Warmer Weather = More fish????

Lads... Am I right in saying, that the warmer weather will produce more fish???? The last time I was going down to Wexford (early feb), i was told that it wouldnt produce greatly as the water temperature would keep the fish from feeding. So will it be the opposite now???? Also, what time of year do the bass usually start feeding on the east coast??? I havent caught a bass yet, and I would really like too, obviously, ha!

Hi Codswallop

The temperature most people see as critical for sea fishing is somewhere between 9 and 11 C - sea water temperature. This is reputedly the tipping point at which for example bass start to feed more actively and mackerel come inshore (so I am told!)... 16 C is the recognised point for shark fishing around Ireland and that will not be reached until June or July...

The only problem with the nice weather at the weekend is that it has very little impact on sea temperatures unless it is a good long spell like a week (and besides which it is going to hammer down today!)

The sea is always two to three months behind, so the temperatures in the sea now are what you would likely expect to find in December or January (when in fact it was very warm in places, up to 19 C again off Donegal!)

If I recall there is a good link posted recently to the sea buoys that offer real time temperature and other readings. All this said the first mackerel of the season fell to a spinner in Achill last weekend, certainly the first that I have heard of, and it is damn early. Normally expect it in mid-April...

FWIW

http://www.met.ie/marine/marineclimatology.asp

good if you wanted to know the water temp last month :lol: ! Does anyone have a link to better website giving current water temps?

Take a look at http://www.marine.ie/scientific+service ... ations.htm

These bouys are, of course, some way out at sea. It is the case, however, that water temperatures should be a little warmer nearer the coast.

Peter

Yeah I had a look at that one on marine.ie, it seems good, alot of info. Thanks lads.

Plus loadsa other statistics/readings on this one:
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/United_Kingdom.shtml
But as said above, these are out at sea so there will be a slight difference to the shoreline temps. Interesting to try and find the Gulf Stream. Much warmer water. Shame I can't cast that far :lol:

i've been told by a couple of sources that guys are getting the occasional mackeral at the bridges of ross in clare. i've never heard of em showing up so early....maybe yet another sign of global warming?!

My mate just sent this link - pretty good one too...

http://cobs.pol.ac.uk/modl/metfcst/irst/latest.php

Was carrying water sample in Mulroy in Donegal today, water temp was 9.5. Still bit frosty for swimming!

Pete