Quest for Bass No. 100 and a cautionary tale

Well done on the 100 bass and on your lucky escape

Its def given me food for thought because I am a non-swimmer as well

I never realised you couldn't swim Frank. Given the rock marks we fish you'd be well advised to wear a life jacket.

Btw, well done on reaching the ton.

Well done on the Bass, unbelievable total Glad you're ok and a lesson learned the hard way.
A lifejackjet will cost you half the price of a good reel and give you confidence to fish the more dodgy (but rewarding) marks. With a lifejacket you can not only float, but swim AND hang onto your rod and lures! I never go on the water without one and must say if I was going to fish a cut off mark would definitely have it on.
Fishing is fun but dyin' by drowning ain't

frank, you were lucky, well done on gettin the "ton" !

Art give him a good price for the waders and box of lures coz you'll defo catch em!!

Scary stuff Frank been in a similar situation before but thankfully i can swim. Congrats on the ton well deserved . I bought a self inflating life jacket myself yesterday as we're fishing some deep water rock marks lately better to be safe than sorry...

Jesus Frank, thank God your still here to tell the tale.
Its such a calm and peacefull place you can easily get a false sense of security.
I drowned my last phone out there but got a waterproof one since, and always bring it with me, its one of the few places that has a good signal.

Congrats on the ton, cant believe you went out again the same weekend

get yourself one of those little canister lifejackets , they would be worth the money and there fine to fish with

b]People[/b]: Me or Me and Melissa

Duration: Various

Tide:

Weather: Thursday 8th: Calm, clear, warm evening; Saturday 10th: Sunny, Southwesterly breeze; Sunday 11th: Sunny, light northeasterly breeze

Bait: Lures

Rigs: Xlayers, Hazdongs, Patchinko, Asturie, Feed Shallow

Results:
Thursday 8th: 15 pollock
Saturday 10th: Me - Blank; Fish - almost 1 human
Sunday 11th: 2 Bass




Report:
Thursday 8th: I headed out to a local mark for a short session in the evening after finishing work hoping for a couple of Bass to bring my total for 2009 to 100. I got there about 6.45 pm and fished into darkness. On about the third cast I had a pollock just under 40 cm taken on an Xlayer. It was quite for a while after that until dusk and then the pollock really came on the feed. I had two in quick succession on the Xlayer - then shortly after another made off with my lure I switched to a Hazdong - a bit smaller and looks a bit like a blenny (lots of them in rock pools at this mark). I recently got a packet of them from Padge73 but this was the first opportunity I had to use them. The lure was barely in the water before it was hit by another pollock of about 40 cm. Next cast I had a bigger one of about 44 cm (the biggest of the night). For the next five cast I had a pollock each time, although these were smaller, in the 30-35 cm range.

As I was trying to catch a Bass I decided to switch back to a surface lure - an Asturie - but if there were any Bass there they couldn't get through the pollock - I had 3 more pollock on the Asturie and felt a lot more pollock hitting the lure or coming off before I landed them. I then tried the Xlayer again and the pollock onslaught continued. Most were between 30-35 cm.

I did loose one large pollock - probably a 4 or 5 pounder (I think I caught it on the hazdong), I had it reeled in and it was lying in a shallow gulley but as I bent down to pick the fish up it shook off the hook just as a wave was surging into the gulley and swam off

Saturday 10th: After the strong winds on Friday the conditions were not great for lure fishing. I tried a rock mark in West Waterford recommended by Padge73 but the water was fairly coloured. As low tide was late in the afternoon I decided to have a look at Dungarvan Bay to see what it was like. I got there a little before 4.00 pm. The bay was calm although the water was rather murky. I thought I would have a short session and leave as the tide began to rise as I knew it can be a dangerous place to fish on a rising tide.

I waded out, and there was the occasional splash of a fish close by - Bass or mullet?? I chucked a range of lures at them but wasn't getting much interest apart from one follow. Then the activity seemed to increase and time passed quicker than I realized. I looked at my watch and it was almost 6.00 pm - Low tide was probably about 4.45 pm so I reckoned I better head back before I was cut off by the rising tide. I was on the crest of a sand bank but the water was only just above my knees. However, as I began walking back along the sand bank crest it was rapidly becoming deeper - suddenly I realized I was cut off - and I can't swim!!!!!. I began frantically waving at Melissa who was in the car at Ballynagaul - it seemed like 20 minutes before she spotted me (although probably a lot less than that). She ran down to the shore but decided I was too far out for her to swim out to rescue me. I saw her heading back to the car (to phone for help). I knew that the water was rising too fast - it would be well over my head before help would arrive. Soon it was over the waders and shortly after that I was bouncing on one foot to keep my head above water, then pushing down on the fishing rod to keep above water

The only thing for it was to get the waders off. Sometimes I find that hard enough when standing on dry land beside the car never mind while I am under water but I managed to get them off. Melissa had taught me how to float while we were on holidays in Crete earlier in the summer so I put my arms by my side and tilted my head back as far as I could and floated to the surface - getting a life saving breath of air. I got rolled sideways a few times but remained afloat. I must have drifted toward the shore, pushed in by the rising tide as at one stage I lifted my head my feet sank and touched bottom - and it was only shoulder depth

I made my way out - hoping that the sea bed would not drop off - fortunately it got shallower. As I approached the shore I realized that my Asturie lure was caught in jumper, still attached to the line and my rod. I began to pull the line to retrieve my rod. But about 40 m out it snagged on a rock - and the line snapped. Melissa had arrived back down at this stage in a terrible state - far worse than me as I was elated to be alive, and just as I was about to go back out after the rod -she kindly offered to swim out to get it.

The police arrived as she was getting the rod - and shortly afterwards a lifeguard boat from Helvick. Their response was quick but it would not have been quick enough had I not been able to get out of the waders myself and float.

So if i ever fish there again it will be on an ebbing tide. I knew it was dangerous to fish there on a rising tide - but I mistakenly thought that I had enough time to get back before the water got too deep. So hopefully anybody reading this will remember my near death experience and the moral of the tale is DO NOT FISH THE CUNNIGAR SANDBANKS ON A RISING TIDE. Get off there before the tide turns !!!

By the way if anybody finds a pair of waders and a small box of lures (Patchinko, Feed Sallow and Tide Minnow, along with a couple of Xlayers) they are mine !!!

Sunday 11th: Being a second or two from drowning did nothing to put me off the quest for Bass No. 100. I headed to a local mark early afternoon. It was a sunny day with a light northwesterly breeze but the sea was still quite rough with some sizeable swells and the water was highly coloured so it did not look great for lure fishing. But it was a nice day and it was just good to be alive and out in the fresh air. I tried the Asturie first with no success and then switched to a Xlayer. After about half an hour I suddenly felt a strong pull on the line - a fish!! It was putting up a good fight so I knew it had to be a Bass - sure enough it was a 53 cm Bass No. 99 for the year

I continued using the Xlayers after that but nothing was biting. I then stopped for lunch and just relaxed in the sun for a while. Eventually I got back to fishing. I switched to a hazdong and after a couple of casts, letting the lure drop close to the bottom, I had another strong bite. I was unsure if it was a big pollock or a small Bass - as the sun was beginning to drop I thought the pollock might be starting to come in. But when it broke the surface I saw a glint of sliver - a Bass . I carefully played it in so as not to loose it and brought it into a shallow gulley before carefully picking it up. It was only 42 cm but that didn't matter it was Bass No. 100. So I was delighted and it was good to get the 100th fish on a lure too.

At the beginning of the year I thought I would set myself a target of 50 Bass for 2009 - so I have now doubled that
Two years ago when I started fishing such a target seemed impossible. I would never have achieved that without the knowledge that I have gained from SAI.

Thanks very much for all the comments.
I actually did have a self-inflating life jacket in the car - although at the Cunnigar you do need to wade out quite deeply so if would probably inflate while I was fishing. Maybe an ordinary life jacket would be best.

Its such a calm and peacefull place you can easily get a false sense of security.

True - when I waded out to the sand bank from Ballynagaul the water was only knee deep and while I was fishing most of the time I was standing in water depth that was just halfway between my knees and waist - I didn't notice how quickly the tide was rising - but that's that last time I fish there on a rising tide.

Are you sure you still don't want me to pick you up a few bits,if your short on bits and bobs i have a few tasty bits that would tie you over till you stock up again,just say the word.

Thanks Mike, but I am fine on lures - I just brought out a few in a small box, I still have plenty in reserve

glad you are ok,and fair dues for posting your experience,

I knew that the sandbanks are dangerous - but thought I had enough time to get back. So hopefully this post will act as a warning anybody else who fishes there and is not familar with how quickly the tide can rise.

Jesus Frank ,you gave me a fright reading that report,thank God your ok and give my regards to poor Melissa, not a very nice experience for her either. Fair play on keeping your head and not panicking in that situation,you had a lucky escape there and as has been already said, its a warning to others. Well done on the 100 Bass.PS,,,,,,,,,a whistle is a good thing to have with you, not that i'd have thought of it, only that theres one stitched to my jacket

Thanks Dave, Melissa says thanks too. A whistle sounds like a good idea

Congrats on the ton, cant believe you went out again the same weekend

That was the best thing to do - although I was standing well back from where the waves were breaking over the rocks

Eric, thanks for the advice about not needing to get the waders off - thinking about it that makes sense, although at the time with water rising over my head I just thought that waders full of water would weigh me down.

very lucky man frank glad you made it to tell the story
congrats on the 100th great stuff, not all lifejackets are automatic go get a manual pull cord jacket as the ordinary foam ones are too bulky.

glad your still with us Frank .

frank if your not going for swimming lessons i think a floatation suit would be on the cards especialily as you fish pretty scarey places [rocks ravines rats] but i have to say you showed great courage and calm by removing the waders in the water no mean feat by not panicking and well done on 100 bass wow thats amazing

You are not the first person to get in trouble out there . Down through the years there have been lots of near tragic episodes.


just a tip if anyone gets in trouble like that again.

Take off your waders, turn the upside down and fill with air. Use these as a bouyancy aid.

It might save your life.

Lucky man Indeed Frank...thanks be to god you were alright in the finish.

I take it the only time to fish there is when the tide is stripping and follow it out then ??

I saw a guy a few years ago jump into the water with waders on him...he just lay on his back and let the waders fill with water said they acted like a buoyancy aid !!

See here.....http://www.sexyloops.com/articles/killerwader.shtml

My god a scary tale I have fished there a couple of times but was always with someone who knew the story there and would have left when they did would be very careful now. I suppose the best thing was it seems you didnt panic and thought it through. lifejacket yes.... for sure .well done on the bass and valuable lesson learned and a good reminder to all us anglers to be aware and check about us reading this has made me remind myself to respect the sea thanks for that pat

just to let you know you did not need to get out of the waders, water is the same density inside the waders as it is outside, so its just like wearing an extra layer, they wont sink you. i should know ive done it, fishing for Bass to now you mention it

And if the waders were neoprene they would add boyancy.

Anyway, Feck sake! well done on the being alive. what ever you did it worked.

In your quest for your 200th bass, I'll keep an eye out. Rest assured when I see you floating by in your new floatation suit I'll tie on a Patchinko and haul ye into safety....it catches everything .

Thanks guys,

I take it the only time to fish there is when the tide is stripping and follow it out then ??

For the sand banks definitely. There is a trough between the oyster cages and the first sandbank. If you are on the sandbank you will get cut off by the rising tide. I guess it is OK to fish the rising tide over near the sand spit - although Cortaz would be the man to ask about that.

In your quest for your 200th Bass, I'll keep an eye out. Rest assured when I see you floating by in your new floatation suit I'll tie on a Patchinko and haul ye into safety....it catches everything

Thanks Pat, I can fish without a worry now

almost a statistic. if that makes you learn how to swim its the best money you ever spent on a rod!!