How Was Your Season?

As the boat season howls and lashes its way to closure, just wondering how ye all feel about your year's fishing? Good, bad, or average round your patch? Must say it was less than poor up this way. Incessant wind and big seas kept us ashore much of the time, and when we did venture out, fish were scarce, even macks. Only bright spot was the reappearance of fair-sized codling. The charter boats in Killala seem to have had a very poor year of it.

weather wise it was the worst iv had in howth for 3 yrs. i have not been able to get out since last week in august.fishing like yourself was hit and miss some great days, some bummers ,but still it was great to have the freedom of the open sea at my disposal.we had some fine ray fishing on the banks this year producing good results each trip but these were curtailed by the wind and we would have to get shelter nearer the harbour.mackeral were scarce for june but showd up in there thousands for july.not looking forward to taking the boat out next week but we will have a long winter to paint and do the maintainance that is the pains of our sport . so come on 2012 give us all somthing to rave about this time next year . i suppose 4 months of sunshine with slack winds might be a bit greedy

killala gets good now from here on.the big blues boy

Do boats stop going out after October?

its not over yet lads still a good few days fishing to be done just look at the weather for this week

Do boats stop going out after October?

hi i fish right up to xmas if the conditions allow and i also like to get out the first of the new year again if conditions allow me

Do boats stop going out after October?

hi i fish right up to xmas if the conditions allow and i also like to get out the first of the new year again if conditions allow me

Thanks, hope to get out on Thursday i hope the weather forecast doesn't change.

Do boats stop going out after October?

Its kindof traditional that people with boats in the water for the summer/autumn lift them out at this time of year. But its not mandatory of course. There were three trailered boats out from Ballycastle slip Saturday in a short weather break, but all they got in three hours were a couple of macks and one small codling between them.

Hi Steyrman: Like you, I'll go out summer or winter "if the conditions allow". The point I was making is the conditions havent been allowing very much this year, up here at any rate. And its too long a tow from North Mayo to Cork Harbour...

Do boats stop going out after October?

hi i fish right up to xmas if the conditions allow and i also like to get out the first of the new year again if conditions allow me

Thanks, hope to get out on Thursday i hope the weather forecast doesn't change.

all the boats on the moorings in howth have to be removed by the 31st of october because your insurance is only valid between the 1st of march and 31st oct.to be on your mooring. you leave it there at your own risk after that.

Eh..... i was trying to find out how other people have found this year's fishing. My mistake for saying the season is winding down. I recant. I was wrong. It's not. Except for me. So lads how IS your season going?

sorry hugo i was just explaining to nice fish why my season ends on oct 31st .it doesent end for the lads that launch and retrieve

Eh..... i was trying to find out how other people have found this year's fishing. My mistake for saying the season is winding down. I recant. I was wrong. It's not. Except for me. So lads how IS your season going?

Sorry for hijacking your post I have only been out 4 times this year in my mates boat but at least we had plenty of fish.

I only got out a hand full of times this year but loved every minute of it. Only my second year of having a boat so still learning the ropes. But will try to get out the odd time throught the year also. Can't have her under wraps that long again.

Had a good year myself,always came home with fish and also caught a few firsts..
Roll on next year my boat will be back on the water 1st of March(what ever type I buy next)

Season started very slow mainly I think because of lack of macks. July, Aug, September were good enough for the East coast. Got some nice smoothies, ray although small, bullhuss, codling, pollock, Wrasse, until weather closed in and didn't get out from end Sept to end Oct.
Not finished yet by a long shot, boat in marina so any weather window will be exploited, and insurance is for whole year.


Yappo

There’s no doubt but it was a strange year weather-wise. I think we had no great amount of real settled weather. It was difficult to plan trips in advance. I found myself stealing trips here and there. Most of these trips were short trips chasing bass. I reckon I spent the whole year fishing with soft plastic lures for various species but mainly bass!
On the bass front, I caught more bass than ever – I think more down to techniques and timing rather than there being more bass around.
We will fish away from here on…every day is a bonus until the water temperature drops! We’ll have to wait to see what the winter brings.

Thanks everybody. Looks like the south coast got the best of it as usual (I should never have left West Waterford ) but I'm surprised you were blown out of it so much Twinkle, takes a lot to keep you ashore and wasnt most of the wind NW this year?

The coastal strip we fish up here faces north to Greenland so any bit of a breeze and the swell is up. We're used to it. But definitely feel the wind/seas been getting worse over the last 3 years. Plus the fish werent in their usual places this year, inshore former hotspots were pretty barren. And the lack of macks - usually a plague - was unnerving...

Thanks everybody. Looks like the south coast got the best of it as usual (I should never have left West Waterford ) but I'm surprised you were blown out of it so much Twinkle, takes a lot to keep you ashore and wasnt most of the wind NW this year?

The coastal strip we fish up here faces north to Greenland so any bit of a breeze and the swell is up. We're used to it. But definitely feel the wind/seas been getting worse over the last 3 years. Plus the fish werent in their usual places this year, inshore former hotspots were pretty barren. And the lack of macks - usually a plague - was unnerving...

most of my fishing is done weekdays. and although there was a few days we could have got out there was always something in the way football training with my 2 lads.matches sat and sunday they better end up premiership footballers and buy me the boat i deserve, after the terrible sacrifices iv made this season

First blank on the boat for me today Howth 11:30 =2 still nice to be out.

First blank on the boat for me today Howth 11:30 =2 still nice to be out.

Commiserations. Its not uncommon early/late in the year, but can you believe we blanked once in August this year? That's never happened me before....