A Couple of Sligo Marks, 28/29 December 2016

[johnwest]

Wednesday 28th. With 2016 fast drawing to a close, a post Christmas drive west to leave family members home presented the chance for a quick session or two. The first mark was already occupied but with fairly big swells coming in with the flooding tide I reckon I would probably have had to vacate the spot shortly anyhow. I had a brief chat and after picking up a couple of hints for the new year I headed off for a more sheltered mark. At this spot there was somebody else but he was just packing up after a less than exciting session. I set up anyway just as darkness was descending, 2 rods with flappers and mackerel strip. The ground was a lot cleaner than the last time I fished here and it wasn’t long before the first small coalfish turned up. After a couple more, a more determined bite produced a dog and coalie double. Occasionally depending on wind strength and direction, I was picking up a less than pleasant “aroma” so between casts I wandered off to investigate. The source was a pile of fish boxes, some containing the remains of wingless rays, some containing putrefying dogfish with the odd wrasse thrown in. Easy seeing the main tourist season must be over! Then the whiting arrived, all from mid 20cms upwards with numerous on the 30cm size and a handful at 33cm. This was a good average size compared to the usual low 20cms. They were big enough to give a good rattling bite and a few kicks on the way in and along with a couple more doggies it made for a busy session. At one point I reeled in to find a dogfish egg and capsule entangled in the rig, I suppose I shouldn’t add this to my tally of dogfish. The whiting must have numbered about 2 dozen when, with the tide dropping, the bites slowed to a stop.
Thursday 29th. I still had some bait left from yesterday and I was wondering whether to try a quick session before heading home. On the one hand the surf coming in was a bit bigger than I like, on the other hand if I arrived home too early there was a severe risk of having to do a bit of hoovering before our evening guests arrived. If in doubt, go fishing! This mark has been busy with birdwatchers recently and again there were 2-3 guys with spotting scopes, word has got round about a King Eider in the local flock of over-wintering eiders. The surf was a bit wild but I set up anyway choosing to cast as far as I could into the less angry water. I was starting to worry about ending the year with a blank when one rod started bouncing in the rest, a nice little seatrout at 34cm. As I slipped him back into the surf I was thinking it was a nice way to end the year compared to the usual small pollack or coalfish but being such a pleasant day, 10c and a bit of sunshine, I fished on. Next bite was a small coalfish and then a period of nothing. As the tide floods here, you get pushed off the sand and with the big swells breaking on the rocks it was near time to go. Then one last shake of the rod yielded a 31cm flounder. 3 hours, 3 bites, 3 fish, 3 species, my lucky number is........ not 3. I packed up, drove home at a leisurely rate and opened the front door to see herself just putting the vacuum cleaner away, timed to perfection! All the best for the new year.

[johnwest]

Some more pics.

[lucky13]

Great session john,fair play

[MC]

Managed to get a full 3 sessions of this year but thankfully I have your reports to keep me sane. Happy new year sir

[chuckaroo]

Fair play Paddy.
I can smell that fish box from here

[Determined Dan]

Nice going. Nice trout very clean looking. Pity about the boxs . A terrible waste.

[shortcircuit]

That is a nice looking sea trout

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[johnwest]

Nice going. Nice trout very clean looking. Pity about the boxs . A terrible waste.

Yeah, a very handsome fish, I think the blue sky reflecting on it enhances the look of it.

[FisherKing]

Some nice fish, the Trout is in good shape

[Sweetwrasse]

Nice few sessions there JW. Tight lines for 2017!