Targeting Whiting

Message

#1 Post by **evan699** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:04 am

I've been on the hunt for a big whiting for the last few weeks and every session my baits are being stolen by small whiting. Usually only about 6" long from tip to tail. Best one i got was only about 1 1/2 pounds. I'm fishing mackerel strips on 2 hook flapper. I'm keeping the bait sizes fairly large to try to eliminate the problem with the smallies but those whiting have bloody big mouths on them. Could someone let me know if i'm doing something wrong or is it just hard to come by a large whiting.

Thanks,
Evan

#2 Post by **The Austrian** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:19 am

1.5 lbs is already specimen size, provided you were fishing from the shore, they wouldn't get much bigger than that, no need to complain, you should be happy :lol:

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/fish ... hiting.htm

#3 Post by **JOHN1** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:31 am

The Austrian wrote:1.5 lbs is already specimen size, provided you were fishing from the shore, they wouldn't get much bigger than that, no need to complain, you should be happy
http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/fish ... hiting.htm

there is no shore specimen sizes in ireland so your still trying for a 3lbder im afraid :wink:

#4 Post by **The Austrian** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:50 am

JOHN1 wrote:
The Austrian wrote:1.5 lbs is already specimen size, provided you were fishing from the shore, they wouldn't get much bigger than that, no need to complain, you should be happy
http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/fish ... hiting.htm

there is no shore specimen sizes in ireland so your still trying for a 3lbder im afraid

Are you sure John? The info is from the link above.

Whiting, Merlangius merlangus
Irish Record Fish: 4.90 lbs (2.23 kgs)
Caught: Kenmare Bay (1981)
Boat Specimen: 2.2 lbs (1.00 kgs)
Shore Specimen: 1.5 lbs (0.68 kgs)

nevertheless, if you after big Whiting your best bet would be fishing an incoming tide during a new moon phase with big crab baits and try to find gutters with a good tidal flow.
Or book a charter around Loop Head, this area is known for holding big Whiting.
Tight Lines.

#5 Post by **JOHN1** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 10:15 am

you will find specimen weights here www.irish-trophy-fish.com

i remember the ifsa used to have shore and boat specimens listed it there diary years back but that was them :shock:

what it was there for i dont know i know a couple of lads including myself that tried to make specimen claims off of them posted off there £2 pound at the time TO THERE SO CALLED TROPHY OFFICER to never here a thing back :cry:

, did anyone ever get there badge off the IFSA :?:

#6 Post by **evan699** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:13 pm

Oh rite. I don't know too much about specimen weights and all that for the different species. I just assumed that as they're a member of the cod family that you would get them in and around the same size as pollock. The whiting was caught from the shore. I didn't even get a photo. I'll have to go back tonight and see if he'll show up again for a couple of snaps.

#7 Post by **Cormdogg** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:57 pm

Evan are trying to drive yourself insane? I got 2 whiting in one session over 1lb, I wasn't targetting them, I hadn't even caught a whiting before, Since then Ive never had over 8" long and Ive caught 1000's of them, they love mack though!

Good luck to you, I mean that!

#8 Post by **evan699** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:15 pm

[quote="Cormdogg"]Evan are trying to drive yourself insane? I got 2 whiting in one session over 1lb, I wasn't targetting them, I hadn't even caught a whiting before, Since then Ive never had over 8" long and Ive caught 1000's of them, they love mack though!

Just biding my time till the cod start to show up. I've had about 15 cod so far this year but they were so small they'd get lost in a fish bowl. Having great fun with the pollock on a shimano trout rod and 5lb line.

#9 Post by **The Austrian** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 2:23 pm

JOHN1 wrote:you will find specimen weights here http://www.irish-trophy-fish.com

i remember the ifsa used to have shore and boat specimens listed it there diary years back but that was them what it was there for i dont know i know a couple of lads including myself that tried to make specimen claims off of them posted off there £2 pound at the time TO THERE SO CALLED TROPHY OFFICER to never here a thing back , did anyone ever get there badge off the IFSA

Thanks for the update John

At our last trip from Carrigaholt a chap claimed for 2 specimen (Red Gurnard and Whiting) but I don't know if he received a response at all. Luke took care about filling in the forms etc. and the fish were retained just in case the photos wouldn't suffice. Wonder if he would have been better off having them for tea :lol:

#10 Post by **JOHN1** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:28 pm

the fish would have to be retained for weighing on shore, weighing on board a boat is not allowed. :wink:

#11 Post by **Stephen8wood** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:09 pm

It's getting close....Whiting feeding time....aka : Winter. If it's from the shore that you do your fishing you are doing fine. They are hard enough to come by much bigger than 1.5lb even from the boat.

Sea Angling Ireland

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