Report: I hadn't intended to go out but in the afternoon I got a PM from Shane to say he was heading out after getting a few good size turbot the evening before. So I decided to join him and have a try for turbot.

Shane and his buddy were already there when I arrived. I set up and cast out the trace with the size 6 hook baited with mackerel to a moderate distance and the pennel out a bit further. After a few minutes there seemed to be something nibbling on the size 6 hook, I lifted the rod off the stand and held it until I felt a more solid bite and then struck - it felt like there was a good fish on the line which was putting up a bit of a fight. Shane had mentioned that the turbot he got the evening before had been good fighters for flat fish so I was thinking that maybe I had got a good size one. But it was putting a fair bend in the rod for a flattie - then as I hauled it out of the surf there was a bass - 43 cm, 2lb exactly. It was well lip hooked - considering the size of the hook I was lucky to hook it at all.

It was quite after that for a long time. Shane got a huss - a new species for him.

Weed became a bit of a problem - many a time I thought I had another bass only to reel in a big clump of kelp.

Shane headed off around 11.30 pm but I decided to stick it out a bit longer - and eventually got a 27cm flounder - again on the size 6 hook baited with mackerel and razor.

I packed up about 12.30 - so I didn't get a turbot but getting the bass on the first cast more than compensated for that - and surprising to get it on such a small hook


Shane - Thank you for the rag and crabs

[shamoo0804]

Nice result, you sure are putting the time in lately

Size 6 hooks

The smallest I've got in my box are 1's

[RockHunter]

Thanks Shamoo,

I never used size 6 hook before - in a recent post by the "Scotsman" he mentioned that he had got turbot on size 4 or 6 hooks. So I got some size 6 hooks expecting to get a tea bag size turbot not a 43 cm bass

There was only a little strip of mackerel on the hook so I was surprized a bass even bothered with it - they didn't touch my 3/0 pennel with big juicy bait.

[saltydog]

Well done on the bass Rockhunter and the huss shane You'd be surprised what you can even pull in on a size 8 too

[shamoo0804]

You'd be surprised what you can even pull in on a size 8 too

Is there room on a size 8 for bait

[thighlinescork.com]

i didn,t get the huss on a size 8 id be some man if i did

[eyesreilly]

Well done again Rockhunter, nice bass, and on a size 6. I got a bass a few weeks ago on a size 4, 12lb line , couple of yards out as i scratched for small fish off the rocks to keep me busy . You just never know whats out there waiting to gobble up the bait.Are you getting any sleep this weather,, you'll need another holiday soon

[thighlinescork.com]

heres a pic of frank with the bass nice couple

and here is a not so great pic of the bull huss

[RockHunter]

Thanks Guys,

Thanks for posting the photos Shane.

Dave, I am having an early night tonight - although the wind has picked up and there seems to be a good southerly blowing, but I had to bring herself shopping to Cork City this evening - probably just as well - otherwise I would have been tempted to head out for another session tonight