Angling related highlights of 2008

Right lads, a good time to cast your minds back to last years fishing and fishing related incidents, it was my first year at the sport, and a memorable one at that.

So what was your angling related highlight (good or bad) from 2008

Have to say, a few spring to mind for me.

Eric slipping, and ending up, upside down, hanging by his box assisted by various forms of local flora, in South Wexford - damn I wish I had got my camera out quicker, then you guys could have laughed as much as I did

Catching not my first, but my first 2 bass on the one rig at Dollymount Strand

Driving down the footpath right onto Clones Strand beach (in my car, not a 4x4)

Managing to drive back up the path from the beach at Clones Strand

Seeing a strange orange comet type thing 2 nights in a row whilst fishing with Corbyeire in South Wicklow

There's plenty more, but you get the idea......

That chocolate cake ya made on the way back from Courtown on Sunday...How has a nice man not snatched you up yet. Beautiful

chocolate cake

Mmmm, was rather yummy, I'll put the recipe up actually pm me if you want

How has a nice man not snatched you up yet

To all of you who dont know me he meant woman

chocolate cake

Mmmm, was rather yummy, I'll put the recipe up actually pm me if you want

How has a nice man not snatched you up yet

To all of you who dont know me he meant woman

It's spelt Woah man...dont all rush at once

Kayak fishing and having 6 dolphins soround kayak.

That made me glad to be alive.

wow!

for me has to be the 4lb+ sea trout i caught in a storm in February - completely exhilarating

Too much xmas/newyear gargle for you Al

That chocolate cake ya made on the way back from Courtown on Sunday

That was technically 2009

And, I didnt make it on the way back from courtown....I can eat, drink, smoke, and do a few other things whilst driving, but baking a cake is not one of them

Kayak fishing and having 6 dolphins soround kayak.

Does your kayak have a port-a-loo inside

I dont know you told me you made a lovely cake out of the passenger side door


But to be honest it was probably my first Ray caught...a Blonde Ray caught in Wicklow in August, and hooking into Huge mullet on Cape Clear...The fight was unreal off of them they tore some amount of line off of the reel, didn't have a net to land them though and they came off after a long fight when i tried to walk them over to the steps about 30-40 foot away This year i will have a net though

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=19263&start=20

Hiking into rock mark only to get there and realise that the need for a number 2 had come on un-noticed - hence returning home at end of session with out any socks


----I always keep a loo roll in the tackle box for such an occasion

----Wrapped up tightly in a waterproof bag, for obvious reasons

I did wash me hands....honest

[JOHN1]

Eric slipping, and ending up, upside down, hanging by his box assisted by various forms of local flora, in South Wexford - ......

he is one very lucky boy
just think what the outcome might have been if he was climbing down BRAY HEAD

Last edited by JOHN1 on Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It would have to be catching my frist ray which was a painted ray that weight 15lb on my first cast of the session on sandeel the cast after that I got a 12lb painted ray on ragworm on a size one hook the nite after that I got my first ever bass which was 3lb

for me was last sunday,fishing old head and seeing my first sea otter for twelve years! was so mesmorised forgot that i had the camara!! fishing is what were there for, but thats a sight i wont forget for a while!

basket shark going over my 2 lines taking 2 rods flying into the water and of course i had to strip down and go in after them minus a reel

the highlight of 2008 for us was jordan getting his new p.b. ballen wrasse at 3lb 14oz. i asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he wanted to go out on a boat for a days fishing. so a boat was charterd, and as a bonus i sent his pic into the sea angler magazine shimano mission section. two months later he got his name in the magazine and his shimano mission accomplished badge the smile on his face says it all

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SEA-mullet especially the golden grey. near passed out when i looked at it at first.
heart was my mouth when i hooked, glad i succeeded in 08 with the mullet, just need to get a bigger one this year. first doggie and first rockling. millisle fishing, surprizing amount of species around it.
COARSE-big roach lough erne, i think it was only an ounce or two under the record, first golden orfe, 18 tench lakeland fishery, 12 carp to 7 pounds lakeland fishery.
GAME- first wild brownie on the fly.
PIKE- first pike on deadbaits- roach was the killer

Great photo, lovely fish aswell.

Out of interest, did you measure the fish?

My biggest Ballan was 42cm last year, but didnt have scales to weigh it, I'd have thought it was around 4lb, but couldnt be sure, so would be just interested to get a length on your fish

it was 51cm mark, but judging weight by length with ballens can be hit and miss. my p.b. was 2lb 7oz and measured 40cm, but was'nt nearly as deep and wide as jordans. you get shorter fish that have more girth and weigh more than longer ones just to confuse things a bit more

the highlight of 2008 for us was jordan getting his new p.b. ballen wrasse at 3lb 14oz. i asked him what he wanted for his birthday and he wanted to go out on a boat for a days fishing. so a boat was charterd, and as a bonus i sent his pic into the sea angler magazine shimano mission section. two months later he got his name in the magazine and his shimano mission accomplished badge the smile on his face says it all

That smile says it all really ,well done the wee man .

great pic al,
your wee man looks well chuffed alright, bet thats one birthday he will never forget
fair play to him... well done jordan

slipped off the rocks in about 8feet of water,
wearing a bouyancy aid, and the chest waders filled up with cold sea water.... but i fished on!
Wide awake after dat!