Fishing Tolka estuary/Clontarf

[Gilks]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck where the Tolka River meets Dublin Bay. Specifically anywhere from the last road bridge (that leads to the East Point Business Park) up until Bull Island on the north side and all along the East Wall/reclaimed land/industrial estate on the south side. The south side looks quite interesting as there are trees over the water all along but I'm not sure about legal access so it might require some kind of ninja operation.

This should provide a link to a map of the area:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.3 ... 5&t=h&z=15

I had a go for a few hours last Wednesday afternoon at full tide from just on the north side past the aforementioned bridge (and kayak club) with spoons and sandeel but didn't catch a thing.

Any nice, constructive comments welcome. Cheers,

Will

[tight lines]

hi mate i do alot of fishing around dublin but have never fish that area but i do know that if you go into the east point and stay left down to the end you can fish right along that wall also you can fish down beside the new custom house in dublin port fishing into the same strech of water but i have never herd of anyting being got might be best off fishing the wooden bridge in clontarf

[Stan]

As a child I used to fish into the estuary where the Alphie Byrne Road now runs. It was known as "dogs point" and bass were regularly caught there. I suspect that that they may still be caught there.

[alby]

As a child I used to fish into the estuary where the Alphie Byrne Road now runs. It was known as "dogs point" and Bass were regularly caught there. I suspect that that they may still be caught there.

Indeed they are As are big flounder. Rag & crab work for both.

[roger de dodger]

theirs no bass in dublin are ya all crazey

[dfella25]

theirs no Bass in dublin are ya all crazey

Not yet

[Stan]

Good to hear they are still there Alby.

We use to get huge flounder at the Dollymount end in the channel.

Over the years I have had a few sessions in Dollymount and have caught bass. The main problem is the algal growth during the summer months.


As regards there being no bass in Dublin what can I say. .......maybe only crazy people like me catch them!!!!!!

[pollachius virens]

You'll definitely get Bass and Flounder there. In the summer there will be mountains of big Mullet all over the place and in the past I've caught Coalfish, Codling and Whiting in the area but I haven't fished it in yonks so I couldn't guarantee they're still there. Now, if you're spinning bear one thing in mind. The Tolka and Liffey are basically one big concreted estuary and you have a good number of Sea Trout knocking around there. I have it on good authority that baliffs are inclined to be on the lookout for anglers when Sea Trout are about. It's worth keeping in mind.

[Gilks]

Hi all,

Thanks for the comments. I had a look at low tide the other afternoon from the south side after wandering through the port storage areas. Basically even at high tide most of the water around the top of the estuary is only about 2 feet deep but there's a deeper channel which runs closer to the business park. It's pretty much entirely mud/sand with very little to snag on.

The deeper channel is accessible by casting from the rocks which run alongside the business park though watch out for the office workers. The two wardens didn't have any objection to the idea of someone fishing and one said he'd seen a fish the size of labrador from the bridge (probably a mullet and possibly an exaggeration).

To the west of this, the stretches where the woods border the water are quite inaccessible. However might be a good place to fish especially at the corner points. I didn't get as far as the eastern end of the point but I might give it a shot another time. Also Clontarf.

Plan A is ragworm with small spoons into the channel off the business park and plan X is waders and spinners by the wooded areas (both at high tide).

I tried to attach a map last time but it doesn't seem to have stuck. I've attached a different one this time, hopefully with Dog's Point marked in the right place which would be worth spinning for bass. Looking forward to some mullet, flatfish and sea trout as well...at the right times of year.

Thanks again,

Will

Tolka_Esturary_Map_030311_resized.png

[Gilks]

Plan on going fishing there tomorrow afternoon, off the business park. Can't wait. Any predictions ?