Duration: 14.30- 18.30 both days
Tide: dropping
Weather: mostly fair, few spots of rain. Light south-westerlies
Bait: Mack and rag
Rigs: flappers
Results: flounder, turbot and a near miss
Report: Up visiting a friend in Sligo over the long weekend so naturally I packed the rods with a view to getting a few hours in on the shoreline.
Arrived on Saturday to see plenty of surf and plenty of surfers but I was able to set up well to the left of the strand in the middle of a small boulder field which I reckoned might hide a few fish and help avoid any confrontation
After about 30 minutes the rod started hopping in the stand and signalled a decent fish. Struck into it could feel a good weight on, at which point the fish started swimming towards me but once I reeled in the slack it was still on. A nice seatrout broke the surface with a few good leaps and I started walking back up the beach and was just reaching out to grab the shockleader when it shook itself free "Ah don't worry" said the lads," i'm sure you'll get another one soon". The pessimist in me thought otherwise though and this proved to be correct sadly with a turbot to about 20cm just beating the blank for me about 3 hours later. Leadhead from the site called down to say hello, good to meet you man and thanks for the fishing advice on the area, hopefully I can put it to good use next time I'm up that way.
Originally, I had planned a night session too but with the two novice fishermen losing interest, I decided a different sort of night session was on the cards so we called it quits and headed for the delights of the Carrick-on-Shannon 400 year anniversary celebrations
On Sunday, after a good nights craic, what better way to clear the head than a good fry-up (thanks Paddy) and a few more hours on the shore? Went back to exactly the same spot as the day before (I like easy) and settled in for a relaxed afternoon. Had a small flounder and a turbot for my efforts on a nice warm north-west day in a very beautiful part of the country. Headed back to the big smoke then after a short stop to refuel in Supermacs. Definitely a mark I'm going to revisit and try again.
Thanks to Corbyeire, Leadhead, Fisherking and Saving Private Brian for advice on marks, much appreciated lads.
it was nice to meet you & we'll get a good session in the next time!!
