Garretstown, Cork, 27/06/07

People:Myself and Donal

Duration:10.30-1.00am

Tide:Rising from LW

Weather:Calm, cold, clearish skies

Bait:Razor, Mackerel, Sandeel, Tobies and Kilties

Rigs:Single hook clip down, 3 hook flappers.

Results:Mackerel, Bass, Plaice

Catch and Release:: Yes but 3 macks kept.



Report:

Following on from the weekends success in Dingle, I decided to try the same approach on a local beach. Myself and buddy Donal arrived at Garretstown about 10.30 and opted to give the rocks to the right hand side a spin first. I was using a silver Kilty and Donal opted for a silver toby. I got walloped on the first cast but after that it was quiet. After 15 minutes or so though, we both managed to land a few mackerel. It wasnt what we were looking for but good to see them all the same. With the encroaching darkness making life on the rocks somewhat dangerous after a half hour or so of this we made our way back to the jeep and headed to the larger beach with the standard beach casting gear.

Prior to tackling up the big rods we decided to have a spin in what little surf there was. Donal had considerable success with this approach here last year and we had employed this tactic to great effect in near darkness in Kerry at the weekend so it was worth a shot.

After 5 minutes or so, a girl wandered over to Donal with a myriad of questions, what you looking to catch, where do you catch them, how big are they..... Turns out she was doing a project (allegedly) on fishing for college and was looking for some info.... Now, Donal took it at face value, I know I wouldnt.... :D Ladies approaching on a beach, prime opportunity there buddy..... :wink: Anyhoo, while this discussion was taking place, Donal, the show off that he is, managed to get a hit. Line screamed off his reel as his light spinning set up took the strain. No joke when I tell you it took almost ten minutes for him to bring the fish in. It was a super scrap as it went off on numerous runs up the beach in the shallows. Thrilling stuff indeed and it was with some relief that he eventually landed a beautifully conditioned fish of 5lbs even. That fish fought like hell and it was a pleasure to have the honour of returning it back from whence it came after a trophy picture.

I wasn't having things my own way as is the usual case on this, one of my favourite marks, and the best I could offer was a savage hit with me standing in 6 inches of water from a fish not two rod lengths away. It screamed off a few feet of line then was gone.... Shame that but even so, it was good to see the fish were there.

With it now just on midnight and being almost fully dark at this stage apart from the trail of moonlight on the water we changed tactics and reached for the big guns. Razor baits and whole large KB sandeelks were tossed out into what little surf there was and we sat back. And sat. And sat..... Nothing doing there so I opted to blast a sandeel as far as possible and drop a 3 hook flapper in about 30 yards or so with mackerel strip. We left the rods where they were and headed up the beach a small bit with the spinning rods once again, more in hope it has to be said than expectation. A fruitless 20 minutes or so at this followed before we decided that was enough for the evening and went to retrieve our rods.

On the rod fished at distance, considerable drag on the line signalled the presence of something and it was with some surprise, after expecting a doggie that I hauled a large crab onto the sand. Strange looking thing it was too, about 5 inches across the shell which was flat and coated in a velvety substance. It had long pincers and at each leg and claw segment it was red and blue (ligaments...??) Extremely docile too, not like those nasty little green shore crabs! On retrieving the 3 hook flapper dropped in short I was amazed to land a 30cm plaice, my first from this beach that was steadfastly refusing to let go of the mackerel strip he had a hold of, he wasnt even hooked.... :shock: Still, that made life all the easier to slip him back and away he went.

A pleasant enough evening of what was handy fishing, Donals a jammy bugger to pull in that bass on one of MY lures just to really rub it in. I may take a wander back there at some stage tonight and give it another go. I am swiftly getting addicted to this whole spinning from the beach thing..... :D

Sounds like a great session lads well done :)

Used to have a weekend place in Garretstown and few times landed bass from the pier by Speckled Doors pub..

Nice one Pete, showing me up as the amatuer I am after my misadventures there on Sunday. Had the spinning rod down there alright, just didn't use it. Might try your dual approach next time.

Works very well in calm weather but you definitely need the light to be well down for it to work. Even when you may think its too dark, persist with it, you can be pleasantly surprised Lee. Ive fished bait there twice this week for one plaice. Bassies just not interested in it but will readily hit the lures.