South Donegal Rock Mark - 12 Sept

People:Me

Duration:11.30am to 2pm

Tide:Dropping

Weather:Dull with F2 to F3 westerly

Bait:Green crab

Rigs:1 hook (1/0) paternoster

Results:16 ballan wrasse (4lb 4oz, 4lb 3oz, 4lb, 3lb 15oz)

Catch and Release:: Yes



Report:Working evening shifts this week so had the morning to myself and with a bucket of crab gathered yesterday it was decided to head wrasse fishing. The bay was well settled which meant i could get access to a fav wrasse mark that I hadn't fished in a while.

First drop and I was chuffed with a ballan of 4lb 4oz, second drop and a virtual pea in a pod 4lb 3oz comes up. Delighted with these fish, not specimen but in absoultely tip top condition. Dropped another good fish straight away after these and then it was a case of being pestered by 1 and 2 pounders. Have seen this happen a few times now whereby the first few drops in a hole tend to get the bigger fish before the smaller ones seem to take over, get the impression they get drawn in to the area of activity and the little bits of crab drifting about.

Twenty minutes before finishing up another 4lb took the crab, bang on the mark this time but looked alot bigger before I weighed him. In between all of this i'd got broken on three seperate occassions, 15lb line me thinks is far too light in preventing them reach the kelp when that stamp of fish is running. Must pick up 20 or 25lb and put it on a spare spool specifically for them.

great session!! i use 30lb braid with 30 mono shock for the rocks. you feel everything and bites are even better!! :D :D

Do you find any breaking you with the braid Alex? The first drive they make after being hooked is a test of any gear. Stopped fishing today as that pi**ed off with having fish breaking the line, so going to head out again in the morning after a stop in the tackle shop.

Went out again this morning, put 25lb on spare spool and no smash ups this time. Still the catch rate and size was down and I only had 10 with the best at 3lb 12oz. A lot of fecking about with the baits too, missed a lot of bites compared to the last day. Bit windier this morning and bit more sunshine so don't know if it was conditions or increased line vis that reduced the numbers caught.

Found a lovely opening at the head of a gully beside the mark I was fishing for wrasse. Climbed down of a ledge onto a series of massive boulders which were in about ten feet of water at low tide, was fit to lay on the belly and watch wrasse swimming about underneath them. Threw in a few mashed up crab and have to say had a great time watching ( I know, I'm sad :lol: ) them feeding on the broken crab. One of the bigger ones just swam away with whole crab stuck in the mouth whilst another would suck the crab part into his mouth....blow it out again.....suck it in again before blowing it another time. Did this about 4 times before actually eating it. Little goldsinnys (could see the little black spot near the tail) were mopping up any bits that the bigger lads broke up. Even seen a scorpion fish dart out steal a bit of crab and bolt back into cover again, lightning fast too. Also seen a rockling put his head out and can't wait to go back at night with some fish baits to see what else is about. Became totally engrossed with the scene and ended up being late for work!

Nice fishing there pete,i`ve hardly fished for wrasse since july.We`re supposed to be boat fishing out of culdaff next weekend but the long range forecast isn`t very nice so i was thinking of heading to a rockmark up that neck of the woods as a back-up plan if we dont get out.What you at? We`ll know better by next thursday or friday

Great Fishing Pete! 8)

good fishing pete

i use 30lbs braid (have used up to 50lbs power pro though at times) mainline, 25lbs clear mono trace. rarely if ever get smashed up on that. i wouldnt ever go as low as 15lbs mono.

wrasse watching is good fun.