Cork beach mark, 27/06/07

People:me

Duration:10-12

Tide:lw and rising

Weather:Peachy

Bait:Silver Kilty (25g)

Rigs:n/a

Results:3 bass, 1 mackerel. 3lb, 3lb, 2.5lb.

Catch and Release:: Yes, even the mack, shook off the hook.



Report:
Headed to a small beach not far away from home, intent on pursuing this recent change of tactics to spinning and I wasnt disappointed. I arrived as light levels were dropping fast to flat calm seas, grabbed the spinning rod, a couple of lures, pulled on the wellies and away I went. Loving this low maintenace approach to fishing BTW!

Within the first few casts I had a savage hit which similar to the night before, hit in very close and stripped a foot or two of line off before escaping. It would be a half hour or so before I was next to get a wallop. This time it hit at distance and following a spirited display, a large mackerel was brought in. Not exactly what I was looking for but nice to get off the mark. The presence of mackerel off a beach signals feeding, sprat and the like and where there is feeding there will be bass. So, with a new zest I moved slightly and continued.

2 more dropped fish later.... :evil: and I was finally into one, it had taken the kilty after I had cast it virtually parallel to the beach and was fishing it in maybe 18 inches of water in between the 2 gentle rolls of surf that were coming in. A little beauty of a bass around 3lb wasn't too long succumbing and slid up the sand bristling with indignation..... :D It got its own back as I removed the lure by spinning at the crucial moment and relieving me of a flap of skin from my finger courtesy of its razor sharp gill plates....Karma eh!

A quick pic and the fish was back in the water and away to sea at a serious rate. Over the next 20 minutes, I had maybe a half dozen hits and landed 2 more fish. The second fish was a twin to the first, again around the 3lb mark, fish no. 3 was a little smaller and came in at 2.5lbs. Small they may have been and there were no real signs of any of the bigger fish that I know frequent this spot but lovely to catch on the light gear. Not much point catching fish of this size on beachcasters, but on a nice balanced spinning outfit, its great sport.

And so ended an enjoyable evening, all fish were returned quickly and went away strongly which was nice to see. Maybe they'll tell there bigger brothers to come along next time..... :D This spinning from the sand is a great way of targetting fish when there's no surf, highly enjoyable stuff. Beats the hell out of watching a motionless rod tip.... Thats 10 bass Ive had since the end of the ban, every one on lures and all fished from beaches.

Small mention of thanks incidentally to Cortaz who I met up in Waterford after the SAI comp up at Clonea. Free and willing with his info in relation to lures, he swears by the kiltys. I cant fault them myself either...

Great fishing mate!!!!

I haven't done much spinning in the last year or so but kilties have amounted to a fair number of fish. I don't kill many bass but after a session to kilties of 8 bass ,while elbow to elbow another angler that got zich, I gutted a fish it was full of sand eel the same size. I've always used silvers is it worth trying other colours?

Donagh

Lots of fish in Kerry at the weekend to a purple and silver 25g Jensen Toby. All fish caught were coughin up sprat. Dont think it matters too much, I changed from a coloured one to a silver one once it got dark to take advantage of the moonlight if that means anything. Worked though I have heard the adage about bright colours during the day and dark ones at night.

roll on Kerry and i am bringing the spinning rod i won with me it has a casting weight of up to 40g

Nice fishing again Pete. I have an inkling where you might have been :) and I hope I'm right as I was thinking of heading down that way myself tonight. :? - hope I'm right....

great report pete. always perferred to use spinning tactics to target fish. its great fun

40g is ideal Martin, especially off the beach. For years I tended to lean towards heavier spinning rods, but IMO, that was some fun lost. For bigger fish over rough ground you might need more power. You get much more fight off a schoolie with a 40g rod.

I still bring both fishing with me, but nearly all my fishing is done to the Greys 15 - 40g rod, very light as well so you can plug or spin for hours.

Kev

I use an 11' Daiwa Osprey Lure Special myself, 15-40g. Lovely rod for that kind of thing and more than enough power to stop decent fish in their tracks if needs be without ruining the sport.

How much does the daiwa osprey go for, like the tip a bit stiff if possible.

40g is ideal Martin, especially off the beach. For years I tended to lean towards heavier spinning rods, but IMO, that was some fun lost. For bigger fish over rough ground you might need more power. You get much more fight off a schoolie with a 40g rod.

I still bring both fishing with me, but nearly all my fishing is done to the Greys 15 - 40g rod, very light as well so you can plug or spin for hours.

Kev

thanks, have heaiver spinning rods and wanted to try something more fun

Reading that report makes me want to hang myself :wink: Good fishing mate, jammy git...you'll have a whole summer of sport like that now