Duration:19.00-00.30
Tide:all over the place
Weather:calm, overcast and warm
Bait:frozen crab, rag, sandeel and Mac
Rigs:2 and 3 hook loop rigs, pulley's for Ruairi, 3 hook flappers for Mick
Results:Tub Gurnard, Plaice, Flounder, Dabs, Doggies, Thornback Ray and pup Tope
Headed to a Wicklow Beach that produced well for me last year, Intended Targets were smoothies and Ray but we knew it would be most likely dogs and flats until it got dark.
Fishing in Daylight is usually quite slow off this Beach but we said we would go down and enjoy the weather anyway. Mick was first off the Mark with a Plaice and a gurnard Happy days, then I had a double Gurnard and Ruairi caught a Gurnard his first sea fish and was chuffed! Fishing was steady enough but not hectic by any standard, was putting on Rag and Crab baits to try to tempt a Smoothie but ended up with a small Plaice and a tub gurnard, first Plaice of the year too! Kept at it with rag and crab baits and had a double of dog. Next cast the Rod doubled over. Definately a smoothie...was some fight off of the fish and it was coming out of the water about 80 yards out and going left to right and straight towards me, I have plenty of smoothhound off of this beach but the fight from this thing was unreal, after a few minutes I had the fish in front of me and let off my drag as it was still taking line and then everything went light
Smoothie gone!!! I quickly recast to try and get another one but no more smooth hound for the rest of the night which made loosing that one worse, 
There was a steady stream of dogs and flats coming in and as it got dark the fishing picked up. Ruairi and Mick were picking up flats in close while I fished at distance for most of the night hoping for a ray with sandeel...al that seemed interested though were dogs..I decided to change tactic and try for Smoothies again on the last few cast and put out a big crab and Rag bait..and of course I get a Ray on the smoothie bait..always the way 
Was only a baby but was happy to have it all the same 
first East coast Raymond of the year, was starting to think they were'nt there! We finished up soon after that and ruairi caught a pup Tope on last cast and was chuffed at catching a 'shark' was about 30cm long Mick wasn't too happy as Ruairi out fished him on his first fishing session..He was already talking about the next session, at least i have someone else to chip in for petrol now 
Nice session with plenty of fish!
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