Newcastle Beach

just wonderin if anyone has caught much at this spot lately? or heard of anything being caught? is it worth a shot and at wat time and conditions?thanks

not very experienced on this beach. as far as i know it should produce lots of small whiting and flats at this time. you are in with a shout for a bass at close range. used to produce good codling and dabs but as far as i know is nothing like what it used to be. odd flounder can be expected too. some decent plaice early in the year. sorry i can't be of more help.

is that yhe one in co.down or co.wicklow

if your fishing new castle make sure you have heavy grip weights and also expect alot of weed at this time of year. you may be luck to pick up a late smooth hound but if i was you i youd focus on the coalies and flats by just lobbing out a 3 hook flapper around 20 -30 yards. you might also get a bass doing this.

Try walking up towards the grey shed on the beach. This is located half way up the north end of the beach. There are several deep depressions there and some broken ground. Fishing into the dark on a flood tide is your best bet. There will be plenty of dogs and whiting moving in now and occasional flunder and dabs. Another month or so should turn up a few codling on mussel and or lug. Good sandeels and lug will work well this time of the year, crab can work but is very hit and miss on this venue.

If you fancy your chances try for a Tope, use a whiting for bait, this will keep the dogs away. Make sure to use a wire traces and casting up to 60 yards out would be fine for them. Over the next few months they will gradually start moving very close in shore down there.

Tight Lines.

brilliant... are there many tope caught there in season??

Yeah, more so Killoughter though if you really want to chase them

what size hooks mate? and a wire going on to what kind of pound line? im presuming ill need some heavy gear... wat are my chances this time of year? never fished for them before but would be a dream catch if i got one.

You can use 15-20lb mainline with a good long leader so five turns around the reel and two full rod lenghts. Tope tend to roll and a long leader will prevent your main line from snapping. Then use a about 3foot of 60lb line attached to a pennell style rig and then the wire attached to it, about 12inches would be enough. I would use 6/0-8/0 hooks. strong wire such a Cox and Rawle Uptide Extra or Varvivas Big mouths.

Different styles:
[img]http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/1599/thumbtopetracestg7.jpg[/img]

great stuff.. cheers mate

Really Tope this time of the year??? would i have a realistic chance of a tope off Newcastle in the coming weeks???? How is the Codling fishing there? i tried night session there last year only pulled up small whiteing
was very dissapointed

Yes there are Tope there. We tried it last night but the shoals of whiting usually associated with inshore Tope where not there, another few weeks and a cold snap or two will bring them in.

Sounds good ill give it ago in the coming weeks, any preference on tide and bait?? casting, not to familar with the area so info is very helpfull

60 yards, start of the ebb, and whiting/Macko for bait.