Back to Donegal Bay, 30/10/23

[johnwest]

With a reasonable weather forecast and some free time, I headed west to try for a few flounder, didn’t seem that much to ask! Last day out, plans were let down by equipment failure and a shiny new fork was loaded into the car with the intention of digging a few lug. The chosen bait spot was “on the way” rather than prime lug territory; there were lots of wormcasts but with the ground being very wet it was tough going. Anyone know where you can get an automatic fork, the manual ones are hard work! However I gathered some lug and a couple of bonus white rag to add to the frozen mackerel and prawns.

I was soon at the fishing mark to be a bit disappointed, almost flat calm with the occasional foot high wave coming in; no tsunami alert today. My usual two rods kitted out with 1 up, 1 down flappers were soon assembled and fishing the calm waters, it was just on low tide. I dropped the lighter rod in very close and belted the other as far as I could and then sat back to wait. Happily, I didn’t have to wait too long, 20 mins in and the far rod tip started dancing; a 35cm seatrout with a taste for mackerel strip. Sadly it was carrying quite a lot of lice. An hour later the far rod was dancing again, another seatrout at 30cm on prawn, again carrying lots of lice. Next fish came on the near rod, a dogfish, I was surprised to get one so close in (barely a foot of water) and in daylight.
Fishing went quiet and I was resigned to waiting for darkness for any further action but as if to ease the boredom, a young lady came down to see what I was at. She was a “Psychedelic Therapist” so I asked the obvious question. She treats people with magic mushrooms and includes skinny dipping as part of her treatment regime. I may go fishing here more often!

Sure enough when darkness came, so did the fish. A succession of dogfish, some accompanied by a small coalie or pin whiting, made their way up the beach. It’s been a while since I fished with tip-lights and head-torch and while I enjoy it, the rain was becoming heavier and looked set to stay so I called it a night. It was a busy enough session with 9 dogfish, 2 seatrout, 3 small coalfish and 2 pin whiting but I was a bit disappointed not to see a single flattie. I’ve often wondered what the flatties do in calm conditions, do they just lie beyond low water and wait patiently for the next bit of wave action? I can be patient too, I’ll be back.

[MC]

great report, good to see you back in action with a shiny new fork.