Glenarm, Co.Antrim, Friday 26th October 2007

People: me

Duration: 8.45pm to 12.15am

Tide: HW 10.45pm

Weather: lovely evening with a slight chill

Bait: frozen mack / frozen sandeel / frozen black lug / fresh rag

Rigs: three hook pat / one hook clipped

Results: 4 dogs / 2 pollock / 1 coalie / 1 rockling / 1 whiting

Catch and Release: Yes


Report: Hadn't been out for a while and was getting serious withdrawal symptons so taking the weather and tides into account decided to give Glenarm a blast for the evening. I didn't mean to leave it as late to arrive and thought I would have struggled to find a spot on the beach but turned out it was only me and one other - Dave. Found out he had been there from 6.30pm and up to this point had landed himself a few dogs but nothing else was showing an interest.
I set up two rods - the supercast I fished at distance with one hook clipped, baited with an alternating mixture of mack and rag, sandeel and rag and sandeel on its own.
I decided to experiment with the second rod which was a light bass rod, armed with a three hook pat and a two ounce lead. This I baited with a mixture of black lug, mack and rag and lobbed no more than 10 / 12 yds.
First to register was the rig at distance. I knew right away it was a dog. Had no sooner got this one in and was in the process of unhooking when I noticed the light rod doing a jig. After releasing the dog I proceeded to reel in the other and after a slight tussle landed another dog....couldn't believe how close it had come to the shore :shock:
This set the tone for the evening - one rod at distance, the light rod close in. While I knew I would more than likely get dogs at range what did surprise me was the variety of fish I caught close in. :o :D
After the dog came a small whiting, followed by a coalie then a double shot of pollock and a rockling then another pollock....all coming within 10 / 12 yds from the shoreline.
It was good sport on the light rod especially the takes from the coalie and the pollock all of which were just under the 12inch mark but seemed bigger when first hooked.
Normally, I am the sort of guy who would try and blast a bait as far as it can go but having taken account of some of the reports posted on this site I decided to change tack and I am glad that I did as it proved that quite often the fish really are under your rod tip.....lesson learnt.
Also proves that the day you stop learning in this sport really is the day you should give up and start playing golf :wink: .

Good report Stevie. Did you get my PM

Cheers Francis - yep got your PM will be in touch.

SC

Well done Stevie.

This beach can be really good at this time of year. Most of the beaches up that neck of the woods fish well close in.

I was at a comp a few weeks back and the guy two pegs from me managed 23 counting fish from no further than 15 yards....

No need to hit the horizon when fishing beaches....

Jude