blackhead, co. clare, 03/08/08

People: myself, rolly, his brother, fmcd

Duration: 5.30 9.30

Tide: high 7.30

Weather: gusty from the sw, rain, mist, toreential rain, breaks of sunshine etc.

Bait: rag, mack

Rigs: rotten bottoms, ledgers, 3 hook flappers, pulleys, spinners

Results: 2 ballan, 1 pollack

Report: after the previous days exploits a handy mark was required after all the walking - i was hoping to go to some place quiet but rolly wanted to try the flats

told him it would be packed - but he had been by during the week and said there will only be a handful there

i commented on the bank holiday weekend madness but was ignored - to be honest i didnt really mind as i was happy out with the bass the day before

it was muggy in galway when we left with a light breeze - as we got to clare it was evident the weather had changed

to my amazment the flats were absolutely thronged in the middle of the rain and gusts

i was wondering why so may were there in the choppy conditions - of the 30 or so i surveyed in front of me i got my answer as a chap brought in 3 macks

suggestions of walking to the end of the line were ignored as we estimated there must have been hundreds all along the coast here

the flats was shelterd so we headed for the more exposed head itself

there were still plenty fishing - but these were no comon or garden bashers - they were in for the long haul with wetgear the lot

we initially struggled to get a patch while setting up to prevent others turning up and bombing over us :roll:

then the rain started - sanity was being questioned

i was in the middle between the other 3

to the left the concept of casting to the left to allow for the wind and current drawing right was lost on the brazillians umpteen times

rolly spent most his times undoing tangles

couldnt get a cast out myself with the breeze - got snagged twice and then decided to go rotten bottoms

first cast a ballan - happy days no blank

a few mack were taken by the brazillian cohort - but singles and very rare

more baits were stripped

rollys brother and fmcd had no joy spinning either

few more casts - thought i was well snagged but it turned out to be a wiley wrasse - gave him line 3 times and eventually got him out of the hole

much bigger one this time ~ 3 lbs

at this stage the weather was deluge - a few breaks between huge showers meant idle spinning rods were about

i picked one up had 5 casts letting it sink well - next thing 1.5lb pollack

could i do any wrong!

that was it for the fish - eventually darkness came along with soaken clothes - so we left

at one point a brazillian came over to gloat - it was mad he stood there beside us for ages - then one of us ventured a hello

then he proceeded to tell us he had fished round the corner on the flags got 20 mack - that we were in the wrong spot - then went on and on about getting 150 macks a day :x

eventually he was telling us about his bait fishing exploits and how him and his brothers all love to eat the shark (huss it turned out) no wonder there are none about there lately :evil:

not that i needed a reminder of why i hate fishing there on weekends/daylight - i still had a good day but i think rolly will be thinking twice before going there again :lol:

they have everywhere ruined killing everything,hope wether is ok this weekend even tho it ant looking great heading that way myself

the place was a complete tip - but thats taken for granted anymore

good luck over the weekend - looks like i wont be about now

will try if fishing poor fall back on the beer :D .ah you cant beat irish rock marks emty beer cans ( from lidl) line traces and old bbqs just make you want to get out there and do a bit :evil:

well theres another sort of refuse turning up on these marks now - last time on blackhead and the time before on ballyreen - direct human refuse - awful carry on!

:x

a fat wrasse

a fat wrasse

.............And a ballen of about 2lb

lmao..... :lol:

:lol:

the weight has been flying onto me over the summer!