Co. Waterford - 25th January 2009

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 3.30 - 4.00 pm and 4.45 - 9.00 pm

Tide: HW at 5.10 pm

Weather: Terrible, southerly changing to very strong westerly, persistent heavy rain for 2 hours, cold

Bait: Lug, squid, mackerel, sandeel, prawn

Rigs: 3 hook flappers

Results: 2 Painted Rays, 22 Whiting, 6 Dogfish




Report: I dug a bunch of lug on Saturday morning with the intention of going out that evening but heavy rain and strong winds/gales on Saturday evening/night put a stop to that idea. So Sunday afternoon I headed off to a Waterford beach. However, there was a huge surf, but I thought I would give it a go for a while. At that stage the weather wasn't too bad, there had been some heavy showers earlier but now the sun was shining and there was a moderate southerly breeze. Although it was still another 1.5 hours to high tide the waves were surging up the beach to the low cliffs at the back of the foreshore so I just set up one rod. As I was making the first cast another wave surged forward and nearly knocked me off my feet - it was carrying large cobbles up the beach and one of them hit me a wallop on the top of the foot - painful

The 6 oz gripper weight didn't stand a chance of holding. I made one more cast and was standing right at the back of the beach when another big wave surged forward carrying with it all sorts of rocks and boulders. I didn't get hit by anything this time but I decided that was enough - especially as there was still another hour before high tide and already the waves were smashing up against the back of the beach.

I returned to the pier that I have fished the previous two weekends - at least it would be sheltered (or so I thought) and I should get a few fish. When I arrived the sea was much choppier than the previous times I had been there. I set up two rods with three hook flappers baited with lug, mackerel, squid and prawn. Not long after casting out there was a bite - a small 21 cm whiting.

Shortly after arriving the wind changed direction to a westerly and strengthened considerably and then the heavy horizontal rain started. So much for been sheltered I had a few more whiting including several doubles but they were all small, mostly in the 20 -25 cm range. A couple of other anglers arrived - they had attempted to fish the same beach I was at earlier but gave up on it too.

As the rain was still lashing down and the wind still blowing strongly I was considering packing up - then at about 6.15 pm I saw a strong pull on one of the rods. It was definitely not a whiting and it looked different to a dogfish bite (the other species which is very common off this pier). I struck and started to retrieve, whatever it was it was pulling strongly on the line - then it came to the surface and I could see a ray. It was a Painted Ray - a new species for 2009 and the first Painted Ray I have ever caught . It was caught on squid. There was also a small whiting on one of the other hooks.

After releasing the fish I rebaited and cast out to about the same spot. The other two anglers had enough at that stage and left - I don't think they caught anything. Soon afterwards there was another strong knock on the same rod - the same type of bite - I struck and could feel a similar pull on the line - sure enough it was another Painted Ray Again the bait was squid.

I had forgotten about the cold, wind and rain at this stage and was no longer thinking of packing up.

I had another strongish bite but this turned out to be the first dogfish of the night - a triple with two very small whiting.

At about 7.15 pm the rain stopped and the wind eased off. The sea calmed down a bit and then the dogfish came on the feed. A caught another 6 - mostly on squid or squid/mackerel. I was still getting the whiting and eventually got one of 31 cm - that was the only one above 30 cm.

Close to 9.00 pm the bites were showing down and I decided to pack up. I threw the remains of a couple of mackerel into the harbour and just for a last cast lobbed one of the rods on to about the same spot - a few seconds later I had hooked another whiting, soon followed by a second. I made a third cast but snagged a rope. I almost had it within reach when the line snapped

I finished up at that stage - so despite the weather it was a good session - 30 fish and a new species

[corbyeire]

good result on the ray - great to see

[seanie35]

good on ya frank, your fast out of the traps

[DaveP]

Excellent report, well done. Interesting to note that Sunday was meant to be a very good day according to the Solunar tables.

Dave

[Al and Jordan]

thats some good fishing frank bet you were grinning from ear to ear when the first ray broke the surface

[barry murphy]

well rock hunter nice going on the ray well done.just woundering any chance of ahint witch pier you were at?first tought would be ardmore but with westerlys maybe balanacorty, boatstrand?been fishing beaches in waterford for the last 20 year without a ray only places i can seem to get them is up the shannon .any himt be gratfull and ill keep to myself.
cheers barry.

[thighlinescork.com]

well done frank well any ground that produces lots of doggies will produce ray behind that peir the little beach you should put on a light spining rod for place fished a lot when i was younger freinds uncle had a holiday home down there and his fahter loved to go fishing but not actuale fish during the summer you should check out rocks marks close by very deep water .

[zeke]

superb report and result there rockhunter...kudos to you mate

[roger de dodger]

painted ray cooooooooooooooooooooooool

[James Barry]

Well done rockhunter very nice looking fish
Yet to get a ray in waterford....looks like I should keep trying

[RockHunter]

Thanks lads,

Interesting to note that Sunday was meant to be a very good day according to the Solunar tables

Maybe - but I caught 31 fish last Sunday from the same pier - when the fishing was supposed to be poor.
In my limited experience I reckon that the weather conditions are the principal influence. That side of the bay was relatively sheltered (at least it was until the westerlies picked up). Huge swells were rolling towards the beaches across the rest of the bay. So I would think that those fish that prefer calmer conditions would congregate on the more sheltered side. So any ray in the bay were probably in close to that side. When the winds eased off and the sea became less choppy the dogfish came on the feed.

bet you were grinning from ear to ear when the first ray broke the surface

Well it certainly made me forget about the abysmal weather

during the summer you should check out rocks marks close by very deep water

I will have to have a look at those alright - thanks Shane.

[somedose]

Some excellent result in awful conditions - fair play. Although is there any chance you'd be able to hint at the location of this pier (even a pm?)

[cortaz]

dem rays look cute! well done

[eyesreilly]

Well done Frank, i'm delighted for ya ,,, just rewards for time put in and all that ,,what beautiful fish,,well done

[RockHunter]

Thanks Dave,
That pier has been throwing up a few surprises and new species for me over the last few weeks, a couple of weeks ago I got a couple of five bearded rocklings, last week a big pouting and now a couple of painted ray. Just as well there has been a bit of variety between all the whiting and dogfish.

[gearoid mc s.]

nice fishing lad

[thescotsman]

Fine fishing Frank, Good stuff on the rays.

[nifisher]

Cracking pics nice one!!

[saltydog]

Good stuff Frank they're class Rays never caught a painted let alone seen one in the flesh well done nice result