Help me catch some decent fish!!

Hi all

I like a bit of sea fishing like every one else, but have never caught anything big, i usually fish of the piers and rocks around bangor, orlock, etc ive caught the usual pollack and coalfish and the odd dog fish but all small around 1-2lb and ive never caught a cod or flatfish!!!

Would love to catch my first conger or something decent, ive read on here that you can catch them from bangor pier up to 35lb (anybody know any truth in that?)

I dont have a boat (not yet anyway) so im all shore for now. Also if anyone has any info on fishing in strangford lough this would be great as ive never fished there and would love to start ( i think ive been missing out) !!!! Any advice would be great. Thanks

Keith

Hi kieth ,theres plenty of conger around the pier at the min ,i lost a couple last night touching 7-9lb and there are bigger around :wink:
You really need a boat rod for fishing the back of the pier as your fishing very rough ground ,basically down between the gaps in the boulders .
if your using a beach caster i would fish from the front of the pier using at least 30lb main line and cast across the mouthof the harbour from the fishing platform towards pickie pier aiming to land your bait about 15m from the back of the pier ,just watch out for boats coming in and out .
you'll need a trace 18" long with at least 150lb mono tied to 8/0 bronzed O'shanessy , bait up with a mackerel fillet .
prob best to use a pulley rig for the beach caster ,or if using a boat rod tie the trace directly to yuor main line .

Hi Ronald

Thanks alot for the advice, will definately have to try this, i have a beach caster and boat rod so can try both your ideas. Am i right in thinking my best chances are at night at high tide?? Or can i fish between the rocks at low tide? Thanks again.

Keith

If your fishing the back of the pier , you can fish 2hrs either side of low water in between the boulders ,just watch out for the wake of the hss ferry !!
night time best ,but you can get conger in daylight to .
fishing the front of the pier any stage of the tide works ,but the (Pet) seals can be a pain in the ass when your dropping baits down the front of the pier .
A good pair of pliers or a T-bar is also a good idea for unhooking fish ,also catch and release as the congers are only making a come back after years of abuse on the pier .

Hi Keith,

I'll be up in Little Killary with my mate fishing for a conger this Sunday.

http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... ic_id=2583

Can't promise 30lbs fish but still I think that there's a good chance of catching a double figure one. PM me if you're interested.

Cheers,

Jan

Hello Guys

Thanks for your replies about conger, Im still in england at the minute but should be home next week so cant make sunday Jan but thanks alot for the offer, and great picture on your post, that looks like a dream place!!

Ronald thanks for your adive on tides, and unhooking methods, ive got a good set of forceps that i use for piking so will bring them along and the unhooking mat too... As for catch and release im happy your concerned about this as so many people seem to kill everything they catch, i remember when i was younger youd here about people killing eels and selling them to the chinese restaurants, hopefully this wasnt true.. as for me i will be returning everything i catch as this is something i feel strongly about, i will keep the od mackerel for bait at times buts thats as far as it goes!!!!

Anyway fishing today guys!!! cant wait im currently down in the south of england, took a walk along the pier yesterday and there where masses of fry hanging round the pier, you could see Bass and Garfish attacking the shoals all the fry where spraying all over the surface, i cant wait to get down there this afternoon, going for my first ever bass today, i think best way to approach this will be with light spinning gear and maybe a silver toby or wedge or something like that, what do you think guys? Hopefully Bass wont be pre-occupied with all the fry!! Some Boys where bait fishing yesterday and where just catching the Garfish, so will let you know how i get on. Ive got a few rapalas as well so they might make an appearance!!!Cant wait!!! Good luck guys and thanks again.

Tight Lines

Keith