Plaice in Donegal

I've only ever caught one plaice and that was at Lennan Pier in the Swilly a couple of years ago and I just caught it purely by accident.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Marks
Baits
Time of year
Tides, etc?

Thanks.

I don't think i have ever caught a plaice in donegal, caught plenty on the antrim coast. But last summer i went out for a wee run in the car and ended up at Lennan pier there was a couple of boys from bangor fishing and one of them pulled a massive plaice well inot the 40cm's on a rag, lug and mack. about 30 minutes later the same guy pulled another one in the 40's. i wished i had a rod and some bait that day :cry:

Next time you're out in that boat of yours shamrock try a few drifts over clean ground near Dunree. Also available off the rocks at the LHS fishing back into the bay.

Cheers lads.

Next time you're out in that boat of yours shamrock try a few drifts over clean ground near Dunree. Also available off the rocks at the LHS fishing back into the bay.

Using what bait petekd?

I'm actually heading to Dunree this Sat I think. Not in the boat unfortunately - she wont be back in the water until May

Only ever used mack/squid TBH but thats not to say rag/lug wouldnt do the bizz either.

Cheers petekd. Might be a bit early yet, but I'll have a wee go. Bound to be some kind of flats around. Maybe the odd doggy or two, or the even odder thornie or two...

You fishing the beach or the point?

Dunno yet, I'll see what I fancy when (if) I get there. More than likely from the rocks to the LHS of the beach, fishing back in towards it.

I'm not overly keen on fishing clean sandy beaches - I like to be around rocks and stuff - broken ground. I've never fished just from Dunree beach before - it's always been the rocky points to either side of the small bay I've fished from.

I've only ever caught one plaice and that was at Lennan Pier in the Swilly a couple of years ago and I just caught it purely by accident.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Marks
Baits
Time of year
Tides, etc?

Thanks.

plaice should start to show this month with your chances increasing at month goes on, weather n conditions will b important factor. clearish and calm sea. early morning to midday or again in the evening best. don't fish too heavy and don't be afraid to try a rolling lead. fish a spot where they have turned up before. often the fish are resident to particular features such as rising banks or on clean sand close to rough ground. 3 hook flappers are as good as any rig unless u feel u need to cast further or protect certain baits. attractors work sometimes but not always. sandeel is an underated plaice bait. use hooks from 4's to 1's. in places i have fished for them the fish have fed at different times in tide with no real pattern emerging. low water up is a good starter. can show at 10yards- 150+ even on same day on same venue- search out the sea in front of you if things are slow. catch some for me as i am too busy to go fishin :cry:

plaice should start to show this month with your chances increasing at month goes on, weather n conditions will b important factor. clearish and calm sea. early morning to midday or again in the evening best. don't fish too heavy and don't be afraid to try a rolling lead. fish a spot where they have turned up before. often the fish are resident to particular features such as rising banks or on clean sand close to rough ground. 3 hook flappers are as good as any rig unless u feel u need to cast further or protect certain baits. attractors work sometimes but not always. sandeel is an underated plaice bait. use hooks from 4's to 1's. in places i have fished for them the fish have fed at different times in tide with no real pattern emerging. low water up is a good starter. can show at 10yards- 150+ even on same day on same venue- search out the sea in front of you if things are slow. catch some for me as i am too busy to go fishin :cry:

Thanks very much for the pointers Mark. I will be fishing a rising tide into darkness, from rocks which breaks onto clean ground. I'll be fishing two rods, one in close and one out far (well, as far as I can anyway.) I'll probably alternate between 'decorated' and 'plain' rigs and I'll definitely be using a rolling lead, as I always do when fishing for flats. Baits will have to be mack, squid and sandeel.

All that is if I even manage to get out. I don't drive so I'm relying either on my father or friends to come out along with me - lets hope the weather doesn't put them off!!!

I'll let youse know how I get on. Youse have a competition here shortly, dont yeez?

In 2 weeks time Shamrock so VERY interested in how you get on :D

not to go off topic here - does rolling lead cover anything that isint a grip or are you talking about something specific :? :?:

Just a pear-shaped "bomb" weight that will roll around the sea-bed with the tide. This tends to find gullys where many flatfish will lie in ambush

My top mark for plaice would be Pincher Bay ,that is the bay to the inland side of Fanad lighthouse, have had two very good trips there last summer