Dingle peninsula, Co Kerry 17-21 Sept

People:me

Duration:5 days

Tide:neaping

Weather:not good

Bait:various

Rigs:various

Results:bass, pollack, whiting lesser and greater spotted dogfish wrasse and mack

Catch and Release:: Yes


Report:
Monday afternoon

Location: ROCKS AT MOUTH OF DINGLE HARBOUR

Weather: Strong northerly

Tide: low at 14.00

Bait: fresh mackerel

Time: 14.00 – 16.00

Tried rocks between tower and lighthouse for ray but the northerly wind, which had been moderate increased and made conditions difficult. Only bite of the session resulted in a nice whiting over a pound. Definitely the biggest I’ve seen in a while. After the wind blew the whole lot over and broke my rod rest I called it as day.

Monday evening

Location: INCH

Weather: Northerly easing

Tide: high at 20.30

Bait: king rag

Time: 19.30 – 20.30

Report: 2 bass. Only had 4 or 5 casts after a bit of a comedy of errors and losing bait. Two fish in first few casts about 2 and 3 lb. Inch is pretty sheltered from northerly so pretty calm and tends to be more weed free even if smaller surf in these conditions. Really should have went and got more bait but I didn’t think it would be my only real chance to fish the mark all week.

Tuesday

Location: ROCK MARK SMERWICK BAY

Weather: Showery with increasing westerly.

Tide: high at 09.00.

Bait: king rag, frozen sandeel and artificials

Time: 10.30 – 15.00

Report: 8 wrasse, 1 pollack and 2 mack. Strong westerly dictated the choice of rock mark for a bit of wrasse fishing. Fished an easterly facing mark in Smerwick bay so sheltered and safe. Tried some trolled sandeel but just the 1 pollack about 2 lbs and a couple of mack so concentrated on the wrasse. Finished with 4 or 5 in the 1-2 lb range 2 over 3 and 2 over 4.5 including one just on specimen at 4.12oz all caught on ledgered king rag.


Wednesday

Location: VENTRY BAY

Weather: Atrocious conditions. Westerly/SW gales with heavy showers hence the choice of Ventry as it faces east.

Tide: high at 22.00

Bait: frozen sandeel, fresh mack and frozen razorfish

Time: 19.00-22.00

Report: Spent the afternoon collecting some crab for another go at the wrasse tomorrow and so decided on a night session at Ventry. Ended up with 10 or so dogfish a mixture of lesser and greater with the best huss 3.5 lb. Nothing big but kept the interest there. Double sandeel was bait of choice. Out fished the fresh mack and nothing showed interest in the razorfish.


Thursday

Location: ROCK MARK SMERWICK

Weather: Showery with strong westerly.

Tide: high at 11.00

Bait: hardback crabs

Time: 11.00 – 16.00

Report: 2 wrasse about pound each. Couldn’t have been worse day.
Caught 2 wrasse in first couple of casts and then promptly broke rod. So wasted 2.5 hours getting back to cottage for another and getting back to rocks and all for nothing. Not another bite. So back to car only to ground it and break a plastic tray thing underneath. Problem was, it was still trailing on ground and couldn’t get it off. So had to jack up car in muddy lane and get in below to tie the thing up. Next thing a herd of cows comes wandering past. It did cross my mind that if one of them nudged the car of the jack the whole lot would be down on top of me. So scrambled out only to be greeted by an irate farmer saying I had spooked his cows with my bright jacket. So a day best forgotten.



Friday

Location: CLOGHER HEADS

Weather: Bright sunshine with moderate northerly

Tide: high at 12 ish

Bait: frozen sandeel.

Time: 12.00-17.00

Report: Had wanted to fish rocks between Clogher and Dunmore head all week in the hope of a big Pollack, but conditions didn’t suit until Friday, which looked promising. Pretty benign conditions so decided to hit the rocks. Moderate northerly forecast but should be a bit of shelter at the mark I had picked. It was sheltered but the wind picking up meant that the swells which missed just broke on the cliffs behind me and then washed back over the ledges. After an hour or so of dodging these common sense prevailed and I decided to move to Clogher head 2. This one is much smaller and between Ventry and Slea head. Facing South I knew it would be sheltered and safe. Arrived to find conditions perfect. I had lost a big Pollack here last trip so I was hopeful. First cast a mack and this was pretty much the pattern for the rest of the session. A fish a cast mostly pollack 1-2 lb with the best two fish about 4 lb, these interspersed with a few mack. Did my usual trick when lots of fish about and changed between sandeel, jellys, spinners and sandeel imitations (including what I thought where some good ones from Storm). The Pollack thought differently and preferred the frozen sandeel. Only had 1 or 2 of the frozen sandeel not taken on the first cast while I had numerous retrieves with the artificials untouched. Not the first time I have tried this but probably the last. Think I’ll save money on all the fancy artificials and just use the real thing.

Not an ideal week but fish in all sessions.

well done, weather sounds like it limited your fishing, it was the same for us. yes that muddy lane can be a real bitch.

Great few days.can i ask how you got down onto the rock
at the Clogher head just west of ventry harbour.i always fish the
bank just off that head in the boat but would love to fish it from the shore

cheers,

Mark

Good report. I know what it's like trying to get as much in as possible while dodging around to suit the conditions. Nice to know I'm not the only one who gets car trouble down there. :oops: