An Corraun, Achill

I'm off to Westport for a holiday on Friday week. I looking to do some shore fishing, primarily for pollack, wrasse and mackerel.
I like the sound of An Corraun from the info on the site but it does say that there are hotspots (ie there are also cold spots).
As time will be limited (its a family holiday, not a fishing holiday), can anyone give me any tips as to where abouts to go at An Corraun ?

Also, what about bait, esp for wrasse - will need some worms or crab. Is there anywhere locally that I could buy these (won't have time for digging, etc).

Thanks.

Hi Hake

For the sake of another 20 minutes in the car you would probably be better off trying the Atlantic Drive on achill (see shipwreck on the mark guide). I was disappointed to find that the mackerel were not available off the shore on my last visit there about a week ago (saved from a blank by a solitary one kilo pollack), as we had taken some nice fish only 100-200 metres offshore. If you are determined to fish An Corraun understand from the outset that you will lose lots of gear. It is fiendishly tackle hungry and bar the pollack and coalfish, you will not get much on float fished baits at the moment - the temperature is still on around 11 C which is quite cool...

In terms of bait for wrasse, if you can get ragworm bring it with you - it is gold dust. Small crabs (search for pieces on this in the boards) are ideal for the bigger wrasse. Pollack will fall to spinners, feathers and jelly worms off a boom , especially the red or pink tailed black ones you you do need to get it down amongst the kelp so spark plugs are essential!

You can dig as much lug as you want on the road out from Newport, any number of spots and pick up crabs, mussels and even clams in some spots. You will find the odd very small ragworm. Fresh mackerel will catch you everything. An Corraun is a long stretch, I've been told that the best marks are from the flat rocks under the cliffs at the far end from Newport. On the boat we found a reef about 100 metres offshore that was stuffed full of fish at low water, probably a collecting point for the whole shoreline for some distance in either direction. This reef is heavily weeded but could be reached off the shore from the first set of concrete steps. Follow your nose. BTW, if you do go for Achill, do not fish the shipwreck on your own, its a very dodgy spot even on a calm day. You can fish any number of similar marks all along that coast, from the right up to the rocks off Purteen Harbour far more safely and with good results...

Tight lines and let me know how you get on...

Hi Hake,

It's looking like I'll be doing exactly the same myself later in the summer. I was checking out around there for suitable short stint marks and Cloghmore Harbour (On the atlantic drive) caught my attention. I was on Achill a few years ago and Dougort Harbour is worth a look if it's too rough at the southern marks.
Let me know how you get on.