First fish of 2010 - 1st January 2010

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 10.00 pm - 3.00 am

Tide: LW at 0.15 am

Weather: Freezing!!! Bitter NNE wind

Bait: Crab, squid

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulleys, 1/0 two hook flappers

Results: 7 codling, 1 five bearded rockling




Report: Despite the cold I wanted to get out for a session to start the New Year. I went to Ferrypoint in Youghal Bay and fished over low tide. Fishing was slow, it started off OK, with a small codling (30 cm) on the second cast - my first fish of the year and another smaller one shortly afterwards but then the fishing died until the tide began to push forward - I had another five codling before the tidal current got too strong.

It was damn cold - I was well wrapped up but at times when rebaiting my hands were numb. Frost formed on the rods and even the tip eye of one of the rods iced up - I had been wondering why my casts were even worse than normal until I realized that the ring at the tip was covered with a layer of ice

As I had some bait left I went to the quay in Youghal for a while. Again fishing was very slow - even the coalfish were absent. I got one more 30 cm codling and a five bearded rockling but they were the only two bites. The water must have been splashing over the quay wall at high tide as the pier was covered with a sheet of ice - made standing up difficult - I must have looked like a drunk fishing

So I got 8 small fish in the end - I had been expecting a better session but there was probably too much fresh water still coming down the river after the storm on Wednesday night. But at least I didn't blank.

[eyesreilly]

Well done Frank, nice result. Went out with the same idea that night myself, catch a fish early on the 1st ,but the snow put paid to that and i ended last year with a blank on the 31st instead

[mitch]

Hi frank
It must have being bitterly cold for your top eye to ice up still you got some
codling well done when the going gets tough to tough get going
heading out later with ringo hope the snow holds off

[patk]

Hi frank well done on your first of the year havent been out because of roads more than anything else how were they getting to and from Youghal?

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

havent been out because of roads more than anything else how were they getting to and from Youghal?

They were fine that night. The main road was good but there were a few fairly icy patches on the Piltown road road down from the main Youghal-Waterford road. However, I heard that that Youghal bypass was fairly dangerous the other night. If you are heading out that way probably better to drive through Youghal rather than the bypass.

[junior conger]

what pound was the biggest codling?

[RockHunter]

what pound was the biggest codling?

I got two that were 32 cm - I didn't bother weighing them but would say they were slightly under 1 lb