Back fishing in kerry 24th july - 2 August

[patk]

People:Moi

Duration:5 sessions around high tide evening and early morning

Tide:

Weather:mixed

Bait: lures and fly?

Rigs:

Results:Mackerel bass mullet






Report:

I hadnt been fishing in ages between work family etc. I hadnt been putting much time in since the cod season apart from an odd nightbass fishing the odd weekend we w ere in Kerry. We were heading down for 10 days and i was going to do some fishing.

Sun 24th ; Got down and took the lure rod out and fished a reef between two beaches that usually produces a few bass. The tides were the smallest of the month but was gunning to get out. Fished it hard combing every bit nipping in and out of every bit and not a touch but so good to be out. Spoke to few around who said the bass fishing was very poor which it has been late july and august for the last few years.

Wed 27th; The bad bass fishing usually coincides with mackerel in the bay. I had a lip on me for fresh mackerel so went to a deep water mark at high water and caught a dozen in a couple of casts for a barbecue. There were porpoises in front of me as i fished well a bit out but feeding on mackerel also no doubt, they came out of the water for air and disappeared again for ages. A shoal of trigger fish passed by my feet too. A nice bit of time and the mackerel were lovely.

Sat 30th; New moon!!!! The last couple of days were scorchers and days for the beach. My lady had to go to cork fri and sat and was going to be back around 5 on the sat. On the new moon exactly a year previously i had a 10lb bass and 6 other at high water in a rocky bay at high water and over. High was at 5. I was in my waders with bags attached rod set up waiting for barbara to arrive and to hand the kids over! I fished with the same lure as previous time and after half hour struck into a fish that i had no control over and screamed line off the reel run after run. eventually got it under control and landed a 7 and half pound bass. that was it the tide was dropping but i was over the moon i got the bass how where and when. Predictable????

Mon 1st

I was going back to the same spot early morning got up at 4 was fishing at 445 but a bit of a storm meant there was weed on lure on every cast. I had seen mullet very close to the shore on sat feeding on the maggots being washed in with the bigger tides from the rotting weed. i went back to the car and got a 6wt rod floating line and small flies (thanks Seanie35!) the mullet were everywhereit was still quite dark and i had a strike indictor with a maggot fly cast into the mullet for an hout and nothing!. They did mouth the strike indicator and i could see them with just their mouths open taking stuff off the surface. all my flies were wet/sinking so i went up the beach and found a bit of black foam put in on a sizw 14 hook and began missin mullet after mullet. Eventually i hooked one and an unmerciful scrap took place. Really one of the best scraps ever. I had forgotten about going back to try for the bass. I had caught mullet before on a fly rod but from a height above and seemed to have more control at the same level as good as any sea trout salmon ive caught on the fly. landed a 4 and 1/2lb fish delighted hooked one more and missed a few more once it got bright fully they became more wary but i was hooked on this fishing!

Tue 2nd

Got up at six and brought some bread with me. again the mullet were there in numbers. I found some white foam with a yellow ish outside stained by the weather which looked like bread and would stay on the hook while fly casting. Had 3 mullet 5, 5 and 1/2 and 3lb my wrist was killing me after them some powerful fish. Home yesterday evening and i am back in the groove!

[RockHunter]

I fished with the same lure as previous time and after half hour struck into a fish that i had no control over and screamed line off the reel run after run. eventually got it under control and landed a 7 and half pound Bass.

Nice fish - well done.
Bass fishing has been very slow and patchy in East Cork-West Waterford over the last month too. Most sessions I have just had one bass, they dont seem to have gathered into shoals yet, or at least the shoals haven't been coming close to the shore in daylight.
We must meet up for a session sometime soon, I still have not got around to trying out that fly rod I bought off you!!

[seanie35]

Good fishing pat glad you were able to get a use out of them flys catch up for some cod fishing late autumn