Donegal Bay Beach 15 August 2019

[johnwest]

It has been a while since I shore fished, even longer since I was on a beach so I decided to put things in order. A beach was selected which would hopefully give some shelter from the current summer weather while a reasonable surf was coming in to hopefully stir things up a bit. I was surprised at how settled the sea was, it would have been ideal for boat fishing (had the boat not been in for some work on the trailer). I set up a couple of lighter rods, 1-3oz and 2-4oz, with 2 and 3 hook flappers baited with mackerel strip. The tide had just turned so I would be fishing the flood. Within 5 minutes I detected a rattle on the lighter rod, a small turbot. I was happy enough to get a fish and save a blank but the three little kids watching me were ecstatic to see and hold the fish. For the next hour or so they were over every few minutes asking had I caught anything or to show me what they had got from the rockpools including sticklebacks, shrimps, crabs and a blenny, they were doing better than me. I had nothing else to offer, I hate fishing under pressure! Of course just after my fanclub left I had another slight rattle which turned out to be my first ever double of weevers, nobody’s favourite fish but another box on the species list ticked. I turned my back for a minute to get some unhooking equipment from the tackle box and when I looked around again, one of the weevers had disappeared, he had buried himself in the sand leaving only his eyes and a sliver of mackerel visible. ( https://youtu.be/E2cs2BVJLkk) .Casting the four ounce lead to the max was producing nothing so I kept both rods close in, the fishing was slow but then in a sudden half hour spell of activity it was bites every cast. A double of small flounder, a weever and flounder, a weever and turbot, two weevers and a flounder in quick succession and then nothing. I’ve never seen so many weevers before; in fact I more than doubled my lifetime tally of them in an hour. They were coming from water no more than 18” deep and from a fairly popular beach, I wonder has anybody ended up in the A and E ward of the local hospital with exteremely sore feet? I don’t suppose there is a collective noun for a group of weever fish, perhaps a “ward of weevers”would do? Or, if I can be permitted a spelling error, a warp of weevers, a weft of weevers….any other suggestions? With 2 small turbot, 4 small flounder and a whatever the term is of weevers, the bites dried up, time for the trudge back to the car to dodge the next incoming shower.

Can't seem to upload pics at the moment, will try again later

[chuckaroo]

weaver city!

a city of weavers

[johnwest]

Just enjoyed a nice coffee with my feet up and thoroughly enjoyed the report as always. Think I was as excited as those kids.

CLATTER OF WEEVERS

[kieran]

weavers are a sign of a healthy environment, the slightest sign of pollution and they are gone. Used to be common off Louisburgh pier, not seen one in years. Tells a tale. Oddly enough, heading over that direction tomorrow...

[johnwest]

Great report as always jw.

A gaggle of weevers?

[johnwest]

A plague of weevers.

[cd07]

Was in strandhill the other day when a kid stood one whilst surfing. By the sound of the screams I presumed it was sore!!!

[johnwest]

A Wealth of Weevers.