bait or feathers

[kopidol]

Hi just wondering what you lot use when fishing of a boat and whats the best size hooks?i dont want to look to stupid when fishing with real fishermen?

[donal domeney]

1. Where are you going to be fishing

2. What species do you expect to target

[JimC]

Exactly what Donal says.

+ Just because they are on a boat doesn't mean they are "real" fishermen

[Cormdogg]

I don't think anyone has ever looked "cool" fishing so not to worry. And fishing is all about learning, you're always learning! Where you going?

I can only advise that when you're going on a boat trip always bring feathers, 9/10 you'll be using feathers to catch your bait (mackerel)

Your most basic rig after that, that'll catch most species is a flowing trace, get some sliding booms and some size 2 and 1 hooks, you'll bait that up with mack

and if you want 2 or 3 hook flappers, that'll pick up all sorts, bait that up with mack, rag or whatever.

That'll cover most bases,

Let the hook debate commence!

[kopidol]

Nice one lads,im going down to cork(somewhere) its with a fishing club so im just going as a visitor,i dont know what we will be fishing for or how far we go out but if its rough seas i think we will be fishing in harbour of the boat so i was told.

[donal domeney]

Now that’s a kettle of fish that didn’t need to be opened.
Have a look at my signature 24 species this year all but 1 were caught fishing out of Cork

We’ll presume its Cork harbour so for a starter fishing outside the harbour can be split into two types drifting and at anchor
Drifting: Mostly done over the reefs will produce cod, ling, pouting use a good size hokkai rig (size 4/0 hook) baited with a generous sliver of mackerel.
Smaller hokkai (size 4) and smaller baits will get ballan and cuckoo wrasse plus the greedy cod, ling and pouting.
Gilling with jelly worms will get the pollack and coalfish but don’t get too upset if the odd cod grabs the jelly too.

At anchor: The same fishing as above but with the addition of conger and dogs. For the conger a flowing trace with a 6/0 or 8/0 hook and a lump of mackerel should do the trick.

If ye are inside the harbour then it will be more than likely ye will be at anchor. The two spots are either the harbour rock, that’s at the mouth of the harbour by the lighthouse.
Ye’ll be brought there for conger fishing but it would be well worth you time to use some crab on the 4/0 hokkai for cod.

Anchored further in the harbour near the two forts then its back to the smaller hokkai and small baits mackerel, lug and maddies for dabs and whiting the odd dogfish. Again don’t be upset a cod or two show here too.

[roger de dodger]

For the conger a flowing trace with a 6/0 or 8/0 hook and a lump of mackerel should do the trick.

donal you have a lovely way of describing conger baits none of these fancy mac flappers down in cork boy!