Duration: 6.30pm till 8.30pm
Tide: high at 9.30ish
Weather: calm/cold with the a few showers
Bait: 3 fresh Razors
Rigs: 5/0 and 3/0 pennel
Results: 4 Whoppers of Codling (for me) smallest being close to lb1/4 largest being 2.2lb length 45cm by my cheap scales (first time I’ve had the pleasure of using it)
Finally the fishing gods gave me a catch to remember for a long time to come. 4Codling not to be sniggered at compared to my usual 6-9inch codling swinging off my 3/0 packed with plentiful lug/Razor .Well this was different I have fished Monkstown a lot this month and last and I’ve had little luck with getting any decent codling! I could live my life eating the crabs I’ve hauled out of Monkstown on my double rigs (bait stripping sidestepping scum of the sea)
A buddy of mine was off fishing and he was kind enough to give me a bag of large juicy razors he collected recently (delighted) Man United clashed with my plans= so a compromise of sorts. Transistor radio it was and a dash to the bus station for a short session in Monkstown Pier(less snags), using big baits on big hooks(New Tactic), bringing only 3 of the precious razors with me.
It looked like I had the pier to myself as I set up! not for long 3 lads came shortly after with lug/peelers (experienced anglers)"bolox" my first cast into the channel?(hardly I have given up on that a long time ago)ill settle for a old man 40/50 yard lob out there somewhere and save the leads. I wont tarnish my memories by thinking of the shock leader knot jamming twice YUCK! Got my act together, 5/0 pennel with a hearty dinner on it for the incoming flood of cod!
I had barley turned my head when a massive whack down on my rod tip grabbed all my attention! First I thought the tide was coming in strong like it often has done. But it wasn’t the current the repeated hard Nods definitely indicated “fish on”. Struck and reeled in half of me thought I was going for a record crab maybe a lobster until I saw the flash of silver. Heart in my mouth moment I thought this beast was a conger. I worked my way down to the steps on the pier to meet my catch YES a fish and a mighty belter he was. Cautiously wrapping the line over my wrist and gingerly getting this 2.2lb codling to safe ground (if I were to have lost this fish) I would have jumped in after him and let the congers have a banquet!
Luckily it was to be my time to shine 3 more beauty’s followed and I went home with a bag of fillets. DELIRIA
So 4 excellent fish on 2 razors 1 not used. The other 3 anglers didn’t get a bite all night on their peelers. What does this prove?
1.You don’t have to cast into the channel in Monkstown for fish
2.There is hope for us all persistence and hopefully you’ll get the luck
3.Bigger hooks and baits just might be the trick
If fishing works on averages I won’t be getting a bite for another few months but I dam sure will be trying
A lot of PB,s Codling 2.2lb ,1.75 ,1.5 ,close to 1.25 and longest 45cm,
HAPPYDAYS
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Species 2011 : Codling 25 , Whiting 8 , Coalfish 2,
Wish list for 2011:
Conger eel - Double Digits would be the dream
Catch 10 different species - through out the year including dab/flounder dogfish/bullhuss
get a few reasonable size fish 4/5lb since im relatively new to seafishing-and hopefully ill be better a expierienced angler this time next year
. and then to beat it again in the future 
darren pb last night with evan clocked in at 2lb 15oz (51cm)needed (the guru)evan to help me get him in tough ne good catches latley?
i think you deserve a trip to the tackle shop to spend it