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St Finans Bay, Co Kerry. From Tralee, take the N70 southwest through Kilorglin and then Glenbiegh as far as Caherciveen along the northern coast of the Iveragh Peninsula.  Now take the R565 for Portmagee, the entrance to Valentia Island.  On the way you will see a sign for St Finan’s Bay on the left hand side that leads you over a narrow road through bog and new forestry plantation.  Alternatively you can reach it through Portmagee heading on the coast road to Ballinskelligs, which is definitely a better route in terms of scenery.

What about the fishing?

The main quarry here is Bass and you will need decent surf running to get them quartering the beach.  Try half a mackerel on a 4/0 as bait as it will last longer than softer baits… there are lots of crabs.  If you do collect some, crab would probably prove excellent bait, especially if legered near the rocks on either side of the strand.  Flatfish will also show themselves but more so in calmer conditions.  Although no Rays are recorded here, a warm night might provide some entertainment.  Further along on either side, you can fly-fish and spin for Pollack, Mackerel, Garfish and Triggerfish will show here later in the summer.  It will also produce massive numbers of Wrasse, with Conger and the odd Bull Huss prone to take larger baits legered at low tide, especially at night.  At high tide you can fish off the grass and rocks, however wading would be a good idea as it is remarkably shallow.

The nearest tackle shops are Landers on (066) 7126644 in Courthouse Lane in Tralee and O'Neills on Plunkett Street in Killarney on (064) 31970, both a long distance back, so make sure to stock up on everything on the way.  You can usually pick up fresh fish in Caherciveen off the boats, where there are several excellent charter skippers but digging worm bait is a problem.  Crabs and some mussels and limpets can be collected from the foreshore at low tide at the mark, but it is a limited supply locally.   

Probabilities: Flounder, Bass, Dogfish (beach), Pollack, Wrasse, Mackerel, Garfish, Tripperfish (rocks, summer) Conger Eel, Bull Huss

Possibilities: Thornback Rays (summer)

Rare Exceptions:  nothing listed... yet!