north coast shore fishing help

hello i took up fishing a few months ago and at first i could catch nothing but now i have a fair idea how to catch pollock which is most likely the easiest fish to catch after mackerel

i was wondering is it possible to catch codling around the north coast from the shore and if so what works best.

i have caught a fair few pollock and the odd coalfish aswell. i mostly fish at runkerry and dunseverick using ragworm and sandeels on the float and spinners

my species caught so far is pollock,coalfish,mackeral and 1 sandeel

thanks for reading

yes its possible. the areas you've mentioned should throw up a few for you over the comming months.

fish on the bottom with good size baits. lug and squid works well. plenty of scent is whats needed

if the ground is snaggy then use pulley rigs with rotten bottoms so you can get your gear back.

our east coast will produce more of them though.

ive only been out a couple of times since and have caught a grand total of 3 small pollock and a dogfish


where i fish seems to have to many weeds when bottom fishing (runkerry) i have also noticed that from the reports most if not all fish seem to get caught at night now which could be a problem as i dont really know any safe spots to fish from in the dark.

can anyone tell me a nice place to go and get my first codling between portrush and balintoy
many thanks

ive only been out a couple of times since and have caught a grand total of 3 small pollock and a dogfish


where i fish seems to have to many weeds when bottom fishing (runkerry) i have also noticed that from the reports most if not all fish seem to get caught at night now which could be a problem as i dont really know any safe spots to fish from in the dark.

can anyone tell me a nice place to go and get my first codling between portrush and balintoy
many thanks

where you are fishing around runkerry and further round that coast will give you a good chance - you will need to step up your gear to cope with the ground though.

dave

Hi keano,

As weedave says you'll have a better chance on the east coast but there are a few marks worth a chuck on the north. There's a nice comfortable rock mark at ballintoy? Its clean ground fairly close in and has been known to produce a cod or two in previous years. They aren't that reliable but the spot has been known to throw up the odd decent fish every now and then.

Its down the access road on the left hand side as you approach the tight right hander towards the harbour itself? If you walk down there and across onto the rocks. It might be a good mark to get some night time experience on, but go whilst its still light to get a feel for the area and take plenty of lights. Also avoid it on any N, NE or E winds as it will send a swell onto the mark and it can get a little hairy! Try rag, lug or squid on the bottom and you could pick up flounders, whiting and coalies as well. A little hint, if your catching whiting there's a good chance of picking up a codling as they tend to feed together.

Anyway hope this helps and let us know how you get on

K

Sorry Keano,

Just noticed your shore report for exactly this mark, great minds think a like!

K

got a little 6 inch flounder at balintoy on friday using tesco cooked prawns and was delighted as its my first flattie.
i got a couple of little coalies aswell using mackeral

balintoy is a great place as the big rock is fairly flat and theres not much weed about and the end of the harbour isnt to bad either but theres more weeds

i trekked from balintoy carpark to whitepark bay looking for good places to fish from and can honestly say i found none and lost a few hooks and sinkers on my way

havent seen any whiting yet and would be nice to get one to add to my species list

thanks for the message slackliner

No worries mate! Btw I hear Ballycastle beach is getting a few codling now which might be close for you? You'll need rag or lug though but good work on the tesco prawns!

K

i trekked from balintoy carpark to whitepark bay looking for good places to fish from and can honestly say i found none and lost a few hooks and sinkers on my way

there is a couple of rock marks along that walk - its rough ground (20/30lb mainline) fishing but its well worth it - some big fish hiding on those parts.

dave

Just joined the site here and am delighted to see so many North Coast anglers. Some great info on marks, I mainly fish off the beach at Downhill but blanked badly last night and am moving down to Benone in search of bites