Bangor Harbour, Co. Down, 17th AUG 2008

[Dawsey]

People: Myself

Duration: 1pm - 5pm

Tide: Falling to low

Weather: Overcast and windy to sunny and windy

Bait: 3 day old rag, cooked peeled prawn

Rigs: simple 1 hooks and pulley

Results: 2 Ballan Wrasse, 2 Rockling, 1 Sea Scorpian, 2 Poor Cod, 1 Pollock




Report:

I decided to make a trip to Bagor today, which was a change of plan from the original which was fish a few marks in Newcastle to scout for later in the week, but after the extreme amount of rain, just getting there would have been an achievement.

The purpose of this trip was to increase my species list and get my 1st ever Ballen, so I was eager to try out a few spots that Al had shown me the other night

I began at the old harbour as the tide was still well in, I loaded with 3 day old rag and was straight into a Sea Scorpian on my 1st cast, a new species looking good from the off. A few cast later and I was into a small rockling. All went quite for 3/4 of an hour so I packed up and moved round to the new harbour for a go at some of the other spots. Most of the spots were taken by mack bashers so I had to make do with a few spots that I would not have usually hit, with nothing to report except lost tackle. However as the tide retreated further so did the mack bashers, which aloud me to slip into my intended spot.

This mark produced the rest of the days fish with most casts resulting in fish or being stripped! I missed a few big bites to start, I was hoping they were Ballen! Soon after I had a solid bite and the connected this time, and up came my 1st ever Ballen which I could not have been more happy about about. Within another dozen casts I landed another Ballen, this one slightly bigger, far from specimen but I was just happy to get two in a row.

My good luck continued with 2 poor cod, a pollock and a nice rockling to round off the afternoon.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Last edited by Dawsey on Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.

well done in getting all your new species mate. i havent fished bangor pier in ages too. I think i might try and get a try a session down there soon

well done dawsey :D :D :D :D :D :D nice to see you finally popped your ballen wrasse cherry :lol: :lol: :lol: keep it up mate, we'll get a few more species for you by the end of the month :P :wink:

interesting to see the prawn produce!

Well done on the new species

Thanks for the replies guys. Never specifically targeted the wrasse before, but I am now completely addicted, with yet more landed at Dee yesterday afternoon. There are a few marks along this strtech of coast that seem to be producing the goods :D

which bait was better the rag or prawn.

Hard to beat the rag and lug, but the prawn is producing the goods too. I have caught some nice Ballen on prawn alone, and Al wouldn't go out without it :wink: I usually find it best to load with rag or lug and tip with prawn, no better bait for wrasse, and the list of species that have taken it is endless! Got a few nice mack on the float with nothing but prawn, great craic!

well done on your new species and interesting about the prawn.

interesting to see the prawn produce!

it works great for pollock, fished on a float over deep gullies from the rocks...

Thanks again lads.

Yea it will work wonders for pollock, and most others to be honest, just stay away from the froozen ones they will turn to mush on ya. Asda is where I was directed to for their own brand cooked peeled prawns at £1.26 or what ever. I was amazed how many species I have taken on nothing but prawn, just load them on the hook. On a few occasions I have seen bites that resulted in the prawn being stripped and worm baits left untouched.

If you're looking for some decent sized ballans try the Ramore Head and the rocks at the tennis courts in Portrush. Me an a mate had some there the other week to just over 3.5 pounds. Great fighting fish. For really big wrasse you cant beat crab. They dont have to be peelers either.