West Cork- End of October

I'm treating myself to a second fishing holiday in Ireland this year. Compensation for all the problems that prevented me from having a trip during 3 years.

I know the area well, having fished there many times between April and September, but never so late. I know bass will be about but what about the other species ?
Will the mack still be around ? I've already had codling at Bantry in September so presume they will be present in number. Whiting ?

Ta very much !

Bass and codling around also huss and conger. If the weather has not been to severe there is still a good chance of ray. For some reason I have never caught that many whiting but when I do it is always a pound plus fish. Total guesswork on the mackerel but going on the last couple of years it is doubtful there will be many about but sandeel and squid will work OK at that time of year.

I had a great week in West Cork even if the fishing was a little disappointing. I had my doubts about going on holiday with a 6 month year old baby ( my first grandson) but everything went down smoothly, especially the Murphy's !

Most of my usual marks were off-limits due to the very heavy swell, which probably accounts for the poor returns in pollock and wrasse. No wrasse and even the best pollack session only saw 3 small fish caught.

Things were a bit better at Barleycove and the best session there saw one nice bass (returned) and 9 flounders. Compensation for getting up at 4 am ! My daughter, who is a chef, baked a few with fresh herbs and

apparently they tasted great, probably due to them being caught in clean, open sea-water rather than an estuary. I never eat the fish I catch ! Mostly fishing in darkness, I had hoped that a few codling would show up

but this wasn't the case; perhaps a little too early and warm ? The best moment was seeing a whale so close to the shore (just off the point of the little island) whilst fishing into darkness on Toor pier. No idea what species, it was

just big and black ! I guess it scared all the pollock away ! Bait was fresh peeler , rag and locally dug lugworm. I was hoping to find a few razors at Crookhaven with the very low Spring tides but couldn't find any. Plus the usual spinners

and jellies.

Well that's about it ! Looking forward to our next trip next Spring !