Little Killary

Hello all.
Just looking for some info for the 2ND comp in march.
I not sure but is this close to Clifden.
Where is the best place to stay etc.

Cheers Paul.

Hows it going Paul. I reckon Westport is probably the best place to stay for fishing here. Kieran is more familiar with the Mayo region so he might have a better suggestion. I usually stay with mates in Galway when fishing here which is further away but not too bad, about 1.5 hours. The fishing is mainly for dogs, ray and dabs with huss after dark. Sandeel is the only bait needed although im sure most people including myself will bring along other baits as back up. Congers can be targeted in the rocks at your feet, just ask kieran! Small pollack and wrasse can be caught here too but might still be a bit early when we fish the comp for these. The ground (apart from the rough stuff at your feet) is clean sand with sea grass type beds in places and the fish can be caught from all ranges. HTH

Hi

Sean has it well covered there - this early March 18th in the year the big target would be rays, specifically thornbacks. You must fish the flowing tide for them, and the depth of water there means the size of the tide has little impact so long as it is running. You will have pollack inshore by then as well but it can be hit and miss in Little Killary. The dabs can be very good size, lots of specimens landed here - JD has a nice on e in the alst competition. Loads of strap congers in the margins and some bigger animals - got bustedby two on the last visit, one very decent fish. Big huss but only after dark, if anyone wants a specimen its a very good spot for them. Dogfish can come in packs or not at all, same goes for whiting - they seem to be nonexistent this year. I was surprised at the number and quality fo the flounders in recent visits and the 2005 competition - its not known for them but clearly they're there. It is probably a little early for the chance at a plaice, another month on...

As for accommodation, Westport is the best close town, there is some limited accommodation in Leenane down the road and even in some of the local towns as far west as Rynvile.

Sandeel, lugworm, ragworm, in that order IMHO and if you can get it top of the hit parade would be razorfish.

Jaysus, yez will be wanting to borrow rigs off me next! :D :wink:

HTH

Thanks for the info.
Iv never been to that neck of the woods so all info welcome and appreciated. Iv never caught a ray or a decent huss and both are on my hit list for 2006 so maybe ill get 2 birds with the one stone :D

Seaniebo
Glad to hear you had some good cod fishing after the last comp.
Made the trip worth while.

kieran
Thanks for the info and the offer of tying some traces for me but as you said yourself 2 of yours snapped on your last outing here so I think ill stick to my own. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Just joking.

Lads,
Just realised that the brits v IRL rugby game starts at 1730 on the 18th and the comp runs until 1900!!! :cry: :cry: :cry:
No way I can make it over for this one either....
JK

I know jfk, Im supposed to be going to London for it but the money may be too tight and the urge to fish this spot too strong!!

To the rugby fans: ask your selves this.

Would you rather watch a video of the angling competition or a video of the rugby :?:

:D :D :wink:

Well said sandman, what, was the video or DVD recorder not invented yet? I can understand if you were heading off to Twickers (shoot me now, listening to 'swing low when your winning' etc.) but to watch it on telly... btw, last report I have from there was of two sea trout on the beach beside it to mackerel strip seeking turbot / brill / dabs!!!

Damn you!!!!

:lol:

Looks like Sean's going........

Kev

My work here is done.... 8)

:D :D :wink:

Well said sandman, what, was the video or DVD recorder not invented yet? I can understand if you were heading off to Twickers (shoot me now, listening to 'swing low when your winning' etc.) but to watch it on telly... btw, last report I have from there was of two sea trout on the beach beside it to mackerel strip seeking turbot / brill / dabs!!!

Was that Glengesh beach Kieran?? Lovely spot and good for flounder too...

Hi

Not sure if that is the name of it, its a lovely crescent shaped beach flanked by an island just outside the mouth of the inlet, and it runs beyond the island into a series of other coves and beaches. Last week it produced some nice flats apparently, nothing huge and when the angler moved to the mouth of killary, he had two thornies to 4.5 lbs - now I know its very early but its is possible given the depth of water. This particular angler is know to possess a fair imagination - pass the salt :wink:!

FWIW

Isn't Glengesh the beach that you get to by going past the caravan site below Glengesh PO? I think it's the one me and LSD fished last year when we couln't find you for the Little Killary meet :oops:. Lovely looking beach but we didn't get a bite - the red tide was in full swing. We took in one small crab, which died in my hands. Had the look of good flounder and turbot about it on a good day.

Meself and m.b3 are thinking of heading down on Sunday to check out these salty reports! Anyone interested in joining us is more than welcome. Havent got much from here at this time of year in the past except dabs although they have been of a good size. Will report back if we make it down.

Well Sean, did yourself and Mark make it to little killary on Sunday? How did ye get on?

Ah lads, the day of the England match!?! Horror show! What sort of reception do you get on those little handheld TVs?
All things going well my schools gonna be in the final of the rugby on Paddy's day too so its touch and go really

Ah lads, the day of the England match!?! Horror show! What sort of reception do you get on those little handheld TVs?
All things going well my schools gonna be in the final of the rugby on Paddy's day too so its touch and go really

Rock?

[Seaniebo]

Well there lads we made it down and back in one piece. Just got back about an hour ago, am knackered.
We got to Little kilary about 11 sunday morning think High tde had been about 8.30am. Fishing was poor enough for the majority of the ebb with the odd dog and a few whiting to 28cm. Didnt bother us too much though cos the weather was beautiful and theres no better surroundings on a nice day than here. When the flood started the fishing noticably improved with a better stamp of whiting coming in and a nice flounder of about 33cm for Mark. Still no ray at that stage but we knew we were chancin our arms this early in the year. At about 5ish a mate of mine from Galway arrived out to us with a stonking hangover to say hello. Feeling sorry for him I baited up his trace which he duelly cast in and caught a thornback of about 3lb!! Soon after this I was reeling in when I felt a fish pick up the bait on the retrieve. Couldnt really believe it when I swung up a mackerel! It had taken a bit of sandeel, on the 19th of feb!!
As it got dark the Whiting were out in force but much better in size up to 35cm. Lots of dogs about too. We called it a day at about 8.30pm
Decided to give it another go this morning before heading back and the fishing started much the same as yesterday but it wasnt so nice with a stiff wind blowing in your face. Plenty more dogs and whiting. Just before low tide we were considering heading off to another spot when I got a decent bite that looked different. Reeled in a lovely specimen dab of 1lb 14oz! Delighted. Half an hour later Mark was having a bit of a snooze when his ratchet started singing and he proceeded to reel in a double, a doggy and a 5lb Thornie! We fished on for another few hours getting many more whiting and a couple of dogs before hunger got the better of us! Great couple of days fishing and in the middle of feruary too! Will post the photos tomorrow.
Me with a Mack!
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Mark with a Flounder
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Dab!!
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/markb3/fishies047.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket">


JP with the first Ray of the trip
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/markb3/fishies045.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket">

Mark with a beautifully marked ray of about 5lb
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The View!
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Last edited by Seaniebo on Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:20 pm, edited 4 times in total.