Inner Dublin Bay, 12 May 2008

Mon May 12, 2008 7:03 pm

People: Me

Duration: 1 hour

Tide: 1/3 full and rising

Weather: Sunny

Bait: Bread Fly and a white sliced pan!

Rigs: 5wt, Floating line and 5 ft of 8lb maxima ultra green

Results: 1 mullet of 59cm



Report: Visited two areas on the south coast of inner Dublin bay today to try for mullet. The first was full of juvenile fish but they were not interested in any of the bread I was throwing at them. So I moved to a second that I had remembered seeing mullet in as a kid during crab fishing sessions. Got to the spot and said to myself that it should be about now that the fish should be turning up. True to my memory, 5 large shadows appeared and began to circle in the typical mullet fashion. It took me about 30 minutes to get the fish to start feeding on the bread and then a further 10 for them to start taking it on the surface. On the second cast with the bread fly (that I had only tied before I left the house) I was into one of the smaller fish of the group. Although it didn't make any screaming runs to the backing it took me roughly 15 minutes to land the fish. Needless to say I was delighted as it was my first mullet and it was also the first time I have ever fished for them. I weighted the fish but the scaled I was wasn't great, it read 1.9kg or 4.19lb. I figured due to the inaccuracy of the scales that I should measure its length (59cm) in the hopes that somebody might be able to give me a better estimation of its weight, opinions are welcome? After the fish was released I packed up and went home!

Regards, Denis

p.s. Lumpy, if I ever meet you I owe you a pint as I followed your directions and copied your bread fly and they worked perfectly.

[img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/tanks_alot/DSCF272511.jpg[/img]



[img]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/tanks_alot/DSCF272811.jpg[/img]

Mon May 12, 2008 7:17 pm

Great result for a short session, and a cracking size fish also.

Well done, and any hints on the mark (by pm of course), would be greatly appreciated.

Mon May 12, 2008 9:47 pm

Well done Deno, I'd say the fish was great fun on a 5wt outfit! Is that the Orvis Clearwater? Cracking little rod, I have it in the 6wt...

Mon May 12, 2008 9:54 pm

Very nice Denis, have yet to get any sizable fish on the fly this year. Any clues to where you were fishing by PM :D :wink: . No fish in sorrento yet.

Mon May 12, 2008 10:46 pm

Bradan wrote:Well done Deno, I'd say the fish was great fun on a 5wt outfit! Is that the Orvis Clearwater? Cracking little rod, I have it in the 6wt...


Cheers, it was a good fun alright and it is the largest fish I've caught on this rod to date. The rod is indeed the Clearwater, its nine feet and weights a total of three Oz.

jack wrote:Very nice Denis, have yet to get any sizable fish on the fly this year. Any clues to where you were fishing by PM . No fish in sorrento yet


Hey Jack, I have had a couple of casts myself down in sorrento already but haven't had any luck. I even snorkeled the entire area on Sunday to see if I was even casting at anything, but I only saw one very small pollack, a few wrasse and a few butterfish. However, I was fishing off the back of Dalkey Island on Saturday and there was plenty around so they must not have moved into the shallows yet. Its only a matter of time. I will PM you shortly regarding the location.

Mon May 12, 2008 10:59 pm

Cheers Denis, have to get onto the island sometime id say the fishing there could be brilliant. Was down at whiterock there spinning and flyfishing got two launce spinning nothing on the fly.

Mon May 12, 2008 11:19 pm

jack01986 wrote:Cheers Denis, have to get onto the island sometime id say the fishing there could be brilliant. Was down at whiterock there spinning and flyfishing got two launce spinning nothing on the fly.


I wasnt fishing off the Island but I was fishing from a boat off the back. Literally had to be fishing up on the rock to catch anything. Looking forward to having another crack at a bass in the whiterock area.

Mon May 12, 2008 11:25 pm

Oh right might give that a go on the RIB. I saw a big bass jump while spinning was around 6 or 7 pounds wouldnt mind that on the fly :shock: .

Mon May 12, 2008 11:37 pm

Any chance of meeting up and buying some of those bread flies of you?
I left mine in Donegal and I just got my 6-weight sent down to me on Saturday.

Tue May 13, 2008 11:49 am

If you pm me your Dublin address I will post some out to you. Wont get a chance to tie some until Thursday. Don't worry about the cost as with a single feather of white turkey marabou you could make about 15 flies.

Tue May 13, 2008 2:19 pm

Actually PM me the recipe if you can.

I will be in Donegal at the weekend, so I can pick up my own (pre-bought) bread flies. Have used them once, without any success. But, will try again.

Wed May 14, 2008 5:06 pm

glad that i was of help deno. thats a great fish to break your duck with.hopefully more to follow...i'l hold you to that pint :lol:

Wed May 14, 2008 6:19 pm

anthony2carr wrote:Actually PM me the recipe if you can.

I will be in Donegal at the weekend, so I can pick up my own (pre-bought) bread flies. Have used them once, without any success. But, will try again.


Hey Anthony,

Made a quick DIY post in the SWFF section, hope it helps.

[url=http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bulletin%20board/viewtopic.php?p=124359#124359]Bread Fly[/url]

Enjoy.