East Cork beach - 12th November 2008

People: Me

Duration: 11.00 pm to 5.30 am

Tide: HW at 4.45 am

Weather: Mild, light WSW breeze, dry at first then light intermettent rain

Bait: Razor, mackerel, squid, frozen black lug

Rigs: 3/0 pennel pulley, 3/0 single hook flapper, two hook flapper (size 1/0 and 2)

Results: 4 flounder, 1 coalfish




Report: As the tides were good with a full moon I decided to have a late night session. Although there was only a light breeze there was still a bit of a swell from the windy weather over the previous few days so I opted for my usual East Cork beach instead of a rock mark. I thought I would fish it from low tide up to and a little after high tide as I had never done that before. I had previously found the two hours before high tide and half hour or so after high tide to be the most productive but thought it would be interesting to fish the full tidal range.

I was also trying out a new rod (Penn Affinity) that I got from Marlinman.

Unfortunately I didn't have any fresh worm bait - I didn't get the chance to get out in the morning to dig some - and I also forgot to bring a jar of mussels that I had intended to use. But I reckoned I would be OK with plenty of razor, mack, squid and a few frozen black lugs.

When I arrived it was low tide - I have never been there when the tide was so far out. There was a moderate surf rolling in, so I was hopeful of getting a bass. Although it was cloudy and raining later it was amazing how bright it was from the full moon - I only needed the headlamp when preparing the bait. Got set up way out in front of some rocks that are normally partly submerged when I fish there. I set up three rods at varying distances. It was all quite for the first two hours. I was backed up to the rocks with the rising tide by the time I got the first bite - a small flounder. It was on the new rod, cast farthest out on a 3/0 pennel with razor.

I then moved away from the rocks and onto the main beach. Again it was quite for a while then got another small flounder - this time on the rod in close, taken on a size 1/0 hook baited with razor and mackerel.

About two hours before high tide I got a third flounder - a little bigger than the first two (forgot to bring my measure). This was again taken on razor on a 3/0 pennel at moderate distance and again on the new rod. This was followed by a coalfish - he put up a good fight for such a little fish - I was thinking I had a small bass - it was caught on the 3/0 pennel baited with razor and wrapped with a strip of mackerel.

Shortly afterwards I got the fourth flounder - this time on the rod in close. It was another small one taken on 1/0 flapper baited with mackerel and razor.

Close to high tide there was a sudden sharp downward pull on one of the rods - cast out moderate distance. I struck and thought the hook was set. There was something big on the end which was putting up a strong fight - unfortunately it managed to shake off the hook about half way in I presume it was a good size bass.

I stuck it out for a bit longer but there were no more bites.

Not really a great result considering the tidal/lunar conditions, reasonable surf and having had to spend all night there (maybe it would have been better if I had been able to get some fresh lug/rag) but at least I gave the new rod its baptism, got the first fish on it, as well as one other flounder and the coalie.

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

That's a good long session. Glad you caught some fish

thats a seriously long session you must of been frozen after that.
how did you find the affinity?
ye get some nice coalies up that way theres mostly only pretend ones ones down here.

nice to see a dedicated angler! that was a long session,the razor seemed to have worked well,have never fished it myself.

well done rockhunter,,, 11.00 pm to 5.30 am, you deserved those fish,,and more. I'd say those 3 rods kept you busy on a nice bright night.

Good stamp of flounders Rockhunter well done

Thanks guys,

how did you find the affinity?

I think they are a great rod. I already had one but as they are no longer been made when I saw that one was been offered for sale I jumped at the chance to get another. They are a very stable rod - stable in wind and relatively unaffected by wave action but still with good bite sensitivity. They are quite light and great for casting - I am not too good at casting but In can get much greater distances with an Affinity rod than any thing else I have tried.

you deserved those fish,,and more. I'd say those 3 rods kept you busy

Thanks Dave, I must admit I was hoping for a bass - the conditions should have been almost perfect - although I guess the fish I lost was a bass - if I had managed to get that I would have gone home very happy.

you must of been frozen after that.

Not at all - it was a mild night and with three rods on the go I was sweating by the end of the night.

the razor seemed to have worked well

I would normally use lug and/or rag as the main bait on that beach - but as I didn't get the chance to collect any fresh worms I had to make do with razor - but I guess it is a good bait with a strong scent.

hopefuly in the next week or two the beaches will start to produce cod hopefully

when i saw the veals sale on em i spent the last of my weeks wages on it, was fairly hungry that week even sacrificed my few pints which is very rare. well worth it though
lost the butt cap off mine in woodstown its driving me mad.i found my casting distances increasing with it as well there still fairly poor though

i spent the last of my weeks wages on it, was fairly hungry that week even sacrificed my few pints

I hope you went out and caught a few fish for dinner with it

lost the butt cap

That seems to be a fault with them alright - I lost the butt cap off my first one on the way down to a mark - but found it a week later when I was returning to the same mark. It is lost again but I think its in the back of the car somewhere

i found my casting distances increasing with it as well there still fairly poor

Dont worry you are not alone