Wreckfish/Stone Bass

I just realised that the Irish record for wreckfish was caught here in Kinsale, albeit 21 years ago.

Just wondering if anyone has caught one?
I've never seen one, are they a viable target in the Summer?

Any tips or info greatly appreciated

[yappo]

One of our lads caught one on Brian Byrnes boat Lagosta II a few years ago pure accident though.
Brian might be able to help.
http://www.loughcarrig.com

Yappo

Last edited by yappo on Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The wreckfish / stone bass grows to considerable size. Have seen huge lunkers in aquariums. The “Fish ID “ book says the juveniles (up to 20lb) are noted for following wreckage on the surface. I have never caught one myself but in most cases I know of there was floating wreckage involved, stuff that had been in the water for a long time that weed and crustaceans had attached themselves to.

I would imagine them to be very much an opportunistic fish rather one that you could go out and hunt. Unless you anchor a raft offshore somewhere……..

Here is a small one that was caught by Robbie Cotter during the Cork Small Boats Festival 2006:

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Thats one rough lookin fish. Must of been a fair scrapper in his day.

They seem like a pretty rare fish alright so I don't know how how targetable they would be. Actually there was a report on the site of one caught from Killiney of all places last year, I'll see if I can route it out.

Yeah here it is:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20869&p=160332&hilit=+Stone+Bass+killiney#p160332

They are caught here off Cork Harbour and also all along the West Cork coast nearly every year but tend to be accidental rather than specific targets

Here's a Cork Harbour example!

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Might be worth dropping a line just under the boat when anchored as Jim says they tend to be caught under floating cluster of weed and other crap.

Yappo

Thanks for all the info guys.

Sounds like I'm better off not trying to target them.... maybe just keep doing the Lotto instead

They seem like a pretty rare fish alright so I don't know how how targetable they would be. Actually there was a report on the site of one caught from Killiney of all places last year, I'll see if I can route it out.

Yeah here it is:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20869&p=160332&hilit=+Stone+Bass+killiney#p160332

That was a shore caught fish eh? Even rarer!

They get a run of these in October off the south west coast of France, have seen 40lb specimens taken on conger baits.

I have actually caught 2 stone bass over the years, both of them off Cork harbour, both of them out shark fishing.
The first one was when I was fishing the bottom for whiting etc when there was a run on one of the shark rods, I reeled in straight away, but left the rod with a set of baited feathers hanging a few feet under the surface, a couple of seconds later the rod was nearly pulled over the side and I just grabbed it in time to find a Wreckfish hanging off the end hook.
the following year I was shark fishing again, and someone thought they saw something dart out from under the boat, I put on a 4' trace with a hook baited with a belly strip of mackerel, and lowered it over the other side of the boat, letting it drift under and I hooked up straight away with another stone bass.
The 2 things in common were that the fish were taken on the drift after 4-5 hours so they must have followed the trail up, and hid under the boat (called wreck fish because they hang around floating debris), and each year it was a very hot summer and we had seen several sunfish during the day.
I bet if more people did what I did the second day out shark fishing there would be more of them caught.
Dave

I have actually caught 2 stone Bass over the years, both of them off Cork harbour, both of them out shark fishing.
The first one was when I was fishing the bottom for whiting etc when there was a run on one of the shark rods, I reeled in straight away, but left the rod with a set of baited feathers hanging a few feet under the surface, a couple of seconds later the rod was nearly pulled over the side and I just grabbed it in time to find a Wreckfish hanging off the end hook.
the following year I was shark fishing again, and someone thought they saw something dart out from under the boat, I put on a 4' trace with a hook baited with a belly strip of mackerel, and lowered it over the other side of the boat, letting it drift under and I hooked up straight away with another stone Bass.
The 2 things in common were that the fish were taken on the drift after 4-5 hours so they must have followed the trail up, and hid under the boat (called wreck fish because they hang around floating debris), and each year it was a very hot summer and we had seen several sunfish during the day.
I bet if more people did what I did the second day out shark fishing there would be more of them caught.
Dave

I'm always looking for an excuse to put on a mask and snorkel and dive in.
This summer I have a legitamate reason! Especially considering the amount of waiting involved in shark fishing..

Keep an eye on the underside of the hull. Seems like a proactive hunt is necessary!

We had one aboard Rooster out of Baltimore a in 2003.
while heading out to the sharking grounds Nick the skipper noticed some large piece of flotsam and said there may be a stonebasse underneath that, i wasnt expecting to see one but sure enough it was visible under the water, a freelined mackeral chunk was tossed in front which it took straight away and fought like feck.
the fish was a beautiful creature on deck, my pal who had brought her in had never been fishing before and while holding it for a pic it kicked he got freaked out and threw it back before we could weigh it.
the current record was then caught on board rooster the following year.
i still have the pic but its an old fashioned print and a i have no scanner, any ideas how to find a scanner library etc.?

Fascinating, never heard of them before. Anybody ever come across one further up the west coast?

just bring out an old plank and tie it to the stern and wait for them to arrive great looking fish

A group of anglers out of valentia a couple of days ago saw a big plank floating out deep, and caught 11 stone bass including 1 specimen under it......

told you so