Autumn Herrins and Wicklow Tope

[Ashley Hayden]

Targeting sport fish is the way forward for sea anglers in today’s overfished marine environment. Bass, Mullet, Smooth Hound, and Tope are worthy quarry and more importantly available to specimen size and in good numbers. A planned boat session in search of late season Tope produced a couple of nice surprises for Wicklow anglers Gerry and Dermot Mitchell and Ashley Hayden of the ERFB.

First drop down after Mackerel produced strings of Herring fat with roe interspersed with Mackerel. A slick of oil and scales covered the surface of the sea, with the large shoal literally under the boat, a wonderful sight. Having caught just enough for bait and to eat it was off for the big stuff.

Tides were big, running four metres, so the initial plan was to drift in the strong south run. With a breeze from the south west slowing the boat lines were more or less straight down. Whole Mackerel on 8/0 Cox and Rawle hooks attached to 200.lb mono running ledgers soon produced the first action. A smash and grab take, calls of lines up, numerous runs and bores away from the boat, resulted five minutes later with a specimen 40.lb+ Tope for Ashley Hayden.

A move to anchor as the tide eased produced more runs, one lost fish, and another beauty for Gerry Mitchell, an exciting end to a cracking day afloat. First class end of season sport which is being repeated right around the coast, from Carlingford to south Wexford, and along the Wicklow shoreline. Indian summers and Tope what a combination.

[twinkle]

excellent report and great pictures looks like everyone enjoyed the day we also had some herrings off howth on friday with the macks also one of the small codling came in with a mouthful of fry which were put straight back on to the feathers to great effect

[mitch]

great day all around ashley some realy nice fish there its a pity the cod didn't show
maybe the tide run was a little too strong ,
lets hope the weather over next few days dosent disperse the macks that around
here's looking forward to the weekend
tight lines


LIFE IS FOR FISHING

[roger de dodger]

lovely tope lads they do give you a workout like nothing else

[junior conger]

nice tope