East Cork - 9th Jaunary 2011

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 3.00 - 10.15 pm

Tide: HW at 8.30 pm

Weather: Light southwesterly strengthening later, mostly dry with a few short showers

Bait: Lug, razor, crab, mackerel

Rigs: 3/0, 4/0 and 6/0 pennel pulleys, 2 and 3 hook flappers (size 1/0 hooks)

Results: 11 Coalfish, 5 Codling, 3 Flounder




Report: Having caught a January bass last Tuesday I was keen to see if I could get another, but this time tried a different beach. I used to fish this a lot a few years ago but I think I only fished it once last year (and blanked!!!) so I decided it was time to give it another go.

I got there just as the tide was beginning to push in. There was a moderate surf and, although there were mounds of kelp washed up high on the beach, the water was weed free. Like last Tuesday I set up three rods to allow me to fish a range of distances. There wasn't much happening for the first hour, then I had a bite on the rod at moderate distance, a 32 cm flounder taken on lug on a 4/0 pennel pulley. A little later I had a good bite on the rod out farthest and the line went slack. I reeled in the slack and caught up with the fish, not big, but it was putting up a bit of a struggle, but then I got snagged. As I tried to free it the line snapped at the shockleader knot Not sure what the fish was, a small bass, a good size coalfish?

Then about ten minutes later I had another good bite this time on the rod at moderate distance but it came off half way in. A little later close to dusk I had a second flounder of 26 cm, this time on the rod in close, taken on lug.

After dark I had the first coalfish - on the distance rod taken on a big lug/razor cocktail bait on a 6/0 penel pulley. However, it then went very quite until about 7.00 when an onslaught of fish commenced. It was mostly coalfish with a few small codling thrown in. The majority of the fish were taken on the moderate distance rod, baited with lug, or a lug/razor cocktail and I had a few coalfish and codling doubles on the three hook flapper on the rod in close, on lug and lug/mackerel baits. As nothing was touching the rod at distance I also cast that in close or at moderate distance and changed the rig to a 3/0 pennel pulley baited with crab and began picking up a few coalfish. I had one more flounder on the rod in close on lug again. The bites slowed down by 8 pm although the largest codling at 44 cm was taken close to high tide. It was hooked on a 4/0 pennel pulley with lug/razor only about 30 m out and gave a good fight, had me thinking it was a bass until I hauled it out of the surf.

After that the bites slowed down considerably with just a few more coalfish, taken mostly on crab.

So while no bass showed up it was not a bad night's fishing with a total of 19 fish (11 coalfish, 5 codling and 3 flounder) and it was quite mild with the southwesterly breeze.

[robbiekennedy]

nice fishing well done.i was out myself last night and had 2 bass one maybe 2 pound the other about 4 inches and the usual little pickers i was disappointed as conditions were perfect.roll on april

[saving private brian]

well done frank the fish look decent enof.looked like a good venue aswell.u must have all those big cod caught by now

[chenz116]

nice fish

were do ya get the rulers ??

[tomgrey]

Well done frank, good fishing as usual. Need to try more surf myself, just a confidence thing I think as I have blanked every time I have tried. I always thought that maybe It was my distance casting disability but judging by your detailed reports (thank you very much) and your success in close I think I will give it a try very soon. Cheers!

[roger de dodger]

nice session frank ,looks a bassy mark alright,still you got plenty of fish ,i must admit i like fishing for coalies on light tackle they put up a decent fight for their size and your cod was a nice size for the pan

[razor2]

nice fishing Frank .i was not that far from you last night and no bass for me aswell

[KERRY1]

Well done Frank, yet again another enjoyable and successful trip out with more great results at the end of it. Very nice report and photograghs, the top is one is lovely, that looks like a real nice spot to fish. I'm sure when you initially seen the heap of weed lying up you thought that you where going to get pestured by it the whole time, luckily enough you didn't because that can be a real pain and ruin a session. Your making a flying start to the new year, good work.

[I Love Sea Fishing]

Some Lovely Pics There mate, Well done!

[mitch]

super session frank ,plenty of fish to keep you busy

[taz]

nice going

[tight lines]

well done frank you are having a great start to the year long may it last

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

well done frank the fish look decent enof.looked like a good venue aswell.u must have all those big cod caught by now

That can be a good mark, just a bit of a hike to get there. The bigger cod will be in Youghal, might have a go there for some more at the weekend.

were do ya get the rulers ??

Most tackle shops should stock them, although my favourite are the Rapala folding ones, but the last two I had got washed away

Well done frank, good fishing as usual. Need to try more surf myself, just a confidence thing I think as I have blanked every time I have tried. I always thought that maybe It was my distance casting disability but judging by your detailed reports (thank you very much) and your success in close I think I will give it a try very soon. Cheers!

Beach fishing is most productive from dusk and into darkness. The fish are generally going to be in close, flat fish can be in very close 10-20 m. Bass can be in quite close too, cast out 50 m and you could be over them. Beach fishing is best when there is a moderate surf, if the surf is too big the scent of the bait is too dispersed, the fish may be there, but it is more difficult for them to find the bait. Most beaches will fish well the last two hours up to high tide, particularly if the back of the beach steepens up so you are into deepish water fairly quickly.

nice session frank ,looks a bassy mark alright,still you got plenty of fish ,i must admit i like fishing for coalies on light tackle they put up a decent fight for their size and your cod was a nice size for the pan

Thanks Roger, if there was a stop to illegal netting that beach would be one of the best bass marks in the country.

nice fishing Frank .i was not that far from you last night and no Bass for me aswell

When I was heading back, I saw a headlamp at the top of the beach and then somebody driving off - I guess that was you?

Well done Frank, yet again another enjoyable and successful trip out with more great results at the end of it. Very nice report and photograghs, the top is one is lovely, that looks like a real nice spot to fish. I'm sure when you initially seen the heap of weed lying up you thought that you where going to get pestured by it the whole time, luckily enough you didn't because that can be a real pain and ruin a session. Your making a flying start to the new year, good work.

Thanks Paula, fortunately all the weed had accumulated in the eastern corner of the beach so the rest of it was clear. It can be a very good mark alright - particularly for bass in late March and April.

uper session frank ,plenty of fish to keep you busy

Thanks Gerry, well it was quite enough for a long time, but once it fired up it was non-stop action for about an hour.

[chenz116]

were do ya get the rulers ??

Most tackle shops should stock them, although my favourite at the Rapala folding ones, but the last two I had got washed away


a jesus thats a nightmare

[evan699]

Fair play frank. Some fine coalies there. Pitty about the bass but a good session all the same.

[thescotsman]

Good stuff Frank. Myself and Nik were in East Cork last night, although I'd say different location from you and managed a couple of bass late on after a few sporadic cod and coalies, so you must be hitting the wrong beach. Again, we were very lazy and had only razor. Was a good bit of surf, driven on by a swell as there was no wind and in fact was quite pleasant.

[FisherKing]

Some nice fish & pics well done RockHunter

[tomgrey]

Beach fishing is most productive from dusk and into darkness. The fish are generally going to be in close, flat fish can be in very close 10-20 m. Bass can be in quite close too, cast out 50 m and you could be over them. Beach fishing is best when there is a moderate surf, if the surf is too big the scent of the bait is too dispersed, the fish may be there, but it is more difficult for them to find the bait. Most beaches will fish well the last two hours up to high tide, particularly if the back of the beach steepens up so you are into deepish water fairly quickly

.


Thanks for those tips frank, I'll certainly be putting them to use very soon and hopefully will have something to report on. Cheer's

[Ronnach]

nice photos and solid fishing, I love the look of that sky in the 1st photo

[Al and Jordan]

nice fishing as always frank . those coalies and codling look to be in fine condition man