West Waterford - 6th April 2011

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 9.30 pm - 1.00 am

Tide: LW at 2.30 am

Weather: Mild, clear, calm

Bait: Lug

Rigs: 4/0 pennel pulleys and 4/0 running ledger

Results: 1 bass (5 lbs)




Report: I dug a bunch of lug in the afternoon and later in the evening headed to a West Waterford beach that fishes well on an ebbing tide in hope of getting a better bass than the Cork beaches have been throwing up lately. I had not fished it in at least a year. I got there about 9.00 pm, there was a moderate surf and just a little weed. I set the rods up with 4/0 pennel pulleys and a 4/0 running ledger. At about 10 pm, just as the drop in the tide was speeding up, I spotted a slight knock on the rod cast in close. At first I thought it was a breaking wave tugging on the line but when I picked up the rod I realized that the line had gone slack. I rapidly reeled in the slack and caught up with a good fish. It was pulling strongly and putting a severe bend in the rod. As I reeled it in I could see a decent fish splashing about in the shallows. Eventually I hauled it onto the sand - it was a fine well fed 60 cm bass, weighing just over 5 lb

I continued fishing for a few more hours but crabs became a problem. They were stripping the baits in minutes I then remembered why I hadn't fished there for so long; the same thing happened the last time I was there All I had for the rest of the night was a small coalfish and one crab that had become entangled in the trace Next time I will bring peeler crab!

Still I was happy with the result, only one bass but it was my best fish of 2011 so far!

[oli]

Rockhunter,1 bass? are you ok man?

[seaotter]

thats a nice Bass,well done

[fishy1987]

mightent have been up to your reports of late but a big bass and best this year well done

[declan65]

Well done Frank , that's a nice fish alright, the stamp of fish being caught seems to be on the increase down here with reports of some nice bass in the 7-9lb range reaching us at the moment.

[evan699]

Fine bass frank. Glad the trip worked out for you. The bass in east cork do seem to be a bit small at the moment. I'd say they're not able to put on any weight cause all the flounders are eating all the grub before the bass find it.

[taz]

cracking fish

[KERRY1]

That's a very nice Bass Frank well done The crabs can be a nuisance alright, espicially when using lugworm, they can get them off the hook easily enough unlike when using razor, I make sure it's wrapped on well with baiting elastic and they can't get at it as much which is great. Your having some fantastic trips out lately, with some brilliant results to boot - it's great to see.

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

Rockhunter,1 Bass? are you ok man?

This time I was aiming for quality rather than quantity, although I might have had a few more had it not been for the crabs

Fine Bass frank. Glad the trip worked out for you. The Bass in east cork do seem to be a bit small at the moment. I'd say they're not able to put on any weight cause all the flounders are eating all the grub before the Bass find it.

Thanks Evan, there are a few bigger ones knocking around, but hard to get them through all the small fish.

That's a very nice Bass Frank well done The crabs can be a nuisance alright, espicially when using lugworm, they can get them off the hook easily enough unlike when using razor, I make sure it's wrapped on well with baiting elastic and they can't get at it as much which is great. Your having some fantastic trips out lately, with some brilliant results to boot - it's great to see.

Two years ago there was no problem with crabs at that mark. Then I guess it was about April of last year I fished there and it was infested with crabs, and they are still there - the cod dont seem to have thinned them out over the winter.

[RockHunter]

Well done Frank , that's a nice fish alright, the stamp of fish being caught seems to be on the increase down here with reports of some nice Bass in the 7-9lb range reaching us at the moment.

Thanks Declan, I think I will give the lures a go over the weekend, might head the Waterford direction on one of the days.

[evan699]

Thanks guys,

Thanks Evan, there are a few bigger ones knocking around, but hard to get them through all the small fish.

Don't i know it. Flounder impaling themselves on 5/0 pennels. Lucky i've a soft spot for flatties or i'd be going demented

[doggie3131]

thats a fine looking fish there frank.

[tight lines]

well done frank 1 bass is better than no bass i am still waiting on my first of the year

[cathalger]

Lovely fish.

[mitch]

quality fish frank well done were you on seanies stomping ground

will be down your way in a couple of weeks on the holliers will give you a bell soon .

[Stan]

Fine bass Frank. Reckon the lure fishing will work soon in W Waterford. Hope to give it a try next week

[yogurtnutter]

Dinner!!!.. nice bass... Want you to kidnap me for a week and show me how to fish.. Then release me .... well done you have truly had some fantastic sessions.

[Al and Jordan]

stonking fish frank . not your normal bag of fish man but well worth the wait

[RockHunter]

Thanks guys,

well done frank 1 Bass is better than no Bass

It certainly is, particularly when it's about a 5 pounder!!!

quality fish frank well done were you on seanies stomping ground

Thanks Gerry, yes Seanie has been known to wet a line or two around there

Fine Bass Frank. Reckon the lure fishing will work soon in W Waterford. Hope to give it a try next week

Thanks Stan, lure fishing was certainly working for me over the weekend

Want you to kidnap me for a week and show me how to fish..

Best thing to do is pick a beach that you know bass have been caught on, fish it regularly, at different stages of the tide under different conditions until you get an idea of the movements of the bass, they might only be there for a couple of hours and then move on. I prefer to use large baits on a large hook 4/0 as this gives off a bigger scent trail and the large hook size generally prevents small fish been hooked (although it sometimes amazes me how small flounder can still get their mouths around a 4/0). At the moment lug seems to be the best bait, razor can be good to, particularly after a bit of a blow.

stonking fish frank . not your normal bag of fish man but well worth the wait

Thanks Al