Glens of Antrim

Heading up to do a bit of pleasure fishing here over the weekend.....was thinking of fishing evening into darkness and am undecided between Glenarm or Cushendun. Anybody any recommendations?

Hi Pete. I've fished both of these beaches recently with mixed results. Glenarm has been quite good but i fished Cushendun last Saturday and only had a very small codling but other anglers i spoke to said they had fared better.

Me and my mate Jonny are going to fish Cushendun again this Saturday because we have heard some great reports about it and we want in on the action.

Extract from Irish Angler December edition!

Mark 1: Cushendun: ... strangely poignant statue commemorating the last animal culled in the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001; - the goat memorial protects this tiny estuary. New houses now run out to the point ... and a small cul de sac runs further south to Cave House ... north to the Standing Rocks lies Cushendun Strand ... Another small road (Castle Park) runs down to a small jetty at the northern limit and out past towards Toramoney Point. ... excellent rock mark fishing ... onto sand... find yourself on a pristine new mark, capable of throwing up ballen wrasse, pollack, huss, congers, and all the other standard rough ground species ... strand is long, very shallow and is flounder central, especially near the estuary mouth. It does not fish well in bright sunshine or even on a full moon ... Fish can be small so hooks need to be 1s or smaller to keep you busy. Fish mid water up as there are lots of snags reported relatively close in around low water. Whiting and coalfish ... beach rarely gets a big surf ... rules out codling, albeit they show up occassionally... Pollack to 40 cms reported and dogfish hunt in packs but the beach does produce plaice, albeit to no significant size. Any flatfish over 30 cms would be excellent ... odd decent sea trout but please observe the closed season. Standard baits work fine, with ragworm and sandeel declared the best baits by anglers there.

Mark 2: Cushendall: ... suffers from its proximity to Red Bay Pier, which is probably the best and best known shore angling mark in the area – that’s a double-edged sword so if the latter mark is packed, drive a few kilometres further north for a nice surprise. ... section of very rough ground, accessible from the Ulster Way, to the north of the town, terminating at Salmon Rock up near Limerick Point ... rough ground species but tackle losses are high... Excellent sport with small to medium sized wrasse on ragworm ... the river enters the sea at the southern end ... Further south again there is another section of rough ground known as Dalriada. The jetty – not a pier really – seems to have a sandy apron ... regular reports of fine flatfish. Further along ... Lifeboat station ... congers and other rough ground species.
Spinning and lure fishing over the rough ground at low water ... popular tactic ... Once the tide turns for an hour, people switch to bait fishing for bottom-hugging species ... brings codling fairly regularly reported from both Dalriada and lifeboat station, not just in winter.

Again the beach is notoriously shallow, and popular with holidaymakers, dog walkers and the like, so fishing it is a nightime pursuit. This said there are some unexpected hotspots, several being close to the golf course access; - this advice off the forums on www.sea-angling-ireland.org gives an indication - “in the center of town turn right towards the golf course and head for a small beach now on your left hand side. Try the rocks abut 100-200 yards away - fish them you will have about 15ft of water at the edge of the water so your getting in to deep water when you cast me and a mate fished it last year with some good fish - 3lb cod and 4lb pollack.” Flounder dabs and plaice reported on this beach, all to sandeel, with another hotspot is suggested as the stoney ground close to the pub.!


Mark 3: Waterfoot & Red Bay: It’s the archway that everyone stops to photograph, on the coast road... very famous pier mark ... fish into the channel and do not overcast so nothing more than 40 metres is required. A high tide on this pier can be quite daunting ... heavy weather makes it a trick spot to fish from ... very exposed. ... regularly produces pouting ... the odd turbot with a strip of mackerel on a long flowing trace cast

Hope David doesn't read this, he would not be pleased!

Thanks lads

[quote="pete"]Heading up to do a bit of pleasure fishing here over the weekend.....was thinking of fishing evening into darkness and am undecided between Glenarm or Cushendun. Anybody any recommendations?[/quote]
pete cushendun is best fished at night mate park at the side of the old house at side of galic pitch and walk the 20 yards to the beach ,its best if you have lug and some crab mate could make a difference at this time of year.glenarm is a different beach not as deep water fish in front of the police barracks on the beach ,same bait and also bring sandeels !!!also there is a small harbour at glenarm and if you fish on the right of it under the light you can park beside where you are fishing.there is a small breakwater made of large boulders fish straight out to sea mate .hope this of help to you mate !!!!!john