Chuckaroo, Chuckaray in Donegal Bay, 21 September 2014-09-24

[johnwest]

People:Myself and Chuckaroo

Duration:7hrs

Tide:3.5 hrs flood and ebb.

Weather:Excellent, sunny, warm, light wind

Bait:Feathers, plastics, mackerel

Rigs:Sliding boom with flowing trace.

Results:Mackerel, rays mainly.

Report:
Tide times meant a 1.00pm launch so a nice easy start to the day, no early rise. For the second trip in a row I had crew onboard, this time in the form of Chuckaroo who had expressed interest in trying for a ray, or two, and perhaps a turbot? So no pressure.
First stop was for mackerel and after 10-15 mins we had gathered enough mackerel of all sizes for bait along with a single pollack of about 2lb to Chuckaroo. A change from feathers to sliding booms and long flowing traces and we were ready for our first drift. I had two rods fishing and Chuckaroo had one and was working on a second when the first reel began singing. I lifted into a solid weight , ray on! I was reeling it in and had it about halfway to the boat when my second rod kicked over. I managed to lift it in my left hand and strike; second ray on! At this point Chuckaroo stepped in and took the second rod; the fish started taking line which seemed to surprise Chuckaroo and spurred him on to state “I’m claiming this fish”. I was too busy to argue at this point as I was just about to net my fish, a 10lb 2oz painted ray. With my ray out of the net, I netted Chuckaroo’s fish, another painted ray weighing in at 10lb dammit 10oz! Perhaps I’ll demand a steward’s inquiry. A short while later I followed through with another painted ray spot on the 10lb mark, a pretty tatty dab and 4 spotted rays including a new p.b. of 4lb 2oz. We both had the odd dogfish as well. With no sign of any turbot we tried another deeper rocky mark, I fished a baited muppet and Chuckaroo tried a paddle tail soft plastic carrying a bit of mackerel for added attraction. We both were getting bites but from nothing big enough to take our offerings properly. A change to a simple pater noster rig with smaller hooks revealed the culprits; small pouting. By now it was time to return to the slip, Chuckaroo didn’t get his turbot or spotted ray this time but was well pleased with his first painted ray, and a specimen at that. Maybe next time for the spotty.

[Sweetwrasse]

Great report and fishing JW
Well done on the painted Charlie and for picking the right rod

[chuckaroo]

yeah pretty sure its chuckaroo's fish

great fish chuckaroo, great fisherman

[Stan]

Great fishing.