beginner needing advice

hi all.i live near bangor and im pretty new to fishing and dont know a lot about it.just started off few weeks ago using spinners to catch mackeral off the harbour in donaghadee/portaferry.been doing ok,getting the hang of casting.just really want to catch somethin different now.gettin a bit repetitive pullin mackeral and pollacks out all the time.

what should be my next move?i only have a spinning rod and some spinners/feathers.what should i go for next.i assume bait is the way to go?

anyone any good advice they might like to throw my way as i really dont know a lot about this.been reading as much as i can,but im a bit lost lol.

ive tried fishing ardglass,orlock,ballyhalbert pier,dee pier,bangor,portavogie.anywhere else in my area im missing out on?

any help or advice much appreciated.thanks..

Try some float fishing with rag, good for wrasse etc and easy on a spinning set up.
I don't know any good marks but if you read reports by the user Ronald, you'll get a good idea of what's what up North.

Yeah, Its some float fishing you want. Get some worm and hit Orlock. Walk up the steps and round the edge of the next 2 fields and you will find good deep water. Good luck

THANKS GUYS.

should i buy a new rod for float fishing?
also,whats the crack with a beach caster?is this what i need for float set-up?as i say,really dont know much about fishing lol.


was at orlock the other day m8.just went up steps and off the 1st set of rocks.got a few mackeral and pollack.you reckon walk on round a good bit more then?

Hey there whitey.

A beachcaster is exactly what it says on the tin. it is used for casting from a beach.
your spinning rod will do for float fishing. get a bit of rag outa belfast angling or mckees in bangor and have a chat with one of the boys outa the shop. they will put ya onto a couple of other spots in ur area. good luck and tight lines

Whitey, a spinning rod is grand for float fishing from the rocks. Make up a sliding rig http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... liding+rig
and you'll be catching in no time.
I also would recommend Mackerel Strip as bait if you can't get hold of worms. I seem to have had more luck with that recently, as a relative newcomer to sea fishing I found rag a little bit daunting.
Some people ion this forum recommended BlackHead Lighthouse and it was indeed great. Other good float fishing spots near you are Orlock (as mentioned) and Helen's Bay under the Fort.
If you fancy a wee bit of adventure there is also the rocks facing Gun Island at Ballyhornan.
Also spinning for Pollack can be great fun, I wouldn't necessarily avoid that, it's a nice way to spend a few hours in the evening. A few spinners in your pocket and a rod makes a much more mobile way of fishing and you can cover lots of ground round Orlock way.

Good Luck,

A

hi whitey, heres some advice that i can give you.
you can keep the spinning rod for float fishing, it will do just fine, but as regards to bait fishing i think you should invest in some beach gear. i'd go for
fix spool reel and rod for a beginner . the people in the tackle shop should help you out with everything, they'l also advise on what terminal tackle you will need. also a rod rest can be really handy off the beach and a beach buddy is also great, but these are luxury items. however a box is a must. my best advise for you is to join a club, you'l meet like minded people who will show you the ropes of bait fishing.
eric

many thanks to all of you for your advice.went to mckees in bangor,had a chat with one of the guys and came home with a float kit and a packet of float and ledger stops.i'll get out with it over the weekend here and see how i get on with it before venturing to a beach caster lol.
any difference in casting with the float setup?any certain technique to it or same sort of idea?


andyjaffs - where's ballyhornan m8?cant say i know it. thanks

Start off by fishing right under your feet at the edge, and close down to the weed as you can, so its a good idea to have slightly weaker line from the swivel below the weight the hook, that way if you catch most times you will only loose the hook and not the float etc. If you have not got waeker line, just tie a simple overhand knot six inches up from the hook and it should in theory break at the knot if pulled.

thanks to everyone for the advice.i was at orlock there for an hr to try out my float setup.tides were'nt at there best,but i managed to catch a pollack on my 2nd cast within 1st 5 mins,using sandeel as bait.i caught another on my 3rd cast.both quite small pollacks,but i was still chuffed to bits.i had a dabble with the spinner when the conditions got quite rough,and caught another pollack.i was happy enough for my hrs fishing.i'll get a good day out with the float soon now i know what im at a bit better.thanks guys.

good stuff whitey, i fish orlock alot and the sliding float rig is definately the most effective tactic. order some ragworm with mckee's tackle and give the float a go again. there is some big wrasse and decent codling to be caught at orlock. also the rocks to the right as you go through the fence can be quite productive. there are a few spots you can bottom fish and i've caught a fair few doggies there. maybe see you down there chum. :)

good stuff whitey, i fish orlock alot and the sliding float rig is definately the most effective tactic. order some ragworm with mckee's tackle and give the float a go again. there is some big wrasse and decent codling to be caught at orlock. also the rocks to the right as you go through the fence can be quite productive. there are a few spots you can bottom fish and i've caught a fair few doggies there. maybe see you down there chum. :)

cheers rab.this was the 1st time at orlock that i had walked across fields.usually just cast off the 1st rock mark from the big hill/steps.after reading some posts on here i discovered the other good spot today!guy in the tackle shop on seafront in bangor said sandeel better way to go,so thats what i used.i'll order some rag for next time.the way im going with this fishing addiction i'd say i'll more than likely bump into you at orlock in the very near future m8 :D

Whitey, Ballyhornan is on down the coast not too far from Ardglass. Not too handy from Bangor but one of my favourite places to walk and fish.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en ... =addr&om=1
The Lecale way takes you over some cracking scenery from Ballyhornan to Ardglass. If you blank; the scenery alone is worth the effort.

nice one whitey. good result there also.