Thornies - Co.Down

Alright lads, as some of you already know I'm thornie mad yet I've only had the opportunity to fish for them once and although I missed a classic run I've yet to be blessed with one.

So imagine my excitement when I received a call from a mate that was dredging for mussels only 10 miles from my front door to tell me they were lifting loads of thornies in the dredger not 80yds from the low tide shore line.

The dredging finishes in March which was early its self so I reckon they be happy enough left alone for the last couple of months.

I'm looking for as much information asz possible to give me the best chance of catching one of these babes, I know its difficult as most venues are different but any info will help.

Try a pulley rig with at lest 20inch 40ib snood 3/0 or 4/0 hook with a strip of mackerel 3"x 1" or a big lump of peeler. If there is much of a tide run were your fishing from try to walk up tide and then cast when it lands let out some line so you get a bow in your line what will help it grip no end. Rays don't seem to like grip wires BTW seems to give them a spike when they settle on your bait :!: As for what tide you need might as well start at low water and fish up..If your are lucky and get a hit you may see a knock or two on the tip of the rod but some times it just gos over then off they go :lol: If stuck give us a shout will help you suss the spot out :wink: :lol: :lol:

Agree with all Tom H said, also i find a sandeel squid cocktail on a 3/0 4/0 a killer bait all my ray this year have fallen for it :wink:

Yep saltydog that's a top bait all right probably one off the best.. Just I dont give it all away in one go :lol: :lol: :lol:

lug & mack seems to weed out the bigger ones whilst mack and squid is a great bait in general..Would avoid a pulley rig like the plague as i dont like the rig, its unnecessary on clean ground, bait is off the bottom on a short cast and the ray will get spiked by the griplead as it will be practically beside the bait. I know alot of ray are taken on them but i just dont like them..use up & overs,clipped down running ledgers, portsmouth loops or even long (5FT) single snood cilpped pennels. Give ray at LEAST 30 seconds to mouth the bait and give a nice strike when you wind in..oh and good luck!!

i heard that theres some on the groomsport side ballyhome beech on the rocky point that you can see from the beech

Also forgot to mention if you have the snood right down by the weight so its nailed to the bottom I usually go with a one up one down set up myself and vary the snood lenght depending on the tidal flow :)

Cheers lads, really wound up now, nothing like a bit of pioneering for the ultimate satisfaction, I'll let you all know how it goes.......

Shame the tides are perfect this week and I've no bait stored, especially as I gave about 100 mackies to a guy last weekend.

I have some frozen peelers that I got about 2 months ago and they haven't been fishing for me at all, even when I've been catching really well on other baits??

P.s you know your more than welcome Tom........... :wink:

P.s you know your more than welcome Tom........... :wink:

P.s...... :lol: :lol: :lol: FFS, that sounds really gay......



No offence :wink: