Cape clear

Goin to Cape Clear off west cork next weekend. Any know anything about species and rigs. Will also have the use of a small boater boat

Cape Clear is a great fishing destination. On the Island itself you would need some transport to get to the best fishing places. The eastern end of the island has a slip way looking over to sherkin on the left of the slip walk up the hill 200yards or so, cross the wall at a small sty and make your way carefully down on the laft of a big gully. The gully is full of wrasse. Cast out towards sherkin for 30m of water and big pollack. I have had pollack to 10.5 lbs from this shore. Any good lure works but small lead heads are great. You want high water or low water as there is a strong current here. Also try north harbour for wrasse and conger. South harbour for flats, dogs and wrasse along shore. You can ask at the island co-op office about access and other possible spots.

Boat fishing is great from western tip of cape, along cliffs for big huss, ling, pollack etc. Just outside north harbour for pollack on free-lined rag. Also try outside fish farm near bird island for wrasse, dogs, pollack etc. Watch for reefs in this area. Its a very dangerous water for inexperienced boaters. There is also a spot off sherkin at the mouth of water between the two islands. This has sand and you can get ray here. I suggest you talk to the ferry crew for local spots or when your in baltimore one of the local charter skippers who could also help. :P

Thats great. Thanks. I never fished for wrasse before. Could you recommend a decent rig

I just float fished with Rag or Mussel. Either works well for wrasse there. Depending on the depth i used to use a sliding float out far or a fixed float under your feet. For a sliding float just attach a stop knot to your required depth and as the lead goes down, the knot will stop at the top of the float. Have a bead between the top of the float and the knot to help. You can ledger with a pater-noster rig(lead on bottom hook of snood 3-4 feet up the line) but its very rough there so use either rotten bottoms or fine wire hooks and storng line to pull out. Let us know how you get on.