Silver dozen - 29th March 2012

[RockHunter]

People:Me

Duration: 8.30 - 11.30 pm

Tide: HW at 10.30 pm

Weather: Calm, warm, clear

Bait: Crab and razor

Rigs: Two hook flapper (4/0 hooks), 4/0 pennel pulley

Results: 12 Bass




Report: I had close to a dozen crabs to use up so headed out for a bait session although the wind had calmed down considerably compared to earlier in the week. However, when I got to the beach and stepped out of the car and saw the surf my heart fell. There was just a very weak surf rolling in with little or no wind. I was sorry I hadn't gone lure fishing. But at least it was a nice sunny warm evening so it was good to be out in the fresh sea air.

I made my way down to the shore - there were already three optimistic anglers in place casting into the very gentle waves.

I set up two rods, one with a 4/0 pennel pulley and the other with a two hook flapper with 4/0 hooks. I baited the pulley rig with crab and put crab on the lower hook of the flapper and half a razor on the other. I knew there was some rocky exposures, now submeged, in front of me so I didn't want to cast too far. However, with the lack of wind, my cast of the rod with the pennel pulley went a bit further than I intended. A little later when I tried to retrieve it was solidly snagged requiring a break.

As I was attaching a new shockleader there was a strong tug on the other rod, I grabbed it and felt a fighting fish on the end. It was a 41 cm bass, caught at dusk just as the light was beginning to fade. It took razor on the upper hook.

After a few quick photos, I released the fish, rebaited with the remaining half razor and then got back to work on attaching the shockleader. But before I had a chance to trim the knot ends there was another strong knock on the other rod. A second bass, just above 40 cm in length, again on the razor. That got me worried, I had only taken one pack of five razorfish out of the freezer, if they were going for that in preference to crab I was going to have to be more economical with the remaining four.

I rebaited, this time using about a third of the clam. Again before I had chance to put a bait on the new rig for the other rod I had another bite. This was a slightly bigger bass of 43 cm, again on the razor.

I recast and the bait was barely in the water before I had a fourth bass, smaller this time at 37 cm. I was still baiting the rig for the other rod when I had a fifth bass, just 36 cm this time, and yet again on razor.

I eventually got the other rod set up and cast a crab baited pennel pulley back out. Shortly afterwards I had a subtle knock on the rod with the two hook flapper, picked it up, felt another pull and struck, but the fish was not hooked. I left it for a few minutes then noticed a stronger tug. This time it was well hooked and felt to be a bigger fish. However, as I hauled it on to the shore I saw two glints of silver - I had a bass double, a 41 cm fish on the upper hook and the smallest bass of the night on crab on the lower hook. This was followed a little later by the first bass on the other rod, another undersize fish.

The bites were slowing down now - I had a chance for a brief rest but not for long before I had another 40 cm bass on the razor. About 10 or 15 minutes later I had a 42 cm fish on the pennel pulley. That brought the night's tally to 10.

There was a bit of a break then, I had a few missed bites, the bass seemed to have become more cautious and were dropping the bait a second after picking it up. But then I had another strong bite, struck and this time the fish was well hooked. It was the biggest bass of the night at 45 cm, again on razor.

I was almost out of razor at this stage, just enough for one last decent size bait. The tide was now beginning to drop so I reckoned it would not be long before the fish moved off. After about 15 minutes I had another bite on the razor, it was only a 33 cm bass but that brought the total to 12. So with that I decided to pack up at a reasonable hour (11.30 pm). It turned out to be a much better night's fishing than I expected with the neap tide and lack of surf and I went home with half a dozen crabs still in the bucket.

Hopefully the bigger bass will begin to move in during April.

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Last edited by RockHunter on Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Bass double

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That's envious stuff right there!

Nice going Frank , the big ones are about alright

Frank you have all us e/coast anglers drooling up here great weather and great fishing what
more could anybody ask for

well done frank.thats some fishing.i more than likely will be cork for a day after easter sometime.after i have me business done i might go for a cast while im there.i still have your number from the last time so il give you a tingle if im coming down

Good going Frank!

oh my mercy!that packet of razor sure got its moneys worth it reminds me of a similar session i had the only thing was it was 14dogfish i had in the session excellent frank!

happy aul days. nice fishing, fine looking fish.

a frank.. you have just put me off fishing for good after my last session,,,,only joken.... great stuff and fantasic results.... good on ye....

12 bass....your some boy Frank, great bit of fishing there and to think its still only March

nice going frank

Well done Frank and great report as usual. I'm sure when you start the lure fishing the size of them will double.
Tommy

East cork / Waterford u lads have it all great cod in the winter and loads a bass in summer,great fishing I'm very gealous

nice work frank what hooks are you putting on them pennels they look extremely sharp??

Another amazing session from you Frank! Bass no 8 looks to be really hurt from that shot.

well done once again top class fishing as always

What a nights fishing and some going Farnk well done

Good job frank . 12 bass is some going , I'm still chasing my first ? How long are you making your flapper rig and snoods ?

Great fishing.................again Nice detailed report too.