Ill bring what was left of the frozen mack from the Courtmac trip. I wont be vouching for its quality however after a day afloat and all day Saturday in the back of the jeep.
The lack of fresh bait on the trip last year meant that some of the lads struggled for fish. Rag is absolutely essential if you are fishing for wrasse, if you can't get it try picking up a packet of Gulp Rag and see how they do. From what I remember of last year, the majority of our fishing was over shallowish reefs. No 90 metre hauls then! Wrasse are a piece of cake to catch when they are present in numbers but as I said, if no rag, target other stuff. Frozen crab is no substitute either.
The ground can be tackle hungry if you are fishing baits hard on the bottom, its no place for pirks TBH. Tip, use a bag tie or small length of garden wire to attach your lead to your trace. Just make a loop through your clip and the eye on your lead and put say 3 twists in it. That way if it sticks all you have to do is pull through the wire and replace your lead. Its much quicker than tying in rotten bottoms.
Keep a set of small sandeel imitations to hand, baited with small strips of mackerel, ready to go. If you hit a patch of coalies it will fair haul them in. If things get really tough, reach for the shrimp rigs. Baited with little slivers of mack/squid they will pick up most things. Fishing from Kilmore can be on occasions quite patchy and scratchy, dont be afraid to scale things down. Its no place really for 6 inch shads and 30-50lb gear. 12-20 is absolutely fine.
It can get quite lumpy out there so sea sick tablets for anyone who may require them.
When we drift the clean (sandy bottom), a double spreader bar (buy the rigid ones not the crap extendable things.) with 2 very short snoods (they shouldnt be allowed to even hint at overlapping otherwise your heart will be broke with tangles.) of 20lb amnesia or similar decorated with a few beads or small spoons to size 2 hooks baited with rag/mack will pick up Flats, Gurnard, LSDs etc. If you are using light enough line you will get away with a flat 5oz lead/watch style lead. If you have 2 of those tied up you should be fine as you shouldnt (famous last words...) lose them.
Thats as much as I'm saying, it is a compo after all :wink: Remember the majority of it is reef fishing and adjust your tactics accordingly and you will do fine. Brief report from last years trip here....
http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... &&start=15