Ray and Thornbacks

Hi all,

Can someone give me a few recommendations for some good marks to fish for Ray and Thornbacks around Cork. Heard Garryvoe is quite good. Also, looking for some advice on tactics and baits etc..etc..
Have never gone for these fish and from looking at some of the pics on this site I'm seriously missing out.

Cheers,

Bobby

The stream at Ballinwilling beach can produce, only after dark and at distance

Liam

Bob I have told you time and time again!!!! Crosshaven. Also carlisle pier near whitegate, but u need to b abel to cast 100yd plus. have also hear that aghada pier is good, but have never seen any catch reports from there. fished it once in bad weather for an hour with no results. would like to hit it again, but i'd say it is more a summer mark for them. at the moment i would say crosshaven or garryvoe would be the best bets.

crosshaven sounds good thats only around the corner from me. What type of baits you recommend?

I have heard that sandeel is on a pully pennell is the most common rig and bait, but macs and other fish are a normal bait. just look at good old henry gilbey on the shannon or bantry nailing them on macs on simple rigs.

hi
also heard the you should not use grip leads as the spikes frighten them.

if you really have to you will need a long trace to keep the bait away from the lead.
I've only ever caught 2 but both of those were caught on plan leads and this is after fishing for them a good few times with grip leads.

good luck. they're a very satisfying fish to catch. they give a good old pull. they are a bit mad looking too :D

Yeah definately look like an exciting fish to catch. Especially the big ones. Is it even the right time of year for them?

i have had more thornies on grips than on flat leads, due to the tidal pull in the areas i fish i cant often use standard leads.

whether it puts them off or not i dont know, but they can be caught on grips

pulley pennel and mack or sandeel is what i have cught best on. had a few on lamprey too and even one on smelt

cool thanks for all the feedback guys. Let you know if I have any luck.

Bobby

The reason some anglers avoid grips is if a ray lands on them it will scare off the ray. If you ever had a ray thats been hooked outside the mouth due to the way they go down on the bait you'll know your rod will go flying even with a small ray. Grips are more an issue with snoods bellow the lead but long snoods will get round this. As said by adam alot of the time you can't avoid using grips.

Donagh

yep as donagh said i leave the lead link and snood long on my pulleys to keep the bait away from the lead

agree with Donagh in relation to long snoods above the grip. boat anglers noticed inmproved ray catches on plain leads to grippers when fishin over same ground. worth a shot if nothing is happening!

get your ass to galway. all the thornback you want from all distances. have often caught trebles

Where in Galway man?

get your ass to galway. all the thornback you want from all distances. have often caught trebles

of course you have.. any one would if they left the bait out long enough while the first one chewed on the hook :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Where in Galway man?

trade secret... two places spring to mind..
if you ever come over this end we might show you :lol: :lol: :lol:

get your ass to galway. all the thornback you want from all distances. have often caught trebles

what would u know bout catching rays :lol: :lol:

get your ass to galway. all the thornback you want from all distances. have often caught trebles

what would u know bout catching rays :lol: :lol:

Rampent Wreckfish even came to me about catching flatties once... well i had a good time catching them on fanore.. i think he blanked :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm sure it won't be too hard to find. Google always has the answers :)

Hi Steve

At the very least send the man a PM! :wink:
And it's hardly that much of a trade secret! :D

tight lines

Hi Steve

At the very least send the man a PM! :wink:

:lol: :lol: :lol: was just about to do that then i say this post.. pm'ing away