Rosslare Harbour

Who: Me and eh??
Duration: 9:30pm to 8.30am
Tide: high at approx 9pm
Weather: Very Mild, No wind. Calm sea beyond 20 yards.
Bait: Rag, fresh peeler, mussel, squid
Rigs: Pennels and Flappers.
Results: 4 new species

So before I delved into the messages I got for Bass marks and all the help and tips I had one more night free this week and 4 boxes of Rag in the box (as you do)

So I was wondering where to head to for a few hrs fishing, nothing mad - be home about 3am I said!!! Joe during the week had mentioned rosslare harbour opposite the roundabout right at the port entrance, still not convinced I arrived at the widgeons rest for some crab and Bunty says the same thing, bass caught last night right at that spot, that confirmed my destination for the night. On the way down after packing my Gear I had that dreaded feeling I had forgotten something, through bunclody enniscorthy, I feared the worst - I'll get here now and have no rods or something ridiculous.

Got my crab and a few bits and headed portside, what the hell was I forgetting!?!? Driving me crazy at this stage!

I get a chipper for meself and pull into the carpark, finish up and open the passenger door for the......... **** I forgot the Dog! Yep - my trusty fishing bud was sitting outside my front door waiting for me to return so we could head off for the night for nearly 2 hrs!! I rang the mother - eh? Is ben outside - No, he is in now she says, and he is disgusted! I only noticed him a minute ago she says, he is not happy! Ooops.

Anyway, Get set up, I'm on a dropping tide now, apparently good here, there is no surf to speak of bar the small waves breaking on the beach, the tide is going out fast, I had about 12ft to water when I arrived, by the time I was set up I have to move forward 40.

Uneventful 1st few hrs, nothing to speak of really except one of these fellas which I dont know the name of - Can anyone help?



3 or 4 casts later, another 1st on the mini species - I dont know what this is either ha - but i'm happy to be seeing some species I havnt before.



Then came the most unusual catch of the night, I know what this is,



Thank god it fell off the hook because I have no idea how I was going to release it if it didnt, I left it on my tackle box at one stage, The power in those suckers is incredible - I would not like to meet a big one swimming thats for sure.

I was getting a few intermittent bangs of note but nothing sticking. I was making rigs in between casts and trying out bits and bibs and the time really flew by.

I started to get into some place about 4am, and they didnt stop after that, (I'm nearly sure they are plaice, herring bone design on the white side, cant be flounder or dabs, but no spots to speak of really on any of them.



If they are not then please correct me, all had that zigzag belly structure, but I was doubting myself due to the lack of orange!

As it started getting bright I was trying to get rid of the bait I had left, and the plaice were helping. I ended up taking 4 home as they tend to commit suicide while swallowing the hook 8 inches down, I did however release at least 8 unharmed, biggest of which was 3lb i'd guesstimate, I was suprised at the size myself, lovely portions

So although I didnt hit my target, a very enjoyable evening, morning. The dog would have loved it!!!!! He wasnt best pleased when I got home, but I brought him back a nice big sausage and he seemed to forgive me before lying up to hear about my adventure

deffo a worth while night Always good to get new species!! to me the 1st looks like a scorpion fish and the 2nd a rockling! the last im not sure! maybe some kind of sheep dog??

Great report. Pity about the bass, but hey that's fishing.

:lol: deffo a worth while night Always good to get new species!! to me the 1st looks like a scorpion fish and the 2nd a rockling! the last im not sure! maybe some kind of sheep dog??

Yeah my 1st guess was 3 bearded rockling

Great little report and nice pics. Sounded like an ideal night to be out and at it very enjoyable read.
The first fish is a scorpion fish (looks to be a long-spined scorpion fish as the long spine on the cheek is clearly visible, it's also the more common of the two species along the shore); the second is a rockling (am going to guess a shore rocklin); and, the third is a flounder.
You'll get a bass next time.. When the dog is with you..

Is my 3 bearded rockling way off? It had 3 beards in fairness - And do flounders also have the zigzag pattern on the belly?

Great report.


The Dab: if you rub from the tail to the head it has rough skin.

The Plaice: has bony lumps on it's head

The flounder: has a rough area on the lateral line before the head

flounder.jpg

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Actually the tail give it away as flounder! My bad but hey - i'm new to all this!