Off to a good start - East Cork - 16th June 2011

[RockHunter]

People: Me

Duration: 12.00 - 6.30 am

Tide: HW at 6.30 am

Weather: Mild, light southwesterly breeze, clear, dry

Bait: Lug

Rigs: 4/0, 5/0 pennel pulleys, 4/0 running ledger

Results: 7 bass, 2 flounder




Report:I reckoned that the strong steady southwesterly wind during the day would have blow up a good surf on south facing beaches so a beach session looked like the best option for the reopening of the bass season. It was a lovely night to be out, mild, very light breeze and the beach was illuminated by a bright full moon on a clear night.

I decided to use three rods in order to fish a range of distances. I used 4/0 and 5/0 pennel pulleys on the two rods cast to long and intermediate distances and a 4/0 running ledger on the rod cast in close. I had a good stock of freshly dug lug plus some razor. There was a moderate to weak surf so I reckoned that lug would be the best bait.

I had all three rods set up and baited with lug just before 12 am, and on the stroke of midnight began to cast them out. Low tide was at 12.30 am and it was quite until the tide started its initial push in, then there was a sudden sharp tug on the intermediate distance rod. I struck and began to retrieve. From the fight I was sure it was a bass, but not a big one. A few minutes later I hauled a 43 cm bass out of the surf - a good start

Maybe 20 minutes later I had a second, much the same size at 44 cm

This was followed by another three bass over the next hour or so. They were all of a similar size range, 43 cm, 41 cm and 47 cm and all hooked on lug at intermediate distance. It was quite for about 30 minutes after that apart from a small 21 cm flounder. Then as I was returning from casting out one of the rods I spotted the line on the other had gone slack. I grabbed it and rapidly reeled in the slack and eventually I caught up with the fish. This was putting up a better fight compared to the previous bass and was pulling strongly as I got it into the shallows. I could see it splashing about in the moonlight. It was a 51 cm bass, the best of the session

I had been thinking of having a lure session at dawn but as the sky lightened I could see large waves crashing on to the rocks to the east. It looked too rough for that and the water in the mark that I wanted to fish would very likely have been highly coloured and weedy. So I perservered with bait fishing. I had one more bass after that at dawn, a 45 cm fish

The fishing then died down and all I had was one more tiny flounder of about 18 cm. I packed up at high tide at 6.30 am after using all the lug. So not a bad start to the reopening of the bass season, 7 bass ranging from 41-51 cm and a couple of small flounder.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Thu Jun 16, 2011 2:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

A couple more:

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There had to be one didnt there, and I'm not at all surpised it was you

Only messing and fairplay on a great session, must be a pleasure to have reliable bass fishing on your doorstep and what a way to reopen your season with a few fish.

I hope you syncronised your watch to be running true to GMT though................wouldnt want a bait in the water at 23.59 by mistake

very nice frank and happy birthday,enjoy

happy days

Good man Frank, Fair play to you.
I thought about a bit of dawn spinning before work but chickened out. I think I'll head out for a few casts soon...

fair play frank your some man for the bass

good goin frank, was gonna do the same but was finished work at 9 and couldnt be bothered hangin round for 3 hours, wish i did now lookin at tonights wind forecast.

Well done Frank, had a notion you might be out and about for the silver fellas, it's been a long month!

nice one frank you didnt lose your mojo i think i,ll head out tonight those smoothies are ok but alot harder to find

Some say that he lives on a beach in East Cork and that if he doe's not catch any fish, He eats the bait...All we know is he's called RockHunter

magic session Frank, that's the way to do it - great being able to take a few early bass pictures to show off and make Henry envious

thats briliant,Frank,u r the bass man i didnt get nothing,using razor,was nice to meet a u!

That is some fishing frank cant wait to get out for a session ,roll on sat

That is some fishing frank cant wait to get out for a session ,roll on sat

Thanks guys,

must be a pleasure to have reliable Bass fishing on your doorstep

After a few years I have a rough idea of which marks will fish best under certain conditions and at which stage of the tide, as well as which ones are going to be relatively weed free.

very nice frank and happy birthday,enjoy

Thanks very much Brian.

I thought about a bit of dawn spinning before work but chickened out. I think I'll head out for a few casts soon...

Don't know what it was like in the Waterford direction but the sea was very rough along the rocks this morning.

good goin frank, was gonna do the same but was finished work at 9 and couldnt be bothered hangin round for 3 hours, wish i did now lookin at tonights wind forecast.

Thanks Dennis, It was a very nice night to be out, I didn't even have to put on my coat all night.

Well done Frank, had a notion you might be out and about for the silver fellas, it's been a long month!

It certainly has, just hope the weather calms down soon so I can get in a serious lure session.

nice one frank you didnt lose your mojo i think i,ll head out tonight those smoothies are ok but alot harder to find

Thanks Rodger, no its still there, but it was a relief to get the first one last night.

magic session Frank, that's the way to do it - great being able to take a few early Bass pictures to show off and make Henry envious

Shame the were not a bit bigger, but I reckon the bigger ones are off chasing sandeels and bait fish - plenty of sea birds diving about 500-600 m of shore early this morning.

Some say that he lives on a beach in East Cork and that if he doe's not catch any fish, He eats the bait...All we know is he's called RockHunter

thats briliant,Frank,u r the Bass man i didnt get nothing,using razor,was nice to meet a u!

Thanks Oli, good to meet you too.

That is some fishing frank cant wait to get out for a session ,roll on sat

Thanks Gerry, good luck on Satuday.

lovley kickstart for the coming months i hope it is a good sign!looking forward to getting in a few sessions if i can to!as always good fishing frank
ferg

WOW are you sure your not fishing a bass fish farm dont know how you do it, exellent fishing, cracking photos and happy birthday.
You should be beating the number of bass this year to 2010, hope you do, you deserve it.

Amazing consistency and great report

wow, exellent fishing ,well done