East Waterford

[antbear]

Me, the young lad and de brother

3 hours each day

1 hour after low water to about an 90 minutes before high water

S/ SE wind about 3 knots warm

Ragworm, Shrimp and Lugs

2 hook flappers

4 flounder , 3 plaice, 9 bass including 1 specimen fish

Catch and release: Yes to all except the big one.




The first outing of 2009 for me.
Was down home for the week-end and spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday fishing some of my favourite marks in the Suir estuary. Similar weather and conditions over the 3 days, the wind was a bit stronger on Monday.
On Saturday fishing was good and between us we took 4 small bass, 2 flounder and 3 plaice over a three hour period. All were released relatively unharmed.
Sunday went the same way I had got 2 small bass and a flounder after fishing the incoming tide for over 2 hours. We were looking at the conditions and deciding whether we should call it a day when my rod almost jumped off the rock. As I ran towards it another bang.
I knew I had something substantial as soon as I put some tension on. It took me almost 20 minutes to land the beast.
It is the biggest fish I have ever landed, the nearest was 8lbs many moons ago.
I just weighed him/her today and it clocked in at a few grams over 5 kilos.
I just could not believe the size of it when I got it close to the rocks.
So this one is a keeper and is safely stored in the freezer.
Fished again on Monday looking for more monsters but only a few tiddlers appeared.
Still one monster in a lifetime is a good innings.
Attached are a few pics.

[RockHunter]

Well done, that is a monster of a bass alright.

[dfella25]

Oh thats a nice fish man well done.

[minty]

jesus man thats a cracker, what i would'nt give to land him myself, well done and hope he taste's as good as he looks

[nicefish]

Great looking fish, I believe the smaller ones are better to eat.

[seanie35]

fine fish well done

[cortaz]

UP WATERFORD , fine specimen

[Al and Jordan]

i'm well jealous man!!! that's a stonking fish you'll get a couple of meals outta him alright

[cretekos]

that's a beauty alright.well done

[Cormdogg]

Good man, Your tackle must've been sturdy, What breaking strain had you on?
Again well done

[craigo]

Antbear she's a fine specemin alright there seems to be a few big ones around already
Wait til roadrunner see's this one

Great looking fish, I believe the smaller ones are better to eat.

I think the 3/4lbr's taste better

By any chance did you measure it?????

[tazdogue]

Thats a beauty!! Well done!!

[boyler]

Well done thats a cracking Bass.

Paddy

[antbear]

Thanks for all the comments.
I was using light gear. I had a telescopic fly rod with 20 lbs monofilament.
When I saw how big he was I was surprised and thankful that I got him in at all.
The hardest part was bringing him to a shallow spot to grab hold of him.
Maybe I am been too optimistic but with the nets more or less gone fish like this can make it up the river again. Its also nice too see that they still exist.
When I started fishing in this area almost forty years ago, big fish like that were relatively commonplace.
Lets hope there more to come!

[Eoghan]

Nice bass well jealous but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put the big ones back. They are most likely female bass.

3 or 4 pounders do taste better and also a better chance they might be male fish.

No thats out of the way, nice session. Seems the bass went to waterford for the long weekend...!!!