Wicklow / Wexford, August 2008

People: Myself

Duration: Day and Night

Tide: Various

Weather: It is Summer!!!!

Bait: rag / fresh peeler / frozen mack / lug / frozen sandeeel

Rigs: Various

Results: dab / bull huss / whiting / flounder / smoothhound / tub gurnard


Report:

First of all apologies for the late report - I.T. problems

Family holiday took us to Wicklow for a fortnight and not one to miss an opportunity l ensured that the rods were included. Sought out some info before making plans and would like to say thanks to those on the forum who gave me a few marks to try - directions were spot on lads, much appreciated.

As with my previous outing last year to Kerry the day after we arrived we toured about getting our bearings and taking note of the various marks. This took us on a journey from south of Arklow to Courtown where I called at the Sea Angling Centre and ordered some fresh peeler and rag from Mick. This is a great tackle shop for anyone heading that direction, very obliging and the quality of bait is excellent.

FRIDAY 8 August 2008 1 - 5pm
This was my first planned outing to a rock mark in Wicklow for a crack at the smoothhounds. (Sorry I can't be more specific about the mark but I am a man of my word and agreed not to disclose any details about this one). Unfortunately on arrival I was met with a seal who took great delight at eyeballing me from approx 30 / 40 yards . Having trekked all the way round I wasn't for heading back and by the time I set up it had decided to move. The weather was fine with a slight swell and a current running about 60/ 70 yards in front of me with a little bay next to my right.
I set up two rods - one in close for a bit of scratching and the other baited with fresh peeler that I cast out just short of the current run. Conditions looked good and it wasn't long before I got a few knocks on the scratching rig. I left it to develop and following a series of more substantial tugs I reeled in a double shot of dabs.



As time went by I noticed that bites were virtually non-existent but I put this down to the possiblity that the seal was still lurking. I continued to perserve with the "distance casting" and after approx 2hrs I noticed a good thump followed by a few more tugs. I lifted into the fish and felt the tell tale signs of a......doggie. However, to my surprise on landing the "doggie" it actually turned out to be a small huss This was my first from the shore and although nothing spectular I was happy to add another species to my list. With nothing else to add I packed up around 5pm



SATURDAY 9 August 08 - Ennereilly
With plenty of fresh bait and the weather looking good in this part of the world (Dublin was being flooded) I decided to have a go at Ennereilly. Although advised not too I hadn't really the time to venture too far and as this mark was close at hand and one that tends to feature quite regularly in reports I opted to give it a go. I arrived around 7pm and set up with one rod. The winds had picked up a bit and there was a nice surf running so my hopes were for a bass to show.
I started by fishing a three hook flapper baited with fresh rag and tipped with mack and first cast I lifted a small whiting - at least there were some fish . In between fishing the flapper I alternated with a pulley rig baited with crab however once again it was the flapper that struck lucky with the next fish being a small flounder.
Nothing touched the crab on the pulley rig and it was during a rebaiting of this rig that my tripod blew over - I thought nothing of it as the wind had got stronger but when I picked up my rod and took up some slack line it was then I realised I had a fish on. This was certainly no dog and was giving a spirited account of itself. At first my mind said bass but as I lifted it up the beach with the help of an incoming wave my daughter shouted "SHARK" and I shouted "SMOOTHHOUND". Having fished for them almost exclusively the day before using pulleys and crab here was this one on a three hook flapper, baited with rag on a size one Kamasan......I couldn't believe it





Unfortunately this was the only one of the night and with nothing further to add I packed up around 10.00pm but what a lovely fish...

TUESDAY 12 August 08 - North Beach, Courtown
My wife and daughter decided to go shopping and left me to my own devices so naturally I went fishing
I stopped off again at the Sea Angling Centre, replinished my bait supplies and motored back towards Ballymoney to the entrance to the beach beside the golf course. Weather was a bit overcast with a few showers but again the sea conditions were good - there was a nice surf running, the wind was manageable and there was no weed.
I fished this mark from approx 2-6pm using two rods and various rigs but it was the scratching rig that done the most damage with a succession of small dabs to keep me occupied - all on lug. Eventually I got a bite at distance and on retrieving noticed it was a gurnard of some description that had taken a frozen sandeel. On closer inspection it turned out to be a small tub - yet again another first from the shore.




Overall it was an enjoyable two weeks but the most memorable moment was definitely the smut at Ennereilly - just to see the look on my daughters face .....and I'm sure she would say the same about mine

Great report stevie well done nice fishing there plenty of species for ya..

nice smoothie what weight was it?