08/06/08 Newcastle Co.Down - Wrasse, Rock Cod, Strap Conger

Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:48 pm

People: Moi

Duration: 3 Hrs, 2hrs before, 1 after

Species: 9 Wrasse, 2 Rock Cod, 1 Strap Conger

Weight: All decently sized

Weather: 10SW broken clouds

Tide: 16.15

Method:3 hook flapper with rotten bottom, Pulley rig for the strap.

Bait: Lug, Peeler wrapped in a herring fillet

Comments: Started the morning off dig lugs worms with my 2 year old daughter, the shock on her face when she found out you couldn't stretch them.......I had chosed an old rock mark for a bit of Wrasse fishing and the possibility of a conger or two, I've never known congers to be taken here before but it's a text book mark.

The first rod was set up with a 3 hook flapper loaded with a single lug on each hook, it's important to use fine wire hooks and a rotten bottom so that you can pull out of any snags. The bites we're fast and furious and it was a bite a cast, it had been that long since I targeted Wrasse that I'd nearly forgot how well they stand up for themselves, I also managed a couple of Rock Cod on this set up which were beautifully marked from feeding in the Kelp.

The second rod was set up with a Pulley rig just incase there were any congers about, it went untouched until the tide turned and then it nearly got pulled off the rest, I was over the moon with my first Conger no matter what size it was, especially as my hunch paid off.

It just goes to show that the County Down coast line has plenty to offer for those that are willing to put in the effort, I didn't see one other angler today....

Daddy's girl...
[img]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/26/008/7F/FF/FB/FA/3svhoLf0+3FcVmcHja3p33iYaoT7Si7O0300.jpg[/img]


Trap set
[img]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/25/007/5F/EF/49/D0/aRpgeFxLwrJL4uk5+YqFDeOQ5ezYkRy30300.jpg[/img]

Good Size Ballan
[img]http://shutter15.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/25/008/7F/FF/92/AC/foJXQs288pD2p7FpB1CNcUum--RV3tZz0300.jpg[/img]

Various colours
[img]http://shutter15.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/26/001/1D/C7/58/46/uTsiF1U72490dB8oc2r+OUNQvB6NxAlw0300.jpg[/img]

No dentist needed
[img]http://shutter14.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/26/002/0F/DE/56/AD/HpMqlR75H+QsdNzpbY8K2+3Mgai4p81s0300.jpg[/img]

Good Average
[img]http://shutter13.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/23/003/0B/5A/3D/C1/QnSbhOtgtpI25ySgtboDsTa3pxn3shMr0300.jpg[/img]

A nice surprise
[img]http://shutter15.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/24/005/7F/AF/0B/31/+Le6SZY-A9vGYSQFKOwLF4UH7Tmp79us0300.jpg[/img]

Nice finish
[img]http://shutter15.pictures.aol.com/data/pictures/26/00A/79/6B/43/C4/CU8MN1okVp2vyKvqD7UhnyJ6hYpXHKRH0300.jpg[/img]

Sun Jun 08, 2008 8:03 pm

Well done mate nice Photos...

Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:10 pm

Looked like you had fun. Nice pictures. Did you loose much gear?

Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:44 pm

dgp140 wrote:Looked like you had fun. Nice pictures. Did you loose much gear?


None, the 3 hook flapper rigs from mustad have very fine hooks that bend out of the snags, surprised myself, it was just one of those sessions that everything went well.

Sun Jun 08, 2008 11:55 pm

That was a result!! I cant get over the colour of that Rock Cod.

Newcastle

Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:39 am

Good result and nice photos. Totally agree the coast around here is under rated. Had some good sessions from that very mark myself, but i have taken to fishing a couple of hundred yards to the left towards Newcastle but its much rougher ground. Must meet up for a session sometime but i'm of to Kerry at the end of this week for 3 weeks. Can't wait.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:49 am

great fishing to be had down there. well fella, got some cracking species knocked off the list. ps what kind of daiwa rod is it
Last edited by round_ourway on Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:30 pm

well done MP, good days craic. Also looks like you have a fishing partner in the making. At least she is over the first hurdle - she can handle the bait!! :D

BTW how do you get on with the coasters? I got myself a Supercast a while back for the rough stuff but didn't like the coasters so I cahnged recently to an ABU reel seat.

Easy enough done however I had to peel off the existing wrapping and redo it with thinner shrink wrap and then slipped on the reel seat - neat job and holds well.

Cheers
StevieC.

08/06/08 Newcastle Co. Down - Wrasse, Rock Cod, Strap Conger

Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:04 pm

great fishing there marshpike, cracker photo's too.....reminds me of the first time i took my young daughter out digging lug, but she tryed to eat them :shock: i suppose she just takes after me, if it can move, "EAT IT"!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:.... great fishing mate.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:02 pm

Round_ourway wrote:great fishing to be had down there. well fella, got some cracking species knocked off the list. ps what kind of daiwa rod is it


TDX 129............., also Paul Kerry supercast Mark2.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:07 pm

StevieC wrote:well done MP, good days craic. Also looks like you have a fishing partner in the making. At least she is over the first hurdle - she can handle the bait!! :D

BTW how do you get on with the coasters? I got myself a Supercast a while back for the rough stuff but didn't like the coasters so I cahnged recently to an ABU reel seat.

Easy enough done however I had to peel off the existing wrapping and redo it with thinner shrink wrap and then slipped on the reel seat - neat job and holds well.

Cheers
StevieC.


I'm happy enough with the coaster, if I start to find them a burden I'll give you a shout.

Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:10 pm

P.s Thanks for the responses lads........

Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:24 pm

marshpike wrote:
StevieC wrote:well done MP, good days craic. Also looks like you have a fishing partner in the making. At least she is over the first hurdle - she can handle the bait!! :D

BTW how do you get on with the coasters? I got myself a Supercast a while back for the rough stuff but didn't like the coasters so I cahnged recently to an ABU reel seat.

Easy enough done however I had to peel off the existing wrapping and redo it with thinner shrink wrap and then slipped on the reel seat - neat job and holds well.

Cheers
StevieC.


have a supercast rgm as well and one of the coasters broke, just replaced the coasters with different make, no problems

I'm happy enough with the coaster, if I start to find them a burden I'll give you a shout.