S.Donegal Beach Flounder Hunt

[chuckaroo]

People: me and JW

Duration: Saturday and Sunday

Tide: up on arrival, down to the bottom, and then a bit up again

Weather: overcast and cool Saturday, like a summers day on Sunday!

Bait: fresh lug, fresh rag, fresh mack

Rigs: 2 hook flappers

Report:
This is a trip that I had been really looking forward to and had been planning for some time now. After a few months of deliberation - made up of failed attempts to accommodate a few fishing buddies, or being beat by the weather - I eventually set off on my own and managed to get myself down to Silver Strand beach in South Donegal.
I had heard a lot about this beach and its capability of producing fantastic flounder also, as an added bonus, it was meant to offer spectacular scenery. I intended to find out if both cases were true.

I took off from Co.Antrim on Saturday morning and the drive took two and a half hours. After a bite to eat in Killybegs I continued west and was set-up and fishing for 2pm.
I had arranged to meet up with johnwest from the forum here on Sunday (hey I couldn't believe it, he looks exactly as he does in his pics!! ) so I was on my own on Saturday; however, there were three local guys fishing there too to keep me company so it wasn't so bad.
It really is a beautiful place all right - a little horseshoe-shaped sheltered bay flanked by steep cliffs either side; the water was gin-clear and the beach was pristine, it was stunning. I arrived and a guy in a car who was just pulling away from the car park at the time even felt the need to pull-up side me and say, "That must be the most beautiful beach that I have ever seen!" I could see his point.

A long story short: the trip was fantastic, I really enjoyed it. There were a few fish caught all right but certainly none of the specimens that the beach was renowned for. The best fish of the weekend was caught by JW himself - a nice turbot just 2oz shy of 1lb that was safely returned, along with all other fish caught. Btw, if you want to know how best to take a swallowed hook from a flattie then JW is your man! Very neat job indeed JW

At one stage a pod of maybe a dozen dolphins came right into the wee bay and hung around for a few hours, it was great entertainment. They were very possibly harrying a shoal of fish in against the rocks at one stage but they also certainly took time-out afterwards to play and leap from the water. They were flipping cleaning out of the water, splashing with each other, and tail slapping - great stuff, a very enjoyable sight!
I managed to also see a small school of big mullet patrolling the edges of the bay but any attempts of throwing of a shrimp fly in their direction proved futile I should have brought a floating line though; maybe a wee strip of mackerel of or a bit of bread, who knows..
There were also plenty of small sandeels along all shores of the bay and some of the local lads even spotted a school of joey mackerel sheltering close to the cliffs. Moments later, and with the use of a small strips of mack, one of the lads was kind enough to provide me with some fresh bait - good lad.

A good few flounder were taken over the two days averaging maybe 25cm. There were a few welcome turbot too and one dog. I'm going to let a PILE of pictures from the trip do the rest of the talking...
Is this the most pictures ever added to a report..??!
A few of the pics have a title to look out for too.

167 steps out of the place to be precise, i counted them twice, they were no bother to JW!
Maybe JW will add a few pics too if he gets the chance

Enjoy,
Chuckaroo

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[chuckaroo]

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last few!...

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Stunning pics Charlie and great report. Makes me hanker for a good flattie bash!

Great report and unreal pics. magazine quality. the beach was lacking a surf its normally rolling nicely in there so you done very well

Just a few more pics of Sunday.

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wow, stunning beach, great fishing and report, weather was kind to, love the pics chuck, those turbots are lovely fish , well done to you both, crackin session

Beautiful place! Great report lads

well done lads great turbot and stunning photos

great report thanks lads for sharing.

crackin report lads with some great photos!! well done!

Fairplay lads on a fine report and the photos to go with it,it certainly looks like a beautiful place up there and the nice weather to go with it.

John Ainsworth.

great report. love the photos

great report chuckaroo excellent pics and fishing well done lads.

Great fishing lads lovely pics and report. Good fishing considering there wasnt much surf. Always a chance of a bass on that beach if theres a good surf tis a great spot

Thats what its all about lads, great stuff

Great report, Beautiful mark

love the pics here,,,,i seen this beach was used by the total sea fishing magazine team for a flattie session a while back,,,it seemed to throw up much better at night as flats over the 40cms were caughtmmmwell done Charles and crew