Youghal....Again

People:Myself and a mate

Duration:6 hours

Tide:H.W. at 6pm Spring tide

Weather:started overcast and ended with gale force winds and torrential rain

Bait:frozen lug,squid and crab

Rigs:clip down wish bone and 2 hook flapper

Results:dogfish,coalies,whiting and cod.

Catch and Release:: Yes



Report:Sorry for the late report but the computer was down for over a week :oops: We started out with the intension of fishing West Cork but due to the buddy catching down in Youghal in previous weeks plus good reports from East Cork we set out with a few diferent spots in mind.The first stop Garyvoe where we only spent about 20 mins. as both of us had baits come back untouched so we moved on to Youghal Prominade(Green park i think it's called).We set up on the beach as the tide was still a fair bit out, i used a 2 hook flapper(short snood due to what i could see was a strong pull on the current and a channel about 30 - 40 yards off the beach) with squid and lug cocktail and my mate used a pulley rig with crab. I managed to put the bait on the far side of the channel where the current wasn't as strong and the grip lead stuck quickly after hitting bottom.We got bites straight away and took in small coalies who were stripping bait faster then we could get it out there.We decided to move on instead of wasting bait on these smallies and so we headed for the Abbey in search of cod.Two guys were already fishing this mark when we arrived and informed us that they hadn't so much as a bite but we decided to set up anyway(as it turned out we didn't get a bite and lost gear as well). Totally fed up we decided to head back to Youghal and waste up a few hours we had left.When we arrived back the tide was about 2 hours before high water and there were 2 Dublin lads (I think :oops: ) there who already had a few cod,so we set up more in hope than anything else.By now the skys had opened and the wind was really blowing hard but what followed was insane.I rigged up with a clipped down wish bone rig with squid on 1 hook and lug on the other and cast out.I didn't have time to put the rod down when i was into the first bite only to look at the buddy already reeling in his first fish of the day(doggies). this happened every cast for our first 4-5 casts.I noticed they were taking squid at will so i changed over to a 2 hook flapper with short snoods and used only lug and was straight into bigger coalies and large whiting(sorry i can't give weights as it was storm conditions at this point and the fishing was to good to stop and weigh up).the 2 lads that were fishing left and i took a trip down to where they were fishing(they left sandeel and rigs behind :roll: ) so i used up the sand eel and got more Whiting.by the time we decided to pack up we had caught over 25 fish between us in just under 2 and a half hours.The buddy did catch 1 cod but it was very small. I used a shimano Alivio rod matched with an Aerlex 8000 reel which wasn't great for the conditions as the tip of the rod was to light but the reel was excellent.There were two down sides to the session 1.the Abu bib and brace set let me down badly 2.my new bloody phone got destroyed(i thought i left it in the car :oops: ). But from a pure fishing point of view, even with the bad (understatment :evil: )weather it was brilliant,lots of different fish, some of decent size.Ok i know some will say but you didn't get any big cod but what the hell when you just enjoy fishing :wink: .Also i didn't use any Crab which in my mind proves you can still catch with out this magical bait.

Sorry just noticed i forgot to put in the date it was Wednesday the 22nd.

brave man.

brave man.

.....considering the weather INSANE :roll: or is it daring to say crab isn't all it's cracked up to be that u'r refering too :shock: :lol:

both, mainly the weather
ps did you pick up the rigs left by the other two?

yes,it more than made up for the rigs i lost but in fairness it was pitch dark and i'd say they just didn't see them or i just believe in giving them the benefit of the doubt on this occasion(knowing my luck they are members of this site and i owe them a couple of rigs :lol: ).As for the weather i can tell you i didn't once turn my back on the sea even though we were up at a height.

I guess if nothing else that report shows the value of upping stakes and trying mark after mark until you hit the fish. Many a man sticks it out in one spot and blanks...fair play for keeping at it in those conditions.

Thanks Sandman, we've been fishing around this area on a semi regular basis the last few weeks and in each case we knew very quickly if we were going to catch or not it's a case of learning from past mistakes...not bad for a couple of guys who are on a steep learning curve :) we only stuck at it because we were catching...and we were as safe as you can be when sea fishing otherwise i wouldn't risk it.

That's what I dislike about match fishing. Stuck in a bad spot and maybe in bad weather, you have no option but to sit it out and suck it up.

In fact, I sometimes wonder where the pleasure is in a sport where you spend your time wishing and hoping the guys around you are doing worse than you are....

That's what I dislike about match fishing. Stuck in a bad spot and maybe in bad weather, you have no option but to sit it out and suck it up.

In fact, I sometimes wonder where the pleasure is in a sport where you spend your time wishing and hoping the guys around you are doing worse than you are....

....sounds like fun :twisted: i hope i can get to that standard and find out :)

i hope i can get to that standard and find out

Eh, have you seen my catch reports for this year? I compete, not necessarily win... :lol:

And when I find the guy who said "it's the taking part that counts, not the winning", I will truly knock seven bells out of the useless loser....

Still, you have to try first, in order to fail.... :lol:

I agree, I am giving the competitive side a go so I can learn from the experts. (watch and learn, then stuff them next year) :lol:

I agree, I am giving the competitive side a go so I can learn from the experts. (watch and learn, then stuff them next year) :lol:

i like it :D... Learn,Adapt and Overcome :twisted: ....something very profound about that kind of thinking :wink:

Great Report G.Wyse. Well done for sticking it out.

Kev

Thanks MAC :D All comments are appriciated :)

I think that we will catch little fish in the future in Youghal due to one greedy man taking all of the crabs. I have written to the Southern Fisheries Board and BIM but got no reply. Below is a copy of the e-mail. I suggest that everyone else also write to them, the minister for fisheries and their local TD. It is unbelievable that any man can ruin a whole area.

Dear Mr Cooke,

Could you please let me know if a license is required for potting for shore crabs?

There is an individual who is setting pots for these in the Blackwater estuary in Youghal. I just wonder if this man has a license for the same and if not is there anything that can be done to stop this activity.

It would appear to me that if this is allowed to continue the fish will no longer have a reason to feed in this area.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,


Stan Ryan

Just in case people are not aware Minister for Marine is Noel Dempsey and the guy in charge of fishing licenses is dermot.donegan@dcmnr.gov.ie

Please send them an email.

If you know anybody in the southern regional fisheries board I suggest that you contact them.

This guy potting the crabs cannot be allowed to continue.

If you are potting commercially (for brown crab, lobster, crayfish etc), you do need a shelfish licence. However, some lad with a boat potting for shore crabs will probably not need one - I don't believe there is a recognised fishery for green shore crabs although I have seen the velvet ones targetted commercially. And if he's fishing for them to supply as bait, say to a tackle shop, since there is no licence requirement for bait collection, he can carry on with no problems. The law here does not appear to have defined exactly between potting recreationally or for bait collection, personal consumption etc and serious commercial fishing.

In any case, if the individual actually has a shellfish licence, he can quite legally remove every last organism with a shell, right down to the barnacles in the rockpools.

I don't want to discourage anyone from trying to contact any fisheries body in this country, but my own experience of it is that I generally get ignored almost completely and in the occasional case where I do get into correspondence, it's generally only after convincing the bureaucrat in question that I'm with a large organisation that represents a lot of people.

To be honest, the best you can do is to take a walk down to your local TDs next surgery and lay your case out there. If you point out that the actions of one or two individuals are wrecking the chances of recreational sea anglers in the area and the tourist opportunities associated with this, they might take a look into the matter.

This guy is collecting tons of crab and apparently they are used for making women's perfume. They are dumped on the quays in Youghal and collected by the lorry load.

Whether he has a license or not I still believe that if we all write to Noel Dempsey he will respond.

I'll see if I can find out tomorrow what the story is with this fishery.