)Duration: 8.30-11 then 1-5
Tide: LW around 10ish
Weather: calm and cloudy in morning, scorching in afternoon
Bait:
Rigs: various spinners, tobies and spoons
Results: lost count of bass, more than 40 between us (I gave up my personal count at 22, guess I had 30), succession of follows from seatrout
Report: Another unsuccessful seatrout trip for me down in Kerry
I never thought I could get sick of catching bass, but it has happened. Headed out in beautiful conditions on Sunday morning (you've got to love Father's day as an excuse to fish all day) to have another crack at these elusive sea trout which are causing me so much hassle. Quick spin in the boat to reach our mark, beached up and started fishing. First cast, came back without a touch and then the world went a bit crazy. Second cast hit the water and bang a fish was on, Tim was into one too. Pleasantly surprised we both brought in a bass. This continued for the next few casts, I had 12 bass in 15 casts (two fish got off before I landed them
). Tim into about as many. Biggest was, I'd guess about 5lbs which was great fun on a light spinning rod. Most of them around the 2lb mark. Things slowed down about after that, only a bass or a hit every few casts Typical, I wanted sea trout and I was getting bass. They all went back happily (well relatively happy, even the one that had managed to clamp its mouth shut with all 3 barbs), bar a couple for tea. Have to admit, there was a bit of a crisis of conscience going on, but we remained strong.Tim managed to hook up with a small seatrout eventually(they were jumping all around us), but same old story, it got off (despite him setting the hook, having double rings and new ultra sharp hooks).
Great craic, but to be honest and I don't want to sound ungrateful, I would have traded it for a more even spread of fish over all my Kerry fishing trips. 4 or 5 in a day I would have considered a great day, this was just crazy.
Feeling satisifed with our haul, we took a long lunch break (unheard of for me on a fishing trip, usually still desperate to catch a fish) and eventually headed back to fish the flooding tide and hope there was less bass and more willing seatrout. Well, plenty of seatrout around, lots of follows, but not one hook up. Another break for some more food, and then we changed tactics and trolled around in the boat, but by this time the fish seemed to have dispersed, and all we managed was a mackerel or two
So a day of two halves and a perfect cure for a bass addiction, I've now realised they are just bigger, spikier mackerel
.
