Donaghadee Pier 03/10/08

People:Me

Duration:4 Hours

Tide:Down then up

Weather:20MPH SE

Bait:Rag

Rigs:Flappers

Results:Codling, Poor Cod, Pouting, Shore Rockling & 3 Bearded Rockling




Report:
Watched the long range weather all week and on Friday evening I got a break and the rains and wind lifted. The pier was cold but well fishable. First hour saw no action at all but then the only pouting of the evening. After this the fishing picked up but all fish where hard to hook as the general size only ranged up to around 1/2lb. Of course the rockling where suicidal as usual (had a shorey to 39cm ) but the appearance of the small codling raises my hopes for a good autumn as they seemed to be everwhere . Had a couple of good heavy pulls while casting outside the harbour wall but unfortunatly no hook-ups. All in all 14 fish landed and there was enough action to keep you busy. Nice night out

You definitely picked the better day to go out fishing mate. well done - great to here the Dee is producing some good fishing. might pop down some night during the week

No particular place seems to be fishing better than others. Tried at the side of both wall, in the middle, out to sea, there just seemed to be fish everywhere. I was suprised that I didn't catch any wrasse as the place is usually littered with them. Anyway I hope you have a good session.

I'm going to try to get down some night this week and will definitely be there at the weekend.

I'm surprised you didn't get any wrasse.

Normally during the day you can't miss, maybe there was too much sand suspended in the water because of the stronger winds earlier in the day. They seem to be susceptible to it.

good to see some codling movin in, i missed one at millisle yesterday.

There must be some good ones out there as the butt of the rod lifted when one had a go at the rag, Looking forward to the next trip

Drew nice fishing there. I was out same day as yourself, got a run out for 2 hours in the morning with a mate. Sooooo many bites but minimal hook ups, was extremely frustrating but bites wre hard to detect with the head on wind My mate blanked and I only managed 2 small pollock. I had no time to dig so was only using cooked peeled prawn and froozen mack. Some large swells when we wre there in the morning, things were a bit rough. 2 boxes of prawns later, the wrasse probably won't come back on the feed for a week

havnt fished the dee since may with my uncle.
had some wrasse, pollack, rockling and coalies.

Drew nice fishing there. I was out same day as yourself, got a run out for 2 hours in the morning with a mate. Sooooo many bites but minimal hook ups, was extremely frustrating but bites wre hard to detect with the head on wind My mate blanked and I only managed 2 small pollock. I had no time to dig so was only using cooked peeled prawn and froozen mack. Some large swells when we wre there in the morning, things were a bit rough. 2 boxes of prawns later, the wrasse probably won't come back on the feed for a week

I struck lucky because the wind had dropped and it had became a nice night to fish. Like you there where plenty of bites but hook-ups where few. I'm thinking that if I start catching codling again or the hook-ups are hard to come by when the bites are plenty, I'll try a couple of flappers fitted with circle hooks to see if theres an improvement. Oh and I now know the reason why there where a scaresity of wrasse, they where all haulled up with bellies full of prawn and couldn't get out of their holes

havnt fished the dee since may with my uncle.
had some wrasse, pollack, rockling and coalies.

It's usually a good spot, I even bring my daughters down as there's usually good sport on the right tide

I'm going to Donaghadee on Sunday.

I can either go in the morning (8:00 - 14:00) or the afternoon/evening (15:00 - 21:00)

High tide is at 10:30 and 22:30 (ish)

Which do you think would be better, morning or evening?

I've generally fished it in the morning but suspect there might be better fishing when it gets dark.

Ant ideas?

I'm going to Donaghadee on Sunday.

I can either go in the morning (8:00 - 14:00) or the afternoon/evening (15:00 - 21:00)

High tide is at 10:30 and 22:30 (ish)

Which do you think would be better, morning or evening?

I've generally fished it in the morning but suspect there might be better fishing when it gets dark.

Ant ideas?

Sorry about only replying now but I was offline all week-end. Generally I would only fish it on the rise and it does seem better at this time of year at night