Bulloch Harbour and Fish name please

[beebub2]

People: myself and Stephen8wood

Duration: 3pm - 6.30pm

Tide: low

Weather: grey, reasonably calm, rain all around but we stayed dry

Bait:rag

Rigs:feathers, sea rig & flowing trace

Results: Me: 6 macks, 1 Gurnard, 1 Pouting, lots of whiting Stepehen: 3 macks, 1 dog, 1 pollock, 1 Wrasse, lots of whiting

Report: Rented the boat from Bulloch harbour for a few hours. It was great to get out and catch some fish. I was using a boat rod & reel with a rig of small feathers on decent sized hooks and so used the rag on the hooks, but not very successfully, it has to be said. Stephen had 2 boat rods and jigged feathers with one and used the flowing trace on the other. My second rod was a small telescopic jobbie with a 'sea rig'. I don't know exactly what it was, it was just called a 'sea rig'. It had 4 relatively small hooks each with luminescnet green fluff attached with specks of red. They definately weren't feathers and fluff is the best way to describe it. Whatever it was it bloody worked. All 6 macks and the gurnard were caught on it as well as most of the whiting. The Gurnard was a half decent size, if I can figure out how to get the photo off my phone I will. The macks weren't bad too and one was fairly big. But the fight off them on the small telescopic rod was fantastic. Whatever was on that sea rig worked incredibly well.

Biggest fish of the day was the wrasse by a country mile. I'd say between us we caught about 50 fish. All but the macks and the pollack (he was a good size too) went back.

The gurnard was red in colour, is he simply called a 'red gurnard' or does he have a different name? The ends of the fins coming out of his side were blue. Thanks.

[immunecfg]

Thats correct the red gurnard is indeed called a Red Gurnard, but what you had there could be a Tub Gurnard with the blue pectorals kinda sounds like it. sounds like a good bit of sport there,

Well done.

[beebub2]

Thanks. Yes it was great fun. I can't think of a better way to shake off a manky hangover!

[shamoo0804]

Sounds like you boys had fun

It does indeed sound like a tub gurnard, do a search on the site and I'm sure you'll find a few photo's to confirm.

Incidently, the smaller grey gurnards do tend to have a pinky red sheen to them, so it can be a little confusing

[JOHN1]

tub gurnard no mistake

[petekd]

It sounds like your 'sea rig' was or was a copy of shamrock tackles 'bleeding gloworms' which is in my opinion, THE BEST shop bought trace on the market. As a match and pleasure angler, baited with small bits of mac or rag its absolutely lethal for the smaller bottom dwellers, particularly Ballan and Cuckoo Wrasse. FWIW. If there is a better one out there, i havent seen it.

Nice to get out afloat. Definitely a tub gurnard by the way.

[beebub2]

Here he is: Tub or Red? Thanks.

Oh and thanks, the Shamrock Bleeding Glow Worm is the exact rig I used. Absolutely brilliant.

[JOHN1]

tub

[gfkelly1969]

well done lads great session

[thebigman]

Here's your tub info - http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/gurn ... %20tub.htm

And here - http://www.planetseafishing.com/species/Gurnard-Tub/

[beebub2]

I've been reliably informed that we didn't catch 50 fish and that Mr. 8wood didn't catch lots of whiting. Apparently it was closer to 40 fish. My apologies.

Thanks bigman. Is this still the case:

We have withdrawn the details on the Irish record and specimen weights as the current IFSC rules require anglers kill all such fish

If so, why?

[petekd]

Beebub, that is a site policy not from the ISFC. In fairness, at this stage, its probably outdated as more and more fish are being accepted with an accurate weight and pictures. Doesnt solve the problem totally from the boats however as fish have to be weighed on land.

[beebub2]

The requirment to kill them is the site's policy? Surely not and it state that the policy to kill them is from ISFC. I had a look at the ISFC site and it lists the specimen weight for Tub Gurnard so maybe they no longer require them to be killed?

Elsewhere on the site here:

http://www.irish-trophy-fish.com/rules/indentification.htm

it says:

CLEAR, SHARP, CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHS, showing the entire fish with its fins and other features easily seen, and not fore-shortened or obscured by shadows or bystanders must be provided in the case of

Amongst other: TUB GURNARD (pectoral fins of gurnard must be fully expanded)

So it must no longer be the case that they should be killed. Why would that have been in place in the first instance?

[petekd]

Beebub, you have misread my post there. The statement you are referring to is site policy, ie dont kill fish for a cert. As i stated, thats probably outdated at this stage as the isfc will accept a picture for most fish. That was not always the case.

[beebub2]

Ah, I see now. So in order to have your specimen Tub Gurnard verified, you had to kill it and bring to shore. Is that it?

I mis-read it, I thought it was saying that the ISFC were insisting that all anglers kill all Tub Gurnard because they were a pest in some way.

I think the way in which the statement is worded on the site is a little confusing.

Thanks.

[petekd]

I mis-read it, I thought it was saying that the ISFC were insisting that all anglers kill all Tub Gurnard because they were a pest in some way.

Lol.... No wonder you were confused...

I think the way in which the statement is worded on the site is a little confusing.

Well meaning but a bit outdated at this stage and pointless as the data is available with a simple google.

[Kevvv]

how much is it to rent boats from the harbour

[JOHN1]

think its 20euro per hour fishing .

[Kevvv]

is it worth it do you know ?

[JOHN1]

i dont hire them have my own boat, what i would suggest is get 2 or 3 other lads to pool with you and you all get 3 or 4 hours for the price of one
fishing is a bit sporadic at the moment mackeral have been scarce enough.