Caliso Bay, Co. Waterford - 26th October 2008

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 3.00 - 5.45 pm

Tide: HW at 3.45 pm

Weather: Sunny, calm, dry - light northwesterly breeze

Bait: Rag, mackerel, razor, mussel, frozen black lug, oyster

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulley, 2 hook flapper, single hook (size 4) flapper

Results: 1 Five bearded Rockling, 3 Shore Rockling, 3 Dogfish, 1 Coalfish




Report: I decided to head to Caliso Bay for a few hours in the afternoon. After the bad weather yesterday I was expecting the sea to be quite rough but it had calmed down considerably. I fished the western end of the beach - the eastern end look unfishable due to a huge amount of weed.

Not long after setting up I got the first bite on the rod in close - a small 5 bearded rockling - a new species for me. Caught on the size 4 hook baited with mussel.
This was followed by a small shore rockling just under 20 cm. This was again caught on the rod in close and again using mussel.

Another shore rockling followed taken on the rod out further on the 3/0 pennel baited with rag and mackerel. This was bigger at about 29 cm.

The next was a dogfish - on the 3/0 pennel, again with rag/mackerel.

I had a strong bite after that - something reasonably big which was pulling strongly on the line but I lost it about 10 m from the shore I don't think it was a dogfish from the fight and it didn't come up to the surface as the dogfish usually do as you reel them in - maybe a bass????

Following that had another dogfish again on 3/0 pennel baited with rag and mackerel.

Next was a coalfish on the rod in close - taken on the size 4 hook baited with mussel. Not a bad size for a coalie from the shore at just over 40 cm.

Then I had another knock on the distance rod - this time another rockling, 32 cm and taken on rag/razor.

After that I had one more dogfish again on the 3/0 pennel baited with rag/mackerel.

It was dusk at that stage but unfortunately I had to pack up as i need to collect some people in Youghal before 6 pm. But it was a busy enough session, with a new species. It is a tricky place to fish with lots of snags but I only got snagged three times and lost two leads.

[RockHunter]

Some more pics

[shamoo0804]

Welldone on the new species.
The rockling are a lovely looking fish, very different than most species we will catch on these shores, and much maligned by most anglers

[seanie35]

nice session there you were kept busy, fishies were in the mood, maybe next week I'm going to give it a late evening session at caliso, apparantly in front of the concrete slip is some clear patches

[thighlinescork.com]

nice busy few hours frank and couple of different fish

[eyesreilly]

Congrats on the new species,nice daylight results, tried the mussel myself yesterday and it worked ,,,,, also had one of those mystery bites ,,,,,leaves you wondering,,eh

[saltydog]

Nice fishing Rockhunter well done on the new species

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,
Its a good spot alright - but full of snags

maybe next week I'm going to give it a late evening session at caliso, apparantly in front of the concrete slip is some clear patches

I have found it best to keep it simple - just a single hook - forget two and three hook flappers. First cast with a two hook flapper there yesterday was snagged. Pennels sometimes got snagged but I didn't have any problem with the small single hook trace.

20-30 m past the concrete seems the clearest area.

tried the mussel myself yesterday and it worked

It is a good bait - I have just started using it again - I used to use it a lot last winter and during the spring.

The rockling are a lovely looking fish, very different than most species we will catch on these shores, and much maligned by most anglers

It is nice to catch a bit of variety - I quite like rocklings - but they are greedy little beggars - they try to cram large baits into their mouths.