Cork Reports

Packs Strand Youghal - 3 to 7pm (LW 5.30pm) 15/05/05.

Not everyones favourite venue, but it always produces. This is not a big mark so everyone is a bit on top of each other and it only fishes at low water. The fishing varies greatly depending upon where you get pegged, due to the ability to cast into deeper water and snags (some pegs are not for the faint hearted as over the years a lot of crap has been dumped in the area). Overall the fishing was good with most fish caught at the town end. Some great flounder (two fish over 45cm) and a few small coddling for those immortals who could reach the channel. Most people got fish and again the flounder around Youghal at present are a good size. The winner had 7 fish, second 6 and third 4 ect..

Cork; Barry's Head, 15 June. 2005, 1900 - 2200
LT 1930, Calm, fog
Tiger prawns, frozen mackeral, German sprat, feathers, plugs and jelly eel.

11 weeks later I headed for Barry's Head with my mate Pat, ignoring the fact that I would be fishing the mark from low water up and that it was probably a bit early in the summer. To cut a long story short I blanked having spent two hours plugging and spinning. Pat picked up a single doggie with mackeral but lost several rigs. We hadn't really set up for rough ground fishing mainly because we haven't much experience of it. Also because of the sheer enthusiasm of being back fishing, we grabbed what gear we had and ran out the door!

Small reward but at least I'm bringing the Cork reports to the front page again :( .

Cork; Pilmore Strand, 18 June. 2005, 1100 - 1600
HT 1500, Calm, sunny
Plugs, spinners.

The family was spending a couple of days in Redbarn and I was given a licence to fish (there were in-laws about). I decided to fish Pilmore Strand, especially the estuary, a couple of hours after the turn. Bass was the target and I was hoping to get them as they entered the estuary. Kitted out in my new waders I was encouraged after the meeting a guy with a couple of nice bass in the bag on his way home. He had taken them with lug. I plugged and I spinned up and down for a few hours without luck. I tried the beach down to sea defences to no avail. I gave up. Tomorrow I would try again but from the turn.

Cork; Pilmore Strand, 19 June. 2005, 1100 - 1400
HT 1600, Calm, sunny
Plugs, spinners.

Arrived just before the turn, wellied up and hit the water. I stood in the middle of the channel for a few hours plugging and spinning without a whiff of a fish. I worked the river for a half an hour also with the same result. The same guy from yesterday left again with two bass taken on lug. My only consolation was that even if I wanted to I couldn't fish with lug as I only had spinning kit with me.

Cork; Ballinwilling beach, 13 July. 2005, 2230 - 0100
HT 2230, Calm, warm
Lug, razor fish.

I had been at Pilmore with the family earlier and had dug about a dozen lug (hard work in the heat by the way). The, yes just the one and my first, had been unfortunate enough to create his feed hole as I was passing. I promptly dug him up. Anyway about 2130 I decided this bait need to be used fresh and with the tide, the dark, and DrSeafish's tale of wonderous fish being thrown up, I headed to Ballinwilling.

In the water at about 2230 I started with a three hook flapper. My first cast was about 45 degrees right of where I aimed and ended with a slight birds nest. I moved to single hook tied down rigs as I had no two hook rigs made up. The 3/0 hooks were a bit on the big side but I did take a small codling on razorfish/lug cocktail.

Points to note, as it was several months since I used my beach gear;
1. Replenish the rig wallet soon after a trip.
2. Make sure the comfort items such as rags etc. are always in your bag.
3. Get out on the beach more often!!!

Cork; Galley Cove, 16 July. 2005, 2100 - 2200
HT 2400, Calm, warm
Spinner
8 pollack (3-4lb)

Camping overnight on this beach near Barleycove I hit the rocks at dusk to do some spinning. On my third rock spit I hit the motherload. I was getting pollack on practically every cast! With the wife and kids looking on I was a god amongst fishermen :lol: . I lost interest after landing 8 as four of them had come in foul hooked and were in a bad way when I unhooked them. There was also no place for me to keep them. I was carried back shoulder high to the tent, well they would have if they were strong enough. At least now they have seen me catch a fish they don't have to take my word for it anymore :D .

Cork; Ballinwilling beach, 21 April. 2006, 2030 - 0030
HT 0000, Calm, warm
King rag, frozen mackeral, squid.

1 codling (.5 kg)
3 pollack (small)

Bless me father it's been 10 months :shock: since I last fished ........., 'nuff said. Having dug some hard earned rag and bought a few frozens I decided to head for Ballinwilling to see if there were any ray about. Accompanied by Pat from work we fished the last four hours of the coming tide in front of the stream. Apart from the codling which I caught about 2330, to mackeral :shock: ,the fishing was very scratchy. Even the crabs didn't show.

Having said all of that it was beautiful evening to be out. No regrets :) .

Cork; Ballybrannigan, 1 May. 2006, 1700 - 1900
HT 2045, Windy, evercast
Plugs, spinners.

I blanked :cry: . I must try fish the last couple of hours of the tide for a change.